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THE NEXT MORNING, I WAKE kitty up early so she can braid my hair. “Leave me alone,” she says, rolling on to her other side. “I’m sleeping.” #2 в контекст | | |
“Please please please can I get a braid crown?” I ask her, squatting in front of her bed. #3 в контекст | | |
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Swiftly Kitty braids my braid, and then she falls right back to sleep and I’m on my way to figure out clothes. Now that Peter and I are official, people will be noticing me more, so I should wear something good. I try on a polka-dot puffy-sleeved dress with tights, but it doesn’t look right. Neither does my favorite heart sweater with the little pom-poms. Everything looks so kiddish all of a sudden. I finally settle on a floral babydoll dress I ordered off a Japanese street fashion site, with ankle boots. Sort of a seventies London look. #5 в контекст | | |
When I run downstairs at seven twenty-five, Kitty is sitting at the kitchen table with her jean jacket on waiting for me. “Why are you downstairs already?” I ask her. Her bus doesn’t come until eight. #6 в контекст | | |
“I have my field trip today, so I have to go to school early. Remember?” #7 в контекст | | |
I run and look at the calendar on the refrigerator. There it is, in my handwriting: Kitty’s Field Trip. Shoot. #8 в контекст | | |
I was supposed to drive her, but that was before my car accident. Daddy had an overnight shift at the hospital and he’s not home yet, so I don’t have a car. “Can one of the carpool moms come get you?” #9 в контекст | | |
“It’s too late. The bus leaves at seven forty.” Kitty’s face is getting splotchy and her chin is starting to quiver. “I can’t miss the bus, Lara Jean!” #10 в контекст | | |
“Okay, okay. Don’t get upset. I’ve got a ride coming for us right now. Don’t worry, okay?” I pluck a greenish banana from the banana hammock. “Let’s go outside and wait for him.” #11 в контекст | | |
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Kitty and I are waiting on the front steps sharing the greenish banana. We both prefer an unripe, greenish banana to a brown speckled one. It’s Margot who likes the speckled ones. I’ll try to save them for banana bread, but Margot gobbles them up, mushy bruised parts and all. I shudder to even think of it. #15 в контекст | | |
There’s a chill in the air, even though it’s still September and therefore practically still summer. Kitty rubs her legs to keep warm. She says she’ll wear shorts all the way to October; that’s her plan. #16 в контекст | | |
It’s past seven thirty now and no Peter yet. I’m starting to get nervous, but I don’t want Kitty to worry. I decide that if he’s not here in exactly two minutes, I’ll go next door to Josh’s and ask him to run Kitty over to school. #17 в контекст | | |
Across the street, our neighbor Ms. Rothschild waves at us as she locks her front door, a big coffee thermos in her hand. She dashes toward her car. #18 в контекст | | |
“Good morning, Ms. Rothschild,” we chorus. I elbow Kitty and say, “Five, four, three—” #19 в контекст | | |
“Damn it!” Ms. Rothschild shrieks. Ms. Rothschild has spilled coffee on her hand. She does this at least twice a week. I don’t know why she doesn’t just slow down or maybe just put the top on the thermos or not fill it up so high. #20 в контекст | | |
Just then Peter drives up, and his black Audi is even shinier in the daylight. I get up and say, “Come on, Kitty,” and she trails behind me. #21 в контекст | | |
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His windows are down. I come up close to the passenger side and stick my head in. “Is it okay if we drop my little sister off at the elementary school?” I ask. “She has to be there early today for a field trip.” #23 в контекст | | |
Peter looks annoyed. “Why didn’t you mention it yesterday?” #24 в контекст | | |
“I didn’t know about it yesterday!” Behind me I can feel rather than hear Kitty fidgeting. #25 в контекст | | |
“This is a two-seater,” Peter says, as if I can’t see with my own two eyes. #26 в контекст | | |
“I know that. I’ll just put Kitty in my lap and the seat belt over us.” Which my dad would kill me for if he knew, but I’m not telling, and neither will Kitty. #27 в контекст | | |
“Yeah, ’cause that sounds really safe.” He’s being sarcastic. I hate when people are sarcastic. It’s so cheap. #28 в контекст | | |
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I open the door and slide in, laying my bag at my feet. “Come on, Kitty.” I make space for her between my legs, and she climbs in. I strap us in tight, my arms around her. “Don’t tell Daddy,” I say. #31 в контекст | | |
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Kitty hesitates. More and more this happens. With new people she has to decide if she’ll be Kitty or Katherine. #34 в контекст | | |
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“Everyone who knows me,” Kitty says. “You can call me Katherine.” #37 в контекст | | |
Peter’s eyes light up. “You’re tough,” he says admiringly, which Kitty ignores, but she keeps sneaking peeks at him. He has that effect on people. On girls. Women, even. #38 в контекст | | |
We drive through the neighborhood in silence. At last Kitty says, “So who are you?” #39 в контекст | | |
I look over at him and he’s looking straight ahead. “I’m Peter. Your sister’s, um, boyfriend.” #40 в контекст | | |
My mouth drops. We never said anything about lying to our families! I thought this was going to be an at-school-only thing. #41 в контекст | | |
Kitty goes completely still in my arms. Then she twists around to look at me and shrieks, “He’s your boyfriend? Since when?” #42 в контекст | | |
“Since last week.” At least that much is the truth. Sort of. #43 в контекст | | |
“But you never said anything! Not one frigging word, Lara Jean!” #44 в контекст | | |
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“Not one frigging word,” Kitty repeats with a shake of her head. #46 в контекст | | |
Peter cracks up, and I give him a dirty look. “It all happened really fast,” he offers. “There was barely time to tell anybody—” #47 в контекст | | |
“Was I talking to you?” Kitty snaps. “No, I don’t think so. I was talking to my sister.” #48 в контекст | | |
Peter’s eyes widen, and I can see him trying to keep a straight face. #49 в контекст | | |
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