The Quaranteens: Stuck

• 23 ~ Ace •

August 17, 2020 -Miami, Florida
Cara POV

I ran to the open practice room right next to the chorus room that I knew nobody would be in and slid down a wall.

Ugh I hate my emotions for existing.

They were just trying to help me, I know, but I can't do it. I can't talk about it because talking about it would mean hope and hope will only make me sadder. He hates me, I know it. No point in trying to convince myself otherwise.

I heard footsteps coming from the direction I came from.

"Hey Lucy. Took you long enough to find me. C'mon let's go." I was about to get up until someone responded that definitely wasn't Lucía.

"It's not Lucía so you can sit back down."

"Uhh Ace what're you doing here?" I quickly wiped the tears out of my eyes in an attempt to hide that I was crying.

"No point doing that I already know why you were in here."

"Oh..." I cleared my throat, "so why are you here instead of Lucy?"

"I'm here to ask you if you could just sit down and listen to me for like 5 minutes."

"There's nothing to talk about. Why can't you guys understand that? Keanu hates me and I'm living with that, I'm trying my absolute best to live with that. You guys should be able to as well."

"Hates you?" He laughed and slid down the wall next to me. "Cara that man feels a lot of things towards you but hate is definitely not one of them."

"After all that I did to him? It doesn't even matter, it would be really hard for me to be friends with him and there's no way that he wants to date me. "

"You don't know that."

"He's dating Echo remember?"

"Was dating Echo."

"They broke up?" Suddenly all reasons for not going and tracking down Keanu right now seemed... less meaningful than they did a second ago.

"Yeah. She realized how head over heels he was for you the second day of school and broke it off. They're still friends, but they're like they were when he and you were still talking."

"Oh... okay."

"I saw that light that showed up in your eyes. I know you want him back too."

"Well of course I do! Isn't it obvious?"

"Not usually, but right now? Yeah it's pretty obvious."

I let out a weak chuckle, "Oh shut up."

He smiled back at me, "Keanu still thinks that you think that you and him dating would be toxic. Do you?"

"I don't know... I don't think so? I've thought it over and I could screw him over. I could end up hurting him..." 

"But you don't know for sure because you can't predict the future."

"Exactly..."

He smiled at me before continuing. "A wise girl once told me, 'you're trying to save both you and her from the possibility of heartbreak, but you haven't even given you guys a chance.' Obviously you would replace the her with a him but all in all it's the same situation."

I looked down at my feet. Damn. He got me. He used my own advice against me.

"Well a dumb boy once asked me something along the lines of, 'do you even think we have a chance? That we would last?'"

"You and Keanu? Not last?" He scoffed. "If you and Kean don't last then I give up on love. Cara, the way he talks about you... it's amazing." 

Love... that word again. It's such a strong word. It's used so much without thinking nowadays. Although I don't think that's the case with Keanu. 

"Oh don't say that you're making me blush!"

"I'm not even kidding Cara, you guys are meant to be. I just have to get you guys to actually date first."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"So what do ya say? Wanna give you and Kean a chance?" 

But I think I can handle it now. The love, I mean. 

"Of course I do."

I smiled at him and he got up. He offered me his hand and helped me up as well.

"Expect me to contact you in the next... 1-2 days or so."

"Okay..."

"Oh... and remember to unblock Kean. That made him sad for like two weeks. I'm not even sure if he's still over it."

I giggled and for the first time in a while I wasn't faking it. "Will do."

I saluted him and we walked to where Lucy was standing together.

"Wow that was a lot faster than I'd thought it would be, good job Ace!"

"I'd do anything to get Kean to stop complaining about what he could've done differently all the time."

We all headed out to the parking lot. Laughing like old times. There was only one thing missing and hopefully that would be fixed soon. Whatever Ace's plan is it better work.

I'm still don't think I'm in love with Kean, but if he's okay with it I'm definitely ready to have a relationship. 

•~•~•

"So how was your conversation with Ace? You seem awfully happy." Lucy asked me as soon as we got in the car.

"I am. You could tell?"

"Well you haven't cried once so I know this is a definite improvement."

I rolled my eyes at her, "Oh shush."

"So he said all the right things?"

"Oh I was basically convinced when he said Echo and Keanu were broken up and that Kean was still interested in me. You didn't happen to know anything about that did you?"

"For once in my life bestie, no, I didn't."

I smiled at her and she didn't say anything else, so we sat in silence for a while. 

"We should go somewhere." She randomly blurted out. 

"What?" I asked looking at her like she was crazy.

"I dunno why I didn't think about it while you were still super depressed, but we should go somewhere! Like the beach or something."

"That was so random, why now though?"

"Because we haven't done anything in forever and you need a relaxation day."

"Okay so when?"

"What do you mean when? Today, puta, like right now!"

"Hey! Language!"

She rolled her eyes at me and picked up her phone, texting... someone.

"You better not be texting Ace. If this is a relaxation day then no boys."

"Relax!" She paused and gave me a little wink. I laughed at her silliness.

"I'm texting Kalani to get ready. I have bathing suits at your house and plus if I don't like those I can just borrow one of yours."

"We aren't the same size Lucy."

"Why do you always have to rub it in my face that you have a bigger ass than me! I get it."

We each sat in fake awkward silence for a minute and then burst into laughter.

"Okay so we go get ready and Kalani should be ready at her house by the time we get there. She's going to try and deal with Keanu beforehand because even though we're fixing it, y'all are still awkward and we don't need you crying today... again."

I laughed, "Thanks Lucy. If I could hug you right now, I would."

I smiled. I was going to be okay and I was sure of that now.

And no, not because some boy and I may or may not start dating soon, though he is a cute boy. It's because of my friends. Because my friends care enough about my well being to do stuff like this for me. It took awhile for me to figure it out, but either way I was going to be okay. Keanu or no Keanu.

Though Keanu would be a fun added bonus. 

•~•~•

A/N

Hey guys!

3 more chapters!! Ahh! 

How did you like the little heart to heart between Ace and Cara? What do you think Ace's plan is? What do you think of Cara's revelations? 

No translations today :) 

If you liked this chapter please comment and vote, it would mean the world! 

Later loves <3

S y d.