Twice As Shy

Chapter 4

I'm shocked. Really, truly, and exceptionally shocked. Reese, and we're talking the Reese Tyler, just walked away from the biggest treasure find in the history of our lives. I mean the girl isn't capable of letting a secret as small as " losing your mom's old class ring" go untold. She has managed to pry every little secret imaginable from the prison built around my heart. The female is simply a beast that way.

Right as I'm about rejoicing for this random stroke of good luck, this abnormal blessing, Reese ( who happens to be still fuming) walks over and punches Kyle really hard in the chest. "That's for sexing up my best friend,"she says.

She then stops in front of Ryan, and pinches his arm really, really hard. "That's for keeping this from me," she says with her face all scrunched up from trying to find fat to pinch. However in true Reese fashion, she kisses the mark she's just made on his skin.

Now apparently, it's my turn. Reese raises her right hand in the air......

And smacks my arm in the way only a best friend can get away with. Because LIFE knows had anyone else, hit me that hard, they most definitely would have had their interest returned in kind. Just saying.

"And that's for not trusting me. I'm your best friend damn it. I could have helped you plan Kyle's death in excrutiating detail," Reese finishes with me.

I can admit my reasons for not telling Reese about this tragedy were more selfish than not. But she was hurting, too. That morning she was already missing Kyle and he'd only been gone for a few hours. As a best friend, why would I knowingly add to that type of misery. But whether or not I've been proving myself recently, I'm a great best friend. And in doing my best friendly duties, I do my best not to glare at her, as I try to ease the hurt in my arm.

However, I'm sure I mentioned how difficult it is for Reese to let stuff go. So, naturally she's not quite finished yelling at us.

"Now, this is what's going to happen. You (points at me) are going to follow me upstairs for a long discussion about the values of best-friendship. You (Ryan) are going to go home; I'll call when I'm no longer angry with you for being a good best friend, unlike some people," she has the nerve to look at me, very poitedly I might add.

" And YOU (Kyle) are going to go to your room and pray I don't tell Mary about this."

Then, there was the sound of air swooshing, as everyone turned to look at the crazy female standing among us.

Ryan steps forward with his hands held out in a placating manner. "Now babe," he starts, before he's interrupted.

With her hands on her hips, and head swinging on her neck, Reese gives him her best don't-argue-with-me look. "Up until about an hour ago, I had been under the impression that we all liked Mary. I thought she was our friend. But since a hour ago, I've learned friendship means nothing to some people, and apparently neither do relationships. She deserves to know. Kyle, you owe her that much respect."

I get that Reese is angry, but there needs to be a margin of sympathy shown here. Apparently, Kyle thinks so too because he gets right up in Reese's face.

"Are you really going to stand here and lecture me, sis? We both know that you cheated on Ryan not even a year ago, and had no intention of telling him." Reese's cheeks seem to swell before my eyes.

" That is completely beside the point Kyle. First, there was a misunderstanding between us. Second, I didn't wait over a year to tell him."

"You didn't tell him at all. The guy you were CAUGHT making out with just happened to be Ryan's roommate at the time. You were kissing this guy outside their room. There's no spin you can put on that to make it justifiable."

"We were on a break god damn it. That's not considered cheating." By the look on Ryan's face, he didn't seem to agree.

But she's not finished, naturally. "And third, what goes on in my relationship is none of your business, and is not the topic of discussion. The fact of the matter is that Ryan knows, and we worked out our problems because it was worth it. You have been dating Mary for the last 3 years. That girl has a right to know you haven't been completely faithful. And if you don't tell her I will, plain and simple. You both owe her an apology."

"Reese, if you think that my relationship is any of your business, or that it''s even your place to tell Mary. Fine, you do that, but I'm not going to help you. So, get over it."

Kyle and Reese stand there glaring at each other for so long, Ryan and I are about to intervene and end this. Reese renders this unnecessary, and by brushing past her brother and heading upstairs. A few minutes later I get a text message.

I'll be waiting on you mam. This ain't over yet.

Ryan has been strangely silent through all of this. But as he rises to leave, he smacks Kyle across the head again, and says," Nice going. We need to talk dumbass."

Kyle follows Ryan outside, and all I can think of is how exhausting it is managing relationships. There's just too much juggling involved. You have to be trustworthy, but willing to not have secrets. You must be encouraging, but not pushy. Compromising, but not a pushover. It's just too much.

I force myself to go talk to Reese. It is very least I can do. It is a massive secret I've been keeping.

But this day has been entirely too long.