back of her throat. “I could never have made fun of you for that because it
would have been extremely hypocritical.”
“Hypocritical?”
“Maybe that’s not the right word. Maybe ironic would be better.”
“Ironic?”
June still didn’t get it. Arabella cursed herself for her inability to find the
right words. “You were so open about who you were. I never got that
luxury. I couldn’t. If I had told anyone about me, I would have lost
everything. That’s all I had. I don’t know why being popular and liked and
being so…God, I don’t know. I don’t know why any of it was important,
but back then, it was. It was my everything.”
There was a scraping sound, then the click of the flashlight, and suddenly
June was right there, right beside Arabella, shining the light in her face
again. Arabella threw her hands over her eyes to try and shield them from
the bright retina burning beam.
“Sorry! Shit.” June swiveled the flashlight down. “I just had to see your
face right now. Are you shitting me? Because I swear, if you’re shitting me,
you’re going to be sorry. You think I can’t be mean? I can be mean. I can
spend all night trapping spiders and leaches and put them in your bed. Or
something. I would think of something!”
“It’s true!” Arabella yelped. “It’s not a secret now, but back then I would
have done anything to keep anyone from finding out. I was such an evil
little bratty bitch back then, but even I knew it was wrong to try to cover up
my own shit by shitting all over your shit.”
June gaped at her. Arabella’s eyes had recovered enough to see the glint
of June’s teeth flashing because her mouth was wide freaking open. “So,
you’re saying that you’re a lesbian. If I’m wrong, please don’t make fun of
me. I think that’s what you’re saying. Oh, my God, is that really what
you’re saying?”
“Yes! Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”