Don't You Love Me? (Jeremy X Michael)

Chapter Sixteen

    Back in Montana, Christine goes back to her friends with a smile on her face. She believes she has done the right thing, telling Jeremy to focus on Michael.

    When Christine walks closer and closer to the table, she notices only Kadence is the only one sitting at the table.

    "Hey! Welcome back! Feeling better?" Kadence exclaims. A smile growing in her face as soon as she sees Christine.

    "Yeah, I am," Christine smiles at Kadence's enthusiasm, "Where is everyone?"

    "They decided to go walk around the mall I think. I wanted to wait for you; I didn't want you to come back to all your friends being gone," her words made Christine want to melt. Kadence was always considerate for her.

    "So, should we head back to them?" Christine asks, almost trying to get out of being alone with Kadence.

    "Oh! Of course, if you want to," Kadence's smile didn't waver. "I'm not sure where they are though..."

    "I could text them," Christine suggests.

    Kadence's smile becomes a plastered one. She wants to spend more alone time with Christine... that's why she asked if they would go walk around and give the two girls a moment.

    "Oh, yeah, if anything I could! You don't have to."

    "Well they were mean enough to leave you alone to wait for me," Christine jokes, "I don't want to make you message those meanies."

    Kadence, giving up, nods, laughing a bit, "Okay, you win."

    Christine giggles and pulls out her phone. Kadence smiles and looks at her face. She likes Christine's face.

    "Well, now we wait," Christine puts her phone in her purse, and Kadence pretends she wasn't looking at her.

    "So, what do we do until then?" Kadence asks as Christine sits down.

    "Well... how's that one dance class you have?"

    Kadence can't help but laugh, "That's a very specific question, but I'm assuming you mean my choreography class."

    "Oh," Christine bashfully bites her lip, "yea, that.." she laughs. Kadence looks down to avoid staring.

    "Well, it's going good, I learn dances and stuff, but that is what choreography, you know, is."

    Christine laughs, "Yea, that's good. I mean, learning dances in a dancing class.." There's silence. Neither of them can think of something to say, though Kadence is straining to think of something.

    Then her phone goes off. "Oh! Uh-" Christine pulls out her phone from her purse. She looks to the side as though in thought.  

    "What is it?" Kadence asks, scared the girl she asked told Christine Kadence's plan.

    "She said... Lavender said she and Viviola left, as in went home. She said we should spend the day together."

    Kadence first felt relief, then she tenses up... Spending a whole day with Christine? ... What if I mess up somehow...?

    "Oh, uh, weird," Kadence replies, "um. I mean we could still go home. I mean it's really up to you."

    "Well.. It's up to both of us! You can also have a say in this." Christine's genuine words killed Kadence.

    "Well, I mean.. What do you want to do?"

    "We could see what the mall has to do... And we could window shop some more," Christine suggests.

    "I like that idea." Kadence gets up from her seat and grabs the bags she's gotten so far, signalling Christine to do the same.

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    "So, what did he even say?" Kadence asks them takes a sip from her iced coffee (basic).

    "He said his best friend, Michael, got into a car wreck. I felt really really bad because, you know, I messaged him today. It was a small conversation: I think he shouldn't message or call me when his friend is in the hospital. You know?"

    "Oh, yeah, I totally understand. I don't get why guys do that."

    "Not make friends a priority?"

    Kadence realizes what she said didn't really make much sense, "Yeah, I think everyone should have friends be a bigger priority-"

    "I feel the same way! I have such a strong opinion that friends are really important and should be treated as such instead of being swept away when they aren't -"

    Kadence smiles, watching Christine talk about her passions and change the subject 3 -5 times. She normally does this, talks about her strong passions and opinions. It helps, in a way, that Kadence just has to start a conversation about something she's passionate about and then boom, she's talking.

    "-but my parents don't even really understand. I came to Montana for a reason! My dream college is here! I met you, and all of these amazing friends! Wait- what was I talking about?"

    Kadence chuckles, "You were talking about how friendships should be prioritized."

    "Oh yeah!" She starts talking again, "Hold on, I'm hungry, do you wanna go somewhere to eat?"

    "Oh, sure, where do you want to go?"

    "I don't mind, let's go to your car and we'll decide there."

    "Alright."

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    812 Words