Opposites

2.4

a/n: should this be the new cover for opposites? 

I didn’t care that Nate was my ride; I ran home. It was a few blocks away, but I made it. I opened the door and was shouted at by Jake about something but I didn’t quite listen. I ignored him and slammed the door to my room shut. After changing into sweats and watching a few episodes of The Office on Netflix, Jake called for me.

“Cali, someone’s at the door!” he called.

“Tell them I died!”

“Cali, don’t make me come up there!” Jake shouted back at my remark. 

I groaned and sat up. I quickly put on some black leggings and pulled on a presentable tee shirt to go answer the door. Jake stood in the kitchen when I got downstairs. 

“Did you let them in?” I asked, guessing it was probably Anne again.

Justin walked out from behind the wall that was shielding him. His hair was swept to the side and he was wearing jeans and a Coca-Cola tee shirt. 

“Justin?” I asked incredulously. 

“Hey,” he rubbed his hands together nervously. 

“Do you wanna come upstairs?” I motioned in the direction of my room.

“Sure.”

Justin followed me back up the stairs and into my room.

“What are you doing here?” I quickly snapped.

“I came to apologize to you...and to tell you something.” he sat down on my bed.

“I don’t want an apology; I want you to leave.” I smiled sarcastically at him. 

“Please, just hear me out.” he pleaded. 

“You have four minutes before I kick you out.”

“Thank you.” he stood up to face me. I folded my arms across my chest.

“Well?” 

“Cali, you’ve been the closest friend I’ve ever had. The closest person to me has always been Aimee, and she doesn’t count because she’s family. I thought you were arrogant and bull headed and I wanted nothing to do with you at first. 

When you ran into me on your skateboard, I wanted nothing to do with you. When you were Mack’s date, I wanted nothing to do with you. Do you understand where I’m going here?” Justin got up and paced back and forth across my room and almost ran into my end table.

“You want nothing to do with me but I’m somehow your best friend?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“No, I want everything to do with you now. That night when we had our first conversation in the bathroom was when I knew I wanted you in my life. You were different from anyone I had ever met. You still are different. When I helped you get away from Mason that night,” 

I cut him off, “Don’t mention him.”

“Fine. That night I just saw something in you and was immediately drawn to you in some weird way. It wasn’t that I had some weird crush on you, it was just I saw who I want to be in you. You remind me of myself and everything I aspire to be like. I know we’re in a fight right now, but I swear to you I meant nothing I said. If anything, I’m charity work. I admire you too much for you just to be nothing to me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I think I’ve known this from the moment I’ve met you: I really like you. 

You’re gorgeous. You’re kind hearted somewhere really deep down. You’re funny and encouraging. You see the good in all people. There’s just something so great about you.”

I froze in place. He had to be lying. He absolutely had to be. I was mean spirited and had absolutely no sense of humor. I was a sarcastic asshole yet he still claimed to like me?

“Cali?” 

Charity case. 

The entire scene with Justin replayed in my head. Charity case continued to repeat itself in my head.

“Get out!” My eyes started to water.

“Cali, please.” Justin looked teary eyed too.

“I said to get out! You’re a liar! How could you treat me like this?” I opened the door for him and tried to shove him out. He stood his ground for a few seconds and then left on his own.

I shut my door and quickly wiped under my eyes. I locked the door.