Chasing Possibilities

13 - Of a Fresh Start

Sev left late last night after we watched two movies I downloaded from the internet. It wasn't in the plan. He was supposed to leave right after dinner but it suddenly rained so I suggested we watched a movie to pass the time. We were enjoying each other's company so much, that we hadn't noticed that we already watched the second movie on my external hard drive and the rain had already stopped. So we decided to just finish the second one and he would leave after.

I'm still so sleepy right now but I had chores to do so I dragged my sleepy butt out of my bedroom. I checked my phone for messages and found a couple from Bryce. My heart skipped a beat seeing his name on my phone's screen. I edited Rye's number and replaced it with his real name the other day.

Bryce: Good Morning Haeley. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. :)

His first message reminded me so much of the first few messages he sent me while he pretended to be Rye. My heart swelled with melancholy as I recalled the messages we exchanged just a few weeks before.

Bryce: Can we be friends again Haeley? Start over? Fresh new start?

I clutched my heart subconsciously. His second message was something I never expected. How could I deny him of a new start? After all, we've cleared things between us last week. He was honest enough to even admit how awkward he saw me – our situation – in high school. At least he got the balls to say that to my face.

I typed a quick reply.

Me: Meet me later. 6 PM. Will text you later where

I turned my phone off and placed it back on the coffee table. I didn't want some unwanted calls today. I was determined to finally face Bryce and sort things with him today. What I was going to say to him later, I didn't know yet. I would just figure all that out while I cleaned.

* * *

"Hi, sorry I'm late." I greeted Bryce 15 minutes later than the agreed time. "Traffic's just –" I let the rest of it trail off.

"No biggie, just got here myself." Bryce held the seat for me. Very gentlemanly. Impressive. "So, is this something I should be wary of?" He continued, as he took his seat across me.

"What? No. Why would you think so?" I asked, confused.

"Uhm, if I remembered well, one, you don't talk to me, two, you hardly acknowledged me, and three, you hate me?" He counted with his fingers as he enumerated the reasons.

"Okay, guilty as charged." I said, smiling a little. I was amused with myself. I had never expected meeting him would be this easy going.

He eyed me, confusion and worry lingered in his eyes.

"Well, I just came to my senses. I mean, I know we weren't the best of friends for the longest time and everything that happened before was so in the past. I just realized, I couldn't hate you forever."

Bryce's eyes lit up and he smiled for the first time. "Really? I'm forgiven?"

"Uhm, about that –" I looked away, trying to keep my emotions at bay. "I'm not so sure yet. I mean, I decided to give you – our friendship a chance. So I guess, I'll work on the forgiving thing too."

He nodded. "I see. That's enough for me. I mean, this is enough for me. You talking to me – normally."

I frowned at that. "What do you mean normally? Are you saying I'm not normal when we talk?"