“Skylar.” Someone shakes me in my sleep.

“Hmm?” I force my eyes open.

“Somethings wrong with Dukun,” Oli says.

I force myself to sit up and rub my eyes. The sun peaks through the cracks of my window.

“Come on, you have to come look.” She pulls me off the bed.

“Oli, really, it’s too early,” I complain.

“Look.” She drags me to her room, where Dukun often sleeps.

I eye the black lab, he is whimpering, and his tongue is sticking out of his mouth as he lays on his side. I bend down and try to make him stand up and he falls back down to the floor.

“See! Told you!” she says.

Fear shoots through me.

“Did you tell mom?” I ask.

“She’s at work, she won’t answer the phone.” She says.

“Well, we have to wait till she gets home.” I stand.

“We can’t! he’s dying!” her eyes water over.

“Well, we don’t have a car, or money, or a vet for that matter.”

“I hate you!” she pushes me.

“What do you want me to do!?” I shout back at her.

“You have to save him!”

“I can’t!”

“Don’t you know someone who can help?” she begs.

I look back at Dukun and sigh. Jade has a car, but she doesn’t have money. I could ask aunty I guess. Although I wish I wouldn’t have to face Jade so soon after last night. I might die on the spot from embarrassment.

“I’ll go ask aunty,” I say.

She nods.

I go to my room to put some shoes on, but my phone rings. I run over to it hoping it’s my mom, it’s Darleen.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Hey, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I know things got out of control.” She says.

“Okay, yeah, sorry I got to go, sort of have a family emergency.”

“Wait, maybe I can help.” She stops me from hanging up.

“I think my dog is dying. My mom is at work, we don’t have a car or money.” I say.

“I’m coming over. We can take him to the pet hospital.” She says.

“He’s a big dog, and sort of smelly, he might smell up your car,” I warn.

“I don’t care, I’m coming over, get him ready.”

“Okay, uh, thank you,” I say.

“Don’t mention it.” She says before hanging up.

I jog back over to Oli who is soothing Dukun.

“My friend is coming over, she is going to help us take him to the vet.”

“The friend you made out with? Your girlfriend?” she smirks at me.

“She’s not my girlfriend.” My face goes red.

“Sure, sure.” She rolls her eyes.

“Just get ready and get Dukun ready.” I walk back out to get ready myself.

I put on some shorts and a t-shirt. Slipping my sneakers on. I don’t bother with my hair and just run the brush thru it before pulling it up. Then with the help of Oli, we carry Dukun downstairs. We grab his leash and make sure his collar is secure on him. Darleen knocks at the door. Then the three of us carry Dukun to her car, shoving him into the back seat.

Oli sits with him and I take the passenger seat as Darleen drives.

“Thanks for helping us, Um that’s my sister Olivia, and that is our dog Dukun.”

“Dukun?”

“Like toucan, but with a D, it’s an inside joke.”

Oli sniffles in the back as she pets Dukun.

“It’s going to be okay.” I turn and look at her.

“You don’t know that.” She sobs.

“It will,” I say.

She wipes her tears and hugs Dukun.

I text my mom what is going on, but I know she won’t see it till her lunch break. My mom works as the manager at a Raising Cane's. It was really popular when I was little because she would always bring food to my track meets for the team. Now she’s too busy to do so, as she got promoted from regular shift manager to the actual general manager.

We get to the pet hospital and explain to the front desk lady the issue. They take Dukun back immediately after Darleen drops her name, apparently, her dad is a donor to them. Of course, he is. Anyways we skipped a lot of people in line, including a sniffling ferret, a foaming cat, and a dog with porcupine spikes stuck in it. They seemed pretty busy.

We had to wait, they could only take one of us back, so Oli went.

“So, are we cool? I know I was sort of an animal yesterday.” Darleen says.

I nod.

“Really?”

“I mean I get it, it’s just biology. Hormones and everything. Not that I got issues, or that I don’t. I’m not saying you have issues! Or that you were out of control. I am in control, why wouldn’t I be? It’s just sex, I mean stress!” I stutter.

She giggles at me.

I run my hands down my face. Curse my awkwardness.

When I look at Darleen she is staring romantically at me, like she is hopelessly in love. She bats her lashes at me and sighs. It might be more effective if the foaming cat didn’t just puke behind her. I force an awkward smile, ignoring the cat.

