4.10: Sneaky

Ever since we were little kids, Clara’s always been what I guess you could call the ‘sneaky’ one – Trying to catch me doing something embarrassing that she can tease me about, or doing something I shouldn’t be doing so she can threaten to tell my parents… She doesn’t do it nearly as often as she used to. But it still makes me kind of mad to think about how she used to treat me.

And now it looks like it might be her turn.

Now, normally I don’t have to worry about that sort of thing with Clara… She doesn’t have to get “caught” doing anything, really. My Tante gets in enough trouble on her own (though to be honest, my Oma and Opa are pretty laid-back about most things).

But this time, she’s definitely hiding something.

For the past two weeks, she’s barely been home. And that’s not 100% unusual, I guess. She does spend a lot of time with Lena, and as long as she has her phone with her and makes it home in time for dinner, my Oma and Opa don’t really mind. I’ve never really thought much of it, to be honest.

Not until this afternoon.

Joel and I were warming up before practice trying to decide which movie we’d go see with Mei tonight. We still hadn’t reached an agreement when I saw Lena walking by on her way home. I remembered Clara saying she and Lena went to see Moonight Massacre III last weekend, and I never did get a chance to ask if it was any good…

But when I asked her about it, Lena just looked at me like I had two heads or something. “Sorry, never seen it.” She said. “I hate all that blood and guts crap.”

It just doesn’t make any sense. I’m sure that’s where Clara said she was. Oma and Opa caught her red-handed coming home past midnight last Saturday – I could hear them lecturing her about it as soon as she walked through the door.

“Guess I lost track of the time.” She told them. And then she said she’d been at the movies with Lena.

But… Wouldn’t Lena remember? Could it all be some kind of misunderstanding? And if it isn’t… Why would Clara lie about where she was last weekend?

I’ve been so distracted all night. I just can’t stop thinking about it. I barely even paid attention to the movie.

Not that Mei and Joel even noticed. They didn’t pay any attention either, really…

Ugh. That just made things even worse. They’re usually so good when I’m around… Trying not to make me feel like the third wheel, know what I mean? But they still slip sometimes.

And I’ll be honest – It’s hard not to get a little jealous.

Now, I don’t mean jealous of Mei or anything. Joel’s like another Bruder to me. And he and Mei are perfect for each other. It’s just that…

Okay, this is so embarrassing. But I just really wish I had a boyfriend. I always wonder what it might be like having someone to love you, and make you feel special. Someone to spend all your time with…

Oh my God.

That’s it. Isn’t it? How come I didn’t realize it before?

Clara’s obviously been off seeing someone. And it sounds like it wasn’t Lena…

So it’s gotta be a guy. That has to be it!

I just don’t understand why. That’s the only part that doesn’t make sense. Why be so sneaky? So secretive? I doubt my Oma or Opa would care if she had a boyfriend…

I know, I know — I’m kind of jumping to conclusions right now… I need to slow down. Maybe I’m reading way too much into this. It just really feels like something weird’s going on.

Too bad I’m not brave enough to ask Clara what it is.