The rest of the dance was as fun as dances get, but I pretended that it was ten times more fun than it was in reality. They went through so much trouble for me, and I’d feel bad if they thought I didn’t love it. I held Derek’s hand as the group guided us to our last stop for the night. I would have let Henderson guide me, but as much as I hated to admit it, Parker was right. If I gave him the wrong idea, he would ask me out, and then I wouldn’t know what to say. “Where are we going?”
I intended the question to be for anyone but Parker, but he answered anyways. “You’ll see.”
“This one was my idea. I know you’ll love it. It’s just what you need right now.” Derek said holding my hand as he walked a little further ahead of me.
We reached the pool and I just gave the group a quizzical look. “Swimming?”
“Yep, we’re jumping in while we’re all dressed up.”
Before anything else could be said, I jumped in. The indoor pool was heated, so it was almost like being in a huge Jacuzzi. Everyone else laughed and then jumped in to join me. I floated on my back and looked at the glass ceiling of the building. “This reminds me of summer, when me and Nat snuck out to go to the pool on the roof of her apartment building. I guess your enemies really do try to stay closer to you.”
“The night before I left to come here, I toilet papered my old school.”
“I bet you’d go bankrupt buying toilet paper to do that to this place.”
“What happened before?”
“What do you mean?”
“Between you and Parker. You looked so angry when you guys came outside.”
“He and his friends made a bet that if he could kiss me and if he did he got twenty dollars…” He turned around towards Parker and was about to say something, but I grabbed his arm. “Don’t. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does, Reagan. He can’t just do that. You deserve better.”
I laid my head on his shoulder, “Do I really? I mean everything else was taken away from me. My mom and my best friend, I was bound to lose self respect sometime.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Who’s the girl you like that you were talking about before?”
“You.”
No. No. No. No. This could not be happening. Remember Reagan, focus. I picked my head up from his shoulder. “Oh,”
“I’m so stupid, I shouldn’t have told you. I’d never have a chance with you.” His voice was defeated.
“No! That is absolutely not true. You are handsome, and nice, and funny, of course you have a chance. The thing is, I’m not really a relationship type person.” This was a partial lie. It was true that I was horrible at relationships and always messed them up, but I also had to stay focused. Boys were too much drama for the time being.
His face relaxed a little more and then he said, “Okay, can we still be friends? Things won’t be weird between us right?”
“Of course not! I’m sorry.” I was messing things up without even being in a relationship.
“Don’t be. It’s fine really.” But I knew things weren’t fine. Something inside of me kicked in and I could sense a little bit of heartbreak from him. He truly liked me and I just let him down. “Hey, Reagan, it’s not because you like Parker is it?”
“No. He’s a jerk.” I made sure Parker could hear me. “If I was even remotely good at relationships and knew I wouldn’t mess things up with you, things would be different.”
“Okay, I’m gonna go, I have Soccer practice early tomorrow.” Before I could say bye, he had left the pool and my sight with his clothes soaked with water.
I had my hands on the ledge of the pool and I was facing the windows when Parker said, “I heard you.” And there was a bit of sting in his voice.
“Oh go away, Parker.”
“What’s your problem anyways? You kiss me one second and then leave me the next.”
“What’s my problem?” I repeated in disbelief, “What’s your problem? Really, tell me, because only an idiot would think that he could kiss me for money, and then think that somehow that’s okay. Is your problem insanity, or just plain stupidity?”
“You kissed me.” He corrected.
“You’re insane.” Even though I knew he was right.
“You. Kissed. Me.”
“Do you think this is helping you? Do you think being a jerk is really going to aid you in getting me to like you? Because if you do then its stupidity. I’ve decided upon it.” I couldn’t help but let tears fall down my face, and the rest of the group began to notice.
“Leave, Parker.” Henderson spat at him.
“No, it’s okay. He doesn’t have to leave if I’m gone.”
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Curiosity Can Kill
Ficção AdolescenteReagan Marie Dalton is curious. Why does her mom leave at the crack of dawn and come back late at night? Where does she go? What does she do? After a very tragic event she slowly uncovers who her mom was and what she did. But is it worth risking her...
