When class ended, I wordlessly followed Chad out to his car. Neither of us spoke as the car zoomed through town, en route to my house. The only sound that could be heard was the loud, angry music emanting from Chad's speakers. He'd turned it on and up to an ungodly volume as soon as he'd started the car. I could only assume it was because he didn't wish to speak to me.
The short drive ended and I got out of the car as soon as it stopped moving, annoyed at Chad's behavior. To my surprise, I heard the music stop abruptly and the car door slam, Chad following me up the driveway. "What are you doing?" I asked, turning to see he had pretty much closed the distance between us, following me closely.
"Going to work on our project, obviously." His voice dripped with arrogance and his tone came off condescending.
I muttered an "oh" and unlocked my front door, allowing Chad to come in behind me before I closed it. I led him to the livingroom and he flopped down on the couch. "Do you want a snack or anything to drink?" I offered, attempting to break through the tension that was radiating off of Chad.
"No, I'm fine." he said, pulling a notebook and his Gatsby copy out of a black, beat-up backpack. I nodded and went to the kitchen anyway, deciding to pour myself a glass of iced tea.
When I got back to the livingroom, Chad was typing on his phone boredly, I supposed he was just waiting for me to get back so we could start on our work. Finally deciding I could no longer take his brooding silence I said, "Chad, will you just talk to me? What's wrong?"
He glared at me before speaking, "You really don't know?" I shook my head, "Well why don't you ask your buddy Dylan?" I rolled my eyes, realizing what this was really about.
"You're mad because I forgave him."
"Obviously."
"I don't understand what the big deal is, he apologized and I forgave him. Why does it matter to you?"
"Oh, I don't know" He said with mock confusion, "Maybe it's because I had to fight him off for you last weekend before he nearly date raped you!" He yelled, his anger had boiled over and he slammed a fist down on the coffee table, causing me to jump back slightly.
"I'm not afraid of him." I said quietly, implying something bigger.
"Oh and you are of me? That's just great. I'll add you to the roster." He said, his words venemous.
I didn't say anything as Chad stood up from the couch and shoved his school materials back into the backpack. I sat staring forward as he stalked away, slamming the door behind him.
I thought about what he said, maybe I shouldn't have forgiven Dylan so quickly. I doubt I had the ability to fight him off myself and I honestly don't know what would have happened if Chad hadn't have been there. Though I knew it wasn't something Dylan would've done sober, I guess that doesn't make it okay for him to do it drunk. I shook my head, knowing that I couldn't take back my forgiveness now. I wanted to talk things out with Chad, but I knew the only way that would happen was if I stayed away for a bit and gave him a chance to cool down.
My mom got home a few hours later, exhaused from her day at work. Not feeling like cooking, we decided to go out for dinner. While we were waiting for our food, my phone buzzed with a text message. I hoped it was Chad, ready to talk calmly, but instead it was Dylan. Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow night? I really want to make it up to you.
I sighed, knowing a measly dinner would not make up for what could of happened, and also knowing that if I went, Chad would go ballistic. Against my better judgement, I decided to give him a break and replied Sure, pushing back the uneasy feeling that came with my agreement.
After dinner, my mom said that she had a few phone calls to make, so I went upstairs and started on Chad's and my project. Who knows when he'll forgive me and I refused to let my grade slip because of his temper. I began typing the assigned paper when I heard my phone buzz. This time, it really was Chad who'd texted me I'm at your house, can we talk?
I didn't want my mom knowing he was here and getting wind of our conversation so I replied, Yes. But you have to come through my window. Be quiet. I could practically see Chad rolling his eyes at my text. However, less than a minute later he not so gracefully fell through my already opened window.
"Hi." He said, comming over and sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Hi."
"What are you working on?" He asked,nodding to all the papers and notes I had scattered across my bed.
"Our project." I said, closing my laptop and setting it aside.
"By yourself? Why?" He looked genuinely confused when he asked.
"Because I didn't know when you would forgive me and I was not about to fail because of it." I told him honestly, I had a feeling he would be able to see through any lie I would tell anyway.
"Oh." he nodded, glancing around my room, his eyes pausing on the photo collage I had pinned to my wall.
"What did you want to say?" I asked, wishing to hurry our conversation along as the curiousity was driving me up a wall.
He took a deep breath, as if what was comming was hard for him to say. "I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for blowing up on you today. I still don't think it's a good idea to hang around Dylan given what he just did, and for other reasons too, but mainly I just felt bad for scaring you because I didn't mean to."
I looked at him, a little shocked. I had expected him to yell at me again and tell me a that I was stupid for forgiving Dylan and so on. I had not expected him to apologize. "You didn't scare me." I finally said, not knowing how else to respond. I furrowed his brow, probably reacalling the comment I'd made earlier today. "You startled me, but I'm not scared of you. I just said that because I was angry that you were acting like a caveman and yelling at me." I explained.
Chad nodded, understanding. He scratched the back of his neck, seemingly at a loss for what to say next. "Well, good." He said, "And I guess it won't do any good to tell you not to hang around with Dylan, so just be careful, okay?"
This shocked me as well, as I had expected him to demand I take back my forgiveness and completly cut off communication with Dylan, not that I would anyway. But I decided not to tell him about my dinner plans tomorrow night. I feared that he wasn't as okay with Dylan's and my friendship as he'd let on. "Okay." I said, smiling at him. I'd wondered why he came over tonight instead of waiting until the morning to apologize, but I didn't question him on it.
I followed his eyes back to the picture collage on my wall, "Who is that?" He asked, pointing to a picture of me and my father a few years ago at a soccer game.
I smiled at the memory the photo provoked, "That's my dad." I told him.
"Is he going to kick my ass for sneaking through your window?" Chad asked, a michevious glint in his eye and a smirk pulling at his lips.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head, "Maybe if he lived here, but I think you're safe for tonight." I laughed at the thought of Chad running from my only slightly intimidating father.
"Oh," Chad said, reverting his expression to a somber one. I got the feeling he didn't know what to say, so I saved him by saying,
"It's okay. He lives in New York right now, but he moves around a lot. He and my mom split when I was seven." I explained, giving him the short version.
Chad nodded, not pushing the story any farther. Not that I minded talking about it, but it was sort of an awkward subject. People don't normally know how to respond to stories like that.
Soon after, Chad stood and climbed through the window just as he came. "Goodnight, Arabella" He called from the ground below.
"Goodnight, Chad." I replied, a smile on my lips. I watched him walk down the street toward his house, then fell back onto my bed. That went better than expected.
