Thin Ice

Chapter Nine

Devin:

Cassie's holding onto my hand, dragging us through the crowd of people somehow packed into this one house. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Every time I bump shoulders with someone else and mutter out a little, "Sorry," I die a little more on the inside. Talking with Jaycee made me more nervous than before as well because she wouldn't stop touching me. It was all pretty respectful, like on the arm and stuff, but I didn't like it. I didn't want Cassie to see either because I don't want her to think I'm into Jaycee. Well, I'm sure she'd be fine if I was into Jaycee because that would mean I'm talking to more people and "expanding my horizons", but I... What do I want? Why don't I want Cassie to think that I'm into Jaycee?

I look down at our conjoined hands, at Cassie's long, curled hair gracefully swishing as she walks more confidently than I ever could in this environment, and I realize that I like this girl. I like Cassie, a lot. It's only been a week since I've known her, but ever since the beginning, she's only looked out for me. Not to mention, she's looked out for me without making me feel like I'm useless or unwanted. She's felt like a true friend. Friend. She looks behind her at me and smiles, and my stomach drops. She can never know that I feel this way about her. Ever. I can not let this fake dating thing get to my head. She doesn't want me like that, all she wants is to be my friend. I am friend-zoned by the only girl I've truly been interested in.

Gosh dang it, Devin! Why do you have to do this kind of crap when you finally meet someone you get along with? Cassie stops abruptly, and I almost run into her. My chest lingers inches away from her shoulder, and I know she can't feel it, but a spark zings through me. I want to step closer, close the gap. She turns, and her blue eyes meet mine. They sparkle in the colorful lights, her eyelashes frame them perfectly. A piece of her hair gets caught on her lips, and I reach up, about to move it away before she beats me to it and my hand drops.

"Ok, you see that group of guys over there?" She points, and it takes me a second to look away from her. My gaze follows to where she's pointing, and stops on a group of three guys. They're all laughing, and I freeze. Immediatly, I think I'm not funny enough to ever be a part of a group like them, "That one's Knox," She motions at the one that has shaggy blonde hair and tan skin which makes me think that he genuinely surfs on a daily basis, but he's wearing huge glasses that kind of throw off the vibe. "That's Faham," The second one looks like he comes from more of an Indian heritage with light brown skin, what looks like naturally curly, black hair, and bright eyes. "And that's Jordan," The third stretches his legs out, and I can immediatly tell that he's taller than six feet. He has dark skin, and a buzz cut that's slightly grown out. Faham laughs so hard that he bends over which makes his drink spill slightly on Knox who starts laughing too before trying to blow on his shirt to dry it off. Jordan's just watching all of this go down with a smile on his face, and I wonder how the heck the three of them became friends. They're all so different.

Cassie looks back to me, and I realize I'm slightly bending over. Our faces are right next to each other, so I quickly straighten up, "Those guys are awesome! They're all a part of our school's band. No one ever expected them to get along, but surprisingly, they do. Really well. Knox plays percussion, Faham plays the trombone, and then Jordan switches between instruments, but I think he can play the saxophone, the clarinet, and the piano. He's really talented!" I look back over at them, and my heart speeds up. I used to play the piano in middle school, but once I joined the hockey team, I completely forgot about it. I mentioned that to Cassie one time over text, does she really think that that one piece of information will make me fit in with the band kids?

Faham, who was standing earlier, comes around the couch to sit down next to Knox. Jordan leans further into the corner of the couch, and Knox pulls out his phone to then show Faham something. Faham puts his cup on the floor, and shakes Knox's shoulders for a second. He looks like he's telling him something important. I wonder what's going on.