The weeks passed by uneventful and I found myself smiling again. Things were getting back to normal for me and for that I was grateful. My brother stopped being my shadow and I hung out with friends, went shopping with my mom, and worked at the restaurant which was a big help to my healing. Staying busy meant I wouldn’t have time to dwell on things. Of course I still saw Shane and Cara all the time, we shared a couple classes but I never saw too much of Deke. We’d pass each other in the halls now and then but it almost seemed as if he was avoiding me. I heard through the gossip mill that his girlfriend Tanya broke up with him shortly after the fight with Shane. I had been doing a lot of thinking over this time and realized how hard it must have been for Deke to keep what was going on from me so I decided a big part of my moving on would mean forgiving. There was no way in hell I was forgiving Shane and Cara but I could fix things with Deke. To be honest I really missed his friendship. Yeah he was Shanes’ best friend but with all the time we spent together, I kind of considered him my best friend too.
With that thought in mind I decided to approach him. I waited till Monday after school and knew I could catch him at his locker before football practice so I quickly left my last class and waited there for him. I saw him come around, spot me and stop in his tracks looking unsure. After a brief pause he continued towards me.
“Hi!” I smiled.
“Hi!” he returned my smile a bit apprehensively.
“Look..”
“I…” we both started at the same time.
He motioned for me to go ahead.
“Look Deke, I’ve had a lot of time to think lately and I realize now that you never intentionally set out to hurt me by not clueing me in and you were in a tough spot between your friend and his girl. I just want you to know that I do forgive you and I was kinda hoping that if it’s not too awkward for you, I’d like to be friends again. I know we hung out because of Shane before and I wouldn’t want to come between you two but I really miss hanging out with you.” I rambled on quickly.
He looked at me so closely I felt as if I were under a microscope and then said smiling, “you just totally made my day! I’ve wanted to talk to you but I remember you saying you wanted nothing to do with any of us so I kept my distance. I would love to be friends again and for your information I didn’t hang out with you because of Shane, I did it because he was always so self absorbed doing his own thing and you and me had fun together while he did it. As for coming between me and Shane, there’s nothing to break because we haven’t been friends since the day I punched him by your locker. I realized any guy wanting me to cover for him while he screwed over his girlfriend would probably screw me over one day and I didn’t want to wait to find out.”
“Really” I asked lamely.
“Really” he smiled then surprised me by asking, “so would today be too soon to start hanging out?”
I laughed, the boys smile really was charming, “no it wouldn’t be but don’t you have practice?”
“I do but if you don’t mind waiting we could do something after” he asked hopefully.
“That sounds like a plan, I was already gonna wait for Kane to finish practice then we were going home together so I’ll just wait for you and if you don’t mind dropping me home after we could grab some burgers and catch up.” I suggested.
“I like that idea, so I’ll see you in a couple hours then?”he gave me that trademark smile again.
“Yeah, I’ll meet you outside the locker room.” I replied.
“Okay, good” he took his books from his locker, shot me one more happy look, and ran off to practice.
I let Kane know I wouldn't be riding home with him today because I was gonna hang out with Deke. He did that little eyebrow bobbing thing, which I didn't understand but I rarely ever did anyways, and said ok before heading off to practice as well
****************************************************************************************************************
I was listening to my ipod while waiting on the bench outside the locker room which is why I didn’t notice anyone headed my way until I felt them sit beside me. I turned with a ready smile to face…Cara! She gave me a little smirk.
“So, waiting for your brother huh?! Obviously since I’m waiting for your former boyfriend.”
When did she turn into such a bitch, oh right probably around the time she started screwing my boyfriend. Actually that’s not true, she was always a little bitchy but I just ignored it because she was my best friend. I really was blind. Not wanting to get into it with her I just ignored her and continued to wait for Deke hoping Shane would come out first and they could leave without anymore drama.
No such luck…
“Hey sorry I took so long, coach kept us back for one of his endless speeches.” Deke said as he came to my side. He seemed to have eyes only for me until he reached us and finally noticed who I was sitting next to.
“Well, well, well someone sure has forgiven and forgotten now hasn’t she?” Cara sneered.
“Oh grow the hell up Cara!” Deke sneered.
Deke helped me up and keeping my hand in his he quickly took my bag from me, “I’ll get that, let’s head out.”
We turned almost home free when Shane stepped out to join us. His face lit up for a minute when he saw me, why I have no clue, and then turned to confusion as he spotted Deke still holding my hand and my bag on his shoulder.
“What the hell is that about?” Shane asked nodding to our joined hands.
I started to respond ‘none of your business’ but was quickly cut off by Cara who walked over to Shane to lean against his arm and give him a quick peck on the lips.
“Well, hun, it seems Kaylah was waiting here for Deke to finish practice so why don‘t we leave them to it. After all we know Deke always wants what you have or in this case HAD.”
I felt Deke tense next to me, “See now that’s just bull Cara, I would NEVER want you!”
I coughed to hide my laugh at the look on Cara’s face. She turned to Shane expecting him to defend her but it seems the whole thing flew right over his head because he continued to stare at our joined hands with anger in his eyes.
“Screw that, you aren’t going anywhere with my girl!”
We all stared at him in shock, Cara with a little hurt but I felt no sympathy for her.
“Don’t you mean your ex-girl Shane?” Deke questioned.
He quickly shook himself, “Yeah, you know what I mean. There’s a rule and you know it. Friends don‘t date friends exes.”
Now I did laugh, “Oh you’re one to talk about rules. Friends also don’t sleep with their girlfriends friends but you seem to have forgotten that one now didn’t you?”
He flushed a little at my comment.
We turned to leave but not before Deke looked at Shane to deliver one last blow.
“There’s something you forgot about that rule Shane.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“We aren’t friends.!”
He took my hand and we walked away. I couldn’t resist one more look over my shoulder. Shane looked stunned and angry completely ignoring Cara next to him as she started asking what that was all about. He shrugged her off telling her to find another way home because he was tired of her and walked away.
I couldn’t contain the smile that broke out on my face. Hmmm…trouble in paradise? And it was all thanks to this sweet guy beside me. I quickly tiptoed to his 6 foot height and kissed his cheek. He turned to me in surprise and then returned the smile I had.
Things were starting to look a lot better and I was sooo looking forward to what would be our very first date! Ahhh….did I say date I meant hangout right? But if it was just two friends catching up why did I suddenly have butterflies in my stomach…