Page 16 of Places We've Never Been

Both versions of Link would win.

If he would win either way, why did you ask me to specify?

I wanted to picture the battle in my head.

So which one did you picture? Grown-up Link or Young Link?

Young Link. It was fun to imagine a kid kicking Blanka’s trash.

Please say that to the interviewer if she asks.

I would never say that to the interviewer. She would look at me with that look people sometimes gave me. The one that saidI’m glad I don’t live in your head.

“Please keep talking very loudly while I pee!” came Paisley’s muffled voice from inside the bathroom.

Austin laughed, but I understood the request. The bathroom was literally steps away from everyone and the door seemedpaper-thin. This was the real argument I should’ve made when trying to keep the families in their separate spaces.

“There’s no talking!” Paisley said again.

“Everyone pees!” Austin yelled.

“Let’s just talk,” I said. “How is everyone’s summer going sofar?”

Austin and Ezra had gone back to talking to each other in voices that barely reached beyond the front seats. Skyler’s phone dinged and his eyes shot to the screen.

“I guess I’ll turn on some music,” I said, scrolling through my playlist.

“You don’t need to humor her,” Skyler said.

“I’m not. I’m going to have the same request when I’m in there.” I held up my phone, stared at him pointedly, and pushed play.

He sighed. Seriously, what was his problem? Even if I did have a massive crush on him, like he thought, would that justify his complete indifference toward me?Unexpected question number twenty-eight, Norah: Why is your childhood best friend acting like your childhood enemy?