It's been a couple of days now, and Finn still hasn't texted or called. His silence weighs on my mind, but I try to push it away. Today, Alice, Ellie, and I decide to hang out and cure some of our boredom. We plan a little makeshift picnic on the beach. One perk of living here is no snow in the winter, so we can still enjoy the shore even in December.
We set up close to the shore, laying out a colorful blanket and unpacking sandwiches, fruit, and thermoses of hot chocolate. The sound of the waves is soothing, and I try to let it calm my thoughts.
Alice plops down on the blanket, pulling Ellie with her. "This is perfect," she says, looking out at the ocean. "We should do this more often."
Ellie smiles and nods. "Agreed. It's nice to just relax and hang out without any drama."
I nod, trying to push Finn out of my mind. "Yeah, it's definitely needed."
The conversation flows easily between us, but I can't help but feel a bit distant. My mind keeps wandering back to Finn. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling.
"Remember how Finn came over to work on our project?" I say, trying to sound casual.
Alice and Ellie exchange glances. "Yeah, how did that go?" Ellie asks, her tone curious.
I hesitate for a moment, then decide to just tell them everything. "Well, we worked on the project for a while, but then we started talking and... I don't know, it was like old times. We even had a drink, just one, but it felt nice. Then things got a bit intense."
Alice raises an eyebrow. "Intense how?"
I take another deep breath. "We started talking about some personal stuff, and I ended up crying. Finn tried to comfort me, and he... he kissed me."
Ellie's eyes widen. "He kissed you? What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything at first. I was just so shocked. Then he got up and left, saying he shouldn't have done it," I explain, my voice tinged with frustration. "And now he hasn't called or texted since."
Alice sighs. "That sounds complicated. Do you think he regrets it?"
"I don't know," I admit. "I just wish I knew what he was thinking"
As we're packing up our picnic, my phone buzzes with a new text message. It's from Ruby.
**Ruby:** "Hey, when will you be home?"
I sigh, feeling a slight pang of guilt, but quickly type a response.
**Me:** "Soon."
I put my phone away and glance at Alice and Ellie. "I should probably head home soon," I say, though my heart isn't in it.
Alice raises an eyebrow. "Got somewhere to be?"
I shake my head. "Not really. Ruby just wants to know when I'll be home."
Ellie gives me a sympathetic look. "You should stay a bit longer. It's not every day we get to hang out like this."
I smile, appreciating their understanding. "Yeah, you're right. I'll stay a little longer."
We stay by the beach, enjoying the rays of the setting sun. Alice and Ellie continue chatting and laughing.
Eventually, we pack up our things, the sky now painted in hues of pink and orange. I feel a bit more refreshed, but the conversation with Alice and Ellie still weighs on me. I'm grateful for their support, but I can't shake the feeling that something is unresolved.
When I arrive back home, I see someone's car in front of my house. It looks a lot like Finn's car. I start slowly walking back into the house, feeling a little anxious. I don't know if it's him or what. As I get closer, I realize it is Finn's car, and my heart skips a beat. What is he doing here?
I open the front door quietly and hear voices coming from the living room. I peek around the corner and see Ruby talking to Finn, who looks a bit uncomfortable but is politely listening. Ruby notices me first and jumps.
"Y/N! Finn's been here for like an hour! Where have you been?" Ruby exclaims, looking relieved.
Finn stands up, looking sheepish. "Hey, Y/N. I... uh, I came to talk. I know I should have called, but I wasn't sure if you'd want to see me."
I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions. "It's okay, Finn. Let's go to my room and talk."
Ruby pouts a little but doesn't argue. "Alright, I'll leave you guys to it. But don't disappear on me again, Y/N."
I nod and lead Finn to my room. Once we're inside, I close the door and sit on my bed. Finn stands awkwardly for a moment before sitting down next to me.
"So... what did you want to talk about?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Finn runs a hand through his hair, looking nervous. "I wanted to apologize for how I acted the other night. I shouldn't have left like that. I just... I didn't know how to handle it."
I nod, understanding his hesitation. "It's okay, Finn. I was caught off guard too. Everything just happened so fast."
He sighs, looking relieved that I'm not angry. "Yeah, it did. I've been thinking a lot about it, and I realized that I don't want to mess things up because of one impulsive moment."
I look at him, feeling a warmth spread through me. "I don't want to mess things up either, Finn. But things have been so complicated between us lately. Maybe we just need to take things slow and not rush into anything."
He nods, a small smile forming on his lips. "I think you're right. Let's not put any labels on this. Let's just see where things go." Finn takes a deep breath, looking a bit unsure. "So, there's this New Year's party coming up," he begins, hesitating for a moment. "I was wondering if you'd want to go with me. No pressure. I think it could be fun."
I pause, considering his offer. "You know what? That sounds like it could be fun," I reply, smiling. "Let's do it."
"See you on Friday then," he says with a smile, "I'm really looking forward to catching up and spending some quality time together," he adds, giving a small wave before turning to leave.
As he walks away, a mix of anticipation and nervousness washes over me. This New Year's party feels like a fresh start, an opportunity to leave behind the complications of the past few months. Only time will tell if we're ready for it.
