Perfect Chemistry

After I used two boxes of tissues, Sierra gave up on trying to cheer me up and let me cry myself to sleep. In the morning, I beg her to keep her curtains closed and shades down. There’s nothing wrong with staying in bed all day, is there?

“Thanks for not saying I told you so,” I say as I scan her closet for something to wear after she forces me to get up.

She’s standing by her dresser, putting on makeup. “I’m not saying it, but I sure am thinking it.”

“Thanks,” I say dryly.

Sierra pulls a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve shirt out of her closet. “Here, wear these. You won’t look half as good in my clothes as you do in yours, but you’ll still look better than any girl at Fairfield.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why? It’s true.”

“No, it’s not. My top lip is too fat.”

“Guys think it’s sexy. Movie stars pay big bucks for big lips.”

“My nose is crooked.”

“Only from a certain angle.”

“My boobs are lopsided.”

“They’re big, Brit. Guys are obsessed with big boobs. They could care less if they’re lopsided.” She pulls me in front of the mirror. “Face it, you’re model-gorgeous. Okay, so your eyes are bloodshot and you’ve got bags from crying all night. But all in all, you’ve got it goin’ on. Look in the mirror, Brit, and say out loud I’m the bomb.”

“No.”

“Come on. It’ll make you feel better. Look right in the mirror and yell my boobs rock!”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Can you at least admit you’ve got good hair?”

I look at Sierra. “You talk to yourself in front of a mirror?”

“I do. Wanna see?” She pushes me aside and moves up close to the mirror. “Not half-bad, Sierra,” she tells herself. “Doug is one lucky guy.” She turns to me. “See, it’s easy.”

Instead of laughing, I start to cry.

“Am I that ugly?”

I shake my head.

“Is it because I don’t have clothes with bling? I know your mom kicked you out, but do you think she’ll let us go over and raid your closet? I don’t know how long you’ll be able to stand wearing my size-eight clothes on your size-four body.”

My mom didn’t call here last night looking for me. I kind of expected her to, but then again she rarely meets my expectations. And my dad . . . well, he probably doesn’t know I didn’t sleep at home. They can keep my clothes. I’ll probably sneak in during the day to check up on Shelley, though.

“You want my advice?” Sierra asks.

I look at her warily. “I don’t know. You hated the idea of Alex and me together from the beginning.”

“That’s not true, Brit. I didn’t tell you this, but he’s actually a nice guy when he loosens up. I had fun the day we all went to Lake Geneva. Doug did, too, and even said Alex was cool to hang with. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but either forget about him, or give him everything you’ve got in your arsenal.”

“Is that what you do with Doug?”

She smiles. “Sometimes Doug needs a wake-up call. When our relationship starts getting comfortable, I do something to switch it up. Don’t interpret my advice as an excuse to go after Alex. But if he’s what you really want, well, then, who am I to tell you not to go for it? I hate seeing you sad, Brit.”

“Was I happy with Alex?”

“Obsessed is more like it. But yeah, I saw you happy. Happier than you’ve been in a really, really long time. With someone you like that much, the lows are as low as the highs are high. Does that make sense?”

“It does. It also makes me sound bipolar.”

“Love will do that to a person.”