Confused but Functional

Chapter 1

"You're going down!" He smirked beside me, pulling the pool stick back to take a shot.

"No I'm not! I'll destroy you and you know it." No I wouldn't. I suck at 8-Ball. I actually have only won 3 times.

  My phone buzzed, notifying me that Landon had just messaged me. It was my turn. I lined up my shot and fired, somehow managing to knock the 8 ball into the hole on my first turn. 'You loose' appeared on the screen.

"Fudge!"

"Fudge?" He smiled next to me, and patted my arm,"A valiant effort, Mel."

  My heart leaped, just as it did every time he touched me. Or smiled. Or did anything for that matter.

"I'll destroy you this time for sure." I texted him a new game.

"Wait." He paused,"Mel?" Landon spoke softly and rested his head on my shoulder.

"Yeah?" I put my my phone down.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Um... when a girl- uh- isn't clear- um- she means to–"  he started.

"Spit it out Landon." I responded.

"Should I be worried if Olivia never texts me anymore?" He let out in one breath.

  Of course this was about Olivia. Why would I expect anything else. Landon and Olivia had been dating for two months, which really sucks. Well, it only sucks for me because I like Landon. Not only do I like him, I like-like him.

  Admitting that I liked Landon to myself was really hard. Whenever I like people, it lasts about a week and then I move on. But I just couldn't shake him off. I've liked Landon for about three months. For me, that's a really long time to like someone.

  It's almost strange to think about how I like-like him. We've been really good friends since the second day of high school.

The first month I liked him I was almost positive he liked me back. We would always flirt with each other and almost everyone saw it. My guy friends would tease me about liking him, which I obviously denied. I also heard rumors about him liking me back. I was sure it would go somewhere. I was so wrong.

Why would someone like Landon ever like me as more than a friend. He was captain of the lacrosse team. The varsity lacrosse team, and we're only Sophomores. He had tons of friends and so many girls swooning over him. Out of all the girls he could have, he chose a stereotypical cheerleader who didn't even go to our school. How did they even meet? It was really weird.

No it's not weird, your just jealous. I had to remind myself.

"What do you mean she doesn't text you?" I asked remorsefully.

"She never texts me first, she hardly even says anything when she does. When we hang out, I'm always the one who has to make the plans and- you get it. Did I do something to piss her off?"

"Landon, I'm sure its fine. You worry yourself way too much about stuff like this."

"Yeah, but Melody–" he started.

"Nope! No buts." I interrupted,"Call her, not to make plans, just to talk to her. All you do is text her. Hang out with her more, not big fancy dates, just quality time. Like- ah- a picnic! Or something. You figure it out. What you do is stress out about everything instead of just enjoying the little things. Olivia wants more quality time instead technological interactions. She's not mad at you, she just wants to enjoy the little things with you."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because all girls just want to enjoy the little things. This. Right here. The little things." I gestured to the bleachers we were sitting on while watching the boys soccer team practice, just enjoying the warm sun and each other's presence.

"Thanks Mel. You always know what to say. Your such a great friend." He took his head off my shoulder, and squeezed my hand quickly and reassuringly.

  It hurt. I gave him advice that I actually thought would help him. I easily could have lied, given him advice that would actually piss off Olivia. I could have ruined his relationship with her. But Olivia makes him happy. If he's happy, I don't need to interfere. I want my friend to be happy.

  Friend. It echoed in my head. He had said it. Friend. That's all we would ever be. Friend. It hurt. Landon was only my friend. If it were ever anything more, things would be weird. I'm grateful for our friendship.

"Anytime Landon." I looked at my phone,"Oh crap. I gotta go, I have practice."

He pulled out his own phone and checked the time,"It's only 2:46, you don't practice till 4:30..."

"Well that was my practice time... before they bumped me up from JV to Varsity." I smirked and grabbed my backpack, water bottle, and water polo bag,"Now I practice at 3:00."

"Melody Summers! You got moved up to varsity and didn't even bother to tell me!" He stared at me in awe.

"Oh I didn't want to brag. But while I'm at it; not just Varsity, I'm a starter."

"Congrats!" He stood up and moved towards we,"Have a good practice. See you tomorrow?"

"Yuppers." I grinned as he reached out to hug me good bye.

-----

  By the time I reached the restroom, all the stalls were taken by my teammates and other players. I grunted in annoyance and pulled out my polo parka. I put it on and zipped it and began the typical and irritating deck change.

  Once I was in my suit I made my way towards the pool. I set my stuff down and saw Kacy stretching on the pool side. As soon as she saw me she patted the ground next to her, signaling for me to join her.

She immediately started ranting,"I am so sick! I had a fever yesterday! I don't want to be here. I'm not feeling it today at all. Ugh why do I play water polo Mel?"

"Just tell Coach you don't feel well, no one wants you puking in the pool." I joked trying to lighten her mood.

As I switched stretches, she continued to whine,"I can't do that! Especially today. Coach will think I'm trying to cheat out of swim sets. She said we were doing twenty 100's of freestyle ten seconds to rest after each set. But wait, there more! After that we get to do ten 75's of butterflies consecutively! Plus whatever other swim sets we do regularly."

"Kace, it's fine. You'll push through, you always do."

"I know I will! Now stop encouraging me I just wanna vent!" She laughed and immaturely crossed her arms like a little kid.

  We stretched and talked as the rest of the team showed up. After we all grabbed our swim caps and goggles, we began our swim sets.

  After we all managed to finish our swim sets, with many loud complaints from Kacy, Coach sent us to put away our goggles and grab a ball.

  Once we all piled into the water again we began to shoot outside of the five meters to warm up. Just as I had made one in the cage, aimed towards the right corner I hear my name.

  Landon had been waving to me from outside the pool deck, with my other friend Zach. By the time I looked up, I saw my Coach scolding Landon and Zach for distracting the team. I stifled my laughter and swam to the back of the line.

  Kacy immediately accused Landon of liking me, which I, as always, denied.

"Zach was there too! They're just my friends! It's not weird!"

  She looked at me with a knowing look. Then it was time for me to shoot again, and practice went on.