Jay, trying to muster the strength he had, avoided the truth at all costs. The hurt in Kerass’ eyes was so evident. It really hurt Kerass that he couldn’t outright say what was wrong. Blaming it on the football game, Jay finally said, “I just forgot. I’m so sorry.”
Kerass patted his shoulder. “It’s fine,” he reassured him letting him know that he had nothing to be upset about. That he was just over analyzing things yet again. “In fact, your little outburst at the pep rally forced Cadence to act. Thanks to you I’ve got a date next Friday. You went about it in a weird way, but you’re the best friend anybody could ever have,” he said instantly hugging Jay.
Jay kept calm begging every part of him to do the same. Kerass snapped it out and rushed on home. I love you, Jay mouthed silently after Kerass was out of site.
Cadence couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Ok, his name’s Kerass,” she said brimming with excitement. She spilled about how she had always found him cute and how he increasingly became nicer to her over their time together.
Her mother asked if that was the guy that had shown up to the peer support group. Cadence pouted at her mother knowing what was coming next. “I’m only saying maybe what he needs right now is a friend, not a girlfriend. We can’t have a repeat of your past relationship.”
“That’s great, Ma, way to ruin the only good thing happening in my life right now,” Cadence said brimming on tears as she slammed the door walking toward the bus stop. She cursed under her breath realizing she had left her backpack inside the house. Her student mode overrode her anger mode. She walked back inside the house as quietly as she could. She was found out immediately. Her mother apologized and said they would talk about it later. Her mother kissed her cheek, but Cadence was still pissed at her so she didn’t reciprocate the act.
She walked down to the bus stop attempting to hold back tears. She hated ending things on a bad note with her mother, but she was too upset to rectify things just yet. An arm hugged her shoulder pulling her in. Kerass was standing at her bus stop. Her stop was a mile away from his. She opened her mouth to speak, but like most times around Kerass, no words came out.
“I know, I just wanted to,” he said which made her cry. She leaned into his shoulder as the tears started to flow. It made all the difference in the world to her to finally have a boyfriend even if they hadn’t officially come out as a couple yet.
The week went by without a hitch. It was sheer perfection. Kerass wouldn’t have traded it in for the whole world. The only thing he missed was seeing Jay who he hadn’t seen for a couple of days. Guess that’s just what happens whenever you get a girlfriend.
The hallways seemed different throughout the high school. The fluorescent lights seemed brighter, people just seemed happier. He wasn’t sure how long this feeling would last, but he didn’t want it to end. He waited outside her class having been let out early. His heart was pounding. Every fiber in his being wanted one thing and one thing only: to hold her hand. A sweaty palm was a new experience for Kerass. He had never felt this way about a girl before.
The bell rang without warning. He felt like he had just jumped out of his skin. Knowing Cadence she would be one of the first people out of the door, not out of disrespect to the teacher, quite the contrary. It was just a rush to be the first person to the next classroom.
She rushed out of the classroom like a bolt of lightning almost missing that he was waiting outside her classroom entirely. She smiled at him as they walked down the hallway. His heartbeat rose faster and faster. The voice inside his head commanded him to reject passivity, reject manhood, and finally act. He held his hand out. She reciprocated immediately. Every finger linking together one at a time seemed to take forever. Once their hands were linked he let out a sigh of relief. Their hands linked for the rest of the day, it seemed like a perfect fit.
A date, Cadence never thought this would happen to herself again. Although they had been holding hands they weren’t officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. In her mind everything rode on this night. If things went wrong, they would be through. She was risking everything for this date: her friendship with him, her club, the only friendship she actually had at Oak Stream…everything would be decided within an hour and a half.
The doorbell rang. She raced to the door, but it was too late, her mom had already answered the door for her. Her mother gave him a smile, told him to have her back by 10, the usual things. As much as she was embarrassed by her mother’s interrogation, she couldn’t deny that she found a malicious joy in watching him squirm trying to answer every question as honorably as possible. Deciding he had been tortured enough, she came on out.
“You look beautiful,” he said instantly making her blush.
