20 Reasons to Let Go

[ Reason Four ] - Manslaughter

Cady stepped away from Kendal, embarrassed. A hot blush rose on her cheeks as she turned away to go grab her things.

She could feel Kendal's confused stare boring into the back of her head, and she fumbled blindly to pick up her bag.

"You're fine. You're fine. You're fine you're fine you're fine." She muttered to herself over and over, drumming her fingers on her thigh as she walked back over to Kendal as casually as she could manage.

"Are you ready to go?" Kendal asked, looking Cady up and down.

"Yeah." Breathed Cady, shoving her iPhone into her back pocket.

Kendal smiled,"Let's go then. My mom's waiting outside."

Cady followed her best friend towards the exit doors, feeling her heart beat slow down a bit. Obviously Kendal was completely unaware that Cady had wanted, and expected, her to kiss her.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself.

As the pair clambered into Mrs. Winters' blue minivan, they discussed the night so far. "Did you see Courtney ogling the new kid?" Kendal gushed.

"Did I?" Cady replied, clasping a hand to her chest, "It was so obvious!"

"I bought groceries, girls, so don't hesitate to shove some around if you don't have enough room." Mrs. Winters' voice came from up front as she turned the car keys and the minivan shuddered to life.

Cady nodded, hoisted a few bags off her seat, then sat with Kendal in peaceful silence for the rest of the ride.

When at last they had pulled up to Kendal's beautiful victorian-style home, Cady hopped out and began to unload some groceries. Kendal quickly pitched in, and soon everything was safely inside.

Kicking her shoes off, Cady ventured a question, "So who exactly is coming tonight?"

"Erm, let's see..." Kendal began to list off names on her fingers, "There's Ren, Courtney, Troy and Nick."

"Okay, so not too many." Cady remarked, slightly relieved that her first boy-girl sleepover wouldn't be too large.

Almost as if on cue, headlights flickered outside as the first guest arrived. Kendal swung open the door and flicked on the porch lights in order to see. Troy's massive figure made it's way up the stairs and to the entrance.

Cady frowned, remember her past with Troy. He had been her only boyfriend all of middle school, and she had broken things off last year when it got too complicated. She didn't regret her decision, but dating him had been fun.

Snapping back into the present, Cady turned back to the window to watch for other guests while Kendal helped Troy with his things.

By the time the rest of the group had arrived, it was about 5:30pm. The six of them all paraded downstairs to the basement to have some snacks and talk.

"Hey Cady, do you want to play one on one?" Nick asked, poking his head out of a nearby closet and holding up a mini basketball he had found.

"No, thanks." Mumbled Cady, completely uninterested.

Instead, she made her way over to the far corner of the basement, where Kendal sat sipping a drink.