Oli comes back out with the veterinarian. I get up and walk over to her.

“Well?” I ask.

“Well seems like your buddy back there has been eating a lot of stuff he shouldn’t have. It’s got his tummy all clogged up. We are going to have to go in and get what’s blocking him. That being said, the operation isn’t cheap, and we will have to keep him here for a week for observation.”

“How much?” I feel my heart sink.

“It’ doesn’t matter, I’ll pay for it,” Darleen speaks up.

“Darleen, no,” I say.

“Skylar!” Oli hisses.

“We can’t accept that,” I say.

“It’s okay, really. You should see my monthly allowance. But I do have one condition.”

“What?”

“You have to go on a date with me, a real date.”

“I, I, I---”

“She agrees,” Oli speaks up for me.

“Then it’s a date.” She smiles.

“Okay, I am just going to need you to fill out some paperwork then.” The vet says.

“Of course.” Darleen follows after him.

“Oli!” I hiss once Darleen is out of earshot.

“What! This is Dukun’s life we are talking about. Suck it up! Plus I saw you kissing her, I know you like her.”

“I do not! She’s just a friend, I like someone else.”

“Jade.” She rolls her eyes.

“What!? How did you---”

“Because you are obvious! Everyone knows, even mom. Seriously, she doesn’t like you, take the hint.”

“Mom knows?”

“Duh! She’s been waiting for you to come out to her.”

“She has?”

“Jeez, you really are hopeless.” She shakes her head.

“Am not!”

“Are too. Anyways, this chick is rich! And she’s pretty, what are you waiting for? Just marry her already so I can be rich too.”

“Why are we related?” I shake my head.

“Incoming!” she turns me around.

Darleen walks back over to us.

“Okay it’s done, your buddy is in good hands. How would you two like to go to breakfast?” she asks.

“Oh we would like, then my sister would like to marry you afterward.”

I stomp on her foot.

“Ow!” she hops around on one foot.

Darleen laughs at us.

“Hehe, I don’t know this girl.” I force a nervous laugh.

“So you don’t want to marry me, darn.” She mock pouts.

“I like her,” Oli says.

“Shut it.” I snap at her.

Darleen giggles.

We go to IHOP and eat breakfast. I get chocolate chip pancakes with extra whip cream and blueberry syrup. Yes, I am aware all my teeth will fall out or that I will get diabetes one day, let me enjoy my pancakes okay.

“You are such a slob, you got cream all over your face,” Oli says.

I glare at her.

“I got it,” Darleen says.

I turn to her in confusion, she kisses me, licking the cream off my lips. I go beet red.

“So what should I wear to the wedding?” Oli asks.

Darleen laughs.

I pout and quickly finish my food. This so isn’t fair, Oli is ruining everything, leading Darleen on to believe she has a chance when she doesn’t!

Darleen takes us home, and Oli runs in slamming the door in my face and trapping me outside with Darleen.

“You are so dead!” I shout through the door.

Darleen giggles.

I turn to her and force a nervous laugh.

“Well now it’s just you and me, hmm does this feel familiar.” She pushes me against the door.

“Hehe. D-Darleen. I should---” she cuts me off with a kiss.

I move to push her off but she pins my hands to the door. Her knee wedges between my legs and I let out an involuntary moan.

“Your lips taste so sweet.” She says before kissing me again.

We kiss, and we kiss, and we kiss. She drops my hands and her fingers graze the small of my back making me lean into her. I can feel my hips grinding into her of their own volition. Darleen moans when I let my hands run down her back and explore even lower.

Someone clears their throat.

My eyes snap open and I see Jade standing with her arms crossed. Waiting for us to stop. I quickly unlatch from Darleen. My whole face and neck feel like they are on fire. Darleen smiles a mega smile, trying to catch her breath. She is happy Jade saw us!

“H-Hey,” I say.

“Hello to you too, you do realize anyone can see you two sucking face, right?”

“It was just a goodbye kiss.” Darleen wraps her arms around me from behind.

“Right, well I need my best friend back now.” Jade yanks me from her grip.

My heart does a backflip inside of me. Is she jealous!? Why am I so happy about that? Bad, bad Skylar. Not to mention what happened last night! For once I wish Jade would go away, no way I can face her now.

