Luna and the Lie

by Mariana Zapata

“I’m just throwing out ideas since you’re being all desperate and needy about wanting to get this favor over with.” If Rip could have sputtered, I was pretty sure he would have right then,

because his expression…. “You say I’m being desperate and needy?”

“The fuck did you just say?” Rip snapped,

What was happening? “You don’t have to bribe me to be your friend! I’ve been waiting for this for years, Rip,”

And just like that, his face clouded over and he took another step toward me. “I wanna worry about it. Tell me what’s wrong.”

You gave me these pieces of you I know you haven’t given to anybody else, and they’re mine. You can’t take ’em back. I need them more than you do, you hear me?”

Me: Do you think I’m being a coward with this Rip thing? Tell me the truth. Not even a minute went by before I got a response. Lenny: Yes Lenny: I didn’t make a chickenshit my best friend.

“Yeah, I did, Luna. You wanna go out to eat? I’ll take you. You wanna go out and get a Sprite? Tell me. You want to watch a fucking movie? I’ll take you to the goddamn movies. If you want to go to beat the shit out of your cousin again, I’ll fucking take you. You want to meet someone to be your best friend and your fucking partner? I’m right fucking here, baby girl.”