They Call Her Love | ✔️

23: They Call Her the Worst Friend Ever

It had to be fate. It had to be.

Seven players on the opposing team caught a bad case of food poisoning, which resulted in the cancellation of tonight's football game. I know it makes me the most inhumane person in the world to be rejoicing at students suffering the pains of throwing up and diarrhea, but it served as the perfect way that I could make up missing last week's lacrosse game. After yesterday's feud with Caleb and the rest of the boys continuing to ignore me, I had a long way to go before I was remotely close to being on their good side.

But it wouldn't hurt to try.

I had persuaded – correction, forced – Chris, AJ, Pete, Will, Tracy, and Whitney to come with me to the lacrosse game. Tracy was easy to convince since she was a part of the ThompsonCares club and in the process of also making amends with the boys. It seems that her attempt to reconcile her friendships with them was working, and let's give credit where credit is due – I had a huge hand in that.

As for Whitney, it must have been confusing to read her name on the list considering our rocky past. But, as it so happens, she approached me at lunch today and surprised everyone at our table with an apology.

"Love, can I talk to you?"

I was in the midst of laughing at a joke Will had told us, when Whitney approached our table. Her worrisome expression wiped the smile off my face. Tracy gave me an astonished look while the rest of the table fell silent.

"Uh, sure," I said, standing on my feet to face her. "What's up?"

"Ummm," She mumbled nervously, eyeing everyone behind me and the cameras.

"Want to talk somewhere private?" I suggested.

She nodded and turned her back to walked towards the small courtyard located to the side of the cafeteria.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked me before I could leave.

"Trust me, I can handle her," I assured him before following Whitney outside. It was getting colder as the Thompson fall temperature decreased at it became closer and closer to snow season, but being bundled up in Chris' letterman jacket and boots, I was warm.

Whitney was shivering when I finally joined her. She crossed her arms, the sleeves of her sweater dress rising up and showing off a wrist decorated in bracelets and a designer watch.

"I love your watch," I complimented her, knowing it would show the cameras that I was trying to be cordial.

This pleased her. "Thanks – my mom gave it to me for my birthday."

"Rose gold is one of those colors that will match with anything," I nodded along.

She seemed shocked. "I didn't think you knew that much about colors. Or watches."

I laughed a little. "I didn't think I'd see the day where I did know all that stuff. I guess I've learned a few things in these past months."

She cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Yeah, I haven't really been too nice to you these past few months. I've said things and acted out in ways I'm not extremely proud of."

"I haven't either," I admitted, thinking about the night of the party.

"I want to apologize. Trust me when I tell you that I don't ever apologize to anyone," Her voice falters a bit.

"I believe that."

"And shoving my pride and ego aside is killing me inside and makes me want to barf," She shudders.

I snort. "Okay, why don't we get through this fast because I don't think throw up would really compliment my outfit."

She breaks into a small smile when I say this. "I was so intent on making you my best friend and then I do a three-sixty turn and do the complete opposite," She laughed nervously, eyeing the cameras. "Um, it's just that, uh...I still care about Chris. I know you two are together now and I don't have a problem with it, but I guess I just got a bit jealous."