Time And I

Thirty-One

Devon would come back to school tomorrow. I wished he could have started classes today, but since he had to meet with the principal and deal with a bunch of legalities regarding the classwork he did at home and his almost drop out and such, he wouldn't be attending classes until tomorrow.

I was hoping to run into Darcy by our lockers before class started. I wanted her to know about Devon's return, but she was most likely already in class. So I grabbed my books and prepared to head to the library, but as I turned in that direction, I jumped back in surprise at how close Buddy was to me.

He took a step back, muttering, "Sorry," under his breath. Scratching his ear, he cleared his throat and crossed his arms. "I was hoping we could talk."

I nodded and walked him towards his homeroom. One of the nice things about getting my free period and English switched was that I didn't have class with Buddy. It gave us the space we needed.

Some stragglers in the hall stared at us. It'd been a few weeks since we were last seen talking to each other, but our business wasn't any of theirs. Though by lunch, it was obvious we were going to be all anyone talked about. That's what I got for being best friends with Mr. Popular; constant gossip. At least it would prepare me for fame.

"I've missed you a lot, Mel," he sighed. "So much."

I nodded. "I've missed you too."

"You were right... I never had a right to be jealous. You told me you didn't like me, and I was upset by it. I thought that if I stopped hanging out with you, I could move on, but it just made me depressed. You're my best friends. I love you, and I mean that in the most platonic way possible."

I chuckled.

"I think what really hurt was the fact you were finding someone to be with right after I finally got to tell you my feelings. It was like a slap in the face. You told me you knew, and I was excited. And then you weren't and were suddenly with someone else. I got jealous. I hoped that would have been me."

I shook my head. "I've never thought about you as my boyfriend."

"And I accept that. A part of me still has feelings for you, and I feel like I'm supposed to stop being around you, but it's making things worse. We've been friends for so long, and I can't just kick you out of my life. I want to be happy for you and whoever you choose to be with when you decide to make time for them, so I'm going to push my feelings aside and support you like an actual friend does."

I swung my arms around his neck, and Buddy hugged me back with an iron grip. "Oh, God, I've missed you." I hated not having my best friend. I needed someone who I could talk to about everything. We had a lot to catch up on.

Buddy quit being responsible for the day and ditched homeroom to talk in the library. We sat at a table in the back and caught up. He told me about his uncles' wedding he went to last weekend and the new books he read that he wanted to suggest to me that we could make fun of together. And I told him about my fight with Jeanie, how she and Rick got together, and about Devon.

"Are you two dating now?"

"I guess so? We more just talked about giving things a chance, but we never put any labels on it. Though I'm sure we're exclusive to each other." I smiled. "We just really like each other."

"And now that's he coming back, you'll actually have the time to see each other."

"It's going to be weird having him back. He was always just the kid who I was paired up with for group projects. Now he's going to be my... boyfriend, I guess?" I chuckled. "I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that."

"You don't want him to be your boyfriend?" he asked, with nothing but confusion in his voice.

"No, I do, it's just... I still feel like I'm going to screw it up since we won't have a lot of time together. I don't want to do that to him."

"Make the most of the time you have together. We all know relationships either end with you staying together or breaking up. If you think you're going to break up and still want to be with him while you can, make the most of it. I'm sure that's what he's going to do."

I smirked. "You're telling me he knows we're going to break up?"

He shrugged. "You always talk about how you're too busy to be in a relationship. He knows what he's getting into. He may expect the worst but likes you enough to want to be with you, anyway." His smile was genuine. "I'm happy for you."

"Thank you." I exhaled. "I still feel like I'm dreaming when I think about it."

He quirked an eyebrow. "You being with Devon?"

"What? No. The band! I'm going to be in a band as an actual drummer." I hummed. "It feels like I'm going to be kicked out any day for my age. It's a miracle that Lucy is twenty-two. She's the reason we get to play at bars and clubs- Well, going to be playing in bars and clubs."

"And if you catch someone from school at your concert, you can turn them in."

"Won't that be turning myself in as well?"

"No, you're working. You have an excuse."

I giggled as the bell rang. We would have to split until History, and I walked him to the gym. He told me about a musical comedy show he'd been binging and that I would have to check out. With all the music being original, I was intrigued. Hopefully, there were some good rock songs in it.

As Buddy walked to the locker room, Jett exited with two of his friends.

Anger.

It was all I could process as I stepped up to him, standing directly in front of him. He cut his conversation short and flashed a short, confused grin. "Hey, Mel," he drawled. "What's up?"

Acting as though everything was okay. Acting like he didn't say what he said. Or maybe he knew. That was why he was so confused to see me approach him. He knew I was close to Devon, and it would only be a matter of time before he was exposed. And I would expose him to everyone who had their ass kissed my him.

I took one step closer before kicking him in the balls, the heel of my boots shooting straight up.

Jett gasped as he fell, cupping his balls and dropping his forehead to the ground. "What the hell, Mel?"

"How dare you?" I seethed.

Buddy was now right by my side, holding me back as Jett's friends helped him to stand.

"Did you think you were being funny?" I shouted.

A crowd surrounded us, staring with open mouths. Even the teachers stood helpless on the sidelines, debating on intervening.

"What are you talking about?" he snapped.

"Your little brother goes and molests someone, and you call her the slut? Does your family seriously condone that sort of behavior? You are a disgusting piece of shit! I feel sorry for every girl you've ever been with. Devon had every right to punch you."

I threw Buddy's arms off me and stomped back up to Jett. The teachers intervened and dragged me away from Jett and everyone else.

"If I find out you've been molesting people too, I will kill you with my own bare hands!"

I may have been suspended for the day after my episode, but it was worth it.