colder than ever

Ellie heard Lisa on the phone with Geo. She hadn't gone anywhere with him. It was mainly a phone thing now if they weren't iming each other. Lisa looked happy to Ellie as she did her best to keep the kitchen clean. Funny, how she could do a lot of thinking while doing housework.

But she'd stayed in long enough. She needed to get out of the house and Henry, her cocker spaniel, needed a walk. She had to at least go out for him if not for herself.

It had turned cold again. Spring was here and yet it felt so far away. Why was it that she felt to stay close to her friends that she had to stay away?

She knew Leia was still having fun with Nick. They were inseparable. It would have happened no matter what because Leia was like that. She knew what she wanted, and Ellie hated that about her as she was out on her walk with Henry.

Somehow, she felt more lonely than ever. And maybe she could find some comfort in that. No phone call from Mom. Dad was barely there, but at least he wasn't drinking. So she could say things were normal. Except, she didn't want to crochet. She didn't want to do much of anything anymore.

Ellie thought she might see Kyle at the park, but she didn't. Just Roger. The last person she wanted to see.

He was on his skateboard. She supposed he was getting pretty good, but he was just a show off.

"So how ya been?" He wanted to know as if she waited for him to tell her how he'd been. "Don't see you around much, lately?"

"I'm around," she said. "And I'm fine."

"You got that baby out of your system yet?" He grinned as if he were a tough dude and this is what she should be after. Him.

She felt her throat tighten, almost raw. She didn't need to hear him say things like that about Kyle.

"For your information," she paused wanting to tell Roger what jerk he was, and he was a jerk of a kisser, too. "Kyle is my very best friend." Her eyes tighened, hoping a tear wouldn't slip but the truth was right there on the tip of her tongue. She had kissed her best friend.