Chapter 7 (What Friends are For)

Daisy and Ezra sat under some pines. He lay back with his arms behind his head, gazing at the blue sky, broken by the towering trees. He sighed with deep content and rolled over to look at Daisy. His eyes had become glazed recently, he walked with a spring in his step, he was friendly, chirpy, annoying.

"I gave her flowers this morning." He said.

Daisy had been watching a cloud and looked at him. "Who?"

He laughed. "Helen, who else? Surely you know that I love her!" he proclaimed.

Daisy felt a stab of jealousy. Not because Ezra hadn't given her the flowers, but because he had given them to Helen instead of her presenting the flowers. The little blue ones that grew on the riverbank would be perfect. She wondered why she hadn't thought of them, and felt it was her place to give gifts. Immediately, Daisy realised that she didn't have a romantic bone in her body, yet was feeling things associated with it. Perhaps, if she tried hard enough, she would come up with an extravagant idea that would make an impression on Helen.

She had become possessive over the councillor, and Ezra's crush was trespassing on her territory. But what was her experience in the situation? Ultimately, she also had a crush. Helen had brought an entirely new turn in her life; it had been so unexpected and left her reeling. Daisy would not admit to herself that she was enjoying the feeling. She felt irritable and was increasingly moody and impatient. Horizon was not a good place when you wanted to be alone.

"What did she say?" Daisy asked, imagining Ezra being slapped with a bunch of wild flowers, leaves and petals flying through the air, a red welt rising on his pale cheek.

"She doesn't know it was me." He giggled like a schoolgirl. "I picked them and left them on her door mat. No note. No evidence."

"Oh." Daisy paused, thinking of something to say. "Do you think she knows it was you?"

Ezra sat up quickly. Daisy had never known him to have so much energy. "I hope so! Dais, she's amazing. Beautiful, intelligent. She is without a doubt, the woman for me. And she's not that much older than me. What do you estimate her to be? 24? 25?"

"I don't know Ezra. Are you going to tell her how you feel?" she plucked a piece of grass from the ground and twisted it in her fingers. Test the waters for me? She thought. Just that morning Daisy had thought about how Helen would react if she approached her with her feelings.

"No, I will wait for her to come to me."

Daisy laughed inwardly. The boy had totally lost it. But was she in a much better state? How could she judge him when she was swimming in the same waters? But how similar were there situations? Ezra was experiencing a natural attraction, but Daisy wondered how natural her feelings were? She sunk her head. Infatuation? Admiration? Crush? Love? Words rushed through her head.

She wondered how he would react if she told him that she too felt something for Helen. Then she would no longer be alone with her feelings. She left it as a thought only. She felt uncomfortable hearing Ezra declare his love for Helen. If he took it well, her input would be required, and she felt she wanted to keep her thoughts and fantasies to herself. Her crush on Helen was the closest she had ever come to intimacy.

"Good luck, Ezra." She said. She hoped it sounded genuine, but hoped desperately that he would fail. She realised that she was not much of a friend, but apparently, all was fair in love and war.

Later that day Daisy and Shelby sat together on the riverbank. Daisy weaved headless stick figures modelled on The Blair Witch project out of twigs and grass. She had three lying next to her already. She hung them up in the woods for no other reason than her fondness for the movie. Paying tribute, she called it.

Shelby was the first to speak and her voice was filled with concern. "Are you alright, Daisy?"

Daisy attached the arms to her latest figure. "I'm fine."

Shelby turned to face her. "No, you're not. You're more withdrawn than usual. It's not you."

Daisy said nothing.

Shelby continued. "I hate to admit it, but this place does a person good. All the talking, it… Daisy, if something is wrong, you should talk about it. Don't be alone in your head," she quoted Peter, "It's too easy to get lost."

Daisy imagined herself treading glue in an abyss of emotion. As her best friend, Shelby could be a lifeline, but was that what she wanted? Was that what she needed, would it hep her at all?

"I know that with the new councillor we've all had to adapt and maybe…"

Daisy stopped her. "Shelby, I can trust you."

Shelby brushed hair out of her face and looked into Daisy's deep eyes. "Yes."

Daisy sighed and put down the figure. "No telling anyone. Ever." The menace in her voice made Shelby shudder. She nodded.

"It's Helen." Daisy started. "I like her."

"She's alright once you get used to her."

"No, Shelby. I like her. As in I have feelings for her. I have a crush on her."

"Oh." Shelby said. She was shocked, although not completely surprised. Daisy's statement explained a lot.

Daisy looked around uneasily. "You know me, and this is not me."

"Daisy, I…"

"Don't know what to say? Neither do I. That is the long and the short of it. I might be falling for a teacher and I don't know what to do."

"Neither do I."

"You don't have to do anything, you don't have to live with this."

"That bad, huh?"

Daisy nodded. "That bad."

"You're the best friend I have ever had." Shelby said. "You have done more for me than you could possibly imagine. I wont say anything to anyone, not even Scott. I promise. And, I guess, if there is anything I can do, just let me know."

"All you can do is keep it a secret. You would understand why I don't want this to be common knowledge."

Daisy's distress moved her. Shelby nodded; she shifted closer to Daisy and put an arm around her. She hugged the young Goth and laid her head on Daisy's. They sat in silence, a new, deeper understanding running between them.