Friction and Fries

CHAPTER 12: Lost in Translation

Kelsey threw herself onto her bed, the soft mattress enveloping her as she stared up at the ceiling, lost in a whirlwind of emotions. Thoughts tumbled through her mind like a chaotic storm, each one vying for her attention. "Friend?" she muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What's his deal?"

She rolled onto her side, pulling a pillow close to her chest, trying to find some comfort in its familiarity. But the more she thought about Luke, the more tangled her feelings became. His words echoed in her mind, each phrase replaying like a stubborn melody she couldn't shake. "Just give me a chance." 

Kelsey sighed, frustration bubbling up inside her. "He's giving me mixed signals," she thought, feeling a mix of annoyance and intrigue. One minute, he seemed so sincere, expressing a desire to be close to her, yet the next, he was pushing her away with vague declarations of friendship. "I can't understand it," she whispered, feeling the weight of the confusion pressing down on her.

She turned over in bed, staring at the wall, her thoughts drifting back to their conversation in the car. The way he had looked at her, the earnestness in his voice—it all felt so genuine, yet she was left wondering if he truly meant it. Did he really want to be just friends, or was there something more beneath the surface? 

Kelsey sat up, running her fingers through her hair, feeling the urge to scream in frustration. "Why can't he just be clear?" she thought. "Why does it have to be so complicated?" The uncertainty gnawed at her, leaving her feeling restless and unsettled.

She glanced at her phone, half-hoping for a message from Luke that would clarify everything, yet knowing deep down that it would only serve to complicate things further. "Is he really trying to protect me?" she pondered, "Or is he just afraid of what might happen if we crossed that line?"

With a huff, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, pacing the small room. "I need to clear my head," 

She couldn't sleep and stood up from her bed to get some fruit and milk in the fridge. 

Just as Kelsey settled back onto her bed, trying to shake off the whirlwind of emotions from earlier, her phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Tina. 

"Are you home already?" Tina asked, her enthusiasm practically jumping off the screen.

"What? You're still awake?" Kelsey replied, surprised but relieved to have someone to talk to.

"Yes! I took a power nap earlier because I was bored, and now I can't sleep," Tina responded, her words filled with energy that made Kelsey smile.

"I can't sleep either. I could really use someone to talk to right now," Kelsey admitted, feeling the weight of her day pressing down on her.

"Come spill!" Tina encouraged.

Kelsey took a deep breath, deciding to spill the whole story. "Luke brought me home tonight, and he drives a damn Audi R8," she typed.

"Wow, you go girl! What happened? Did you make out?" Tina's response came quickly, filled with playful curiosity.

"The drive was more frustrating than anything else," Kelsey confessed, her irritation creeping back into her voice.

"How come?" Tina pressed, clearly intrigued.

Kelsey sat up, her frustration bubbling over as she recounted the events. "He's the one who has been sabotaging my dates! Mike didn't show up because Luke told him I'm only into rich guys. And then when Timothy came around to my work tonight, I didn't even get a chance to talk to him because Luke told him I'm married to him! Can you believe that?" Kelsey vented, her exasperation evident in every word.