Redefining Beautiful

Chapter Twenty-Nine: New Beginnings

Destiny showed up at my front door with flowers. Destiny said she was sorry. Destiny thanked me for standing up for her. Destiny said she was sorry.

I let Destiny into my room. I told Destiny my side of the story. I said I was sorry, even though I don’t know why. I told Destiny it was going to be okay. I told Destiny why I took her diary.

It was after Thanksgiving Break, a week before the game against Hultgren Heights. I haven’t had time to talk to anyone because Roebuck extended practice and added drills. So no attempts to fix anything with Trevor, no photography adventures, and no life. To have Destiny sitting on my bed was a huge shock.

“You had all my secrets,” Destiny traced the spine of the diary with her finger. “and you didn’t do anything with them?”

“Trust me, I wanted to so badly,” I admitted. “But... I asked myself if it was really worth it.” I gazed into Destiny’s green eyes. “And I just wanted everything to be over already.” We were sitting on my bed, legs criss-crossed, facing each other, and talking like twins that were separated at birth finally reuniting.

“I haven’t been quite the greatest friend to you, Charlie.” Destiny glanced out my window. She was watching Trevor pull up into his driveway. “I let Rustin into my bedroom when I knew you were getting undressed and Megan told Trevor about Jason.” She paused. “But only because I told her to. Then I lied about the sleepover.” Destiny was spitting out the facts so quickly I couldn’t keep up. “I exaggerated the story about Trevor and Rustin’s sister. Truth is, Rustin’s sister snuck into Trevor’s bedroom, but they didn’t do anything, okay? Then Rustin was all mad that Trevor led his sister on, but he really didn’t know how to tell her to go away because he’s such a... good guy.”

“It’s okay,” I said.

“It’s not okay,” She protested.

“I forgive you.” I corrected myself.

“Thank you.” She tucked a loose strawberry-blonde strand of hair behind her ear. “I was so jealous of you, and how Trevor looked at you, and how beautiful you are, and I didn’t understand why you would still be the same innocent and loyal Charlie when you were more beautiful than everyone in school.”

Silence fell between us for a few moments. I was processing everything Destiny told me. I realized that I wanted to be best friends so badly with the girl who was really my enemy. I debated for a moment if I wanted to be Destiny’s best friend again or not. Then a thought entered my brain, questioning why it even mattered.

I grew up with Destiny. I told Destiny everything. Destiny was my best friend for a long time. I thought Destiny was the most beautiful girl in the world. I was so proud to call a girl like Destiny my best friend. Now, knowing that Destiny leaked my secrets, knowing Destiny set me up, and remembering how badly Destiny has hurt me and how she planted things into my head which made me doubt myself, I don’t think I want to be within a hundred yards of her.

Then again, she came to my house. She apologized. She is trying to make things right. Even though Destiny is your typical I-run-the-school type of girl, who was much less than a real best friend to me, I still forgive her. Everything has been said, everything has been done. It’s time to move on.

“Let’s start over,” I said. Destiny looked surprised. “We can just move on from it all and start fresh.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Her lips curled into a smile, her speckled green eyes glistening.

I walked Destiny down my driveway. We hugged. She said in my ear, “You’re beautiful.” I thanked her because it meant so much coming from someone I admired for most of my life.