Dancing in the Rain

Chapter Eight: The Party

Chapter Eight: The Party

Taylor’s Point of View

A weekend’s gone by and Rob and I haven’t said more than a few words to each other. It’s weird, because we live in the same house and still eat lunch at the same table, yet we’re giving each other the silent treatment. Er, I’m giving him the silent treatment.

I’m still upset about what he said to me on the beach. And, for some reason, Rob seems completely happy and dandy and even excited about the stupid party. He seems to have no regard for my feelings at all. Ugh.

It kind of sucks when you get in a fight with someone, and they don’t even care enough to still be angry, even when you are.

He doesn’t even seem to miss us talking. Him, Hunter, and Heather chatter away at the table while I just sort of pick at my food. Hunter’s asked me if I’m okay a couple times, but I’ve just waved him off. At least someone cares.

I guess I’ve been in kind of a funk. Me and Rob never really got in fights like this before we moved here. Maybe it was because we never had any other friends to run to, and now we do. Well, Rob does. And I’m sure he’ll have more after the party.

Maybe he was right. Maybe Rob would’ve been the most popular guy in highschool if I’d only let him. I just dragged him down all the time. Maybe I don’t even deserve to be his friend, anyway.

“So, Taylor, how’s your day been so far?” A voice interrupts my long, sad monologue and I look up from my untouched piece of pizza. I’m sitting in the cafeteria now, and Hunter’s sitting across from me and Heather and Rob are two seats down from him.

“Oh. Fine.” I say, unenthusiastic.

Hunter stares at me in that quiet, intense way of his. I pretend not to notice his suspicion.

“Are you sure everything’s okay...?” He asks, yet again.

I look up to meet his gaze, and his blue eyes lock on mine.

“Yeah.” I say, not breaking eye contact.

He stares a few moments longer before sighing and looking pointedly over at Rob.

I follow his eyes, watching wistfully as Rob and Heather laugh about some joke.

Hunter brings his attention back to me, and I can feel his eyes going over me. Studying me. Searching me. For what?

○ ● ◦ ● ◌

The rest of the week rushes by, but that’s not a surprise, and before I know it, it’s already Friday.

A dead feeling of horror has been sitting in my stomach, and I can’t help feeling worried about this whole stupid party thing. I’m not going, of course. But I still feel this weird...I dunno, urge to come along and protect Rob.

Probably because of all the things that have happened in the past. Like Rob getting beat up.

I don’t want to weigh him down, really. I don’t want to hold him back. But I’m nervous about it, even so. What if something goes wrong?

It’s actually super frustrating to care about someone who obviously doesn’t give two shits about you back.

Speaking of which, guess what starts in a few hours? The party.

Yeah. Great. Whoop-de-freaking-do.

I’ll just be here, laying on my bed and staring up at the ceiling (as I’m doing now) and wondering what’s wrong with me and why I have to suck a friendship so bad. So, so fun.