He's Just Not That Into Me

Summer Time

"Yeah, can you come over?" I say holding Mom's phone.

"I can walk over in five minutes. Can I invite Bob and Wade too?"

"Of course! We can all go to the park that's down the street!"

"I'll see you in a little bit! Bye (y/n)!"

"Bye Grace!" I give Mom her phone back. "I'm gonna wait outside for Grace, Bob, and Wade!"

I run outside. It's two weeks into summer. Grace and I have hung out nearly everyday.

I sit in my driveway, playing with chalk.

"What are you dwawing?" Grace asks.

"Hi Grace! Hey Bob, Hey Wade!"

"Hi!" They say collectively.

"So do you guys want to walk to the park now?" I ask.

"Sure!" Grace says as Bob and Wade nod.

We play at the park for what seems like ages. Then, I see a familiar boy from across the street come over. Mark.

"Hey Mark!" Bob and Wade run over to him. I sit on the swing and just watch. Grace sits in the swing next to mine.

"You still don't like Mark vewy much, do you?"

"I just don't know why he hates me. He isn't mean to you like he is to me."

"Maybe he just likes you." Grace shrugs her shoulders.

"What?! There's no way! How can he like me when he's mean to me?"

"My mom says sometimes a boy is mean to you when he likes you. She says that in a boys mind girls are gross. So when he likes her he can't let her know so he's mean to her. I hope that made sense. I'm gonna go talk to them. You can come with if you want."

I follow behind her as we walk towards the boys. I really didn't want to go. I was afraid of what Mark was going to say to me.

But he didn't say anything mean. Instead, he said, "Hi Grace, hey (y/n)."

"Hey," Grace said back.

"Hi?" I said a little confused. I didn't know why he was being so nice to me all of a sudden. Unless...unless he does like me and isn't afraid to show it now.

We play for a while. Mark and I get to know each other more and we begin to get along. When it's time to go home, Mark walks with me.

"Can I ask you something?" I look at Mark.

He's silent for a moment. He seems to be thinking. "Depends."

"On?"

"On what the question is."

"Well, I was wondering why you were so mean to me when I first moved here, and don't say just because I'm a girl. You're nice to Grace so that can't be it."

He's quiet again. "I don't want to answer that."

"Okay...one day I'll get it out of you." I smile at him.

He smiles back. "And it'll be on my deathbed!"

Once I'm inside I go up to my room. I look out the window and Mark is there in his room. I wave and he waves back.

I think this friendship is going to be great.