Adapting and Conquering (The story of Bertha's rise and fall)

Chapter Twenty-Five

I wait outside the algebra after the bell rings since I can't catch Delaney before class, as I was late trying to talk to Katie.

I peek inside the classroom. Delaney is having a very animated conversation with Kaitlyn and Sara, who are big talkers. This is going to take awhile. I think grudgingly.

Finally, she comes out, and I grab her arm. "Delaney- can I talk to you for a moment?"

She looks at me for a moment with a blank face, then says "Okay."

I lead her to an empty hallway, and start apologizing. "Delaney, I'm sorry I made you break up with Jacob. I liked him, and I wanted to see you unhappy, but I shouldn't have-"

"Bertha," She starts, holding up her hand. "At first, I was angry at you. I heard you when I was outside the bathroom, saying that you were acting!" Her eyes start to water a little. "So I broke up with him, to prove that he wouldn't like you back..."

Wait, what? That is mean, but I did deserve it...

"And I was so mad when you two burst into class during algebra! Holding hands! I kept thinking how could you do this to me? Tearing a friend down just for a guy... But I haven't been a good friend to you either. The whole year, I've been acting snarky to you and Heather and Katie and other people, and I don't know why... I wanted to show I was better than you, I guess... I'm sorry..." She muttered, a few silent tears spilling down her cheeks.

"You don't have to apologize, I was being awful to you..."

"But I was doing the same thing you were! Trying to tear you down for Jacob. I saw Katie and Heather leaving a note in his locker, so I stole it and replaced it with one that I found at the bottom of my backpack... I told him to stay away from you... And then he didn't, so I wrote another one! I hoped he would get his mind off of you and go crazy wondering who it was, but I saw you leaving with him after school. I was so mad, I started texting him about what you did, and I guess Heather was angry at you too because she told him the same thing, and her and Katie apologized to me for helping you..."

"Heather and Katie did that?" I say, trying not to look sad or cry again.

"Yeah... All I want to say is, it's not your fault we broke up. I mean yeah, you told me to, but I didn't have to listen to you and I didn't have to do all that to get back at you! I could have just confronted you, but I was worried about what Jacob would think."

"I- I don't like him anymore Delaney... He doesn't like me back.... I think he still might have feelings for you..." I replied, honestly hoping they would get back together. After Delaney spilled her heart out to me, I felt worse than ever about what had happened.

"No, it's okay! All that happened between us actually made me get over him and realize that he's not worth all that drama. So thank you, even if your intention was to make me miserable." She smiled and laughed a little. "And I'm sorry. I forgive you. Do you forgive me?" She said, holding her arms out for a hug.

"Yeah I definitely forgive you!" I said, embracing her. "Friends again?"

She pulled away and bit her lip. "Um... after everything that happened, I'm not sure if I want to be friends right away again. I think we should start from square one and build up our friendship from there. I don't want to be friends just 'cause we hurt each other badly and then apologized, I want it to be real."

"That sounds better than friends!" I grinned, and she grinned back. I think the New New Bertha and the New Delaney sound much better than all the old ones.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hah! This is probably one of my favorite scenes, because what Delaney says is not cliche (I know there's an accent on the e but I'm too lazy to do that.) I think it's cool that they're not friends just cuz bertha apologized.

TBH i really like this story but it's kind of a typical romance story except she doesn't get the guy she originally wanted LOL.