me & tomfoolery

Cold as Ice pt. 3 | Shilo Sanders Short Story

Regret.

That's what lived in Tennessee's heart as she avoided Shilo for the next week. It was easier to avoid him Friday and Saturday because of the game but somehow, he popped up everywhere for the last week. She saw him more than normal and it killed her because he hadn't attempted to ppsay anything but she could tell by the glances he gave, he wanted to.

Getting that close to anyone was outside of her comfort zone, let alone him of all people. She sat in a different section of the room during their shared class and continued to be the first person out the two times a week they sat in Dr. Stein.

The Buffs won their game Saturday and the press had a lot of praise for Coach Prime and the team. The usual social butterfly, had nothing to say though. There was also some backlash and the opposing team's coach had a lot to say about how coach conducted himself.

Shilo had a lot going on himself and he just wanted to focus on making it through another week. What was supposed to be a celebration of winning the game turned into a family divide as his older sister, mother and his father's girlfriend had a disagreement that wasn't necessary. As the family mediator, Shilo had been doing damage control for the last five days. His focus was off and he was having a hard time doing his assignments.

Because of this, he was now held up in the school's library, tapping his pen against the light colored wood desk. In the distance, McKinley and Dallas enter the library. He wasn't sure why he noticed them out of all people, but he followed to where they landed. A few tables ahead of him sat Tennessee. With her back towards him, he wondered how he missed the ringlets of her hair sitting on her shoulders. From his view , he could see the worried glances on her friends faces and wondered what was happening on her side of the room.

Her angst was rooted in having a lack of control. Family and friends weekend approached faster than expected, and she was going to have her mother, father, little brother, and stepmother in the same location. Since her parents separation, she's had a strange relationship with her father and an even more bizarre relationship with her stepmother. It seemed as if some days her parents were going to get back together and other days they were at each other's throats, because there was a woman in the middle of their situation.

"Tell your father you don't want her to come. It's YOUR weekend. I don't get the issue." Dallas stated simply. The issue with Terrence was, nothing worked simple for him. He got a kick out of making all of their lives more complicated with his antics. Georgia was a good woman, even with her faults she didn't do what he did back to him. Most would assume she was a fool for waiting in the shadows but her heart wanted what it wanted.

"If only I could." She sighed. The three friends sat and studied together for the next half an hour.

By this point, Shilo had to get to his next class. He wouldn't feel right walking past them without saying hi. Taking his chance he approached the table as if he were going to walk past but Dallas saw him first.

"Hey Shilo." Tennessee tensed hearing his name. To have him this close outside of the rain of alcohol was the further thing from comfort. Something she needed at the moment.

"Hey ladies, y'all have a good one." McKinley waved as he continued to walk and once he left the building, everyone stared at one another like the Spider-Man meme.

"So...." McKinley started, "Someone wanna tell me what happened last weekend? You look like you seen a ghost Nessee."

"I've been wanting to know too, but she's been radio silent." Dallas added. Usually Tennessee had something rude to say to him or about him but, nothing.

"Oh nothing, just almost kissed him at that party and now I'm hiding from him."

Dallas snorted before choking on her Starbucks drink. "I'm sorry? Excuse me?"