It's All in Your Head

A few days later, Gia and Sophia were sitting at their usual spot in the mall’s food court. There was something about going to the mall that these two girls loved. It always seemed abandoned because the younger generation—their generation—was shopping for everything from home. The internet had taken over the shopping industry from clothes to groceries, so there was a certain peacefulness in the mall. The mall cop sauntered by, not noticing the girls.

“I don’t think I can look at that cop the same way ever again,” Gia said, sipping her iced latte.

“Just imagine how I feel,” Sophia shuttered with disgust. “I swear the animalistic sex sounds wake me up at night.”

“You can’t shut it off?”

“I’m sure I can detach somehow, but I haven’t figured it out yet,” Sophia’s face suddenly distorted as if she tasted something bitter. “Hey. Look at me.”

Gia obeyed. Sophia locked eyes with her friend.

“Are you reading me right now?” Gia began to get flushed.

“I am.”

“Please, don’t,” her thoughts were racing. She tried to look away but could not escape the gaze that Sophia had on her.

“Gia…”

“Please, Sophie,” she pleaded. Gia began to wiggle in her chair as if her bladder were going to release right there in the food court. Sophia’s eyes welled up and so did Gia’s.

“Gia, how could you?” she said while choking back tears.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Gia whispered.

“CeCe?” Sophia’s voice was scornful. “You slept with my girlfriend?”

“I-I,” Gia tried, but she had no excuse. No words could explain her stupid actions. She hated herself. Sophia stood abruptly and smacked Gia’s latte off the table. Milky coffee fell in a sticky, hate-filled shower. Luckily, Gia avoided the splatter.

“Don’t,” she said, pointing that same well-manicured black nail that playfully poked Gia just the other day. Sophia stormed out of the mall.

“How the hell am I supposed to get home?” Gia wondered.

Gia used one of those rideshare apps. Downloading the app and creating an account took longer than the ride itself. Apart from the little old man driving and telling corny grandpa jokes, the experience was not worth keeping the app. She’d review it with 2 stars later.

“Sophie?” Gia called as she casually opened the door. There was no answer. She went to Sophia’s room, knocked, and cracked the door about an inch.

“Soph?” Still nothing. Her car was in the driveway, so Gia knew she was home. She assumed Sophia took refuge in the little greenhouse she kept in the backyard. She always felt safe around her plants. Gia would respect her space and give her privacy. They were best friends. They had plenty of time to talk this out. Gia plopped on the couch, switched on the TV, and decided to order Chinese food for dinner. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and saw it. A huge spider web crack in the middle of her screen.

“Son-of-a,” she stared in disbelief. “How in the hell did this happen?” She could still see the screen well enough to find King Kung Pao’s number in her Favorites list. It rang. It rang again. And then silence.

“Hello?” Gia said. She looked at her phone only to see the picture of herself and Sophia from 3rd grade smiling back at her from the home screen, their faces sticky with summertime popsicles. She tried calling again. This time, she made sure to watch the screen in case she had accidentally hung up with her face. She did that sometimes. It rang. It rang again. It rang one more time.

“King Kung Pao. Delivery or pick-up?” a voice answered. Success!

“Hi! Delivery, please,” Gia confirmed.

“Hello?” the voice said.

“Hi! I’d like to place an order for delivery.”

“Helloooo? Is anyone there?”

“Yes! Hi!” Gia practically yelled into her phone. “I’d like to place—”

“Fucking kids,” the person on the other end interrupted and hung up.

“What the hell?” Gia thought aloud. “Must be a bad connection.” She decided to just walk to the store on the corner and buy dinner supplies. Sophia would probably appreciate the effort of a home-cooked meal. Gia grabbed her busted phone, yelled to Sophia that she would be back, and went out the door. Once outside, she peeked in the backyard just to check. She could see the dark silhouette of Sophia in the greenhouse. Gia let out a deep sigh. She just wanted to make things right.

“Close your eyes,” said CeCe, drunk and giggly.

