New Ways

TWENTY-EIGHT

Sigrid

Weeks passed since Amery and I hung out at the pizza joint in her attempt to make me feel better after I told her about my plight that evening after the meeting. She had told me that the reason why she hadn't called me or texted me after the night we kissed was because her phone went missing. She thought she had left it with Derek or Jean-Pierre but the next morning when she asked them they said they hadn't seen it.

Amery freaked out when we came to a conclusion that it might be the Cellphone Stalker. However, after waiting for a few days and even weeks now, she still hadn't gotten her phone returned in her mailbox yet. The girl eventually lost her patience, reported the loss to the police and bought herself a new phone. Over the weeks we started going through the list of people that Gwen had invited to her birthday party, and I had selected and instructed a group of members from the different Student Union committees to help me observe a few suspects. To date, the outcome of the discreet mission was still pending.

I was beginning to get over the unexpected breakup with Kate and starting to enjoy the company of my close circle of friends again. Gwen and I had gotten closer with each passing day. According to her, that kiss with me at her birthday party wasn't just a random one. She confessed to having a crush on me and since she was bisexual she had considered dating me. I made it clear to everyone that I wasn't ready to date anyone yet but the next person I date would have my full commitment. My statement only made the girl determined to win my heart every day.

"Babe!" Gwen pounced on my back and attacked me with small kisses one Tuesday we were having a field trip to the museum.

"Gwendolyn Abrahams. Do you not understand the instruction 'go around in twos'?" Amery asked sarcastically.

Gwen rolled her eyes at her best friend and hooked her arm into mine. "Gosh, chill, mom. I was just saying hi. I'll see you guys at the end of this boring tour then."

"It's nauseating how she's so in love with you," Amery scowled, and we stopped to look at a huge painting of a faraway house with a bunch of Japanese cherry blossom trees as the foreground.

"Are you jealous? You don't have to be, you know. You're the one getting the most time and attention from me cause I'm your vice president," I chuckled.

"Are you complaining?" Amery shot me a glare. "If you aren't happy about that then you should leave. I don't want to be forcing someone to do what they don't want to do."

A smile crept across my lips and I squinted my eyes teasingly at her. "Funny how five months ago that was exactly what you did."

"What are you... talking about?" Amery asked, bewildered by my statement.

"Five months ago at Lloyd's house party. We both know I'm here now because of that night, Am," I paused when I noticed Amery was trying to recall the night I was referring to. "Okay I know you were totally smashed that night but you really don't remember what happened?"

"Apparently I don't," Amery answered, still trying hard to regain her memory of that night. And then, her eyes finally widened. "I only remember kissing someone in the bathroom, if I'm not mistaken. Was that... that was you?!"

I grinned hesitantly.