You Don't Know..What you Don't Know

Chapter Twenty-Six: Spring

By March, my knee was finally strong again. Months of rehab had paid off, leaving my legs lean and my thighs toned from endless physical therapy and workouts.

Randy and I settled into writing each other about once a week. The letters became surprisingly honest. He was far more open on paper than he'd ever been face-to-face, and somewhere over those two months, the weight pressing on my chest finally began to lift.

It wasn't just Randy's letters.

It was Jake and Gary.

It was basketball.

It was realizing that I didn't need a boyfriend to make me feel complete.

I was enough on my own.

I dragged Jake and Gary to the mall under the guise of needing emotional support. In reality, I just wanted honest opinions. They complained through every single store.

"I hate shopping."

"I'm developing a rash."

"If I die in this mall, tell my mother I loved her."

I ignored every word.

Whenever they whistled, I bought the outfit.

By the end of the afternoon, I realized something that should have been obvious long ago.

These idiots were my best friends.

I never would have survived the last few months without them.

School was buzzing about the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance.

The girls did the asking.

The girls paid for the date.

Jake and Gary had already assumed I'd be taking one—or both—of them.

They'd even started negotiating who got to pick dinner.

"Keep dreaming," I laughed.

"You'll cave," Jake replied.

"You always cave," Gary added confidently.

"I still have a week to find an actual date."

Gary grinned.

"We have no doubt you could get one, Princess."

"We just don't think you will."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Oh really?"

Neither answered.

They simply exchanged that smug look they always shared whenever they thought they knew me better than I knew myself.

They were testing me.

After everything that had happened these past few months, they were waiting to see if the old Tia had finally come back.

Truthfully...

I was waiting to find out too.

"Fine," I declared. "The next guy who walks out of those doors without a girlfriend, I'm asking him."

Jake burst out laughing.

Gary folded his arms.

"We'll believe it when we see it."

The warning bell rang.

Students flooded into the building.

Not a single guy walked out.

We all started laughing.

"Figures." I shook my head. "I'll see you idiots at lunch."

I pushed through the door—