Loving My Best Friend

Chapter 22

Aiden's POV:

Enid was not at home, I did not even see him in the parking lot, but his car was there and so was everyone.

"Where is he?" I asked Ethan, as soon as I got out of the car.

He looked at me from head to toe once and then asked. "What happened to you?"

"Could not sleep last night." I quickly gave Rick a dirty look. I knew no matter how much he stuck with Amy like a glue, he had his eyes set on Enid. But, guess what?

He is mine.

"He's in the library, I think." Ethan said. I was about to get away from everyone when Amy stopped me with her hand on my shoulder.

"How are you holding up, Aide?"

The question was a bomb in itself. No matter what I said, they would think I was lying or the fact that I was trying to hide my feelings. They would use my words against me.

So, the best thing I could do without snapping at her, I smiled and said, "I'm fine, Amy. How are you holding up?"

She rubbed my arm with a sad face, but before she could reply, I got out of the crowd and towards the library.

The students were all in the hallway making their preparations for the day or just chilling in front of their lockers. It was a struggle to get through, but it helped when you were in football team with more than necessary popularity. Although before I could enter the library, coach's voice stopped me.

"Aiden!" His voice boomed as the hallway was empty, 'cause not many students usually came here this time of the day.

I looked at the direction that the voice came from. "Yes, coach?"

"My office, now." He said sternly.

"But, I was..." I pointed at the door.

"Now!" And with that he walked away. I looked longingly at the door before I walked towards the coach's office.

I knocked on the door before opening it. "May I?"

"Please." He said and before I could take a seat, he spoke up again. "What was that on the field last Friday?" I opened my mouth to apologise, but did not get the chance. "Don't!" He put a hand up, instructing me not to say anything. "The scene that you made in the field was intolerable. I had a speech ready for you on how you should conduct on field and what not, but you've got bigger problem. The principal demands that you've a public apology to, well, I don't remember his name."

"Public apology?" I was shocked. "And me? If anyone should apologize to anyone, it should be him to Enid." I was angry, was an understatement.

Coach sighed out. "I know, but you still have to. Now, go, class might've begun." He said in a dismissive tone.

I got out, still fuming, banging the door shut behind me. It was so unfair. The bell had rang, so hallway was empty. I stomped angrily into my first class.

"Mr. Thompson." Mr. Iyer called as I was about to walk into without noticing him at the front of the class.

"Oh!" I was startled. "Sorry. Coach wanted..."

"I know. Take a seat." I went to my usual seat beside Enid. "Today we're going to learn about 'Radioactive Materials and Radioactivity'. Turn to page one sixty two."

I turned to the page number and sat with my hands in fists and a frown on my face. "You don't need to be so angry about yesterday. I'm sorry." I looked at Enid shocked. I seemed to be taken aback with my next words.

"Are you kidding me?" I was still angry, but not at him. I could not take it out on Enid like that. I calmed myself down before speaking again. "I should've been the one to say sorry to you, Enid." He was looking at me wide eyed before chuckling nervously.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not. I shouldn't have left you there in the hospital alone."

"I wasn't alone." My guts twisted a little and I tilted my head a little to look at Rick who was looking down in his books. "Though I left just after you." I nodded my head and did not talk until the class was over.

As soon as I left the room, Matt came up to me and spoke. "What did coach wanted with you?"

"He said I owe the boy, for whom Enid bled on the field, an apology." I explained, shrugging.

"What?! But, you didn't even hit him!" Enid protested beside me.

"I guess it still considered harassment." Rick oh-so-gracefully supplied.

"But..." Ethan was about to start and I cut him off.

"Give it up, guys. I'll apologize." I said and walked to our next class. They did not bother me about it later.

As soon as the lunch bell rang, my phone vibrated, too, in my pocket. The call was from an unknown number.

"Hello?" I spoke.

"Aiden, it's Dri's mom." The voice from the other side spoke.

My head unconsciously snapped up to look at Enid. "Yes, Mrs. Lakewood."

"Aiden, Dri wants to meet you today, please, come as soon as you can."

"I-I, Mrs. Lakewood, I can't. I'm in school today."

"After school?" She seemed to ask desperately and I belt a little bad.

"I have homework, Mrs. Lakewood."

She sighed out. "Please, Aiden, just try this once."

"Okay, I'll try." I cut off the phone and looked up at Enid. He licked his lips and kept staring at me.

"You should go." He said finally as he was about to walk out of the room.

"Enid," I called and he stopped. "What if I don't wanna."

He turned around and walked towards me. Placing a hand on my face, he said, "You should. She needs you and if you wanna fix her memory, then you should absolutely, positively go, so that we can be together again, openly."

I leaned into his touch and hugged him. For a second or two, he did not hug me back, but slowly his hands wrapped around me tightly. It was so good to know that the jealousy I felt for him, was not one-sided. As he kissed on top of my head, I kissed his neck.

"This is such a mess. I didn't want this at all, E." I confessed.

"I know." The thank you that bubbled up to my throat, I gulped it down. He released me. "Let's get lunch. I'm hungry." I was too, as I could not eat after yesterday's little outburst between us.

Although the rest of the Monday was not that good, Dri's accident's news spread throughout the school like a wildfire as she was a cheerleader and a popular one at that. Dri was was a very sweet and caring person too, she never had a bad reputation. But, this whole accident thing was making me wanna snap at whoever tried to console me.

Dri was not my girlfriend anymore. Why would people do this? This was becoming a headache for Enid also. I could feel his irritation and agitation in my bones.

I got tired very easily with all of these and was glad as the bell rang, indicating that the school was over and I was free to go away from here, but not before Enid came up to me and told me to go visit Dri, visiting hours should be ending soon anyway.

I agreed to and went to house first to change and then went to the hospital. I did not know for how many days I could tolerate this thing. I wanted Dri's memory to come back or at least accept the fact that I was not her boyfriend anymore and be with Enid without any hesitation.