Sugar

chapter 11

Emily and I were leaving today, and I was so eager to go back home and meet Tyler. I had so much to tell him and I knew he wanted to tell me about Gina and Boston.

"Do you really have to leave? We're all going to miss you so much," Aunt Barbara sighed, as I finished packing the last of my clothes.

I nodded, "Yeah, I have some school assignments to finish and I don't think we should leave Mom alone for so long."

"Yes, your mother can get frightfully worked up if she's alone. She literally searches for things to keep her busy," she laughed, a fond look in her eyes. I know it's been awhile since my mother has met any of her relatives, due to her packed schedule and crazy work timings.

"Maybe you guys can come visit us at Cupertino sometime soon? I know Mom would love that, Aunt Barbara."

"Yes, I think a visit has been long overdue. I'm tired of just staying here too. Maybe we'll visit during Halloween, Max gets a few days off then," she suggested.

I was about to reply, when I heard someone knocking on my door. My aunt left me sitting on the bed, as Brandon walked in slowly. He was dressed as he always did, but he looked serious.

"Hey, can we talk?"

"Um, you walked into my room and now you're asking me if we can talk? Sure, go ahead," I said, curious to know what he was going to say.

Brandon sighed. "I know that high school has been shit for you, and it's all my fault. If I hadn't listened to Kirsty and the others and stopped hanging out with you, then maybe things would have turned out way different."

Where was this coming from? I never thought that Brandon would acknowledge his mistake. Ever.

"Oh, yeah, I guess it was a little shitty, but it's not like I had the worst time ever. I got to know Tyler, and a bunch of other people and I guess it helped me change. I'm no longer the girl who would hang onto your every word and follow you around. Uh, I feel like you helped me become a better person, stronger, so you don't need to apologise," I said, looking into his chocolate brown eyes. They seemed to have no effect on me now.

Brandon let out a breath which he seemed to have been holding. "You don't know what a relief that is to hear, Nat. I knew I acted like an idiot but I never thought that you'd be able to move on from it."

"Well, I guess we don't know each other that well after all," I smiled, getting off the bed and moving towards my suitcase.

Brandon hung around at the desk, not knowing what to say. I turned around and faced him, grinning.

"Maybe we can't go back to being best friends like how we used to, Brandon. But I would like to give a shot at just being friends now. I don't want to spend senior year being tormented by your friends and avoiding you every time I catch your eye at school. And I think you don't want to be a part of it either?"

"You're right. I hope stuff blows over, actually, no, I'm going to make sure that stuff blows over. I'm tired of turning a blind eye to the shit my friends did to you. You deserve way more than that," he replied, seriously.

I was so happy. I can't believe I had finally sorted out all my shit. Like, I had been carrying around this problem for so many years now, and I finally didn't have to worry about it.

"Thank you, for sorting this out with me," I smiled.

Brandon grinned, his hundred-watt smile on display. I awkwardly pulled him into a hug which lasted for all of five seconds.

"You're one of the best friends I'll ever have, Nat," he sighed.

I didn't realise how long I had been waiting to hear those exact words from him. And if I'm being honest, the wait was worth it.