Secrets

Andrew

"How'd it go? Was she chill?" Levi said, sliding into the chair next to me.

"Yeah, she was fine, I think. She told me to say hi and tell them my name, so that's what I did," I responded, taking my books out and hanging my backpack on the back of my chair.

"You totally friend zoned her, dude. She likes you, she's liked you since freshman year!" He said judgementally under his breath. 

"She doesn't like me like that, we're just friends," I said harshly back. He sent me a look before shrugging it off. I sat back and thought about it. We were just friends. We have soul mates, already pre-planned. So why can I never stop thinking about her strawberry blond hair and green eyes? How we touched today at the sub shop, how it felt like sparks? Maybe I just need to clear my head. Yeah, that's it. 

"Alright everyone, open The Outsiders to page 58, and let's continue reading," Mr. Ellen said, getting out his book. 

---

Finally, schools over. I burst out of math, mentally ready to go home. I waited by Amys locker to ask her if she wanted to come back to my place before heading to dinner with everyone. Once every three to four months we all dress up, girls in dresses and guys in button-downs, and head out to a fancy dinner place. It's really the girls choice, we just go along with it. I saw her walking down the hall, and I smiled as she laughed. Except, she wasn't laughing at me, she was laughing at something a shaggy blond boy I'd never seen before said. He used hand motions to express something to her, making her laugh more, and it wasn't a fake, polite laugh you give to someone you really don't want to talk to. It was a full, almost crying laugh. Like I make her laugh... She waved to the guy as he walked past me towards the door, giving me a smirk on the way out. 

"Hey," She said with a smile, opening her locker. I leaned against it, looking at her. "What?" She asked. "Something on my face?" She said, quickly flipping out her compact mirror and inspecting her visage. 

"Whos the guy?" I asked, trying my very best not to sound like a ridiculously jealous stereotypical guy friend. She looked at me, a small smile on her face. 

"My biology partner, his names Mathew." She said nonchalantly. "Isn't he cute," She remarked again, fueling the tiny fire burning a hole inside me. I don't know why I was being like this, she's not my girlfriend, not my soul mate. She just my friend. Just my friend... "You okay? Whatcha thinking about over there?" She said, closing her locker and putting on her coat. 

"Yeah, just thinking about what food I want," I said on the go. Her realization face came on. 

"Oh yeah, dinner tonight," She said enthusiastically. "I have to take a shower and put on my dress, gosh. Can you give me a ride home? Walking is too long for me today," She asked. I smiled and wrapped my elbow around hers. 

"It'd be my pleasure," I said in a deep voice, making her giggle. My giggle. We walked to the car and I opened the door for her, receiving a 'thank you, kind sir,' remark. I got on the driver's side and started the car. She flipped through the channels before finding a song we both sung to out loud for only us to hear. Just us. I looked over to her every few minutes, to keep her face fresh in my mind. I pulled into her driveway, five doors down from mine. Her mom waved to me in the window, and I waved back as Amy got out and said thanks. 

"I'll pick you back up around 7:30 okay?" I said. She nodded and stuck her tongue out at me as she walked through the front door. I reversed and drove down to my house. Parking my car in the garage, I said a quick hello to my mom and bolted up to my room. I wouldn't be lying if I said I wasn't eager to see if she'd written back to me. I took the book out and opened it, seeing only my message staring back at me. I was flooded with relief and disappointment at the same time. She hadn't written back. Some part of me is thankful she didn't, but the other half yearns to see who's on the other side...