The Guy Who Gave Up His Jersey (New Version)

|9|

In a way I was using Lucas as a way to stop thinking about Alejandro. Before Alejandro consumed every part of my brain, Lucas was there. He'd been the first guy in high school I had a crush on. I know I said Luke was the one who was my first, but I didn't have a crush on Luke. A sexual attraction was there when it came to Luke. My entire core felt some thing for Lucas and I think I'd always will.
We rode around the city for awhile and I kept my grip around him firmly. I even rested my chin on his back, enjoying the moments with him. He took me to my favorite yogurt place in down town and we spent two hours in the shop talking about everything going on. I told him about my party and how I was expecting for him to show up. He let me in about his classes and how he was enjoying the second year of college a lot more than freshman year. He said he couldn't wait until I went to college so I could tell him what I thought about the college life.

After leaving the  frozen yogurt place he asked me if it was alright with me for us to go to Freddie apartment. Freddie father gave him his own place when he married his second wife last fall. His wife was not a big fan of Freddie and wanted him as far away from her. Freddie didn't make a big deal about it since he hates the lady more than his worst enemies. He was satisfied with his dad purchasing a place for him to stay whenever he came into town.  Apparently, Lucas stayed at Freddie whenever he came into town and didn't tell his parents.

At the time I didn't think much of it going to the apartment, after all Lucas needed to pick up his laptop to finish a assignment this week. When arriving to the apartment, Licas asked me to make myself feel like home. Being who I was, I sat down on the couch, typing away on my phone while Lucas went to a room to grab his laptop. Being around him alone didn't freak me out like it did in the beginning. I always thought us being alone meant something was going to happen. He was going to grab me and kiss me and a full make out session was going to go down. The more and more I spent time with Lucas alone nothing ever happened. The truth settled in, he was never going to see me more than a good friend.

I'll be forever in the friend zone. And that's okay.

"So is there a special guy in your life finally?" He asked sitting down on the end of the couch facing me.

I shook my head. "No. I think I'll be forever alone at this point." I confessed.

"I highly doubt that. The right guy hasn't came around yet." He said it so easily as if it wasn't a little bit weird for a girl whose seventeen to never have a boyfriend in her life. Luke was my first everything but not my boyfriend.

I've never experienced a relationship before. I don't know what a girl is obligated to do or even how the thing works. If its anything like my parents have than I don't want any part of it. Seems to complicated and heartbreaking.

"Yeah, maybe college will be lucky for me."

"Regardless, why would you want any guy from Roosevelt high? They won't know what to do with a girl like you." He gave me a small smile, looking away. What did that mean? A girl like me?

"I don't want anyone from there or anywhere in that matter ." I confessed.

He rolled his eyes. "I don't believe that. You like me so I know for a fact you want me." He said cockily.

"I have a tiny crush on you, like every other friend of Maria's." I exclaimed, giving him the same eye roll.

"Yeah, but Maria doesn't let me take her other friends out or speak to them like this." He pointed out about us being alone. Thinking about it, he was right. Maria had never made a fuss about me talking to her brother or having a small crush on him. When the other girl she hangs out with make comments about it, she gets really mad.

I wonder if she didn't make a big deal about with me since we are best friends.

"Okay, so?" What was his point. I like him and he clearly knows that.

"I thought you were always beautiful. Hell, for a high schooler you're flawless compared to these college girls. Freddie makes remarks about your personality, the way you carry yourself, and how intelligent you are. He isn't wrong, you're one of the rare girls you only find once in a lifetime..." He cut himself off, shaking his head embarrassed. "Cliche I know, but I feel like you needed to know that."

I stayed quiet. In the years knowing him I never thought I'd hear him say something like that. He kept staring at me waiting for me to tell him something, but I didn't know what to say. Thank you? That was sweet? Every comment I thought about making sounded so stupid.

Suddenly, he came closer to me and put his hand on my cheek. "I didn't come here to just visit my family. I've  been doing a lot of thinking. Majority of it has to do with you. I like you Juliana. I think I've been liking you since the first time you came over. I was happy with the single life but there's so much you can enjoy alone. I talked to Maria about this and she's okay with me asking you. So, if you don't think I'm going to fast for you, I'd like to take you on a date."

My heart nearly ripped out of my chest.

"I'd really like that." I tried my best not to stutter.

He smiled. "How about tomorrow night? I'll pick you up."

"Okay." 

He  had the same foolishly smile on his face like I did. "Let's get you back to your car before it gets late." He said, getting up from the couch.

Arriving home, I had the biggest smile on my face. Lucas walked me to my car which wasn't even a long walk since he parked beside my car, but  the small gesture was cute. Opening the door, Xavier and Ale had walked out of the kitchen. They stopped talking and stared at me with the same agitated look on their faces.

"Where you been? Mom called saying you skipped your shift today."

"I went out with Lucas for a smoothie. I sent her a message telling her I wasn't coming in." She didn't make a big deal about me missing work. She knows Lucas and is fond of him, plus she knows he hardly comes into town during the semester.  So she doesn't mind me seeing him and missing work.

"I took your shift so it's no biggie." Ale responded, shrugging it off.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, thanks. Excuse me, I have homework to do."

"You weren't thinking about your homework when you left with Lucas on his motorcycle earlier today." Xavier scoffed.
I stopped halfway up the stairs and turned to look at him. "What's your problem? It's Lucas, the guy I always hang out with." I snapped angrily. Why was he upset about me hanging out with Lucas all of a sudden.

"He's being a older brother." Ale pushed him playfully. "It's a guy thing Jules, nothing to get angry about. He's jealous you're growing up." He smiles innocently at me.

I looked at Xavier confused. "Why now though?"

"Look, I don't like the fact he's a college guy and you're a junior. I know you two are just friends but the whole concept makes me edgy." He shook his head. "Ale is right, I'm just being protective." He walked away going into the living room.

Ale looked at me and sighed. "You're always going to be his baby sister."

"Do you fee protective over me too?" I suddenly blurted out.

He looked down at the floor and nodded. "Of course, you're my best friends sister. I have to watch out for you too."

"So you see me as a sister?" I wanted to hear him say it.  Ale confessing he saw me only as his sister was all I needed to know all those mix signals are nonsense from my part.

He snapped his head up and met his gaze with mine. "You and I know I can't." He muttered and walked away.

Well then. -GV.