AJ: So r u going 2 Michaela’s Wednesday?
SIENNA (via me): Not sure—are you going?
AJ: Yeah probably
SIENNA: (didn’t respond because she was still texting with me to figure out what to say when he popped up again)
AJ: You should def come. It’ll be fun. Michaela’s parents usually order in lots of food and we eat up on the roof.
SIENNA (me): the roof? yikes.
(Sienna has been to Michaela’s; we all have. She knew what that meant, that they’d eat in the party area on the roof garden of Michaela’s building. It was a way of stalling on our part, and also of teeing up something for him to say back, is what I told Sienna. She was doubtful, but she trusted me. She always trusts me.)
AJ: Hahahaha there’s a whole party area up there, chairs, tables, lights
SIENNA (me): oh cool, much less sketchy than it sounded. ;-)
AJ: Yeah a party on a different kind of roof would be kind of overwhelming.
SIENNA (me): or underwhelming.
AJ: When ideally you really want a party to just be whelming.
SIENNA (me): the perfect amount of whelm is such a tough thing to achieve.
AJ: Right? If it’s either over or underwhelming we’re so leaving
SIENNA (me): we demand exact amounts of whelm!
AJ: whelm us properly, world!
SIENNA (me): what do we want? to be whelmed! when do we want it?
AJ: Always!
SIENNA (me): exactly. including now, but: gtg, ten pm . . . parents . . .
AJ: May take me a while to fall asleep.
SIENNA (me): same.
AJ: GN. Stay whelmed.
(Sienna to me: GN?)
(Me to Sienna: good night?)
(Sienna to me: oh, obv. ugh, can you get a concussion from flirting by text? will you just take my phone and deal from now on?)
(Me to Sienna: hahahaha. just say you too. GN)
SIENNA (me): you too. GN.
me: that was awesome Sienna. are you so happy?
SIENNA (actually Sienna, texting only me): yeah. I am. kind of. also, exhausted? but that was fun.
me: ya think? that was completely wonderful
SIENNA: what will happen though if we have to talk face to face and you’re not there to help? he’s gonna think I turned into such a dud.
me: no way. you’re funny and sweet and perfect. and you’re so pretty he’ll forget how to form words anyway so it won’t matter.
SIENNA: oh then we’ll be the perfect couple, going like duh and ummm and staring at our shoes.
me: maybe that’s why people end up kissing
SIENNA: because they have nothing to say to each other?
me: good a reason as any
SIENNA: let’s meet early tomorrow morning, so I never have to face anybody without you, okay?
me: sure sounds good. xoxoxox
SIENNA: hahahaha.