Thanksgiving gave her time off from school, and her arm cast was removed. She didn’t have to hear about football or walk by her former cheer squad in the halls. Ironic in a way. After Timothy left, she filled his spot, at least with her former friends, and they didn't harass her or push her head into a locker. One girl threw paper at her, but a group of boys, including a few on the football team, defended her. Just her old friends gave her the cold shoulder. Now she knows what it felt like, gaining perspective from the new experience.

  After clearing her head during the break, she made moves to change her life for her senior year of high school.

  She joined multiple clubs, one being the chess club—a solitary pursuit. Being with people reminded her of Timothy, and chess got her mind off him. Being the only girl in the club held a lot of sentimental moments as the boys treated her well, like a princess, giving her all the advice she asked for without overly explaining themselves.

  She took over a portion of Timothy's dog walking business. Despite the cast now off, she didn’t feel the need to pursue social media, or to model or fashion for a variety of her sponsors, as it was all fake pseudo relationships that will never amount to anything. Dogs though. Dogs were always genuine. On top of that, dog walking will give her the exercise she no longer gets from cheer.

  Her phone dinged with a friend request as she got ready to take Bri out. She gets a lot of these. Like, a lot. But she checks everyone just in case.

  Nathan Poole.

  She declined it, hoping it was Timothy, hoping to see a photo of him. She did get a message from him, letting her know he has a phone, but that was it. He must’ve kept the note she dropped in his locker.

  As Bri and Sarah sat in a tea store that mixed ingredients and toppings in the beverages, Bri couldn’t help but wonder about her sister. “You’ve been staring into that cup for a while now.”

  Sarah looked up and ignored her.

  “Cut it out, it’s weird.”

  “You’re weird,” Sarah said to her sister’s level, and she felt a kick to her ankle. “Ow.”

  “Never seen Little Miss Perfect be so depressed before. Is it because Dad is moving the company?”

  “Nah.”

  “Well, I’m looking forward to moving. I’ll be going to a bigger high school.”

  “Won’t you miss your friends?”

  Bri picked up her phone. “Video chat.”

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  A couple of boys came to their table and hovered around momentarily, then a piece of paper dropped in front of Sarah, and they rushed away.

  “Those nerds finally made their move,” Bri said. “They’ve been staring at us for a while.”

  Sarah opened the note and read it out loud. “Either one of you can call me. Or both =P” She ignored the phone number. “Jesus,” she murmured.

  Bri ignored the note as well, clearly not interested. “Speaking of nerds. How’s Timothy?”

  “I hope he’s doing fine. Mom said he’s finishing high school by correspondence.” She leaned back and twirled what was left of her tea with the straw. “That’s certainly what’s best for him.”

  “Dad said I can get a dog when we move this summer. I’ve already picked out a name for him!”

  Her kid sister changed the subject on a dime. “For a dog we don’t have yet?”

  “Yeah,” she said, “Bones.”

  Sarah looked critical of the cliche name. “Bones?”

  “Yeah! As in Indiana Jones, but Bones.”

  Sarah chuckled. Another pun name for a dog, her sister bringing up Timothy, segued into the dog as that nerd influenced the naming convention she had a soft spot for.

  She had put a lot of thought into what she was about to say. “I didn’t realize sports were a way of life for people. Cheering was fun, but when I dumped Liam and Twain injured him, they took it out on Timothy over a game. A game most adults aren’t healthy enough to play themselves.”

  Bri absorbed what she said and kept her focus.

  “I wish I had made friends earlier in more circles. Not just in cheer or with the football players.”

  “The boys in the chess and movie clubs ain’t enough either?” Bri laughed.

  “Well, leaving Liam was certainly the right thing to do. But the new clubs have been fun. I drink a lot less now, that’s for sure.” She didn’t say it out loud. But activities that were the opposite of cheer have been good for her. It gave her time with her thoughts, her emotions, listening to friends, and friends listening back, instead of partying, or just talking about what happened in their day. Her dog walking came as a recommendation from someone in the movie club, like Timothy, to learn how a silent companion can help her mental health. Five dogs a week, mostly after or before school, have helped.

  Her phone buzzed with a friend notification. She jumped a bit.

  Timothy Kline.

  “Well, speak of the devil.” After weeks of not seeing him, his profile pic looked different. His teeth, for one, were almost aligned, but just a few were still sticking out. His blonde hair grew out and parted down from the left, with some motion to it.

  “What do you think of this guy?” Sarah turned the phone to her sister.

  Bri leaned in. “He’s cute.”

  “He’s Timothy.”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  Sarah laughed at her kid sister's language. “You’ve never thanked him.”

  Bri got quiet. “It hurts to think about.”

  “Hmm?”

  “Drowning. It was so dark, and my feet were in the cold water. I didn’t want to see Timothy because it reminded me of that.”

  Sarah had the wrong idea, thinking Bri had a small crush on him. She imagined what Bri went through to the best of her ability. And Bri is right, it hurts to think about. And the pain got worse, she imagined not having Bri sitting across from her right now.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

  “You’re here for me now.”