The Saddest Song by Susie Kaye Lopez

Author:Susie Kaye Lopez
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-03-23T00:00:00+00:00

Max

I awoke Sunday morning to the sound of my cell phone vibrating on my night stand. Feeling groggy, I grabbed it and saw Rainey’s number.

“Hey,” I said, my voice hoarse, “you’re up early.”

“It’s 11:00 sleepyhead, and I’m halfway to Pasadena.”

“Pasadena?” I asked, confused.

“Yep,” she said, her voice sounding happy,“ to visit my grandparents. Mom and dad were all set to go without me, but I haven’t seen them since Father’s day, so I decided to join them.”

“Oh, that’s cool. Have a good time,” I said, trying to make my voice sound happy for her.

“Thanks, I will. What are you going to do?”

“Don’t know. I’ll think of something. Text me later?”

“You bet.”

“Okay then, bye Rainey.”

“Bye Max.”

I sat up feeling strangely bereft. This would be the first day I had spent without her in three months. Sure, I was glad she felt up to visiting her grandparents, but a part of me wondered if she had only gone to put a space between us. Kind of a coincidence I thought.

I wasn’t oblivious. I had noticed her expression when she saw me talking to that friend of Rylee’s. Lalie, that was her name. Cute girl, very friendly. I definitely would have been into her a few months ago. But last night I felt nothing and was careful not to encourage her. I was simply polite and very relieved when Rainey came walking up. Until, I saw her face. Rainey’s reaction shocked me. I’d seen that look before when Garrett was trying to extricate himself from some girl who didn’t seem to care that he was taken. I’d never been sure if it was possessiveness, jealousy or anger. I was having a hard time believing that I had now seen the look it in regards to me. It wasn’t appropriate in our situation. We were friends, the best of friends. We would have been family if Garrett hadn’t died and left us in this mess.

Of course, Rainey had no idea that I had seen and understood her reaction to Lalie. I never mentioned it, and neither did she. I just hoped that her going to see her grandparents was not simply to avoid being around me. I didn’t think I could survive it if she was suddenly awkward around me, or worse, didn’t want to see me at all.

Sighing, I threw on some sweats and an old band T-shirt and went in search of food. As soon as I hit the stairs the smell of waffles filled my nostrils. Sunday brunch had stopped abruptly with the death of my brother. Before that, mom had prepared a great one every week. She always alternated between Garrett’s favorite blueberry pancakes, and my favorite, Belgium waffles. My stomach growled and I hurried to the kitchen.

“Good! He’s up! Let’s eat!” Dad said, gathering the Sunday paper off of the table.

“Morning Sweetie. I was just getting ready to wake you up,” Mom said. She poured Orange juice into wine goblets at each place setting and I saw she had set one for Rainey.

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