What If?

Reconciled

"I'm home!" His mom yells.
It could just be me but swear I heard Timothy give a little sigh.
"Hi Mrs. O'dell!"
She hangs her purse up on their coat rack and smiles at me.
"Oh hello Ellie! What are you doing here?"
"I just came over to study with Timothy for a test. Is that alright?"
"Oh yes of course. I'll just head on back to my room and give you two some space." She walks back and I hear her door click shut.

"So what did you want to tell me?" I turn and ask him.
He's been quiet this whole time and he has a look on his face that I can't quite place what it means.
"Oh, yeah um. I was just going to ask if you- uh- wanted to go over some flash cards maybe?"
Yeah. He's definitely acting strange.
"Um. Sure. Are you ok? You're acting a little strange."
He hasn't made eye contact with me this whole time.

Then his phone rings

He picks it up and looks at the caller ID. I didn't get a good look at who it was. He hangs up and puts it flat on the table. This whole time he has a worried look on his face.

"Hey. Are you alright? You look worried."
I ask him because I'm genuinely concerned. I've never seen him act like this before.
"Yeah I'm fine. I just uh- remembered something- a project- I needed to finish up. Maybe you should go. We can study another time."

Why does he want me to leave? What's going on with him?
"Why? I just got here and we haven't gone over a single thing."
He stands up and starts helping me put my books back into my bag.
"Yeah it's just I really need to get this done. I'm sorry. I totally blanked on it. We'll schedule another time." He finishes and zips up my bag for me.
"Um... Ok. I'll leave I guess."
I put my backpack on my bag.
"See ya later I guess."
"Yeah bye."

I head down the porch stairs. I look back over my shoulder one last time at the window that sees into the kitchen. I see him dialing a number on his phone and putting it up to his ear. He starts talking and it looks like an argument. He looks sad and depressed. Who could be calling him?

-Back At Her House-

"Nate! I'm home!"
I get no reply.
"Nate?"
Nothing.
I start to get worried. I check his bedroom and then the living room. No Nate. Then I check the kitchen. A note on a bright pink piece of paper catches my eye. I walk over to it and pick it up.
It reads:
Ell,
I went to pick up some pizza for dinner. Don't worry, I'll be home soon.
-Nate

Phew. I was worried that something had happened to him. I head to my room and start studying for the science test since Timothy kicked me out before I could read even a single word. I have a very hard time concentrating. My thoughts kept wandering back to Timothy and how strange he was acting.

"I'm home!" I hear Nate yell. "And I have pizza!"
I realize then just how hungry I am. My stomach growls as if on cue.
"Coming!"

I walk into the kitchen and am hit by the glorious smell of hot, fresh pizza.
"Mmmmm... That's smells sooo good! I'm starving."
I move to pick up a piece but Nate's hand swats mine away.
"You'll have to wait a couple more minutes. We have company."
Who could he have invited?
"Who's coming?"
He gives me his famous sly grin and says
"You'll just have to wait and see."
I groan in frustration and go to the living room and turn on the tv. A re-run of my favorite show Once Upon A Time is showing.

Around 10 minutes later I hear the door bell ring. Nate yells
"I'll get it!"
I get up off the couch to see who's here. As soon as I see their faces I stop my tracks in the middle of the hallway.

"Katherine? Kadence? What are you doing here?" I look at Nate with an accusing face.
"Did you do this?"
"I was tired of you being mad at them. Come on. You guys have been bestfriends since forever. You can't just throw that away."
I turn on my heels and head to the kitchen.
"Yes I can."
Nate says behind me.
"Come on in guys."

I sit on a bar stool with my face in my hands. I can't just forgive them. They did the worst thing imaginable. They ruined my life. They told my biggest secret of all. How can I just let it slide?

Katherine and Kadence take the seats next to me. Katherine attempts to talk to me.
"Hey Ellie."
I give no response.
"Listen we just wanted to say that we-"
I shoot up from my chair nearly knocking it over.
"No! You don't get to say anything! I trusted you both. I trusted you with the biggest secret I've ever had! And what do you do? You go tell a friend. Who tells the whole school! And Monica! Everyone knows! Even Timothy! How could you guys do that and then expect me to be all happiness and sunshine about it? I'm done with you both!"
I have tears streaming down my face. They both looked too stunned to speak. I run off into my bedroom where I throw myself down on my bed and just cry.

"Knock knock". I can hear Kadence on the other side but I refuse to say anything. She comes in anyway and I feel them both sit on my bed.
"Listen I know that what we did was inexcusable, and I know it was wrong. But could you at least just put it behind you? I'm not asking for forgiveness because it was unforgivable. I'm just maybe asking for a fresh start?"
I turn around and look at them both. They have tears in their eyes too. Katherine speaks this time.
"We just wanted to help you. I know it didn't work out and were terribly sorry. Nothing like that will ever happen again. But I miss us. I miss dancing together after school in our basement, I miss going out to eat and laughing ourselves silly getting strange looks from strangers. I miss all the fun things we used to do together. Can we please become friends again? I hate this."

Maybe they're right. Maybe they were just trying to help. And honestly, I've missed them so much. Maybe I should just let it go and leave it in the past.
I sniffle and say
"I've missed you guys too."
They smile from ear to ear and tackle me on the bed in a big hug.
"Kat? Kade? I'm so sorry for treating you guys that way."
"It's ok. We deserved it."
I shake my head.
"No you didn't. You were just trying to help. I realize that now. I'm glad we can be friends again."
I sit up and wipe my eyes.
"Now let's go eat. I wouldn't want that pizza to go to waste."
We all laugh. Then Kat says
"No it wouldn't go to waste. Nate would eat it all."
We all laugh again and then head downstairs, arm in arm, to stuff ourselves with pizza.

Yay! They're back to being friends now! I really hated it when Ellie hated them.

1214 words guys. Did you like it? Do you like the long ones or should I do some shorter ones? What do you think is wrong with Timothy? Predictions?

That's all. I hope you all have a lovely rest of the day!

Peaceout lovely people! ✌🏼️😘