𝚃𝚘𝚛𝚗- ᑕ0ᗰᑭᒪᗴ丅ᗴ

ch 12: nate

I had just gotten out of the shower, after getting home following that short practice on Friday, when I heard the door ring.

I threw on a pair of shorts and ran to the door, careful not to slip on the marble floor.

I wasn't expecting to see Sunny standing there at my doorstep; she hadn't said more than four words to me this last week and it honestly was starting to feel like we'd never even be friends again.

She stood there, tugging at her hair nervously, explaining that she had gotten a ride home from Tristan and he showed her where we lived on the way to her place, which was about 10 minutes away.

Her rambling and awkwardness forced a smile onto my face when I cut her off.

"Flower, hey, it's okay. Take a deep breath and just-- tell me what's up?"

She let out a deep huff as I let her into the foyer and as I calmed her down, it reminded me of when we were little.

She turned back to look at me with those bright, chocolate eyes and it nearly floored me.

"I just-- I missed you."

My heart, which had been in pieces for a year, seemed to suddenly glue itself back together and as I tugged her tiny body closer to mine, I inhaled deeply, never wanting to be away from her again.

"I missed you too, Flower."

We pulled away and I tilted my head, watching her dab the tears from her eyes.

"And what about I said that day--"

"Nate, it's okay--"

"No, it's not. Look, I didn't take the news of the trade very well..."

Sunny slowly shook her head, though it was in agreement.

"I don't think any of us took it well."

After noticing her stuffed backpack and skateboard under her arm, I gave her a look, cocking my eyebrow in curiosity.

"Turning into a hobo? What's with all the gear?"

"Where's your room?"

I guided her through the wide maze of the new house, straight to my room, watching as Sunny pulled me in and closed the door, locking it behind her.

"We're going to Callan Lee's party aaaaaaaaannnnnnddd..."

She pulled out a partially empty bottle of cinnamon whiskey from her backpack and chucked it on my bed."

"We're gonna have some fun."

I cocked my eyebrow and shrugged, watching as she kicked her shoes off and hopped on my bed.

"Okay...?"

"Here's to you and me, Nate. Best friends forever."

She took a swig straight from the bottle before passing it to me. I repeated her action, letting the sweetly spicy alcohol enter my system.

✨

Sunny was getting ready in my attached bathroom and as I laid back on the bed, a thought crossed my mind, and even though I really didn't wanna bring him up, I knew I should.

"So, why aren't you going to the party with your boyfriend?"

After getting slammed into my own gym locker, Adam had no problem letting me know just how close he and Flower had gotten over the last year.

She was quiet for an extra moment or two before she spoke.

"Just didn't wanna."

I instantly noticed the weirdness in her voice and I honestly didn't mean to let the words slip out, but they did.

"And give him more reason to talk about you..."

She looked at me funny-- like she didn't hear me, but I know she did.

"What?"

She had just walked out of the bathroom and even in a pair of red sweats and a little black top, she looked like an angel; the questioning look on her face, however, told me she wasn't very happy.

I looked away from her instantly, not wanting to look her in the face.

"Nothing."

"No, Nate, it wasn't nothing. What did you mean?"

I closed my eyes and sighed, knowing by the way she was standing with her hands on her hips that Sunny wasn't gonna let this go, but how could I possibly repeat the crude things Adam said about the only girl I've ever cared about?

"Nate, what did Adam say?"

"He said..."

🖤