“Fine, I’ll see you tomorrow after school, for our date. I’ll pick you up.” She winks at me.

“Okay.” My face burns.

Jade rolls her eyes before dragging me inside of my own house.

“What happened to your girlfriend?” Oli asks when she sees Jade.

“She’s not my girlfriend!” I shout and at the same time Jade says,

“She’s not her girlfriend.”

We look at each other, I can’t help but smile.

“Ugh.” Oli rolls her eyes and goes to her room, shutting the door.

Oh god, I’m alone with Jade! She’s not freaking out about last night which means… It’s happening! Jade likes me! I did it. I would like to thank my winning confidence and unrelenting spirit. Okay no seriously, how did this happen?

“Come on, I have to tell you something.” Jade drags me into my room.

“Is this about last night?” I ask.

“Huh? Oh that, no.”

Wait if it’s not about last night then…

“You don’t have to feel ashamed or anything. I mean we are best friends. So what if you masturbate so does everyone else on the planet who’s over 12. You can feel comfortable with me. It’s no big deal. Nothing to freak out about. In a way I’m glad it happened, it brings us closer together. Now there isn’t a single thing we can’t show or tell each other.”

“Oh.”

I don’t like where this is going. She just friend zoned me all the way to Canada. So masturbating in front of her made us closer friends? How is that even possible? I’m confused. If this isn’t about me, then…

“Archer asked me out!” she squeals.

“What!”

“I know, I know! Once I told him Darleen was a total lesbo, I mean lesbian and that you two were hooking up. He warmed up to me really quick. We’ve been practicing for the musical together. Oh, he’s soooo romantic! We went on a date yesterday. We instantly clicked, it’s official. We are dating, I’m not his girlfriend yet, but it’s only a matter of time.” she jumps up and down on my bed.

You know the sound a heart monitor machine makes when your heart stops, the flatline sound. That’s my life. That sound. I feel all cold inside. Like the tiny flicker of hope candle, I kept on a shelf in my brain finally blew out. No way she will pay attention to me now.

“Why aren’t you more excited! Come on.” She tried to make me jump with her.

“I am excited.” I lie, and it sounds off too.

“Skylar.” She pouts.

“I am! Come on tell me about the date.” I force.

“Okay, well he took me too…” I immediately drown out her story.

It’s over. Jade Tate is officially taken. My grave will read here lies Skylar Lane Clifton, she died in the friend zone, never being able to admit her feelings to her best friend. May she rest in peace with all the other friend zone victims. Then they will play sad violin music at my funeral.

Maybe everyone is right, maybe Jade knows I like her but she just doesn’t care. I mean Mackenzie said so, Oli says so, Darleen says so. Maybe it’s true, maybe Jade’s known all along and she just ignores it because she doesn’t want to deal with it.

I can’t believe she ditched me to paint the wall on my own just to go on a date with Archer. Some friend.

“Stop it!” she shouts.

I am drawn from my thoughts and look at her.

“What?” I say, confused.

“Stop making that face! I hate that face! You always make it when your all mopey inside. You may not talk a lot but I can read you like an open book. I know when you’re not happy Skylar.” She says.

“I do not always make this face. I was just thinking.” I get defensive.

“Do to! What is it? Aren’t you happy for me?”

“I am.”

“Then what?”

“My dogs sick in the hospital okay, I was thinking about that, sue me.” I lie.

“Oh.”

“That’s why Darleen was here, she helped me and my sister take him to the hospital and then she offered to pay for the bill so long as I agreed to go on a date with her. How could I say no? Anyways my dog has to get surgery and will be in recovery for a whole week. So sorry if I’m a bit distracted.” I snap at her.

“I didn’t know.”

“I know, I’m sorry. Continue your story.” I sigh.

She frowns at me.

Please someone put me out of my misery. Why doesn’t she just find some other friend to tell all her “exciting” stories too? I don’t think I want to hear it anymore. My heart can’t take it.

“No, it’s okay, I got to uh go home and uh practice for the auditions tomorrow.” She makes something up.

“Okay.” I don’t fight her on it.

Please just go away. Leave me alone to rot and die. She gets up and then walks out. I wait till I hear the front door shut, then I run and slam my door before jumping on my bed and screaming into my pillow.

“You stupid ugh! I love you, you idiot!” I scream into the pillow.

If only I could tell it to her face.