"Immy, do you think I have talent? I only learned from my instructor for one week, and you got my very first piece! Curtis wanted one, but I couldn't bear to waste it on him!"
Gretchen shot Curtis a coy look, flirting with him right in front of me.
"Curtis, doesn't this design look familiar?"
He thought about it, but couldn't seem to place it.
Gretchen sighed.
"God, boys are so clueless. Imogen, let me tell you. He designed this pattern for me when we were kids."
"Said when we grew up and got married, he'd put it on our marriage certificate. Such a shame—I don't think that's ever going to happen now."
Her face was full of wistful regret. I was shaking with rage.
"If it's your memory together, why didn't you tattoo it on yourself? Why put it on me?"
Gretchen stuck out her tongue, playful as ever.
"Oh come on, I'm scared of pain! Curtis said your dream is to be a police officer, right? This little sting is nothing. Stop being so dramatic."
My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached, and my gaze cut into her like a blade.
Curtis stepped in front of Gretchen, shielding her. "Imogen, you don't like it, fine, drop it. Why do you have to be so petty about everything? She's our friend. Can't you just support her?"
I laughed—short, hollow. Looked at him with something close to pity.
"Sure. Then go be her friend."
After that day, I didn't say a single word to Curtis.
I hadn't recovered from watching my dream get ripped apart, and he was too proud to come to me first.
He caved before I did. Stood below my building calling my name, over and over and over.
I wouldn't come down. So he kept going.
He kept going until the neighbors started knocking on our door, asking if anyone was even home.
"I know I was wrong. Please stop being angry with me?"
Curtis watched my expression carefully.
"Weather's perfect tomorrow. Let's go hiking—I've mapped out the whole route. I promise I'll get you to the best view on that mountain."
I stared at the pages and pages of notes he'd put together, and my resolve cracked.
I'd been dreaming about that mountain for so long. Curtis and I had agreed ages ago that we'd go right after exams, that we'd make it all the way to the summit to see the famous painted clouds.
"Do you want to go? It's fine if you don't, I've got other ideas too..." He smiled and started flipping through more of his plans.
I pressed my hand over his. "You don't have to. Let's go hiking."