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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.”