Alexa's jeep swerved as Alexa's head jerked to look at Sarah. Sarah braced herself on the dashboard, expecting Alexa to run right off the road, but Alexa got the car straightened out while still looking at Sarah.

"What do you mean! He tried to kiss you?" Why didn't you tell me?" demanded Alexa.

"Well, I just did," said Sarah. "And watch the road, please."

"That's not what I mean, and you know it!" Alexa turned back and hammered her palm on the steering wheel. "Come on, I thought you two were settled, and he tried to kiss you? Did you let him? And why didn't you call me or something?"

"It's handled, and it's not a big deal. We were hanging out and he just read the room wrong," said Sarah.

"But he knows better!" shouted Alexa. "What happened?"

"He came over, I told you I borrowed that drill, and he was helping out," said Sarah. "We were talking about this meeting, and he volunteered to organize it. Which is great, because I really, really didn't want to do it."

"So this whole mess is your idea? Why didn't you tell me that too?" grumbled Alexa.

"Well, it was right after you'd told me about Taylor and Beckham. I'd gotten their numbers, and Finn was talking to them. But I was looking at our list of everyone, and it made me worried. So many people, so fast. So I talked to my mom..."

"You talked to your mom about it?" Alexa's eyes were wide, and her left knee was bouncing up and down rapidly.

"Not about everything. Just... I made it sound like I was worried about your circle of friends at college. She knew I was upset, I had to say something," said Sarah. She was talking slowly, trying to stay calm and hoping it would reduce Alexa's agitation.

"Fine. So this meeting then?" asked Alexa.

"Yeah, my idea. Sort of. Mom said that some organized thing like a book club or bunko night would be a good idea to keep everyone in touch. We're not going to be a book club, but going somewhere as a group will be good I think. Especially if we can make it into a regular thing, so we don’t have to feel like we’re doing it alone. And I thought about when we've gone camping, or that warehouse... I just thought something like that where everyone can come would be nice.

"Only, you know, that would mean calling everyone. Or emailing Austin, and letting Kayla know even if there's no chance she'll be able to show up. And figuring out what people's schedules are. And talking them into showing up in the first place. And it's not like I’ve even talked to everyone on the list yet."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"So you asked Finn, and not me?" asked Alexa.

"No! Well, yes, but not like that," answered Sarah quickly. "He was there that same morning, and I was still thinking about it. I hadn't even really ironed anything out in my own mind. And so while I was working we talked about it. He got the idea pretty quickly and volunteered to organize it. So I let him, honestly it was a relief he wanted to. Besides I didn't expect him to manage quite this quickly. Could you have gotten everyone to say they'd show up the next weekend?"

"And you're changing the subject!" said Alexa, her voice rising again. She pointed out the windshield at the hills in the distance, emphasizing her words. "What does this have to do with him kissing you!"

"He didn't kiss me, Alexa," said Sarah. "He tried, that's all. I was happy and relieved that he would take over, and I'm still happy and relieved about this, even if you're irritated about a group of people up in your meadow. I was happy, and I picked something up, and then we were standing a little too close. And he thought it was a signal, I guess, and tried to kiss me."

"And he tried to kiss you," repeated Alexa. "So what did you do?"

"I froze. I don't know," said Sarah. The calmness left her voice as she thought back to the moment in the garage. "But it was weird. I dropped my head so he just sorta kissed my hair. That was, just whatever. No big deal. But then I pushed him away, and I told him again I wasn't interested. Not in anyone, and not in him. It felt kinda mean, but, well, I dunno. Good?"

"What exactly did you say?"

"I dunno. He's a friend, maybe even a brother. But not more," said Sarah with a smile. "And even if I'm interested in someone someday, I won't be interested in him. But we're still stuck in each other's lives."

"And Finn?" Alexa was finally calming down, but her knee was still bouncing.

"He said sorry, and he took off really fast," said Sarah. "I invited him to stay for lunch, Mom said I should, but he left. I guess it was kinda awkward."

"Kinda awkward. You've got a gift for understatement," said Alexa.

"It was, really, I mean I think saying all that stuff was scarier than when he tried to kiss me," said Sarah. "But once it was out it was just nice. Like it felt good to say it like that. That's why I didn't tell you sooner too, it was just done."

"Just done, she says. Right, because the ginger jock lets go of dumb ideas on the first try," muttered Alexa.

"Be nice," said Sarah. "He's been fine since then. We've talked a couple of times since then, and he hasn't been weird or angry or anything at all."

"Fine, so long as he's not gonna have us hunting Yeerks," said Alexa.

"Are those like snipes? Or is that one of your Japanese kung fu things?" asked Sarah.

"I thought you read," was all that Alexa said, and the two fell into silence as they rode toward the mountains.

The hills were maybe a bit more brown than last time, but the pine trees still made a dark green wall on either side of the highway. Through the gaps in the trees, she could see wider and wider vistas as they climbed up higher. Eventually, they made the turnoff and Alexa turned her jeep onto the rutted dirt road to their meadow.

"Do you think everyone will be able to follow the directions?" asked Sarah.

"Probably, it's not really that hard. This is the only road anywhere near the mile marker. Plus, look," said Alexa, pointing ahead.

Sarah looked, not realizing what Alexa was telling her to look at for a moment, but then she realized. The everpresent fog still lay thick off in the distance, but it was thin along the road. It was also multicolored, with patches giving way to teal, yellow, purple, pure blues, greens, reds, and other mixes of colors.

"Well, at least a few people got here ahead of us," said Sarah.