May and June

“Are you coming tonight?” 

A cup of deliciously smelling coffee is placed in front of me as soon as I set foot in the kitchen. No good morning, straight to the point. I’m not complaining, though, as I gladly accept my sister’s token of kindness. She knows perfectly well that I can’t properly function without caffeine running in my system. Especially this early.  

I mean, it’s still dark outside, even though the clock clearly says it’s past my usual breakfast time. Then, again, it makes sense since the weather lady in the background is announcing rain for the entire day. The dark menacing clouds peaking from the window seem to confirm her forecast. 

Too bad, we’d probably need to take a raincheck on tonight’s party, since it should take place outside. 

What a pity! How will I live now?

Magnolia Park is a fantastic venue, don’t get me wrong, except I highly doubt that someone’s going to show up with mud and summer showers on their way. 

On the contrary, this is the perfect weather to enjoy a peaceful evening with an intriguing book. Possibly, soaked in lavender-scented water and with the bottle of fancy Italian wine I spot in the fridge during my last midnight snack. That is if I can somehow get myself out of the intricate scheme my sister has put together. 

Wow, I’m becoming like one of those people on Pinterest, I muse. Maybe I could get some pampas grass to put in a corner of the bathroom too. 

Apparently, though, my plans for a relaxing night alone aren’t as important to my trepidatious older sister, who hasn’t learned how to read other people’s minds yet and is still waiting for an answer. Sparkly eyes, and everything. 

I greet her and murmur a “thank you” for the much-appreciated cup of rich-black, bitter liquid, nonchalantly feigning obliviousness to her question. In fact, I know precisely what she’s hinting at, but I’d rather not have this conversation. Not now, at least. 

Dear old June, unfortunately for me, is one of those people that don’t take no as an answer, much less utter and complete silence. The topic doesn’t matter. If she wants to know something, eventually, she will. No wonder she became an amazing journalist. 

Back when we were in high school I called her the Queen of Chismes because, somehow, she always had the juiciest gossips about everyone, being quite popular among our peers. 

“Earth to May? So, you’ll join us, right?” June swings a perfectly manicured hand a few inches from my eyes. 

 Yes, we were named after our birth month. Our parents were lucky they didn’t get twins. Although, it would have probably been funny to witness the bickering and name-choosing process. Still, they’d come up with an escamotage for sure. Naming children after certain categories runs in the family, anyway. Some of our cousins, for example, are named after flowers, which, in my opinion, is way cooler. 

 Back to the point, May! 

 “I don’t know,” I finally answer after taking a long sip of coffee. “It looks like we might have to swim there,” I shrug. 

 The smile she flashes at me is not the response I’d imagined, and it low-key gives me the heebie-jeebies. 

 “Not necessarily,” she retorts. “Do you remember Beck Martins? Well, he returned a few days ago and, as his family is still abroad, he said we could move the party chez lui. His words,” she adds with glee. A feeling I want yet couldn’t possibly reciprocate. 

 It’s been at least two months since his last appearance in this pocket-sized city, however, I can admit without hesitation that I’d miss a pet rock more than the man of the hour. No offense to all the pet rock owners out there. 

 Beck, though, is like the epitome of an extrovert. If he isn’t around other people he implodes. 

 “Hah, nice.” Stifling the snarky comment that’s about to roll out of my tongue is harder than expected. Only, my adorable sister knows me since day one and can read me like an article she wrote herself. 

 “Come on! He’s asked about you,” June continues. This time she even dares to wink at me. She’s enjoying every second of my misery, the meanie. 

 “Why would he?” I fix my eyes on the already empty cup. On the bottom, there’s a little doodle of a cat. 

 Cute. 

 I inadvertently smile, and, the moment I look back at the blue eyes piercing through my head, I know for a fact that I won’t see the end of this any time soon. 

 “Of course he did! He also mentioned you ghosting him here and there?” And here it is, people. I present you the accusing-amused tone June uses when she grills her pray looking for something intriguing to write about. 

 “I did not,” I snort. Except, I kind of did. “Not on purpose, of course. It just kind of happened…” 

 “May,” she warns. 

 “Fine,” I admit putting my hands up like they do in cartoons. In fact, this entire conversation seems cartoonish and childish. “I didn’t mean to, though,” I continue. “He was texting and calling every five minutes!” For real. Even though I might have exaggerated it a bit, he was really typing at lights speed. At some point, I gave up replying altogether. 

 “It was like reading a monologue! He would ask a few questions and ignore my texts altogether, just to chat about random things forever,” I go on trying my best to avoid sounding conceited or, even worse, patronizing. 

