"But she's a Cheerleader" (gxg)

42: Avoidance

**This chapter is in the span of one school week. The days are marked**

Tuesday

Dylans POV:

Its been three days. Three days since the kiss. And still, I haven't talked to Maddie.

I don't know what I was thinking. Actually, I do. I was thinking about how I could avoid this whole thing. I've been avoiding a lot lately- avoiding looking at her, avoiding class, and avoiding talking to my friends about it. I mean I told Valerie, but not the others. I don't know what else there is to say. I truly didn't know what to do.

It wasn't something I needed to happen. Not with my dad's birthday being the day before. My head was already being taken up by that.

I still hadn't exactly talked to my mom about it. I know it was a hard day for her too, and I should be there for her as much as she's there for me, but I was never good at having serious conversations. I had experienced them too much as a kid, with my mom being a doctor and my dad a firefighter. I had heard it all before, the scares of my dad getting injured on a call, and the stories my mom brought home from the hospital. I eventually tried to tune it out. I started to avoid difficult situations as much as I could. Which only made them more difficult.

I know I wasn't doing any good by avoiding Maddie. But I also feel like I don't owe her anything. I mean it's not like I did anything wrong....well except leave her alone... drunk at a party.

I did feel guilty about that, of course I did, but I didn't know what else to do. I wasn't even sure if she remembered that part...or any of it.

Maybe if I just-

"Hellooo earth to Dylan." Kacey said. I lifted my head and looked at her. My friends were all looking at me.  They were all eating their lunch, I hadn't touched mine.

"Sorry." I said to her. Her eyes softened.

"You good?" she asked.

I looked at Valerie, she just stared back at me. I looked back at Kacey.

"Yea I'm fine." I said, she nodded.

"Hey are y'all going to class after this or skipping?" Shane asked.

Kacey sighed. "I got a test so I gotta go."

"Yeah I can't skip either. Plus it's class with Mr. P. He's too hot to skip." Valerie said, smiling.

"Gross." Kacey said. V shrugged.

Shane glanced over at me. I looked up. "I might skip." I said. I could feel Valerie's eyes on me.

"Wait what class do you have?" she asked. I knew she already knew the answer.

I looked at her. "History" I mumbled.

"Didn't you skip that yesterday?" she asked slowly. She picked up her sandwich and took a bite while looking at me. I blinked and looked away.

"Oh yeah..I guess I did. I'll....go today." I said.

"And hey you better be at science tomorrow morning." Kacey said to me.

"yeah yeah I will." I said.

Shane sighed. "Fine I guess I'll go to since y'all are being boring." He said.

Kacey laughed and reached her bag of m&m's out to him. Shane smiled and took a handful.

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After lunch I headed inside and walked in the direction of history. I know I can't avoid it forever, but I thought at least I could avoid it this week. We had class today then one more on Thursday, and that was it for the week. I just have to go and get it over with.