Crazy Differences Between Us

Carter Ch. 18

"Oh come on! Where's the flag! That was clearly passing interference!" Kaden yelled.

"The refs are so mean to the Raiders in real life, Kaden. They just decided to be fair here." We were currently sitting in my living room playing Madden 17, and Kaden, as always, was whining about a bad call.

"Still, that was clear contact!"

"Well yelling at me won't get you anywhere. So if you want to make a change, take it up to the creators of the game."

"This is bull. I don't want to play anymore." Kaden huffed.

"You're so stupid," I said, as I walked up to take the game out.

"Whatever, I know that was a bad call, you know it was a bad call!"

"But the refs in this game don't," I say.

"I get it okay! Just stop."

"You're such a little kid."

"But you deal with me," he fires back.

"I don't know why I do," I mutter, as I head towards the kitchen.

Kaden had been over my house since noon, and I'm surprised he didn't bring up his love for food yet. I'd been friends with him long enough to know something was up. Now that I think about it, ever since Amelia and I started this whole thing, we hadn't talked much. I may sound like a girl, but a guy needs his best friend. 

"Hey Carter," Kaden called. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Dude if ya want to date Mackenzie, have at it. She's all yours. I know we said we'd try not to date the same girls, but this is an exception. It might finally get her off my back." I looked at him, and he stared right at the point above my head.

"It's not that," he started."I wanted to know if you would be okay withmegettimgtutoringhelpfrom Amelia."

"Kaden, slow down. Now repeat everything you just said."

He took an inhale of air, then began again, "I said, would you be fine with me getting tutoring help from Amelia."

I tried to keep my emotions neutral, but I know a flash of anger must've showed. "If she's okay with it," I began.

"She is I already asked her if she would do it. It's just for math. You know I suck at math, and I thought hey I could ask Amelia. I mean she's dating my best friend and she's captain of the mathletes. So what could possibly be bad about asking? So then I thought more of it, and realized I should ask you. She is your girlfriend and I didn't want it to be awkward or anything."

"Kaden, she's her own person. If she said it's fine, then it's fine," I said.

"Are you sure? Like for sure, for sure?" He questioned.

"Yes I'm sure," I said, exasperated.

"Okay then."

After that we just stood there awkwardly staring at random things around us. Me at the TV behind Kaden's head, and him at who knows whatever was behind me. After a minute or two of just standing, I finally made my way around Kaden and back to the living room.
~.~

Walking to Mr. Davis' class on Monday was when I truly started to realize that after this week, Amelia and I would probably never talk again. To be honest, it kind of left me sad and relieved at the same time.

I mean now I don't have to deal with being "tied down", or feeling like I might make a mistake when I'm around her. But then again, the conversations we had in class, to class, out of class, were all pretty interesting.

I went into Mr. Davis' classroom, and sat down at my table. Amelia usually got there a bit after me, but when the bell rang and she didn't show, it left me a tad worried. She hadn't mentioned anything of being absent, or leaving early. Plus the only time Amelia had probably ever ditched school was with me.

Mr. Davis began his lecture, but Amelia never showed. When the bell rang, I sprinted out to go find Joey or even Alexis, for that matter. I passed by Joey's locker and didn't see him there. Maybe they were both absent? It didn't make sense since he didn't tell anyone on the team, at least that I know, that he was going to miss today's practice.

I went to my next class and basically just stared at my phone, hoping for it to buzz with a message from either one of them. Each time it did buzz, my heart would race, and then soothe when I realized it was just another annoying message from Kaden.

All throughout the day, my mind was anywhere, but the classroom. I thought about my conversations with Amelia, and if she ever said anything about not coming to school. The last time I had a conversation with her, was after homecoming. We went to the park by her house, and just laid on the grass looking up at the stars.

"I'm glad I said yes to this Carter," Amelia spoke, her voice so soft. "When you told me at the party, I have to admit I was a bit shocked. I mean we were running mates and stuff, but a relationship, even a fake one, is something else." She paused as if she were trying to gather up her thoughts. The way the moon was shining on her face made her eyes seem more prominent. 

"I've had fun these past, what has it been, 4 weeks? I honestly have to admit that I thought you were a self-centered guy, who didn't give a crap about who people were, but I feel like that is just the façade you put out for everyone. All though this whole thing was fake, I don't think I have ever been as open with anyone other than Alexis, then I have been with you. I really hope that once we end this, we can remain friends, and hope that no one, other than those we've told, will ever know about our "fake relationship", because then it can be our little secret, and no one can take it from us."

She looked up at me with pleading eyes, and at the moment, she seemed so vulnerable and  it made me realize that sometimes our best moments with other  people, are the times when you let them truly look at you. Over the past weeks with Amelia, she let me see the pressure she got from being an A- student, having to be there for all her friends, and lastly dealing with all her clubs, and now sport. She put so much of her into all of these things, her life became routine to the point she felt she didn't have control of what she did in her own time.

"Amelia, I really do appreciate how you were with me. We both went into this stubbornly, but I think that we're going to leave this as different people. I think that although we did this to win the votes, which I do have to admit that saying my plan out loud sounds really stupid now, you changed me for the better. You have a passion for the things you do, so don't let anyone ever, and I mean ever, change your heart. Always be the stronger person."

 I was snapped out of my thoughts when the bell began to ring, releasing us from class, and into my long awaited practice.

~.~

Hey guys!!!!!! So that was a very thoughtful chapter. If you read my journal, also on this account, you might realize some of the similarities between the characters and myself :)

Hope everyone had a good weekend, and Happy December! 2016 is coming to an end!

Please comment what you thought, Vote if you liked, and SHARE so we can hit 1K!!! 

I was thinking we needed a cover change but I'm really lazy rn, so if anyone would make one for us, it'd be very much appreciated!

This Chapter is dedicated to my friend Alexis, who just so happens to be the person I'm most open with ;)

Thanks for reading!