Park and Ani

Romance stories are liars

2 months later

The day Parker came to see me at the hospital was the last time I had spoken to him. He's been avoiding us like the plague, solely hanging out with people on his swim team, obviously excluding Ryder who is back on the team simply because he came back to practice. In his words he knew the coaches weren't that serious in cutting them from the team, and in the end, they weren't. 

Ryder was back in meets a week after he started coming back to practice.

Though I hate to admit it, I miss Parker being around.

And it's clear I'm not the only one feeling this way. Even Blake is feeling the effects of this cold treatment because her and Wes have gotten into countless arguments over it. I would know, I'm the one she calls at 3 o'clock in the morning ranting about him. However, no matter how much I might miss him being around, I'm not going to beg him to reenter my life.

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"You do realize he probably misses you, too right? He'd have to be heartless not to." Khalil mutters, fully invested in the braid he's slowly unraveling.

Snipping another handful of synthetic braids, I turn my attention to the two people behind me.

"He knows how to speak," I counter making him roll his eyes.

Blake sighs before letting go of a braid and crossing her arms.

"Ani, you and I both know he's probably to chicken to approach you. I mean first he fucked up by not seeing you for almost two weeks in the hospital then you basically told the sap that you didn't believe his love for you was real."

"Because I don't"

"And you expect him to have the balls to come back after you ripped them off the poor guy?" Khalil scoffs a disbelieving smile on his face.

Pointing the end of my scissors at him I glare before pointing out that he did.

"Parker's not me Sina. Based on how you guys described him, he's probably not all that confident in dealing with any potential love interest."

Groaning I grab another braid to take down, wincing when my finger snagged on a small knot.

"No ma'am you're not about to ignore us now." Blake laughs before turning me back to the both of them.

"Both of you need to talk. Even Chandler has gotten tired of this awkward tension between you guys."

"What tension." I question, confusion laced in my voice.

Blake's eyes widen before she explodes with laughter. Out the corner of my eye I can even see Khalil holding back his own laughter.

"Blake," I pout.

"Imani are you seriously that oblivious. The dude has been back on stalker status since you've come back to school. Hell, you watch him just as much how have you not noticed him staring at you like a wounded puppy?"

"Probably because she's looking at him the same way," Khalil teases earning him a swat to the chest from me and a high five and laugh from Blake.

"But in all seriousness Imani, what's the problem? Yes, he fucked up majorly and what he said at the hospital didn't necessarily help, but I know you and you've forgiven people for far worse than that. Namely your brother."

I have an answer to her question, but saying it out loud will just make what I was avoiding all too real. I know I'm not ready for it to be a reality, but the expression on both of their faces makes it nearly impossible for me to keep avoiding. It's about time I keep it real with not only them but myself.