“Hi. How can I help you?” asked the short girl behind the window.
I ended up getting a small chocolate and vanilla twist dipped in hard chocolate. Dana ordered a scoop of superman ice cream. And my brothers both wanted a hot fudge brownie sundae topped with whipped cream and nuts. I’ll never understand how they could eat those without going into diabetic shock.
Dana and I sat at one end of the table, staring at each other. I was glad my brothers came with me. They were acting as a buffer between the two of us. I don’t think I was mentally ready for what Dana had revealed. She was now person number two to officially know.
“Hey, look.” Callum pointed up at the tall lamp illuminating the patio. “The first fish fly of the year.”
We all tilted our heads toward the light to get a glimpse. And there it was, its long and skinny body supported by its transparent paper-thin wings, circling the light.
“Not long before they’re everywhere.” Dana’s eyes met mine. She wanted to say more, I could feel it.
“Yeah. Not long until we have to sweep their exoskeletons off the windowsills. And watch what we eat outside at night.” I looked up at the light again, remembering that time my mom’s friend Laura ordered an ice cream cone here and got a mouthful of fish flies after not checking before she took a lick.
Never had I been so glad that my brothers were nearby. They were my shield. And with them I could avoid the inevitable questioning that Dana had likely prepared for that night.Maybe I should spend some more time with them. They are my brothers after all.Maybe that’s why they liked messing with me so much; I was their big brother. I had my dad when I was their age. Who did they have? Me. It was funny though, they didn’t look much like me. We all had the same bone structure. It was our coloring that separated us. The twins took after our mom with their fair freckly skin, light hair, and pale blue eyes. Riley and I took after our dad’s tanned olive skin, dark brown curls, and dark green eyes. Most people didn’t believe I was my mother’s son.
“Étienne, can we get Frankie a doggie sundae?” Callum asked, giving me the side eye after noticing the awkward tension between Dana and me.
“Yeah please,” Niall added.
If I say no, she’ll know I’m trying to avoid her.
“Sure.” I sighed, then handed them some change. What choice did I have?
The boys ran up to the end of the line. “Stay away from the curb,” I yelled, trying to avoid Dana’s gaze.
“So. Tell me. What were you helping that guy Thad with?” She pursed her lips.
“It was nothing, Dana. Honestly. He came up to me in the parking lot after school and started talking. I didn’t really know what was happening.”
“But what was it?” She raised her voice.
“Dana. It’s nothing!” I looked around, making sure no one else could hear us.
“So then why were you hanging out with him?”
“No reason. He just asked.” I looked down at the ground through the small holes in the metal picnic table.
“He picked you up from your house, Étienne. Like, what the fuck.” She clenched her hands.
“My god, Dana. Chill. He was nice. And looking for a friend. I guess.” I wasn’t sure how to explain exactly what happened. I wasn’t entirely sure myself. But I know I shouldn’t have told Dana to chill.
“Don’t tell me to chill, Étienne. Just looking for a friend? Why would he want to be friends with you? What does he want?” Her eyes widened; she was starting to get angry but wouldn’t tell me why.
Dana’s words stung.“Why would he want to be friends with you?”To myself I thought,Why wouldn’t he want to be friends with me? Why are you friends with me, Dana?“Oh, so I’m not allowed to make new friends? What was your advice, Dana? ‘Talk to people.’ Isn’t that what you said? Aren’t you making new friends without me too?” I clapped back.
Where was her anger coming from? And why did she dislike him so much? From what I gathered, he probably treated her the way he treated me over the years; we were invisible to him and his friends. Yeah, that was shitty. But no harm was done.
“Okay. Yeah. Talk to people, Étienne. But watch out for him,” she warned, finger pointed inches from my face.
“But what has he done toyou? Why are you warning me, Dana? Please.” I needed to know why she demanded I watch myself around him.
“Look! They even put a doggy biscuit on top,” Callum exclaimed as they neared us.
“Can we go now? Before Frankie’s ice cream melts?” asked Niall.
I turned to Dana, the look of anger still hanging over her face. I gave her a small mournful grin. Were we nearing the end of our friendship? Were we growing apart? I was feeling uncomfortable being around her since her comments on our way to Cedar Point. But I’d hoped we would still be friends.
“See ya later, Dana.” My brothers waved as we began heading back.