We're Not Related Anymore...

Passing Notes

"Where are you going?" He asks, leaning against his door frame.

"To get your phone back, dummy," I say, curious as to know what's on his phone now. 

-

I walk to Tessa's place. She lives about ten minutes away and the walk gives me the time I need to just relax. I take my time, stopping to admire flower bushes. As I do, I frown, thinking about my own plants that I've been neglecting. I have a few houseplants that I brought over from our old apartment but what I really want to do is get around to maintaining the flowers Lilian has in her- and I suppose now my- garden. 

I decide to hurry up, not wanting to keep Tessa waiting. When I get to her house, a sweet little brownstone, I see her waiting on her porch steps. 

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," I say when she spots me. She flashes me an uneasy smile. "Are you ok?" 

"I'm fine," she says, tossing me Jacob's phone. I almost drop it and laugh at my own clumsiness. Tessa still looks ill at ease so I walk over to where she's sitting and take a spot next to her. 

"How was the party?" I ask, wondering if something happened there to cause her to be in such a mood. 

"It was fine..." She closes her eyes and when she opens them again, she looks at me and smiles, a real smile this time. "I'm sorry I'm so off. It's just- forget it. Hey, did your brother tell you what happened last night?" She asks, quickly changing the subject. 

"I haven't seen him yet this morning. Did he do something stupid?" I ask and she grins. 

"Yeah, he and Betty totally made out," she tells me, leaning in conspiratorially.

"No freaking way! He would never!" I exclaim and then cover my mouth with my hand. I shouldn't be this loud on a weekend morning. People are probably still asleep. 

"I saw it with my own eyes during Spin the Bottle," she says.

"Spin the Bottle doesn't count," I say scoffing. 

"Maybe if they'd just kissed but they full-on-"

"Nah, nah, nah," I say, plugging my ears with my fingers. "I don't think I want to hear this." 

We both laugh and I'm glad that whatever tension Tessa had has seeped out of her. I stare at the blossom tree she has swaying in the front yard, admiring the beautiful, falling flowers. 

"So... did you snoop in his phone?" I ask, my curiosity and impatience getting the best of me. 

Tessa goes ramrod straight. "No. I didn't- I would never," she gasps out like I've just accused her of murder. 

"Relax," I say, holding my hands up. "I'm not judging. I'm tempted to do so myself-"

"Don't," She interrupts and now I'm the one stiffening. Did Jacob actually have something bad hidden on his phone? Was that why he was acting weird earlier? 

"Why?" I ask, my voice quiet. Tessa's eyes bounce, settling on every object but me. 

"Just... just do me a favor, Maddie, and be careful around him, ok?" She asks. I watch as she picks up a twig and throws it down a step.

"Be careful around Jacob?" I wonder out loud, bewildered by her words. "Are we talking about the same guy?"

"He has pictures of you on his phone," she blurts out before I'm even finished my sentence. "Like really revealing pictures and I'm just worried he's going to try something now that you're living under the same roof."

My entire face goes red as her words register. When I don't immediately answer, she looks up at me. Now I'm the one unable to make eye contact. 

"I know this is weird and uncomfortable to hear but-"

"I know," I say softly, my words barely audible over the early morning sounds. 

"To be careful or about Jacob's pictures?" Tessa asks slowly, still able to hear my soft words clearly. 

"I didn't know there were pictures but I knew that... he... we..." I don't know how to put our relationship into words. 

"Is there something going on between you too?" She asks, her words sounding far-off and strange. I'm compelled to shake my head but decide to be honest instead. If I don't, Tessa will think the worst about Jacob, and I don't want that.

"There was but not anymore. We've... we've decided just to be friends. It's-" I stop when I look up and see Tessa's face. 

"I can't believe this," she says, staring at me, her eyes looking like they're welling up with tears. 

"I know it seems bad since he's my step-brother-"

"I don't care that he's your step-brother, Maddie," she says coldly. "I care that I've been making an ass out of myself for months. How long has this been going on? Wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know."

She stands up, dusting off her jeans. I get up to follow her but she turns around before she opens the front door. 

"All those times I told you about how much I liked him, was that all just some joke to you?"

"No, Tessa, it's not like that. I never thought your feelings were stupid-"

"What kind of friend doesn't tell someone they're dating the person they keep talking about?"

"We weren't-" I start. 

"Just forget it, Maddie. I don't think I can talk about this right now," she says with finality, her hand on the doorknob. 

"Tessa," I try once more, desperate.

"Do me a favor, will you? Tell Jacob to delete those pictures. He won't be so lucky if someone else sees them next time."

And with that, she closes the door on our friendship.