The Conversion

Chapter 17 - Win or Lose

"What the hell, Bella?" Max says, anger replacing the sadness in his eyes. Peter and I stand up, moving away from each other. I stand riveted to the spot, speechless.

"I saw your post on Instagram, so I thought I'd come down to your regatta and watch the races and talk to you about that," he says, his jaw clenched.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, one of my friends stole my phone and posted it without me knowing," I say, still not sure what to say.

"So, I was coming to surprise and congratulate you and I saw this," Max spats. His voice lowers, "You promised me nothing was going on."

"I know, Max, and I - I'm sorry," I say, lowering my gaze to the ground like a shameful child.

Max runs a hand through his hair. "So tell us something, right here, right now. Choose Peter... or me. Because all of this is fucking unfair for both of us," he says. I look at Peter, but he won't meet my gaze.

"I - I don't know..." I say, a tear leaking out of my eye. Who did I like more?

"Call me when you when you figure it out," Max says and storms away, but he turns back around, sneering. "And congratulations on your race."

I turn back to Peter. "I'm sorry, Anna Belle. But he's right. I can't put up with this anymore. I hope you figure it out," he says softly. He lays his hand on my shoulder for a few moments before leaving.

I sit down and let out a sob. Pulling my phone from where it was tucked in my uni, I call Luna.

"Luna," I say, when she answers.

"Hey! How'd your race go?" she asks.

"Good, we won," I say blandly.

"Congratulations. Is something wrong?"

"Yeah..." I say with a shaky voice.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I nod and the story starts pouring out of me, telling it from the day Peter came to rowing.

I run a hand through my hair in distress. "What do I do? What the hell am I supposed to do?" I ask.

"Well, who do you like more?"

"That's the thing, I don't know. Max is so sweet and popular and -"

"He's popular? Do you think that might be influencing your feelings?" Luna asks. I think for a second. Was that it?

I frown in concentration. "I don't know. maybe."

"Okay, who would you rather spend your time with?" she asks. Peter, I think immediately.

"Well, Peter," I say.

"So that's your answer. Peter's your guy," she says, her voice now deflated.

"Wait, is something wrong?" I ask. I hear her sigh.

"No, it's nothing."

"Yes, it is. What's wrong?"

"Just working on homework."

"I don't believe you," I say slowly.

"I shouldn't tell you this."

"Tell me anyway."

"It'll change your mind," she says.

I raise an eyebrow. "Come on, just tell me."

"OK, fine," she says, "You know that guy I like?"

"Yeah, the one you were going to 'make a move on'?"

"Well, it was Peter."

"Oh," I say. And then I put it all together. Peter, her project partner, the one she was texting with that huge smile taking over her face. "Ohh."

"Yeah."

"Well, this changes things," I say and force out a laugh. "No boys for me," I joke.

"No, Anna, I can see how much you two like each other. It's fine with me," she says firmly.

"No, I can't do that, Luna, I'll just... get over him," I say, despite knowing that it's impossible. "I'll be single. High school relationships are stupid anyway."

"At least one of us should get to date him. And it should be you, because clearly he likes you... a lot."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Yes!"

"Okay, but if you start to feel jealous or something or don't want me dating him, tell me, and I will break up with him immediately. Got it?"

"Of course!" Luna says.

I smile. "Okay, so I guess I need to go talk to Peter and Max," I say and my stomach begins to turn in knots.

"Yes. Do it, now!" she says.

"Okay. Talk to you later. Thank you, Luna. Love you."

"Love you. Update me soon," se says and ends the call.

Alright, let's do this," I murmur and stand up to go find Max. I see him leaning on a tree, scrolling through his phone.

"Hey," I say and go stand next to him.

"I was really awful to you guys and I'm sorry. I really liked you, but I didn't realize when I started to like Peter more. I should've ended this earlier and I'm sorry I didn't. I didn't want to hurt you," I say. He nods.

"Okay," he says and smiles slightly. I stand up on my toes and give him a kiss at the corner of his mouth.

"Goodbye, Max," I whisper.

"Bye, Bella." I turn around to look for Peter. I see him watching the races solemnly.

"Hey Peter," I say and he turns around and gives me a small smile.

"I was really awful to both of you without realizing it and I'm so sorry, I was such a bitch, but I really like you. Like a lot. And I hope you still want to be with me, because I can't think of anything better in the world than being with you," I say, the words pouring out of me.

"I really like you too," he says and puts his hands on my waist to pull me towards him. I wind my arms around his neck. "Will you go out with me?" he murmurs.

I pull him down to my lips, kissing him slowly before whispering against his lips, "Yes."

Wow... wow. I just finished my first book. I hope you enjoyed it. I will start the process of editing this now. Look for another book from me soon. I'm thinking about either a Teen Fic short story (10,000ish words) or a Fantasy novel.

Love,

B