End Game

Save Me

SPENCER

The next few days after the game I was too busy with football practices and dealing with everything else to have time to hang out with Alicia or my friends. I was trying to get my game back to its heights... and also exteriorating a bit of stress.

Having Darnell around was a blessing, because he let me talk about my feelings whenever I felt like it. He spent most of his days with Olivia and the gang, so I knew that he would always tell me what I needed to hear, when I needed to.

I was meeting the boys for a long overdue lunch when I stumbled upon Alicia. We froze, as awkwardness took over between us.

"Hey..." She said.

"Hey... How have you been?"

"Good... How are you?" She asked.

I felt a bit uncomfortable. Even though we texted back and forth, I had not seen her in a while.

"I'm good."

"Yo, Spence!"

Darnell, Jordan and Asher walked over when they saw me standing in front of the sport's bar.

"Oh, hey Alicia!" Jordan said when they finally reached us.

"Hey, boys. What's up?"

"We're good! Are you joining us for lunch?" Asher asked her.

Seeing the incomfort in my eyes, Darnell quickly interjected.

"I don't think we've met... I'm Darnell, Spencer's brother."

I loved when he introduced himself as my brother, because that's exactly what we are. No one could tell us otherwise.

"Nice to meet you Darnell, I'm Alicia... And no, I was just passing by."

"Alright. We'll wait for you inside." Jordan said, probably sensing the tension.

"So, you have time to go to lunch with your friends but not meet me for half an hour?"

I knew she was going to say something as soon as I saw her face change at the sight of my friends.

"Alicia, I-"

"It's fine, Spencer. I get it. We decided to keep it casual anyways."

"I know, but I shouldn't have ghosted you like that. I really didn't mean to. Today is my first real break in weeks." I told her.

"I believe you... It's just been... weird I guess."

"I know... I'm sorry about that."

I let a breathe out before grabbing one of her hands.

"Tell you what, come over tonight... We'll catch up."

She looked at me and smiled for the first time since.

"I'd like that very much." She immediately agreed.

"Cool"

"Cool" She repeated.

I chuckled and went in for a hug before letting her leave. As soon as I walked into the bar, I saw the boys standing over a table, talking with some girls.

One of those laughs was one I could never forget. My heart skipped a bit when I saw her enjoying herself with my friends, obviously loving their company. I could see that same joy I had witnessed from afar around the time I decided to break up with her, but for some reason it still did not feel good.

Did I even make the right decision that night? While I did it so that she could be happy again, I had yet to see what I had actually accomplished.

I walked over to them after taking a breathe in.