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Naomi

“Oh my god, no! We are not watching Jennifer’s Body for the seven millionth time.”

Shal crosses her arms to make an X shape and bangs them together a few times to indicate just how against watching my favourite movie she is.

“Sorry, Naomi, but I’m with Shal,” Priya says as she adjusts the pillows on the rattan chaise lounge she’s sitting on. “We literally just watched it not even two months ago. Also, I still don’t get why you like it so much. It’s pretty gross.”

We’re all out on the deck at the mansion, gathered around the fancy fire pit table thing it took the four of us a good fifteen minutes to figure out how to work. I’m hoping we got it right and that the gas-powered flames aren’t about to explode and set the house on fire, but so far, they’re just warding off the slight chill in the night air and keeping the bugs at bay.

Andrea is sitting next to me on one of the deck couches, the side of her leg pressed against mine. Tonight is my last night in the house before Peter and Sandy come home tomorrow, and even though Andrea and I already have a date planned for the day after that, I’ve still spent the whole evening feeling like she’s going to slip away for good the second I let her leave my side.

What I’ve decided to announce to all three of them tonight isn’t helping my worries.

“It’s a modern classic!” Andrea urges. “Plus, it’s like the most fun horror movie ever, because every time you think something scary is about to pop up, it’s actually just—”

“Megan Fox!” I say at the same time as her.

She turns to grin at me and then slides her arm around my shoulders. “Exactly. You get it.”

Shal groans from over on the other side of the table, where she’s sprawled on a couch. “Are you two already finishing each other’s sentences? Disgusting.”

I can tell she’s holding back a smile.

“I’m pretty sure that movie is the reason I realized I’m bisexual,” Andrea adds. “My older cousin let me watch it when I was way too young for an R rated movie, and instead of being traumatized, I just wanted to watch Jennifer and Needy kiss over and over again.”

“Maybe I should thank your cousin,” I blurt.

My face heats up when I realize how cringey that was, but Andrea just chuckles and bumps my arm with hers before telling me she’ll get us in touch. I tilt my head to rest my cheek on her shoulder as she tightens her grip around me.

Priya coughs.

“Do you two want some alone time?” Shal asks with a wag of her eyebrows. “We don’t have to watch a movie tonight. Priya and I can head out and let you watch your gross and yet apparently erotic zombie cheerleader movie together.”

“Demon cheerleader,” Andrea and I say in unison.

This time we earn ourselves a groan from both Priya and Shal.

“Okay, okay, we’re out of here, Pri,” Shal says as she rolls onto her side and then pushes herself up to a seat on the couch cushions.

“Wait,” I interrupt before they can get to their feet. “I, um, I need to tell you guys something.”

Everyone turns to stare at me. I glance at Andrea and murmur, “You too.”

She cups her hand around my shoulder and squeezes. I lean into her touch, closing my eyes for a second as I ground into the sensation. The fire dances across the backs of my eyelids, and when I open my eyes again, I watch the red and orange glow reflect on Shal, Priya, and Andrea’s faces.

Just before my therapist signed off on our regular call this afternoon, I told her that next time, I want to talk about the whole neurodivergent thing—as in I really want to talk about it, not just keep saying I do and then putting it off every time.

If it’s a part of me, I want to get to know that part. I want to love that part if I can, and I want to trust the people I love enough to share it with them.

If this summer has taught me anything, it’s that I don’t ever have to worry about being too weird for the three girls sitting with me tonight.

“So, you know how I’ve been dealing with the whole social anxiety thing for a few years now?” I ask.

I’m back to staring at the fire. The orange tendrils curl and twist around each other, forming ever-shifting shapes and patterns.

“Well, my therapist thinks maybe there’s more to it than that,” I continue, “and I’ve been avoiding the possibility for a while because I didn’t want there to be yet another thing wrong with me, but I’m trying really hard not to see it as something wrong. If it is true, then it’s just…me, and…and I want you guys to know me, so…”

Andrea keeps her arm wrapped tight around my shoulders and uses her other hand to reach for mine. Even now, a few sparks still shoot up my arm when I feel her palm slide against mine.