BFFs: Boy Trouble

Parade

Crystal smiled at Miranda and Gregg, Joy and John, Suzie, Avril, Faith, Nino, Lenny, and Kriey but still felt emptiness from Lenny’s rejection. Lenny was finally over Geonnie but he didn’t want Crystal since the first time he asked. She smiled at him extra hard so he knew that she meant business.
 
“I’m glad we could all hang out like this again,” Joy said. “No more boy drama.” Joy eyed Crystal and Lenny quickly. They both caught it but they let it slip. “This was one hectic year.”

Everyone quietly agreed and tried to find a space big enough for them. It was the last day of school yesterday and they always hold an annual parade for it. It was mostly for the kids, but the teachers always showed up too.

As soon as they found a spot, the couples sat in front while everybody else sat right behind them. Nobody really complained about the position but it was uncomfortable for most of them.

“Heads up,” Avril announced. “If you four start to make out, go somewhere private.”

Joy and John instantly got bright red while Miranda and Gregg just smiled mischievously at each other. The people next to them made disgusting faces and went to go find a space where there weren’t any teenagers.

“Way to say it loud enough!” Joy said, swatting her. Avril smiled back at her and everyone started bouncing around, trying to get in the spirit.

“At least it wasn’t Kriey who said it,” Suzie protested. “She would’ve said it so much louder.” Kriey gave her a look but let it slide.

“You know it’s true, Kriey,” Nino agreed. She quickly grumbled under her breath but didn’t care now that more than one person was talking about it.

“Do you think they’ll have fireworks this year?” Faith asked, changing the subject. “Last year they were going to but it started raining.”

“I think I saw some on the way over.” Avril squinted up at Faith and smiled. “Do you want to go see?” Faith and Avril instantly walked away and everybody else was left without knowing what to say.

“How does graduation feel?” Crystal wondered.

“I’m not going to mine,” Kriey answered. “I don’t care about a stupid diploma.”

“Eh, it doesn’t matter to me either,” Gregg said. “I’m not winning any awards or making any speeches.”

“So does this mean we have to come?” Joy joked.

“How was prom?” Suzie asked. She quickly looked at Miranda since she went with Gregg. Kriey didn’t go because she was too busy working.

“Not as fun without you guys!” she announced.

“Can we talk about something else?” Gregg pleaded. The girls looked at him strange and he took Nino and John with him for  short distance walk.

“Crystal, you have the money so can you get us food now?” Crystal sighed and looked at the line.

“Fine, but someone has to come with me.”

“I will!” Lenny said.

Crystal gave her girls a worried look but let him come anyway. They were silent for a while but finally broke through the silence.

“Geonnie told me everything,” he said. Crystal nodded her head and watched as the parade floats started up. “I’m sorry for blaming you this whole time.” Crystal only nodded her head up and down.

They remained quiet for a while until the line appeared. There was about one hundred people there. Crystal huffed but got into line anyway. Since they always started the parade late, it wasn’t that long.

“I don’t think we’ll make it down before the fireworks.”

“Maybe.” Lenny looked surprised to see that it was already getting dark. “Probably.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Why did you want Geonnie back so bad? She doesn’t have that great of a personality.”

“Well…” he thought for a moment. “I guess it’s because I don’t want to go through the ordeal of getting rejected if I ask someone out.”

“But you knew I wanted to go out with you.”

“You apparently don’t know all of the rumors Geonnie spread about you. She told me that you only wanted me because I was hard to get.”

“I knew you had a girlfriend the whole time. In the beginning, I was just being your friend.”

“I didn’t want to like you, okay?” Crystal seemed surprised at the outburst and didn’t talk for a few minutes. “I don’t know why either. Every time I tried I would like you even more.” Lenny instantly stepped closer to her. “And every time you pulled away, even further.”

“I hardly ever pulled away.”

“I know.” By now, Lenny had pursued Crystal so close that they were almost in hugging distance. They stared into each other’s eyes for what felt like hours. They finally stopped looking at each other when they heard a firework pop. “We missed the parade.”

Lenny bit his lip and looked at Crystal. She smiled back at him and when she looked back up at him, he kissed her.

“Guys, are you ever—” Joy stood at the top of the hill looking at Lenny and Crystal for a minute but backed down. “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”