Just Friends

10

Meghan's POV:
The other cheerleaders and I stood anxiously at the sidelines as the last thirty seconds of our championship game were in play.

This was the first time Birmingham High football has made it to the championships in about ten years. Given we've only won once, we were all hopeful for tonight.

It was the last touchdown from Connor that got us to win the entire game. When the buzzer sounded students in the stands went crazy. Kids fork our school were running from the stands and onto the field and the other cheerleaders and I went with them.

When we got the trophy people started picking up the boys and carrying them somewhat of the way to the locker room. The girls and I went in first to get our bags and on our way out Connor ran up to me.

"Congratulations!" I told him as I jumped into his arms." You know how many schools are going to fight over you for winning this for us?!"

"I love you." He blurted. He set me down and I looked at him blankly.

"What?" I said, dumbfounded as if I'd never heard those words before.

"I don't know if it's winning this game or the fact that you were there cheering me on but this just felt like the best time to tell you that I love you." Connor explained.

We've only been dating for what, two months? Maybe less. I don't even think I'm over Luke yet, but he didn't need to know that.

"You don't have to say it back, I don't expect you too. I just needed you to know that." Connor said.

"I'm not ready to say it back." I said quietly to him.

"That's okay, sweetheart." Connor replied before hugging me again. He went into the locker room to get out of his uniform and I stood in the hallway trying to figure out what the hell just happened.

*

"He just said it? Out of nowhere?" Bridget asked mad I got changed it was her and I alone in the girls locker room since the other girls had already left.

"Yeah. I didn't know what to do."

"Did you say it back?" She asked and I shook my head no." Is this because of Luke? Do you still love Luke?"

"Uh, Yeah. Where have you been for the past four months, living under a rock?" I said looking at her like she should've known the answer to that." He said it was okay that I didn't say it back but I feel like that's going to come back to bite me in the butt later on."

"Well, he's going to find out when Luke moves here with your brother and you can't control how you feel."

"They aren't moving here until January and by then I should be over him, or at least I hope I am." I replied. I got my stuff together and we headed out. I texted Connor that Bridget and I were going home since it was a school night and I had homework.

"I thought you and Connor had a no secrets policy?" Bridget said when we got into the car.

"We Do But why would I tell him that? It would crush him if he knew I'm in love with someone that isn't him." I answered." I can't love Luke forever so for right now I'll let Connor think everything is okay and hope that eventually I feel the same way towards him."

*
*
*

"He told you he loves you?" Jack asked." You two haven't been dating that long, it's way too soon."

"I know." I replied. I was sitting on my bed while jack was on my desk chair.

"Did you say it back?" Jack asked.

"No, I'm not ready to say it back. I'm not entirely sure how I feel towards him yet. I like him and I like being with him but I'm not sure that I love him." I explained." And the worst part is, that's going to be on my mind when I go down to Australia and will see Luke again. He and I haven't talked or seen each other since the breakup and I'm sure that when I see him I'm either going to cry, make an awful mistake and cheat on Connor, or just break down like I did earlier in the breakup."

"Then why are you even going if any of those things are going to happen?" Jack asked.

"Michael is still my friend, I want to see my brother and the rest of my family, and I no offense I don't want to go to Nebraska for thanksgiving given I don't celebrate the holiday and your parents always make fun of my accent." I explained.

He thought for a minute before laughing; He was obviously thinking of last years thanksgiving where his dad did impressions of Steve Irwin thinking id find it amusing.

"Fine, Fine But If he tries anything I give you the right to punch him." Jack said before getting up to leave." Oh and don't forget to put another shrimp on the Barbie." That last part was said in a bad Australian accent and as he left I chucked a pillow at him.