The Lunacy Fringe

I opened the front door and called out to see where my dad was. I found him in the backyard, taking the dog out.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, pushing the screen open to join him. He was leaning against the post, watching the puppy run around on the new grass.

“Hey, kids. How was school?”

“It was alright.”

“Dandy,” Quinn said sarcastically.

“Miserable,” Billie added. Then she reached for my hand. “Well, Ruby and I have stuff to do. So bye.” She pulled me back into the house, and the screen slammed shut behind us.

“What the hell are they up to?” I heard my dad ask Quinn.

“I dunno. Billie’s in another one of her James Bond moods,” he replied.

But then Billie pulled me up the stairs to my room. She closed the door firmly behind us.

“Okay, spill everything,” she instructed. I sat down on my bed so I could lean against the wall. She took my chair and faced me like I was the most exciting TV sitcom she’d ever seen. “And I mean everything.” She stretched out the last word for added effect.

“About what exactly? Meg or Felix or what?”

“First, tell me what Meg wanted. I’m dying to know.”

“She wanted to know if Felix and I are dating because one of her friends saw us being ‘close’ or something in class,” I explained.

“She did? Why does she care?” She scrunched up her nose.

“She said it was her fault they broke up, and she wants to fix it or something.”

“Weird. So are you and Felix together now or what?”

“What? No.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Do you wish that you were?”

“Are you really asking me this question?”

“Just answer it.”

“Ugh—I don’t know—Maybe. Are you happy?”

“I knew it!” She spun around in the chair like it wasn’t already completely obvious. Or maybe she just didn’t know me well enough yet to realize I was acting like a lovesick moron.

“It wasn’t exactly a secret,” I said anyway. She spun back around to face me, gripping the edges of the chair in her excitement.

“He likes you. I can tell.”

“How?”

“How what?”

“How can you tell?”

“Well, the whole jumping up to help you before anyone else can. And the way he said goodbye when we got here. The whole ‘Detroit’ thing. Plus, he was really worried when you guys got in that accident. I’ve never seen him act like that before. He’s been practically drooling over you since you got here.” I smiled and picked at the hem of my blanket.

“Can you tell me something honestly, though?” I asked her.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Is he kind of a slut?”

“Um….”

“Honestly, Bill.”

“I mean, he doesn’t kiss and tell or anything. But—look—I’ve been friends with Felix for a really long time. And I know that he’s a genuinely good person. And when he is into a girl, and they go out, he treats her very respectfully, and he’s never just out for sex like people say he is. But I think he just has a tendency to—well, panic. And when Felix gets sad or scared, he just sort of—shuts people out. And so his relationships sort of fall apart, and the girls usually blame him because they go in all hot and heavy. And then, when it gets too serious, Felix starts to back off. And they spread nasty rumors because they’re hurt.” I nodded slowly.

“So why should I believe it’ll turn out any different for me?”

“I think he will eventually find someone he’ll want to stick with for the long run. I want him to be happy, and I think he could be happy with you. He’s different with you already.” I shook my head.

“Like how?”

“I don’t know. It’s just—Felix isn’t usually the only one who goes into a relationship too fast and hard, you know? I think that’s why he has such a bad reputation. But—he’s really sweet with you. Kind of soft, you know? Like he’s actually trying to tread carefully. I know it might be just because you’re his best friend’s sister, but maybe that’s exactly what he needs. He wouldn’t risk it if he didn’t think you were worth the risk.”

“And when he inevitably gets bored again? I’m not exactly the most interesting girl in the world.” She laughed and shrugged.

“I think you’re interesting. And Felix thinks you’re interesting. And you come from the same neighborhood as Iggy Pop.” I laughed.

“I did not live in the same neighborhood as Iggy Pop. Just the same city. And it’s a really big city.”

“Still! It’s a very interesting fact. It’s a great city! Kiss wrote a song about it! You could have passed Iggy Pop at the grocery store!”

“I’m pretty sure I would have remembered. He’s kind of hard to forget.”

“Not before he got famous.”

“I still doubt it.”

“Well, anyway. I don’t know. I think Felix is just taking this a bit more seriously,” she decided. I nodded slowly. I wasn’t convinced. But as stupid as it probably was, all he’d have to do is ask, and I’d jump to the occasion to be with him.

“Maybe.”

“Hey, can you see your yard from your window?” I nodded. “Do you ever look at it?”

“I mean—not really.”

“Yeah, but you can see into Felix’s yard.”

“Sure, if you’re creepy.” She stood up and crept over to my window like a creep. She struggled to get it open but eventually figured it out. Then she stuck her head out, and I was terrified it would crash down and crush her spine. I usually had to keep a piece of wood in it just to keep it up. “Ruby, come here,” she whispered. So I climbed out of my bed and went to her side.

“Be careful of the window, please? It likes to fall unexpectedly.” She waved me off and motioned for me to join her. I peeked out and looked down at Felix’s yard. It was empty except for a single lazy Labrador sunbathing on a patch of grass.

“Your dad and Quinn left,” she said.

“Obviously,” someone said from the doorway. Billie squeaked, and we both jumped away from the window just in time for it to slam itself shut. Luckily, we made it out with our spines and fingers intact. Quinn was peeking in the doorway, keeling over with laughter. “What the hell are you guys doing?”

“Nothing,” Billie replied, mouth twitching at the sight of his hysterical laughter.

“We were just checking to see if you guys were still out there,” I lied.

“Right,” he said slowly. “Anyway, I’m going next door. See you.”

“Bye.” He closed my bedroom door, and Billie sank down to the floor, clutching her hand over her heart. I didn’t know if it was because of Quinn’s sudden appearance or because we’d almost been killed by a window.

“Okay, so now it’s my turn to ask questions. What’s up with you and Quinn?” I asked. I hobbled to my chair to sit down. She shook her head.

“Nothing. He hasn’t said much to me. Aside from asking me to prom,” she admitted.

“Do you guys ever hang out or anything?” She shrugged.

“We haven’t really talked since the accident.”

“He likes you. You do know that, right?” She looked back at me without all her usual excitement. She didn’t believe me.

“Did he actually tell you that, or are you just being nice?”

“You know how you said you can tell that Felix likes me? I can tell that Quinn likes you.” She sighed and stared at the bedroom door.

“I just don’t know.”

“Stop being so hard on yourself. He’s kind of stupid, but he’s totally nuts for you. I know this because we have twin telepathy.” She laughed.

“Shut up, you nerd,” she said.