The Speech

Chapter 31

Dylan's POV 

     Jackie likes me. I can't ignore that, but I also can't ignore the fact that I'm still hung up on May. I thought friends with benefits would help keep me from her. I thought Jackie would be enough, but I was still doing coke in a bathroom with May last night. And now Jackie has feelings for me-

*buzz buzz*

     And May is still calling me. I pull my phone out to decline May's 7th call in a row, only to realize it's a text this time. 

"I'm outside. Come meet me." despite not even being invited, she has shown up to ruin my night. Great.

"Go home May." I respond, in an attempt to not entertain her this evening. I need to end things with Jackie before I entertain anything with May. I've dragged Jackie into enough of my shit, and she's rightfully starting to get hurt by it. 

"I'm not trying to crash your party, this is important." she responds, and against all of my better judgement I go out front. Sure enough she's out there, sat on the hood of her Audi, picking at her fingernails. A nervous habit that she can't kick.

"What's up?" I try to sound annoyed, but with the weed in me it doesn't come across.

 "You're throwing a lake house party again." She states, a sting of pain ringing in her voice.

"Last time you threw one was when-"

"Was when I found out you cheated." I interrupt. She let's a beat of silence go by before saying something else. 

"How is it in there?" She tries changing the subject.

"May why are you here?" I ask here outright, causing her to stand.

"I was worried about you okay? Kaitlyn told me you were throwing a lake house party, and I knew I was the cause last time. I hated hurting you like that, I never wanted to do that again." She tries to explain.

"You know you did though. So why are you here?" I tell her, not buying this story.

"Dylan, come on. You've been in my life for so long, I can't imagine us keeping up this bitter ex charade." She says. I know what she's here for and it isn't me.  I pull out the Pez dispenser in my pocket and place it in her hand. 

"You have what you came for, now go home May. I'm not pretending to be a bitter ex, I am one." I tell her and start walking back to the house. 

"Dylan, this isn't what I came for. If it was I would've called Pez, not you." She yells to me, catching my attention.

"You didn't last night. You texted me for it and left the moment you had it." I remind her. She doesn't realize I'm trying to convince myself of this, "bitter ex act" as much as I am her.  

"I'm sorry okay! I just fucking miss you." She shouts, and stumbles back to her car, getting in but not starting it. Against all better judgement I walk back to her car and get in the passenger seat.

"So you wanna be friends?" I ask and she smiles up at me, wiping at the corners of her eyes.

"Something like that yeah." She hands me back the Pez Dispenser, and I open up. 

"Let's relive some fun." I say, making a few lines on her dashboard. A laugh escapes her and suddenly I remember why I ignored all sense and got in the car. 

Jackie's POV

     I know May is the least of my worries right now, but it's hard to focus on something else when the only other thing to focus on is his possible drug addiction. I know my comment was childish and petty, I've been trying to find Dylan to apologize for half an hour now, but he's no where to be found. Getting desperate I check the boathouse, relieved a bit when I find it unlocked.