Who's the One?

Chapter 9

I'm just sitting on the couch where, what seems like hours ago, Steve left me. I can't think of anything but the events of today. Everything was great, why did it have to turn out like this? I hear the front door open.

“Lil! What did you do?” shouts Doug as he and Max walk in.

“What are you talking about?” I stand.

“Steve.” Doug’s breathing is lacking control.

I freeze. “What about him?” I can’t say anything, Doug may not know what happened.

“You did something. He texted me.”

“Why do you assume I did something?”

“He was fine when we left, and now he's gone.”

“Does he seem angry?”

“I don't know it just says ‘Thanks for letting me stay at your place. I'm good now.’”

“So naturally it's just my fault! I had to have done something?”

“Just tell me why he left Lil.” He steps closer.

“I can't-”

“Why?” He raises his voice.

Max puts a hand on Doug's shoulder, and Doug slightly relaxes.

“Because, I just don't know.” I look down.

“Why are you lying to me? Lily just tell me. Was it your fault? Please, just tell me.”

“I guess it was sort of my fault. I don’t want you to be mad with Steve.”

“Why would he get mad at Steve?”, asks Max.

“He just might. Why don’t you just talk to Steve?”

“I tried, he won’t answer me.”

“Go to his house, put in some effort.”

Doug get’s in my face and raises his voice, “You know what?”

“Hey!”, shouts Max. “Stop. Before either of you say something you’ll regret. Doug just go, walk away.”

“Fine.” Doug storms out, slamming the front door behind him.

“What happened Lil?” Max hugs me.

I just realize tears have spilled from my eyes. I hate fighting with my brothers. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Look Doug’s not here, talk to me. I’m curious. You’re my baby sister, I gotta know what’s happening in that crazy head of yours.”

I laugh lightly. We sit on the couch. “Steve and I kind of kissed.”

“What?", he takes a second to let my words sink in. "How’d it happen?”

I give Max a recap of the day and how I feel about Steve. “I guess we’ve been on each other’s radar since Doug’s party.”

“Doug is going to freak!”

“You can’t say anything”, I say as I grip his arm. “If Steve doesn’t tell him, you can’t tell him.”

“It won’t be easy, but alright.”

“Do you happen to have Steve’s number?”

“Why?” Max narrows his eyes.

“I need to know if he’s going to tell Doug.”

Max thinks about it, then pulls out his phone.

I dial right away. It rings once then goes to voicemail. I dial again.