What I Regret Most

Chapter 9 (Saylor)

That first Monday after everything happened, Ezra switched lab partners. He didn't look at me anymore. After our text conversation at lunch, I decided to distance myself from him. He didn't return to lunch the next day.

Even though Ezra rejected me, I planned to break things off with Dominic. Although being with Dom was easy, it wasn't something I wanted. At the football game, I was going to tell him everything, and then hand Dom his jersey and leave with Ezra. But he kissed another girl and gave her some necklace. I assumed she was his girlfriend. It made sense, Vanessa was the head cheerleader and he was the quarterback. I never really stood a chance. And so, I stayed with Dom. I knew a lot more about Dominic than I did of Ezra anyway. I knew that Micah and Dom had always been friends. Then Ezra joined their group freshman year. Dom had an older brother in college and a younger sister in 8th grade. He lived on a small horse ranch, right outside of town. He wanted to take me some time. He loved blue raspberry slushies and lollipops. I also knew that everything with Dom was temporary. We had no strings. I would stay with him as long as he made me happy.

The weeks passed on slowly. I hadn't talked to Ezra at all. Dom and I kept going on dates. We made it official soon after. It was nice, but not permanent. Just a way to keep me from running back to Ezra.

It had been 2 months since the football game, Ezra was still ignoring me. Everyone kept bringing up that Ezra was being distant, and I tried not to participate in those conversations. I went to Dom's games and wore his jersey, and Ezra never looked up at me. He must know that I saw him with Vanessa. All she could talk about was how wonderful he was. She showed off the chain he had given her to everyone and said how romantic it was. I never saw the two of them together after that game, but she still brought it up especially nowadays. Homecoming was around the corner and she was hoping he would ask her. It was awful to think that the two of them had been together the entire time. But, the worst part of it was that even though he lied to me, I still wanted him in my life. When I wasn't with Dom, I was sitting, waiting for Ezra to call or text. To explain why he did everything. Why he sat with me and comforted me? Why he kissed me if he was with someone else? I wondered if he would ask Vanessa to Homecoming. It's not like he would ask me.

I knew Dom would, I just didn't know-how. Maybe since we were dating, it would just be a casual thing. I hoped it wouldn't be around Ezra. I didn't need to have a reason to say no to my own boyfriend.

It was a Wednesday night when I got my answer. Dominic pulled up in his Ford pickup, decorated like a boat. 5 guys were in the back holding up a sign. Ezra wasn't one of them. I wondered how he was able to talk his way out of that. I mean he was Dominic's best friend. I saw the sign when he parked the car. It was pure Dom, 'Would you be the Saylor to my ship, and steer me to homecoming?' I had to admit, it was cheesy in a good way. I walked outside and Dom got out of his car. I ran up to him and gave him a hug.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes!" I said. And he pulled me in tighter.

I heard Micah yell out, "What did she say?" Dom put up his thumb and the boys started shouting.

"Hey, let's go celebrate." I didn't really want to go out, so I offered an alternative.

"Why don't you drop off the guys, and then come back and we can watch a movie or something."

"That sounds like a date, I'll be back in a few. Pick something interesting would you?" He kissed me and walked over to his car.

"Bye Saylor" I heard collectively from the guys as they drove off.

I walked back inside and was greeted by Rachel, standing in the doorway.

"Who was that?" Shoot. I never did tell dad about Dom.