Summer days

Chapter 12: Maybe Forgive, Maybe Forget

Danica

I was at the cafeteria, lining up for my food when someone tapped me on the Shoulder. I turn around an see Rosemary smiling at me.

"Okay Rosemary, if you wanna talk to me just stop trying, something is bound to stop you from communicating with me and..."

"Okay before you say anything, just listen..." Rosemary interject. I just sigh and nodded, indicating her to talk. "it's just one simple thing Dani, can I sit with you?" She asked me. I just look at her, wide-eyed. It's not that I'm against it or anything, it's just that we never talked to each other ever since 8th grade and she just asks me if she can sit with me. It's crazy! But she looked pretty eager for her to sit with me, so I just sighed and nodded.

"Fine, okay sure..." I said as I got my tray.

"Yay! Thank you Dani!" She attempted to hug me but I quickly dodged it.

"Okay before anything else, why would you want I sit with me?" I asked her.

"Well.." Her voice wandered off a bit. "It's kind of complicated you see, it's jut that the cheerleaders are kind of mean to me. And some other girls who are not cheerleaders are mean to me too. But not to my face, but in secret. They're calling me "fat" and ugly" behind my back. Ally said she was trying to "protect" me but it turns out she's the one who started this whole hate Rosemary thing. That's what I wanted to tell you yesterday at the library...."

I look at her in shock and pity. I knew something was up, those little bitches. I place my other hand at her back and comfort her. "Don't worry Rosemary, you could sit with us weekday if you like. Forget about those girls, they're just jealous of you..." I say as we walk past by Rosemary's old table. I look back at them and glare at them but they didn't see because they were too busy laughing and giggling about something.

"Thanks Dani, I knew you were a true friend." She sniffled. She's not crying but it looks like she's close. "I'm sorry if I ever ditched you for those... Barbie dolls... They were so annoying... Why did I ever him out with them?" She said. I just laugh and told her to forget about it once again.

We arrive at our table and I introduced Rosemary to the guys there. "Uhm is it okay if my friend Rosemary sat here for today?" I said as all the guys look up and saw the girl beside me. They were looking at her in shock and were whispering stuff to each other. They were speechless and were statue like due to their not excessive movement. "So... Is that a yes?" They didn't respond. So I just shrugged and we both sat down. "I'm taking that as a yes..." We went onto eat our lunch as the guys were still looking at Rosemary in awe. Even Gordon and Will were looking at her. I move close to Will and whisper something. "Um, what's with them? It's not like haven't talked to a girl before..."

"Well, it's "rare" for us to have someone popular sit on our table." He explained. I just nod and went back to eating. They were still looking at her, I looked at Rosemary to see of she were petrified or whatever but she seemed okay with it and happily ate her lunch.

Me and Rosemary were talking when I heard Will say something to Gordon.

"Hey Gordon, don't you have something to say?" Will says as if he's mocking him. Gordon quickly tries to shush him.

"Not if you say it too." Gordon smirked at him and smirked at me. They were then exchanging weird looks. Rosemary looked at me as if she were saying "what's going on?" I just shrugged "I have no idea."

"Okay, what the heck is going on with you two dudes?" I said looking at the both of them.

"I don't know..." Gordon said in a strong tone. "Why won't William here explain it to you in private..." He said as he smirked at him. Will rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Okay, maybe I will. Not until you explain it to her friend here..." Will replied.

"Fine." Gordon said standing up.

"Fine." Will said turning back on his seat.

We just ignore them and look at each other in confusion. Until Gordon tapped Rosemary on her shoulder making her turn around and face Gordon.

"Uh hey Rosemary... I was wondering if I could talk to you in private..." Gordon asked her. I could her Will snicker behind me and Gordon mouthed some curse word at him. What in the world is going on here?

Rosemary answered without hesitating. "Sure!" And got up and walked with Gordon to who knows where.

I turn back to Will and looked at him with a confused expression. "What the hell is going on?"

"Okay, let's just say that Gordon has a crush on Rosemary and he's probably asking her out as we speak..." Will said. I widen my eyes in shock. Gordon has a crush? On Rosemary? Well, I did notice that he looked at her a lot so I guess he does have a crush on her. I mean who doesn't like cute, big chested, brunette Rosemary.

"So uh Dani... I was wondering if you wanna come over tonight at my house... My mom has been uh wanting me to invite you to dinner... And so uh..."

"Sure." I cut him off saving him from his lack of words. "I'd love to." I say as I went to dispose my lunch. I hear him follow me as I went towards the garbage shoot.

"Uh take not that it isn't just our regular hang-outs or whatever... I'm thinking of this as more of a uh... more of a hang-out..."

"So it's like a date?" I ask in wonder.

"Uh yes. No. Maybe, but eating a family dinner with your mother is weird of course... but it's uh more than a..."

"Yeah, more of a hang-out. I get it." I smile at him. "See you tonight at 5:00." I then walk out of the lunch room, thinking of what to wear to a family dinner.

William

It was already past 5. I'm asking my mom of she needed any help but she said she got it. My mom wanted my brother to join is but he has practice. Which I'm relieved of because he'll just embarrass me in front of Dani.

My mom tole me to wear "proper" clothes to this dinner. I just threw a checkered polo over my t-shirt and just kept my black pants and sneakers on. After that, I waited for Dani by the door. I'm wondering if she's still coming. What if I weirden her out and she doesn't come? I stopped thinking negatively. I should just wait for her and relax.

The bell finally rung and I quickly ran towards the door and opened it. What stood before me was somewhat beautiful and different. Dani looked beautiful and different. She has her hair pulled back and she was wearing these pearl accessories. Necklace and earring and all. She had this pink dress on and some flats. She looked sophisticated and at the same time, it looked like her. These old Dani who didn't care about what she looked like. Maybe she told he friend Rosemary (who she recently got back together with) and she wants to doll her up or something. Whatever the reason is, she looked as beautiful as usual.

I was completely awe-struck that I was just there by the door looking at her.

"Uh Will?" She said causing me to snap out of it.

"Oh sorry, it's just that your um so uhh you're just so... pretty or whatever..." I say as I let her in. She just laughed and said thank you. My mom quickly greeted her and talked about how she's happy to have her here. This is going to be a very weird dinner...