Friends Don't Kiss, Do They?

Chapter 3

I find my friends near the refreshment table. I fight back tears that threatened to fall as I approached them, not wanting to be to be crying like a fool in front of people from school.

"Emma, could we go home, please?"

Emma and Abby turned to me. Seeing the tears in my eyes, they didn't have to ask me what happened. They both knew I had made myself a complete fool in front of Matt – again. They pull me into a hug.

"Cheer up, Hailey," Abby says as she and Emma pulls away from me. "It can't be that bad."

"It was Abby. I froze. I didn't know what to say."

Emma pats my shoulder. "It's alright. Look, you will eventually snap out of being tongue-tied in front of him. We all have been there."

"But I'm friends with Matt. It doesn't looks good if I can't speak to him. He will know I like him for sure."

"Trust me," Abby says. "Matt is clueless. Do you know how many times we have hinted to him that you like him? He acts like he doesn't know what we're talking about."

"Either that or he chooses not to know."

Abby grabs a chocolate brownie from the refreshment table. Emma grabs one too. Abby asks if I wanted one. I answer yes and she hands it to me. Rather than taking a bite, I just stared at it.

"Anyway, whether Matt knows or not, wouldn't you want him to know?" Abby asks.

I nod, but then shrug. Did I really want him to know how I feel? Would we even be in a relationship? Or would I just be one of those girls Matt uses for one night? Are we better off as just friends?

"Tell you what," Emma says when I don't answer. "Why don't you go and find Matt. Give it another go. Talk about something where you aren't going to get all tongue-tied. If you do humiliate yourself and don't feel comfortable hanging around here, we can leave."

I nod, liking the idea, although I wasn't sure if I was able to face Matt again.

I hand the brownie I hadn't touch back to Abby, and leave my friends, nervously searching the room for Matt. I see him with Samantha and my heart crushes in my chest as I watch the both of them leave through the sliding glass door in the kitchen into the backyard. I follow them to where they out down on the edge of Tayvon's swimming. I stand closely nearby, making sure either of them didn't see me. A couple of people from our grade were swimming.

Samantha sat really close to Matt, making him feel uncomfortable.

"So, Matt, what are you doing tomorrow night?" she asks me.

Matt thinks about it. "I'm not sure yet. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you would like to go out with me." She strokes his arm.

I held my breath, waiting to hear Matt's answer.

"I'm not sure yet. I might be doing something."

Her hand found its way up to Matt's cheek and strokes it. "Like what?"

"I'm not sure yet. I might do something with Tayvon."

I exhale the breath slowly that I was holding.

"Forget about him. Come on, you know you want to be with me."

Samantha leans forward and kisses Matt. I turn away so I didn't have to watch them. I'm such a fool. How could I ever have thought I had a chance with him? He doesn't even give me the time of day, and when he does, he only sees me as a friend and nothing more.

I was about to walk back inside when I heard Samantha say, "What's the matter, baby?"

I turn back to see Matt had moved an inch away from Samantha, looking as if he wasn't enjoying her company at all. I'm surprised since he would do anything to have a girl's company so he can get into a girl's pants later.