Karma and Amy opted to cut their movie night short after the awkward exchange.
As Karma tried to fall asleep that night, one thought ran through her mind. So where do we go from here? It was an interesting question. Just when they thought it was impossible, their friendship managed to reach even more uncharted territory.
Amy was obsessing, too. Only for once, she wasn't being introspective. She was just replaying that kiss over and over again in her mind. Karma's kisses were normally gentle, tentative, but this one was different. And although she'd pushed Karma away, she'd certainly enjoyed it.
When Amy was listening to her logical side, she knew she'd made a good call, choosing to protect herself rather than follow another one of Karma's whims. But there was also that other part, the part that was kicking herself for not pinning Karma against the couch while she had the chance. And she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to keep that part quiet. Or if she wanted to.
"How'd it go?" Shane asked Karma when he picked her up for work the next morning.
She just moaned and put her hands over her face.
"That bad, huh?"
"I kissed her and she pushed me onto the floor."
"Oh boy..."
"You told me to convince her."
"Not with your tongue."
"I didn't use my-"
"Okay regardless, you need a plan."
"I had a plan. It didn't work."
"So... you're going to give up?" He asked. Karma shrugged. "See this is the problem! Amy, she tried and tried and tried again for you. Both to be just friends and more than that. You just-"
"Shane this isn't easy for me," Karma snapped.
"Okay," Shane calmed down. "Let's think about this."
"I have," Karma said. "I've gotten nowhere."
Shane sighed. "Well school starts tomorrow. Take it a day at a time. Think persistent but not pushy."
"But it's Amy," she whined, "I don't want to have to think around her. It shouldn't be stressful to hang out with my best friend!"
"I'm waiting for you to realize that this was exactly how-"
"I know." Karma cut him off. She slumped down in her seat as he pulled into the parking lot of the pool. "This sucks."
**********************************
"What are you doing home?" Amy's mom asked, when she found Amy eating Chinese food out of the container in front of the television. "Don't you and Karma have some night before first day of school ritual?"
"Yeah. She normally comes over to make sure my first day of school outfit isn't hideous. Then we go out for ice cream and lament over the end of summer. But I guess not this year." Amy shrugged.
Lauren looked at her sympathetically. "I'll go to Ben & Jerry's with you if you want."
"It's okay," Amy sulked. "You'll read the calorie counts and ruin everything."
"Just trying to be nice,"' she muttered leaving the room.
*********************************
Karma sat on her bed staring at her phone. She'd been trying to will herself to make plans with Amy but she hadn't been able to work up the nerve. The numbers on her phone turned to 9:00. Ben & Jerry's was closed anyway.
She called Shane. She wasn't sure how she felt that he had become her lifeline, but it was too late now.
"Shannnnne," she whined. "Can't you just intervene? You could definitely convince her! She'll believe you."
"Karma, is that really the ending you want?"
"Yes, if it ends with me and Amy, that's all that matters."
"Well, I myself like magical movie endings and I want to see this one!"
"I hate you," she replied.
"Remember persistent but not pushy."
"Hating you more!"
"Love you too."
Shane had pressed her buttons. But it had worked. She was out the door and on her way to Amy's.
**********************************
She arrived with a pint of Phish Food in hand and rang the doorbell. Amy opened it and couldn't help but smile.
"You came," she said, smiling growing.
"I had to make sure you wouldn't wear anything too awful." Karma explained.
"So snarky," Amy replied, rolling her eyes. "Come on in."
Karma sat down at the kitchen table and Amy brought over two spoons.
"You know what?" Karma said. "I'm actually glad the summer's over."
Amy nodded. "It's been quite an eventful one."
"You never did tell me about the tour," Karma said. "Are your pictures ready?"
"Mostly. I just have to pick and choose which are worth posting to the band's page."
"Can I see?" Karma asked excitedly.
Amy appreciated Karma's interest. They scrolled through pictures, as Amy shared funny anecdotes from her adventure and told Karma about the girls.
"Oh I didn't take these," Amy said as she reached the last few photos. "Stacey stole my camera and said I needed to be in at least a few pictures."
Karma stared at the last few pictures with extra interest. She noticed the tinge of jealousy that came over her as she saw the photos of Laura with her arm slung over Amy's shoulder or Meg kissing Amy's cheek, like the flirt that she is. But Karma began to feel sick for another reason, too. That smile on Amy's face, the one in the photo, she hadn't seen it in quite some time. That genuine, worry-free, silly smile. Karma hated herself for pulling Amy away from that. But even more, she suddenly understood Amy's hesitancy about Karma's change of heart.
If Amy was finally in a good place, she had to find a way to honor that. But it wasn't going to be easy.
**********************************
The first few days of school came and went. The girls tried to get back into their normal routines. But they didn't even know what normal was anymore.
"Things still awkward?" Shane asked pulling Amy aside.
"No," Amy said, "everything's fine." Amy paused and looked at him accusingly. "Unless Karma has told you otherwise. You two got pretty chummy this summer."
Shane smiled. "True," he said. "But I told her I'm not getting involved."
"Why do I have trouble believing that?" Amy asked.
"Anyway, I just think you both looked a little tense. Perhaps you need another girls' weekend..." Shane suggested.
"No thanks," replied Amy, shutting her locker. "Gotta get to class."
"Anything?" Karma asked Shane as he walked by. He shook his head solemnly. She sighed.
**********************************
Karma waited patiently. She was thankful her mother was doing better and would be coming home next week. She was thankful father had found a job. He just started as the host at a local vegetarian restaurant. So Karma just waited and tried to focus on the positive.
"Want to go to Veggie Heaven tonight?" Karma asked. "My dad said he'd send us all of the screwed up orders..." She tempted.
"Sure," Amy said. "Sounds fun. Want to invite Shane? He loves-"
"I was thinking just us." Karma interrupted.
Amy shrugged. "Okay."
It wasn't the enthusiastic response Karma was hoping for, but she'd take it. "Great," she replied. "I'll meet you there at 6:00!"
Right after the bell rang, Karma cornered Shane at his locker. "I want to ask Amy to homecoming." She blurted out excitedly.
Shane looked unsure. "Maybe this isn't the best idea..."
"You told me you wanted a magical movie ending, so... I'm making my own."
"I thought you were going to leave her alone. For the sake of her happiness." Shane reminded. "That didn't last long..." He muttered.
"That was... misguided," Karma explained. "I can make her happy. I just have to show her that."
"Now that sounds like a winning attitude," Shane said excitedly. "But... I'm still not sure homecoming is the best idea. Its where this all began… Where she got outed to her mom... Where you first faked it... Where you ditched her to almost fuck Liam in a car..."
"Okay enough." Karma stopped him. "This will be our redo, our romantic redo."
"I'm just worried she'll say no," Shane admitted.
Karma took a deep breath in. "Me too," she admitted. But I won't know unless I try..."