The Good and The Bad (Complicated Love Story)

Chapter Six: The battle of the good and the bad

Flashback

“Want another drink?”

“You know I do!” Dotty answered as Cal pulled her to the kitchen. He mixed her one of her favorites, a Tom Collins, gin and lemonade.

In a couple of quick chugs the drink was gone. Cal chuckled handing her another one. There were a few people coming in and out of the kitchen to grab whatever drinks were left available. It was one in the morning and most people at the party had already left. Being in high school most parents’ would freak if they knew their child was out partying; especially on a school night. The music could be heard from the living area and Cal grabbed Dotty pulling her into a dance. Dotty put her drink on the counter and let Cal take her into the rhythm of the music. After several minutes had passed they were now in a facing position. Cal and Dotty locked eyes and Cal leaned in for the kiss.

“Hey, Cal! Anymore beer?” A guy appeared in the kitchen seeming quite tipsy.

“Nah, man.” Cal answered, slightly disappointing the guy.

After the guy disappeared Cal turned his gaze to Dotty, “Where were we?”

“Cal…how many times are you going to try this?”

“Try what?” He said putting on his best innocent face.

“You’re my best friend.” As Cal’s face fell Dotty continued. “I come to you for everything. We talk about things I don’t tell other people, you’re my rock, I…don’t want that to change.”

‘It won’t.” He said leaning in again.

“But, it will. We’ve been friends for…forever, Cal. Since we were little. If we…do this and something was to happen…like go wrong…I don’t think our friendship would be the same.”

“What makes you think something will go wrong?”

“I don’t think…I feel the same about you…the way that you obviously feel about me.” Dotty was now looking at the ground purposely avoiding Cal’s eyes. There was a little part of her that wanted to see if they could be more than friends. But she didn’t want to risk losing him as a friend. Ever since she moved to Langley in the seventh grade Cal had become her savior. Langley being a small town everyone already had set friends and no one paid attention to Dotty. That was until she became friends with Cal. Cal was very popular with his bad boy attitude and rich background. He took Dotty under his wing and ever since then they had been inseparable. This wasn’t the first time Cal had tried to make a move on her. Dotty never really paid attention to it because every time he was turned down he would find comfort in another girl.

Dotty was snapped out of her thoughts by Cal letting out a frustrated sigh.

“Well, I guess I’m sorry for loving you.” And with that he left a stunned Dotty in the kitchen. Of course they loved each other as friends but the way he said it scared Dotty. Cal hardly ever showed his emotions but Dotty turning him down yet again looked as though it really hurt Cal.

Dotty was absolutely confused. She didn’t know whether to chase after him or go home. It seemed as though Dotty always ran away from her problems but, most of the time it was for good reason. Dotty and Cal had been best friends for almost five years. Senior year was coming to an end awfully fast and they would both be attending different colleges. Dotty would be moving to the city and Cal would be staying in Langley to attend the local college. Maybe space would do them good, Dotty thought.

But, what if Dotty did pursue a relationship with Cal? He could be sweet when he wanted to, Dotty liked that he was spontaneous, and they were always getting into trouble. But it seemed that Cal had a hard time showing what he felt. Cal leaving the way he just did was one of the only times Dotty had seen his soft side and this frustrated her. If only he could prove that he actually cared instead of trying to get her into bed. Dotty laughed. What else would you expect from Cal?