The sound of Simple Plan almost drowned out the low rumble of my friend’s old Cadillac as she pulled into my driveway. I was lounging in the grass under a dogwood tree, but I sat up to wave her over. She joined me in the grass and pulled one of my earbuds out and tucked it into her left ear. Neither of us spoke at first. She had already heard about what I was counting as the current worst moment in my life. Instead her hand slithered through the grass to caress mine. I turned my head to look at her.

“She’s a bitch. Why do you even like her?”

I shrugged and said the only thing that came to mind. “I think it was instant.”

“An instant bad decision.” Her fingers laced through mine.

“Is it really a decision to fall in love?”

“To really be in love? Yes. To be attracted to someone? No.”

I understood what she meant. I didn’t respond. I let her thumb trace circles on my skin. I looked up above me. The sunlight poked through the leaves of the trees and the light breeze blew her perfume into my face. It was sweet. Like her. I had met her this past school year and discovered we lived in the same subdivision. She was a grade ahead of me. She liked broken things and fixing them. I was the ultimate quest.

“I don’t think she even deserves someone half as nice as you are.”

I still didn’t respond. I listened to the brief pause as Simple Plan faded out and Metro Station took its place. She squeezed my hand.

“Oh! I love this song!”

I glanced back at her and couldn’t help but smile at her face. Our eyes met and she grinned wide. She began to sing along and I found myself joining her. When the song ended she sat up, pulling on my headphones and causing me to follow. Her hand held mine tightly still.

“I think you need to let go. Holding on will only hurt worse.”

I nodded. “I know.”