Socially Stupid

Chapter 28

Nightfall arrived in Carolton. Andrew could feel his palms sweating... Waiting for Kayla.

"I think this is too extravagant," Jake said, looking around.

The two had just spent the last hour turning on battery-powered candles around the Sanctuary of Imagination.

"It probably is," Andrew shrugged.

"I mean, shit," Jake said. "Are you actually proposing to her and didn't tell me?"

"Get out of here," Andrew said, chucking a snowball at his friend. "Thanks for your help."

"Best of luck," Jake said, taking a path out of the woods.

Andrew looked around. It was quiet now. He could only hear his heartbeat... The blood pounding through head.

Then he heard footsteps, and smiled when he realized it was Kayla.

"You made it," Andrew said.

"I did," Kayla said with a smile. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"If this is too much, we can get out of here..." Andrew said with obvious nervousness.

"It's fine," Kayla said, the smile never leaving her face.

Andrew used his crutches to walk towards her. He took her hands and looked into her eyes.

"Let me say something first," Kayla said, pulling back her hands and folding them in front of her body.

"Ok," Andrew said, slightly confused.

"Andrew..." Kayla said. "I'm so sorry for what I did."

She paused, looking at the ground and collecting her thoughts.

"I'm honestly having a hard time processing it. Everything seemed to just... Fly by. It wasn't supposed to go past the first game. I wasn't even going to talk to you. I lost touch with myself."

She took another deep breath, trying not to break down. "I guess I just never knew how I should talk to you," she said quietly. "I've known you for so long... I'm sure you knew I had a crush on you. I just felt so awkward, and I felt like I needed to be someone else so you'd see me for who I am..."

She paused. "That doesn't make sense," she said, starting to feel herself get hot.

"Kayla," Andrew said with a small smile. "I'll be honest with you." He gestured her towards a bench. The two walked over and took a seat next to each other.

He looked at her now. "It's taken me a few days to realize this," he continued. "While I wish we had gotten to know each other better under different circumstances... I'm not blaming you for what you did."

"You're not?" She said, slightly confused.

Andrew shook his head and laughed a little. "You're right. I have known you had a little crush on me," he said. "But, I don't know. I was cocky. Being on the basketball team, I just felt like I could be friends with anyone. I could date anyone if I wanted to."

He looked around at the candles now. "I guess it's complicated," he said. "I haven't really dated much. And I think I just needed to snap back to reality. Your disguise made me realize I was missing something."

Kayla shook her head. "Andrew, I should've just talked to you... As myself," she said.

"Honestly, I probably would've had the same cocky attitude," Andrew said, looking back at her. "You were a new face to me. Your personality... It made something click inside my mind. I realized this was real."

Kayla smiled.

"You could've been the one that got away," Andrew said quietly. "Well, it's still possible..."

"I want to be with you," Kayla said.

"I want to be with you too," Andrew said.

The two leaned in slowly. Kayla could feel her heartbeat rattling her entire body. The two touched noses and kissed.

They pulled back at the same time and smiled at each other.

Kayla always thought life was spelled out for her. There was a path to follow, and how things are supposed to happen. She never thought life could take her for a ride; break her heart and piece it back together. But in this moment... She realized taking a risk was the best thing she could ever do.