“Why?” Gia coyly replied. The wine went to her head quicker than usual. It must have been the excitement of getting to hang out with CeCe one-on-one. She wanted to get to know her best friend’s girlfriend a little better. Sophia left without giving CeCe any explanation, and all Gia knew was that she was on vacation with her mom. It had been weeks and neither of the girls had heard from her. CeCe decided it was a good idea to have a girl’s night with wine and laughs.

“Just do it!”

“Okay,” Gia obeyed. CeCe quickly pecked her on the lips and then squealed. She hid her face with a pillow. “Oh my God! CeCe!” She couldn’t help but smile even though she had a sinking feeling in her gut.

“I’m sorry,” CeCe said. “I’m so drunk and you’re so cute and I’m really confused about Sophia. Why did she leave without telling me where she’s going? Is it over?” Tears began to fill her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

“I don’t know,” Gia said sympathetically. “I wish I knew what to tell you. She won’t answer my calls or texts.” CeCe nuzzled her head onto Gia’s shoulder.

“I just,” she started. “I just miss her so much. I hate sleeping alone at night.” CeCe’s blond waves cascaded down Gia’s chest. She noticed CeCe’s hair smelled like strawberries. Just like the shampoo she and Sophia used when they’d wash each other’s hair while playing hair salon as kids.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Gia wrapped an arm around CeCe, giving her a sideways hug.

“Gia?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you hold me tighter, please?” Gia positioned herself so that she could lie sideways on the couch. CeCe snuggled next to her, placing her head on her chest. “Thank you.”

“Do you wanna watch a movie?”

“No,” CeCe whispered, sliding her hand up Gia’s thigh.

Because Gia walked to the store, she only grabbed the essentials. Just some basic stir fry ingredients: eggs, mixed vegetables, protein, noodles, et cetera. However, they didn’t have the noodles she liked, and the shrimp looked questionable, so she had to opt for chicken. The little grocery store was trying out some new recycled plastic bags. They were like tissue paper, thin and flimsy.

“I hope this makes it all the way to the house,” Gia thought as the pimply faced teenager bagged her groceries with a heavy hand. Gia made it to about a block away from the house. She was starving and her mouth was watering just thinking about the delicious, friendship-saving meal she was about to make. Then, the flimsy little grocery bag gave out, dropping its contents on the ground with a sickening “smack!” The small container of eggs had splattered on the cement. This was the last straw.

“Shit!” Gia threw the bag in the air. It barely left the vicinity of her hand. It hovered mockingly in her face. She swatted at it until it finally landed on the ground in front of her. She took a deep breath and dropped her shoulders. She scooped up the frozen mix of vegetables, the not-her-favorite noodles, and the chicken-not-shrimp. Defeated, she walked home with the slightly chilled food in her arms.

When she got home, Sophia was sitting on the kitchen counter eating grapes. Gia plopped the groceries on the counter next to her with an exacerbated sigh.

“What’s wrong, babe?” Sophia inquired.

“I—,” Gia began. “Wait. Aren't you still mad at me?”

“No. I talked to CeCe and got her story. Needless to say, we’ve broken up. Ooo! Are you making stir fry? Where are the eggs?” Gia stared in disbelief.

“They broke...Hold on, I slept with your girlfriend, and I didn’t tell you about it. You left me stranded at the mall. I never got to explain anything, but now you’re okay with it?”

“You didn’t have to explain anything. I saw all of it in your eyes. Your soul told me. Gia, you are such a pure person. I know you would never willingly do something to hurt me. CeCe had no intention of staying with me when I left with my mom. I really don’t blame her. I was never actually present in our relationship. Bummer about the eggs.”

“I’m relieved you’re not mad at me. You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had!”

“Oh?” Sophia questioned slyly.

“Yeah, a series of unfortunate events…What were you doing in the greenhouse?”

“Just taking some time to myself to think things through. Meditate. That kind of stuff.”

“Did--,” Gia paused. “Did you…curse me?”

Sophia looked at Gia. She smiled and popped a green grape into her mouth.

“Why, no. Of course not, Gia. I’m sure it was all in your head.” She poked Gia’s cheek with that perfectly manicured, shiny, black nail.