Friends Don't Kiss, Do They?

Chapter 11

Returning to school on Monday made me nervous. Even if I sorted things out with Matt, Samantha was the person I was most nervous about. After the humiliation she was caused online, I was terrified of what kind of nasty insults she would say or whether or not if others would laugh at me for pulling the stupid stunt I did when I blacked out. Maybe the accident wasn't my fault like Matt said it wasn't, but in a way I felt like it was.

I wasn't the only one with something on my mind as I entered the school grounds. Bailey was quiet when I met up with her, but she didn't tell me what was bothering me. Even when Abby joined us she would say anything.

We are soon joined by Tayvon and Matt. My heart skipped when I see him. Tayvon makes his way towards Bailey, but she takes off. He follows her, telling her to stop so they could talk. Abby and I turn to Matt for answers. No doubt Tayvon would have told him what happened between them. Bailey hasn't said anything to me yet.

"They got into a fight last night," Matt explains.

"What about?" Abby asks.

Matt shrugs. "He hasn't told me anything yet. All he has told me is that they weren't currently talking to each other."

"I'm sure whatever they are fighting about is probably a little thing and they will get over it soon," I say.

"Yeah."

The three of us there stand in silence. Matt and I avoided eye contact with each other.

"Come on, Hailey," Abby says, ending the quietness between the three of us. "Let's go and see if Bailey is alright. Catch you later, Matt."

"Yeah, see ya," Matt says.

I give him a shy smile before walking alongside me, entering the building. We look around, wondering where Bailey could have disappeared in a hurry. It doesn't take us long to spot Tayvon standing outside the girls' restroom across from the administration office. He knocks on the door, begging Bailey to come out and that he was sorry for what he had done. Abby and I approach him, telling him we will talk to her. He thanks us and moves aside for us to enter.

Bailey is standing at the basin, leaning on the bench as she stares at herself in the mirror. We stand either side of her, waiting for some girls from another grade to finish giggling and putting on makeup so we could have privacy. It takes them at least five minutes to leave.

As soon as they are gone, Bailey speaks. "I went to see Tayvon last night. We were making out. I don't know what made him do it, but he tried to go further."

Abby places a hand over her belly. "I'm sure he didn't do anything to hurt you, Bailey. He probably just got carried away. It's easy to do that."

"I know," Bailey agrees. "In some ways I think it's my fault. I sort of led him on, and when he started to do the things he did, it scared me."

I place a hand on Bailey's shoulder. "It's okay, Bailey. I'm sure anyone could have done the same thing."

Bailey turns from the mirror and rests her back against the bench. "Tayvon knows I don't believe in sex before marriage. He has always respected me and never pressured me into anything. Yesterday he said we have been together for almost three months, and reckons it is time we sleep together."

"Maybe he has pressured to do it. I mean, he is the captain of the football team."

"Hailey is right," Abby says. "Don't be too hard on him. He probably thought you had changed your mind and was ready. The main thing is stopped and respected your wishes. He could have forced you to do what he wanted."

Bailey nods. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She looks at both Abby and I. "Do you think I overreacted?"

Abby and I shook our heads, answering no at the same time.