My Neighborhood Love Story

Chapter 19: Hopes for a Friend

Serene's P-O-V

"Hey. Serene, right?"

I nodded. "Aria?"

"Yup. Good to meet you again."

"You too." It was lunch and I could feel Khalil's eyes on mine as I made small talk with the new girl, Aria. "So... how's Lamar going?"

"He's really sweet. I like him and his eyes are beautiful."

"His eyes. I knew you'd say something about them. I agree with you on that though."

She smiled and I saw Karina whisper something in her ear.

"I don't believe she's been with that many people," Aria responded.

"Alright, but watch your back with her because next thing you know, she'll steal your man. She's already trying to steal mine," Karina babbled idiotically.

I knew that she was talking about me. But Aria didn't seem all that shallow and didn't even become shaken up a bit by what she was told. She could be a good friend.

She turned back to me, "Any who, what grade are you in?"

"I'm an eleventh grader. You?"

"Tenth."

"Wait, you're in tenth and you caught Lamar's attention?" I asked a bit shocked because I know Lamar could be shallow.

"Yeah. I guess I did."

"You're making some big moves for a newbie tenth grader."

"Is that good or bad?"

"I don't know. I guess it depends on how you approach it."

She vaguely nodded her head, "Okay. Cool."

Lunch eventually ended and I made it through the rest of the day as a normal day should go. By the end of the day, I was ready to go home with Kwame. There wasn't any basketball practice today so I went straight to my locker to get my books and wait for Kwame to meet up with me to take me home.

Once I got out all of the things I needed, I closed my locker door to find Khalil standing in front of me.

"Serene. Can we talk?"

"Why? You want to ask my permission before you spread a rumor this time?"

"It happened so long ago! Just move on!"

"Move on? Guys look at me like I'm a piece of savory steak! They touch me like I have a 'Try Me' sticker glued to me! And girls ignore me like I have the plague! I don't have any real friends! I can't have any real friends! And it's all because you wanted to look cool in front of your friends! Well, you got what you wanted! Happy?"

"No."

"Liar!"

"I'm not lying! I'm sorry that I caused all of that to you, but it's in the past!"

"And it effected my present along with my future, Khalil! You don't understand! You just don't!"

"I know I don't, but that doesn't mean you can't forgive me!"

"Serene," I heard Kwame say. "Is he bothering you?"

"No. I'm fine."

He grabbed my hand and looked at Khalil angrily, "Alright. Come on. Let's go. I don't want him around you."

"Believe me. I don't want him around me either."

I followed Kwame away from Khalil. He took me out to his car then drove me home. Before leaving, he sat me on the hood of his car and planted sporadic kisses on my neck from time to time as he just held me for a moment. He made me feel different. As if nothing mattered. He made me feel safe, wanted, and above all, loved.

But Khalil and I's friendship in the past was so good. I mean, it all did happen almost four years ago. Maybe forgiving him wouldn't be so bad. Wait, what am I saying? If I do then that shows how weak I am. I will not let him win. I know he regrets doing what he did, but he hasn't suffered enough like I had. At least, I don't think he has.