Relatable

10

I was planning on having a lazy Sunday. Not that my other Sundays have been productive, but this time I was planning on doing nothing. 

Tomorrow would be a busy school day filled with trying to keep my grades up, getting closer to Dylan, and finally getting back to tutoring Cameron. 

Today, however, was me time. 

After a full breakfast that my mom made me before heading off to work, I made my way upstairs, excited to snuggle into my blanket with my fully charged laptop. I opened up my laptop to throw on an old show to watch so I could scroll through my phone. Social media, first, watching Netflix, second. 

For some reason, I got curious about Nina and decided to search her name to find her profile. Her profile was on the top of the searches and I immediately clicked on it once I recognized her picture. Her account was not private, leaving me to scroll through each picture. 

Her most recent one was posted last night. She was dressed in a beautiful dark green silk dress that stopped below her knees. Her phone covered a third of her face, considering it was a mirror selfie. Her caption read: On to the next. 

I took a second to decipher the meaning of the caption and what it had to do with her photo. Was she on a date? I couldn't really tell the location because the flash of her phone camera reflecting off the mirror seemed to blur out the background. One thing I could tell, though, was that she was referring to Dylan. It seemed like she is definitely over him. 

After sleuthing throughout social media, I walked over to the bathroom to grab a sheet mask and washed my face. I put the mask on my face and looked at my eyes in the mirror. I looked ridiculous right now. I was wearing my oversized striped t-shirt, along with loose grey shorts. My hair was up in a messy bun, that has loosened and fallen to the side a bit. And now I have a sheet over my face, making me look like a ghost. At least, my skin will feel smooth once I take it off. 

The rest of the day was filled with more episodes on Netflix, FaceTime calls with Layla, and eating a nice dinner with my family when my parents came home from work. 

Recalling the conversation I had with my parents at dinner, I felt almost as though a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. 

When I took my seat at the table, picking up my fork to start poking at the chicken leg on my plate, my mom asked how tutoring was going.

"Oh, pretty well actually. I'm kind of impressed, myself," I said, feeling proud that I could help someone do better in class. 

My mom smiled and nodded, "Make sure to put that in your college applications, too. They love that stuff."

My dad pointed his fork towards me while saying with his mouth half full, "That's right, kid. Who are you tutoring?" 

My dad worked as a track and field coach in the middle school I used to go to. In fact, most of the people in my high school came from that school, so my dad usually recognized some of my classmates. 

"Cameron Bailey," I said, looking at my dad to see if a spark of recognition glazed over his eyes. 

"Hmm," he said chewing slowly. "I don't recognize that name, but honestly I'm better with faces."

I shrugged, "I don't think he even took track and field so you probably don't know him. But he's cool, we've actually become friends."

My mom smiled, and said, "Does this mean Dylan is out of the picture?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively. 

I put my fork down, feeling awkward, "Mom!" 

"What? I mean you've liked the guy forever and high school is almost done!" My mom, said talking a sip from her water. 

I cowered in my chair, not liking the spotlight at the moment. My dad came to my rescue by changing the subject to his upcoming track meet.

By the end of dinner, the awkward talk of Dylan was forgotten, and it felt nice to laugh about the little things that happened in everyone's day. 

When I headed to bed that night, I felt content and the stress of friendships and relationships didn't even cross my mind. 

                                                                                            . . .

"Okay, so I made a list of the movies I think everyone would enjoy," Layla said, looking through her phone. It was really bright out, so she had to shade the screen with her hand and squint her eyes to see what she wrote. It was lunchtime after a pretty slow Monday morning.  

Before she listed off the movies, I turned my gaze to where Nina was sitting. She had a large group of friends and her usual lunch table was always pretty crowded.

She seemed the same as she always did. No sign of dealing with boy troubles or any drama. The whole situation with her and Dylan was not my business but I was incredibly curious to find out why it was swept under the rug, unlike most high school relationships. Especially ones revolving Dylan Torrino. Maybe Nina had a reputation I didn't know about, but it didn't seem like she had many boyfriends throughout high school. 

My thoughts were interrupted when Cameron, Danny, and Marco took a seat at our table, already having a heated conversation about Angelina Jolie and Uma Thurman. Cameron took a seat next to me and put his hand over his forehead. "Danny's a big movie buff, so he will get into an argument about anyone and anything if he really wants to," Cameron explained. 

Layla cleared her throat, trying to get them to stop their discussion. It worked. "Since we're on the topic of movies, let me show you the list I made earlier for the movie night," she said, pulling the list from her phone up. 

My phone pinged with a message and I found myself distracted by it before she could read off the list. It was a text from Dylan, asking if I wanted to do homework with him again today before practice. 

Danny and Marco were talking to Layla about her movie list, while Cameron turned to look at me watching my phone closely. 

"Dylan?" He asked, raising his eyebrow. 

I nodded. I didn't mind studying with him today, but I already told Cameron I would help with with math today. 

Cameron could tell by the look on my face that I was torn up about something. "If he's asking you to hang out today, go ahead. You can tutor me another time," he said with a small smile. 

I felt bad, but appreciated his effort. "Well, it won't be long because he has practice today. I can come over after, though," I suggested. 

He slowly turned his head to the side, "Actually," he started slowly, "I've got a date later."

I was slightly taken aback. Not that Cameron couldn't get a date, but I just haven't noticed him liking anyone. It seemed like I was the only one with a crazy crush. "Oh." I said, raising my eyebrows slightly in surprise, "With who?" 

He shrugged, and quietly replied, "Nina."