Better off Friends

We all gathered in the living room and snacked on the appetizers (Macallan made sure to compliment Mom’s cooking a lot). It wasn’t long before Macallan and I broke from the adults and went out to the backyard.

“So does this mean we’re officially young adults now?” I asked her.

“I don’t know. I’ve already been reading those kinds of books for a few years.”

“Uh-oh, does this mean I’m still a baby? I really love Everyone Poops.”

“Do you need me to answer that?” She nudged me playfully.

“Probably not.”

Silence fell between us. This was a common occurrence whenever we’re alone. When you’re comfortable with someone, you don’t need to always fill the void with noise. I liked it when we would just be.

“Do you think next year will be different?” Macallan asked.

“I don’t know. I’m excited about it, though, you know?”

She shrugged. “I guess.”

I could tell she was uneasy about the move. It made sense. What was strange was that I wasn’t that nervous. I was excited. I felt the new school would give me another start. More opportunities.

“Everything could change,” she said in a quiet voice before she shot me a look. “Or not. Blimey if I have a clue.”

“Hey, that’s my line,” I teased before I put my arm around her. “Listen, nothing will change with us. I promise you right here, right now, that I’ll be there for you through good times, bad times, friend issues, boy issues, teacher issues, whatever issues. And you’ll always have a date to any social event that requires a male companion. I hear I clean up nicely.”

“I wouldn’t trust your sources.” A smile was now on her lips. “And what makes you think I couldn’t get my own date?”

I shook my head at her. “For the record, I don’t think you’d have a problem finding a date. I just imagine every guy will pale in comparison to me and never live up to your clearly heightened expectations.”

She looked at me flatly. “The only thing heightened around here is your ego.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll go stag, then.” I dropped my head.

“Okay, fine. If neither of us has a date, we should do things like homecoming together. Why not? Everybody thinks we’re a couple anyway.”

“Why not? I guess I’ll take that as a yes. Sound good?” I held out my hand.

She shook it. “Sounds perfect.”

It was kinda perfect. And you didn’t seem that horrified when I took you to homecoming freshman year.

That was fun. Freshman year was really great, actually. Pretty easy transition. We both made some new friends. No emotional trauma that wasn’t solved with a Buggy and Floyd marathon.

And then you had to get a boyfriend.

It was only a matter of time before I was snatched up, especially when you can bake a brownie like I do.

Oh, is that what the kids are calling it these days? Baking brownies?

Gross. But don’t forget that you got a girlfriend at the start of sophomore year.

Yes, I did.

But did the questions stop about whether or not we were a couple?

No, they did not.

CHAPTER NINE

If I could’ve talked to my eighth-grade self, I would’ve told her she had nothing to worry about. Freshman year was easy. Admittedly, having a boyfriend who’d already spent a year there helped a lot.

“Are you cold?” Ian put his arm around me.

“Why do I have a feeling that was just an excuse to get closer to me?” I leaned into him.

He gave me a little squeeze as we sat in the bleachers during the JV football game at the beginning of sophomore year. Of course, Ian had assumed Levi and I were dating when high school first started. I couldn’t really blame him. Not only did Levi and I go to and leave school together (unless he had practice), we sat together at lunch, went to homecoming together, and did pretty much everything together.

I got it. I really did. But that still didn’t mean I was going to stop spending time with my best friend.

I guess Ian figured it out because he asked me on a date the Saturday after Thanksgiving. By the time the JV game came along, we’d been together for ten months, and not once had he ever complained about Levi to me. Sure, he’d tease me, but I knew I deserved most of it.

“Have I ever told you that you’re too good a friend?” Ian laughed.

“There’s always a chance that he’ll get in.” I hoped the universe heard me on that one.

We were at the football game to support Levi, even though he’d never made it to the field. Ever. Not as a freshman, not during the first two games of sophomore year. It wasn’t the running he struggled with; the coach repeatedly told him he was the fastest on the team. It was catching the ball that was the issue.

So Levi sat on the bench. But he was a part of a team.

And Levi was a part of my life, which is why I was also sitting on a bench.

“Do I need to remind you that I come to all your track meets in the spring?” I nudged Ian.

“Do I need to remind you that Levi’s also competing? So let’s not pretend you’re there just for me.”

I opened my mouth in shock. “Exactly what are you implying?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m certainly not questioning your allegiances. I know I’d lose that battle. Plus, you know I like him … except for the fact that he’s getting close to beating my times.”