Kindergarten Boyfriend

2 | Reacquainted

  
When the final bell rang I practically sprinted to my locker. I needed to get home to see my dad, especially tonight. We had a tradition every year on this day and I didn't want to keep him waiting.

I was making my way to the back doors of the school parking lot when I heard shouting coming from the direction I was walking in.

"Owen, please! I'm sorry can't you just pretend it never happened" I heard a females voice shouting.

Well this is awkward, I thought.

As I continued to walk forward I finally noticed the groups of students huddled around the parking lot gawking and pointing at two people. When I stole a peak I recognized the pair immediately.

Owen and Maggie were standing in the centre of everyone, with angry looks on their faces. It looked like Bri's gossip may have been true after all.

As I kept walking to the parking lot exit to start my walk home, my ears picked up on more yelling.

"Do you even hear yourself Maggie! You're delusional, we're done!" The voice yelled, followed by loud stomping.

As I turned my head to get a final glance at the drama unfolding I noticed that Owen was in fact the one walking away from the crowd and was now headed in the same direction as I was.

I turned around quickly, before he could notice me prying, but it seems that the universe didn't like being on my side and I soon heard my name being called. I tried to ignore him, hoping he would just get to his car and give up, but no such luck.

My strides were not as long as Owens and I soon felt someone's finger tapping my shoulder.

"Celeste?" Owen asked, as I turned around to face him.

"Uh, yeah?" I asked confused, why would he be talking to me now after almost 2 years of silence.

"Where are you going?" He asked, nonchalantly as if it just made sense for him to be talking to me right now.

"I'm walking home, what do you think I'm doing Owen?" I asked him, slightly annoyed since I had somewhere to be and he was either trying to mess with me or wasting my time right now.

"Oh, um yeah I guess that's pretty obvious" he said shyly, scratching the back of this neck. I quickly gave him a once over, he had the same blue eyes, same curly golden hair, and of course the same lopsided grin he'd had since kindergarten. I shook my head trying to stop whatever thoughts might follow from checking him out.

"Is there something you want?" I asked him, hoping he would just get on with it and then leave me alone.

"Oh um..." he started, seeming to not know himself why he was talking to me for the first time since 9th grade.

"Do you want a ride home?" He finally asked.

I looked at him quizzically, he was breaking our streak of silence to ask if I needed a ride home?

What was this boy on.

"I think I'm good. I really need to get going" I told him, turning back around to leave. But he was faster, and soon he was in front of me, blocking my way to freedom.

"All the more reason for me to give you a ride. I can get you home in half the amount of time it would take you to walk" he told me smirking.

I rolled my eyes at him. I really did not want to get into an awkward car ride with Owen, but I also really needed to get home soon and getting a ride from him would be faster than walking.

I let out an exasperated sigh before saying,

"Fine"

I followed him to his car and got into the passenger seat, trying to buckle my seat belt. But again, the universe was not with me today and the belt snagged while I was trying to pull it and got stuck. Next thing I knew, Owen was reaching over me to grab the belt, giving it a light tug and freeing it.

"Thanks-" I said as I grabbed the belt and secured it over me.

"-But I could've done that myself" I told him, irritated.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help" he replied.

"Are you still at the same address?" He asked me as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"Yup" I replied, curtly.

For the next couple of minutes we drove in a very awkward and uncomfortable silence, until Owen finally broke it to ask,

"So, what's new with you?"

I looked over at him, eyes wide. You don't talk to me for almost two years and now what, he wanted to be buddy buddy again? What is going on? I kept asking myself.

"We don't have to do this" I told him, becoming increasingly annoyed by his weird behaviour.

"Do what?" He asked, confused.

"This" I started gesturing around us, "pretending to be friends" I said to him

"I thought we were friends"

I snorted, he could not be serious right now.

"I wouldn't call not talking to someone since ninth grade friends" I responded angrily.

Then there was more silence.

I snuck a glance over at Owens face and instantly regretted it, he had that same look he used to get whenever he was sad when we were growing up. Brows crinkled, pursed lips and a reddish tinge to his face.

I shook my head quickly. Why are you feeling sorry? I asked myself.

He's the one that ditched you!

"I'm sorry about that, by the way" he finally said, looking down.

I rolled my eyes at him. We hadn't talked in years, I don't think that's usually how you treat people when you're sorry. After all these years, I wasn't about to just forget everything he'd put me through just because of some measly apology.

There weren't a lot of people in my life that I was close with and after my mom passed away that list only shortened. It really was just my dad and I at home. But I still had Owen, he was my only escape. When he ditched me in grade 9 I lost all of that, and soon it was just my dad and I again. Alone.

"I think we should try to be friends again" he said, shyly pulling me out of my thoughts.

"I don't know" I told him, trailing off.

"How about you just let me give you my number, you don't have to call or text me or even try to be friends again. I understand why you wouldn't want to give me another chance, but on the off chance that you ever need anything, you can always just ask me" he finally said.

I looked at him, inspecting his face for any signs that this was all just one big joke, but I felt like he was being sincere.

"Okay fine" I told him, giving him a small smile. I doubt I'd ever even use the number, but I had a feeling he wouldn't take no for an answer.

We finally got to my house, as he pulled up to my drive way, I dug my phone out of my bag and then passed it to him to add his number.

There was an awkward bit of silence, until I opened the door saying bye

"Bye Celeste" he responded, giving me a small wave.

When I finally entered my house, I sunk down to the floor with my back to the wall, processing everything that had just happened.