The Life I Wish We'd Lived

7.I Told You So

    Eli stayed with me all day again. We watched movies and talked a little about whatever was going on with us. When I brought up Chris specifically he tried to avoid it, and I kind of felt bad that I wasn't hanging out with him, but I was hanging out with Eli who was technically the reason I told him I needed a break to think about things.

     Alexis called around four to see if I wanted to go to dinner so I sent Eli home so I could get ready. I take a long shower, do full make up and curl my hair. I never really know what to expect when it comes to dinner with the girls. Alexis and Paisley show up at six so we sit in the living room and wait for Niki. While we wait Paisley gets Alexis caught up on the whole Eli situation.

      "What! Eli?!"

      "Yup." Paisley says completely calm.

      "It's about time." Lexi says with a sigh and a giggle.

    I respond for the first time when I hear that. "What do you mean 'It's about time'?"

      "Oh come on Kat you have totally liked him since our junior year in high school."

      "Who are we talking about? Kat and Eli?" Niki says.

    Weird. I didn't even hear the door.

      "Yep." Lexi replies

      "How did you know?" I ask

      "I heard 'liked since junior year of high school' and that pretty much gave it away." Niki says chuckling with a shrug.

      "Are you kidding me?! Do you guys talk about this when I'm not around or something?"

    They all exchange glances and in unison say "yeah basically."

    I throw a hand up in frustration. "Good to know."

      "So, um. Should we go?"

   As we get in the car I continue thinking about what they said. Junior year? Really? I don't remember things changing. I mean I guess we would hold hands and stuff when we were hanging out, walking around stores or whatever.  Sometimes we'd walk with his arm across my shoulder, mine around his waist, but that doesn't mean anything. Most of that time I was dating Ray. What are they thinking? I didn't like Eli back in high school, we were just really good friends. We still are, I mean things are different now for sure.

      "Well someone is day dreaming pretty hard core over here."

      "Awe! Kat! You're blushing!"

    She's right. It was only after she mentioned it that I realized just how hot my face was. "Shut up," I mumble.

    They all laugh as we pull into the parking lot at Gino's Italian Restaurant.

      "Well I'm still rooting for Chris. You guys can be team Eli all you want but her and Chris would be so cute together... not saying her and Eli wouldn't be but come on, they are too good of friends." Niki says with a sigh.

    Of course it would be Niki who was team Chris. She hung out with him almost as much as I did back in high school. Pretty sure I covered for her while she was with him and a few of the guys a couple times. Actually she spent more time with him than I did, maybe she has somethings to work out too... I wonder.

      "Exactly! Eli has always been there for her. Even through Ray, Chris, Jon, Kile, Chance, Caleb—"

      "Good God are we gonna list every guy I dated!?" I interrupt Lexi with a huff.

      "Well I was gonna but you made me lose track" she says shyly

      "Good!" Niki, Paisley and I say in unison.