Her mother brushed them out the door telling Kerass she approved as they walked out of the door. Cadence asked where they were going noticing that they didn’t have a car. He told her they were just going to take a walk. This was no usual date of that she was certain. Her previous relationship was nothing like this one had ever been.
Their walk was along Main Street. They passed by the cookie shop, the local bar, plenty of restaurants, but none of that mattered. Kerass was telling her about his life. He had been depressed for a while. He knew he should tell Jay about it, but he just couldn’t muster up the courage to do so. “You know,” he said, “you’re the only one I’ve been able to talk to. You’re the only one that I trust at Oak Stream High.”
Her heart started pounding. That was the sweetest thing she had ever heard and she told him that, but she held something else back. Her past relationship had gone horribly wrong and she was moved to a different school because of it. She knew she should tell him about what had happened, but seeing that cross around his neck forced her to change her mind. She wouldn’t tell him…ever.
Thus, she lied. She said that he was her first and only friend so far at Oak Stream. That much was true. She said she had never been in love with someone quite like this before. That was a flat out lie. She had loved him a lot more than she loved Kerass right now. If there hadn’t have been proof of that, they would still be together, but Kerass was a great alternative. Her phone beeped. “Hold on,” she said certain it was her mother telling her that she had to come home. But it wasn’t her mother. It was him. He had texted her: I miss u lets find a way to talk soon. She texted him back instantly: ill find a way promise <3.
“Who was that?” he asked her.
She looked up remembering that she was on a date with Kerass. “That was my mother. We need to head back now.”
He responded that that was fine and walked her back, but before they left main street he pulled her aside. “I’ve never done this before, but I can’t deny my feelings anymore.” He kissed her on the lips.
Jay sat inside The Hub, the original burger joint in Oak Stream. Outside the window he saw his worst nightmare. Kerass, his heart’s desire, was kissing Cadence. He paid for the burger and hid in the bathroom trying to wait them out. He couldn’t stand being found out in this condition. Inside he just wanted to die.
There was another knock at the door. Jay hoped Kerass would open up. It had been half a week since he had seen them kiss. They hadn’t talked for a week and a half. Kerass opened the door and instantly smiled at Jay.
“Jay!” he exclaimed. “I’m so glad you came on by.” He explained that he knew that Cadence had gotten in the way of their chill time, but that he would spend the whole day with him today.
Jay shook his head saying that wasn’t the reason that he showed up. “I’m finally gonna be honest with you.” Jay’s heartbeat rose as he began to tell the truth. “I don’t want to chill with you. I just want…you.” Jay leaned forward about to kiss Kerass but Kerass pushed him back with such force that he toppled down the stairs of the entrance.
“Don’t you dare,” Kerass said his voice venomous. “Leave. Get out!”
“Let me just explain-” Jay interjected.
Kerass shook his head. “Actions speak much louder than words Jay. I want you out of my sight and don’t you ever speak to me again. You crossed the line of what friendship is supposed to be.”
Jay got up sprinting away from the house tears streaming down his face. He didn’t dare turn back around to see what Kerass was doing as he screamed at the top of his lungs. He didn’t want to know. He just wanted to be safe, but that seemed impossible now.
“Cadence?” her mother called out.
She walked into the kitchen agitated. “Can it wait? I’m in the middle of homework.”
Her mother’s eyes glistened. “Baby, I’m sorry.” Cadence’s heart beat rose. She wasn’t sure what she was sorry about. She couldn’t possibly know that they were texting again. “The peer support group has been disbanded this year for lack of interest.”
Although it was a relief, it still knocked the wind out of Cadence. She started crying trying to understand why a group like this wouldn’t work. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t need it just as much as Kerass did, but for very different reasons.
Finally getting enough breath to speak she said, “Well, I guess that’s it then. Everybody’s screwed.”
Her phone rang. It was Kerass. Knowing tears were falling, she realized she didn’t want to talk to Kerass in this vulnerable state. She ignored the call and went inside her bedroom. She texted him then: everythings gone wrong i rly wish i could see u again. Within 30 seconds she received a text back: u will soon enough…im moving to Oak Stream in 3 months.
No comments:
Post a Comment