Truth be Told ✔️

Chapter 39

I didn't sleep well. Ever since those three little words, my heart had gone into overdrive to keep me from hyperventilating. I was working hard to not collapse, but also not utter those words back. All my heart wanted to do was tell him that I loved him.

But I just couldn't.

I had chickened out. As soon as he had told me he loved me, I just kissed him as my response, and for the moment, that would be good enough. But I knew, one day he was going to say it and expect to hear it back. Unfortunately, I couldn't foresee when that day would come, nor wether I would be ready to be truthful when it did happen.

I think I loved him. But my heart had just decided that it was done with Graham. That was a lot to swallow, so I couldn't make any rash decisions. Graham was my best friend. I loved him, but as a friend. And...maybe that was the problem. You could only love someone once, and only could you love them as one person. I couldn't love him as both my best friend and my boyfriend. That wasn't for me. Not in this situation.

I sighed and buried myself deeper in the covers to ignore my pain and confusion. The whole thing was consuming me and I didn't know wether to feel guilty or just sorry for Graham. I had no idea any for this would happen when he and I went out for our annual drive-in movie that we did right before the start of every school year.

Now look at us...He had just filled my room with flowers to ask me to Homecoming, and I left him without giving him an answer to go to Homecoming with the rival school's quarterback.

When did things get so complicated?

I opened my eyes, just to make sure this was all real.

It was.

Blake and I were sleeping facing each other. I was very happy about that. There wasn't a better way for him to express his love than trusting me with him in his most vulnerable position in his safest space. His bed.

Also, he was adorable when he slept.

I tried to close my eyes, and, eventually, I fell back asleep. But it wasn't a deep slumber. The night had been too rocky for that.

When I woke up, I was awakened by the squeak of a hinge of a door as it swung open. The accidental sound was like the universe warning me, except, for the moment, I ignored it. Big, big mistake. My eyes opened up just a crack to see who had just barreled in, but then they were blasted open by the flick of a light switch.

"Good morning!" Two people chorused merrily, shattering the delicate silence that was in the room.

I squealed in terror and dove under the covers.

Surely, surely, I'm mistaken.

It was early and my eyes were blurry. That meant this was a trick. A cruel trick my brain had decided was punishment for my actions last night against someone it thought we trusted.

But that was until somebody poked me. "Al, you may want to get up. Or at least show them you're clothed. It looks worse when you're under there," a voice chuckled.

"Oh god. Are they still here?" I whispered.

"Yes. But they aren't exactly going to leave."

Couldn't hurt to hope like hell.

Cautiously, I pulled down the covers and peeked over them. I knew at first sight that it was defeat, so I pulled them down all the way and smiled wryly. "Hello Mrs. Baron."

"Hello," the mom beamed back. "How are you, dear?"

"Cold." Blake elbowed me sharply. I coughed, "But happy."