Page 31 of Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

I roll my eyes and nudge him away. “I don’t know you.” But I don’t feel as embarrassed as I normally would. It’s like I’m sitting on a cloud, watching this all from above, protected by the fact that DELILAH. GOT. MY NUMBER!

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I float even higher, thinking that she texted me already, that she’s as excited about this... this...possibilityas I am.

But I’m just as quickly brought back down to earth when I see Eric’s name on my screen.

heyyy so i heard what tyrell did

he said he was just playing but i told him that was some bs

you know how he can be tho

I blink at his words for a second, trying to take in what he’s saying. So, he knows what happened, talked to Tyrell, but... all I get is “that was some bs”? No recognition of howhecontributed to this? No apology?

I shove my phone back in my pocket and shake my head. Why would I expect anything more from my brother? They’re probably laughing over the whole thing together.

I push down the sick, angry feeling brewing in the back of my throat. I’m not going to let my disappointment in my brother steal how happy I feel right now.

“So, does this mean we have to start coming to this place more often?” Yobani asks, grabbing my shoulder and clapping a hand on my chest. “Because Iwill. For you, man. But I think I may need to get some more rings. Or no, wait—a nose ring! One of those bull-looking ones! Then I’ll fit in!”

“Yo, trust me. You don’t need any more rings.”

“Is that because you’re worried I’m going to leave you behind with my coolness? Because you could get one too.” He holds out his hands wide. “Yeah! I can see it now! Maybe they’ll give us a deal. Two-for-one nose rings! Or, no, no, actually, what about...”

I tune out his increasingly complex piercing ideas as I start to plan my first text to Delilah.

SAT, MARCH 18 2:01 PM

Hi reggie

Hey!

Yobani what the fuck give that back right now arm rabble

Um

Arm rabble?

Oh my god I am so so sorry

I’m using voice to text and my friend took the phone from me because he is the worst

I think arm rabble is what my screams sound like?

I have dyslexia. That’s why I use voice to text

Okay cool

What was he trying to get you to say?

Hey there Delilah

A reference to some old song??

Well, good thing you got your phone back

I hate that song

And that would have been super cheesy