Trying to live #Wattys2024

Chapter 25 (Edited)

I stared at Wyatt's retreating back and didn't think twice. "Wyatt!" I called out.

He didn't turn around, but his body stiffened. He heard me, yet he continued to walk away. If it had been anyone else, I would have let them go, but this was Wyatt. So, I sprinted after him.

"You jerk, I called you!" I said, placing my hands on my hips and catching my breath. I realized we were close to the boys' locker room, where a group of lacrosse players had gathered.

Someone should have given me an award for running so much.

"I have practice," Wyatt responded without even looking back.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was doing this for the sincere, honest, and genuine guy who had stood by me when everyone else had left. He was also the guy who made me run and sweat.

"I'll go to your family dinner," I announced.

"Em, please, I told you I'll see—" Wyatt started, then turned around and stared at me in disbelief. "You what?"

"I'll be your dinner date," I reiterated, a genuine smile spreading across my lips as I saw his astonishment.

"You're not joking?"

I shook my head. "No, but you owe me."

Wyatt grinned. "You'll get whatever you want."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, he dropped his lacrosse bag and wrapped me in a tight hug. My arms instinctively went around his neck as he twirled me around, making me squeal with surprise. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he repeated over and over. "You're the best."

No, you're the best, I wanted to say, but the spinning made me dizzy.

Wyatt had helped me in ways I could never repay. He had been there for me on the day of my breakup with Henry, at that stupid end-of-summer party before junior year. Without him, I might have never made it through. Everyone assumed we slept together, and maybe we did, but I didn't remember that part. All I remembered was a classmate, who had become a friend, comforting me when I was a crying, miserable wreck.

The next day after the breakup, I made Wyatt promise me something, and I was stunned at how quickly he accepted without questioning me. His friendships with Scott, Cam, and Henry had dissolved, and the Royals clique had started to ignore or mock him because he had broken their most important rule: Henry Avilla's girl was off-limits.

I thought Wyatt would break or cave under the pressure, but he never did. I didn't care what happened to me or what people said anymore. I was always wasted, and I couldn't believe Wyatt never broke his promise. He sacrificed his close friendships and his status for me, though he had regained it through the lacrosse team. A mere family dinner with his parents and his annoying step-sister wouldn't kill me.

"Okay, okay," I laughed. "Put me down; I'm getting dizzy!"

Wyatt set me down, his cheeks flushed slightly. "Sorry. I got carried away."

He scratched his neck, and his ears turned a deeper red. "You're seriously not lying, right?"

My arms were still around his neck, his hands warm on my waist. On days like this, I wished I could kiss him because Wyatt was sweet, funny, and just himself. But I didn't have any romantic feelings for him, and I knew neither did he. A kiss should mean something, right? Wyatt and I were just two people sharing a secret.

Deep down, I knew Wyatt was a close friend, but I didn't fully acknowledge it. If he knew everything about me, he might leave too. I had built walls around my heart to protect it, especially from love.