Sorry, Not Sorry

-25

Whether it be from the fresh, hot doughnut, the hot Australian summer weather, or the possible turning point in my life, the heat doesn't fade as I walk down the street.

-

I sigh, peeking into a few shops. It's pretty hot in all the ones I've stepped inside so far, so I don't stay in just one for too long. Eventually, I find a cool store with the air-con on, and I sit down on one of the benches they have set up, basking in the cool air.

It's getting later, and I need to head back home soon, but I wanted to at least wait until I'd found somewhere to cool down first.

In the weeks since the party, Max and I haven't talked much, but he did call me to ask where I went, and I explained I just needed to leave. he'd also apologised, since he'd said we'd just hang out together and forget everyone else, but I cut him off and said it was fine. It's fine, he's allowed to have other friends.

As I'm sat on the bench for a few seconds, scrolling on my phone, I feel a presence to my right side. I look up, switching my phone off.

"I thought I recognised you!" It's Emile, one of Max's band members. "Xavier, right?" (Emile's the Ginger, pronounced 'Emily')

I nod with a smile, "Yeah, that's me. Hi, Emile."

"Well, I really would love to talk- but I've gotta work... and I would've felt weird if I didn't even say hello."

"It's all good." I say, "I'll see you around." I stand up and stick my hands in my front pockets.

"Nice seeing you, Xavier. Have a good day!" I wave as I begin to walk away. I can't help but smile a little. I'm glad she came over to me, even though we didn't really talk, it's good seeing people you recognise. Plus, this just proves that she sees me as a friend- or acquaintance at the very least.

The walk home is quicker than the walk to town, but it's just as hot, and by the time I'm home I'm hot and sticky, as well as being puffed. I flop back on my bed and pull out my phone. Scrolling through the few notifications on my phone before sighing and going to have my shower.

It's around 3 when Max texts me.
'Hey, can we talk?' He says.
'Yeah, sure.' I respond.
'In person, maybe? I have someone for you to meet.' Max says.

My mind flashes back to the spin the bottle, how at the end Max revealed he and a girlfriend. I grimace a bit at the memory but message him back regardless.

'Sure. Where do u wanna meet?'

There's a short pause as I wait for him to respond, when I get up and change. I put on a pair of shorts, a band tee and throw my backpack over my shoulder for good measure.

I check the phone to see Max's reply.
'The park. I can pick you up.'
I raise an eyebrow.
'OK'

-

We step through the park gates after an awkward car ride. Max's finger kept tapping against the steering wheel and he wouldn't look at me. As for me, it just feels as though I'm intruding on something private. Almost as if the two were on a date when Max decided he wanted me to meet her.

Max leads me through the park, all the way to the duck pond. "She's uh- she's waiting around this corner." he smiles awkwardly.

I smile back. "Ok."

"Lead the way!" Max says, following behind me as I walk around the corner. I don't know why he's taking this so seriously, but I guess she's important to him, after all.

As I turn the corner, my eyes catch on hers. At first I'm sceptical, but the way her dark brown curls frame her face and her pale skin seems to glow, I know its her.