Maybe One Day

9: Not Everything is Black and White

Preparations for Skylar's party were still being made but in secret. As far as we know, she has no idea what we are planning. Things were looking even better when she called me earlier today.

"Bad news," she said before I could say hello. "I'm going to the beach with my aunt and uncle and cousins for my birthday and I'm coming home the day after. So we can't hang out on my birthday!"

I smile. "Aw, that sucks," I lie. "Maybe we can do something the day before," I suggest.

"Ugh but it's not the saaaame," she whines.

"I know Sky. But I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun at the beach!"

"Yea, I guess. I'm trying to convince Frankie to come with me, but I'm not sure he's going for it," she sighs. "Boys, right?"

"Tell me about it," I respond, thinking about the problems of my own.

"Well, anyway, I gotta go pack, but I'll come over afterward and we can hang, k? And we'll watch that new Gabriella Wilde movie and I'll bring popcorn and you make cookies. I'll call Maddie, and you can invite Abbe, too, because she's pretty cool. So we'll be over at 6?" she concludes.

"Uhh, okay," I agree, feeling like I have no choice. Skylar usually makes the plans and the rest of us just go with it.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rings. I'm startled, because whoever it is is earlier than I was expecting.

"I'm not done with the cookies yet!" I yell to whoever's behind the door. "Oh. Hi," I say, confused as to why Eli is standing here.

"Hey," he walks in. "I hear there's cookies,"

"Not for you! What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to check up on you," he tells me.

"Right. Because you care."

"I'm serious! Last time I saw you you were really upset! I wanted to make sure you're okay now."

"Wow, Eli, I didn't know you had it in you," I reply, shocked.

"What?"

"Human decency and the ability to be genuinely thoughtful," I tease him.

"Wow maybe I shouldn't have come if I was gonna get treated this way!" he dramatically turns his back to me.

"Alright! I'm okay," I answer truthfully. "Things were a little crazy and I went to see Christian but -"

"Wait. How is he?" he interrupts.

"He's better. We really had a lot of fun catching up. Can I trust you with something?"

"Yea sure. Unless it's like stuff you did with Matt that I don't want to hear about..." he crinkles his nose at the thought.

"Ew, god Eli, grow up!" I smack his arm. "I...may or may not be starting to have feelings for Christian again and I know I shouldn't because I'm with Matt and I broke up with Christian but I just don't - understand how I could feel this way about more than one guy because Matt is perfect but Christian has been in my life for years and I can't let that go and-" I stopped and blushed, realizing I had just explained all my boy problems to a boy. All the words just tumbled out before I could stop them. I brace myself for the sarcastic or rude comment Eli was about to make.

"Huh," was all he said.

"That's what you have to say? I was going to explain all this to girls, who are coming over any minute now, but since you're here I figured I would take my chances and hope you didn't make fun of me and actually help me!" I say desperately.