If you know any introverted person, you probably also know that this sort of behavior is one of our nightmares. Or, at least, for me it is. The last thing I want is for my sister to dig deeper and start lecturing me once again on the importance of meeting new people and going out. 

 Let alone dating an extremely extroverted guy.  

 “Then, the calling-cycle began. No peace for pour, little May,” I sigh dramatically leaning on the counter, and almost end up with my rear on the floor thanks to my fantastic reflexes. 

 June, on the other hand, is laughing so hard I’m getting concerned for the physical wellbeing of her jaw. 

 “That’s why he asked if you were still alive! Oh my!” She wipes a tear from her eye. 

 “Very funny,” I grumble. 

 Another reason not to go to the stupid soiree. I could start a list at this point. 

 “I promise we don’t have to go, if you don’t feel like it,” June concedes. Still, the fast-blinking eyes and condescending tone suggest otherwise. 

 “Or I could stay, and you enjoy your evening,” I retort. Even so, my attempt at fleeing has no success whatsoever. 

She furrows her eyebrows and lays her chin on her hands, a clear sign that after two decades I still have a long way to go before I can manage to properly deceive her. “Not a chance, darling,” June argues. “But, thank you”. 

 “Thank- you’re welcome?” Wow, me convincing my sister without putting up a fight feels weirdly nice. This sensation of triumph is awfully short-lived, though.

 With a rapidity I can only envy, she picks up her phone from the counter and starts typing something. When I finally realize she’s calling someone, it’s already too late. 

 I should’ve known better. 

 “Hi, Beck,” June chirps as soon as he answers. I can’t hear him from here since she didn’t put him on speaker, but I’ll be damned if I sit here without preventing my downfall. So, with the same athleticism of a sloth, I lunge towards my sister.

 “Yeah, I tried convincing her but she won’t…” June somehow dodges me and presses the device closer to her ear. “I know! Well, I guess you owe me those bucks, after all,” she giggles. 

 I froze mid-jump. 

 Seriously, I can’t believe those two bet on my freaking attendance at a party. Honestly, I’m baffled that my own blood even betted against me going. 

 I elbow my sister lightly to get her attention. “How much did you bet?” I whisper. 

 She shows me two fingers as an answer still grinning.

 “Two dollars?” I retort quietly. 

 Wow, that’s cheap. 

 June shakes her head and signs a k with her hand.

 What is wrong with these people? 

 In a fit of frustration mixed with anger and adrenaline, I finally manage to take the phone from her and, without realizing what the heck I’m even doing, I scream “No way she gets two Ks betting against me. I’ll be there, wait for me!”

 On the other end of the line, I’m met with a deep rich chuckle. “Well, gotcha Missy. It’s a date, then.”

 He hangs up. He. Hangs. Up. 

I turn to my sister, who is infuriatingly enjoying this too much. 

 “What does he mean with it’s a date?” I bark. “And why the cheese and crackers did you even bet money on this?” I take a step forward, slamming the phone on the aisle with an excessive amount of strength. At this point I’m fuming and I wouldn’t be surprised if actual smoke begins pouring from my nostrils. 

 “You’re taking this too seriously, Em,” the traitor has the audacity to giggle. “We didn’t actually bet money, anyway.” That’s one problem less, but it still doesn’t resolve the other issue. 

 “What does he mean with it’s. A. Date?” I repeat. He could be totally joking, but the lack of a serious reaction from my sister is a red flag itself. 

 “Who is coming tonight?” I ask, a bad feeling is starting to gnaw at my stomach and it’s only the beginning of this already exhausting day. The fact that I’m getting no answer makes it even worse. 

 “June!” 

 She finally looks at me. “Only the two of you,” she whispers under her breath. “Why did he have to ruin the effect of surprise?” 

  “What? Speak up!” I’m losing the last strand of patience I have left in me. At the same time, though, the rage is slowly turning to anxiety. 

 “I said it’s only the two of you,” June repeats louder. A strand of black hair falls from her high ponytail. “You wouldn’t leave the house, I had to do something! When was the last time you even went on a date? Plus, what other plans could you possibly have for tonight? Staying home alone?” she continues without sparing a glance towards me. Suddenly, the wall got all her attention.

 “I did have other plans!” I interrupt her string of excuses.

Her intentions could have been the best, still, implying that staying home and spending some time alone wasn’t worth being called a plan somehow rubbed me up the wrong way. 

 “I’m going, but only because I don’t want to fight with Beck over the phone,” I continue, walking towards the door. “Don’t do this ever again, please.”

That being said, I finally exit the kitchen and go on about my day.

 What a nice way to start this amazing day.