* * *

 “Meggy? We’re home!” My mother’s voice called cheerily from the hallway as the rumble and bumble of paper bags and milk cartons sounded from outside. My eyes lingered on that “Friend Request Confirmed” bubble for a moment longer before I jumped up to meet them. My Mom was plunking grocery bags on the kitchen counter but my dad pulled me up into a bear hug and squeezed me so tight I thought I could feel my bones cracking. Ah it was good to be home!

  “How was your vacation, squirt?” Dad asked, setting me back on my feet. Before I could answer Mom plowed through with her interrogation.

  “Did you girls have fun? Did you meet a lot of Marti’s friends who live up there? Oh I bet you went swimming a lot! I hope you wore your floats. How’s Uncle Gerry?” She paused for breath and I gave her a hug.

  “Yes, yes, and alright I think. He was pretty quiet.” I twirled a blonde curl around my finger as my parents started unpacking the store bags. It reminded me of my packs that were still in a heap in the entryway. “I’ll tell you all about it later, right now I’ve got to go unpack!” I started for the stairs, secretly glad to get out of helping sort the cans in the pantry. I breathed deeply on the way up, loving the homey scent. I can only smell it first thing after a trip. After that my nose gets used to the smell again and it seems to disappear.

  My roomed smiled me a welcome. It was clean and fresh, a gift from my mom no doubt, since it had been a disaster when I’d left. Sweet of her, but it meant that I wouldn’t be able to find a thing for a week or two. Parents are always nagging you to clean but whenever my room’s tidy not a darn thing is where it’s supposed to be.

  I sighed and dropped all my bundles on the floor (aka, “unpacking”) and flopped across my bed. I closed my eyes.

And opened them. I knew I should go fill my mom in on everything, but I was too tire to talk.

I closed my eyes once more.

And opened them again. I felt unsettled. That surreal let-down feeling flooded through me, reminding me of how I always feel the day after Christmas.

I’m a teenager though, so naturally I turned back to the internet for my entertainment. A few minutes after getting online, I got a message.

It was from David.

 

  hey

 

Already? He was talking to me already? I couldn’t remember a guy being interested in me even for friendship in forever. I smiled, feeling color rising in my face. This guy actually seemed like he wanted to talk to me. I bit my lip again and typed hesitantly back.

 

  Me: oh hey

 

He responded quickly.

 

David O’Hara: what are you up to?

 

Me: not much, just unpacking

 

David O’Hara:  did you and Marti just get home?

 

Me : yep

 

David O’Hara:  cool. I g2g ttyls

 

Just like that? Dismissed? I couldn’t figure this guy out. Feeling worthless and nerdy again, I flipped to his page to stalk him a bit.

He didn’t have any pictures on his page. Or any information about his hometown.

Or any mutual friends.

Or any friends at all.

 

My stomach dropped.

 

That isn’t David O’Hara.