Hasn’t been a good friend? “I’m the one who wasn’t there for you!” She and Kyle were inseparable; I cannot imagine what happened to split them up—I’m sure it’s only temporary. “Have the two of you spoken since?”
“A little.” Her eyes scan the commons area, searching, as if hoping Kyle will come walking toward us and drop to his knees and say he’s been miserable and missing her, too. “I think he met someone else.”
I wait for her to elaborate. “Why would you think that?”
Lilly shrugs her dainty shoulders. “Why else would he pick a fight? It didn’t make any sense, and he was so quick to agree to a break.”
“You told him you wanted to take a break?”
Why would she tell him that if she didn’t mean it?
First rule of fighting: Don’t say things you don’t mean. They will only serve to bite you in the ass when they backfire.
Case in point: Lilly.
“Well, yeah—I didn’t know what else to say!” She flaps her arms helplessly. “He was being stupid, and I wanted to make him mad.”
Sounds like it worked.
Too well.
“Oh Lilly…”
Her head drops. “I overreacted, obviously.”
Obviously. “So what are you going to do?”
“Nothing! He has to apologize to me.” Her chin tilts up stubbornly.
“But wouldn’t you rather get the fight over with than drag it out?”
“Yes. But I want him to apologize first.”
“Is it a contest?”
Lilly gives me a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“I mean—why are you being so willful? You’re wasting time when you could be having fun with Kyle instead of crying yourself to sleep.”
She seems to consider my words of wisdom. “You’re probably right.”
“I am right. Text him right now and tell him you want to talk.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” I nudge her toward a reconciliation, the same kind I wish I had with Kaylee, though I’m not quite sure she deserves it with the way she’s acting.
I stand on the sidewalk, moving over a few feet so people can get by, as Lilly taps out a message on her phone to the boy she loves so very much.
“What should I say?” Her gaze is questioning.
“Just say ‘I miss you and I want to talk.’”
“That’s it? It feels too easy.” She worries at her bottom lip.
“That’s it.”
“You think it will work?”
“Lilly, he loves you—he will want to talk. This fighting is stupid, you don’t even know what it’s about. It’s a nothing fight.”
“If you’re sure…” She’s still hesitating, and I don’t blame her.
“Hit send.” I laugh, the nerves I felt earlier dissipating as I help my friend, grateful she’s still standing here with me. Grateful she doesn’t hate me like the other one does.
One less person to avoid on campus…
Phew.
“Here goes nothing.” I swear she holds her breath when she pokes the send button, closing an eye as she launches it into cyberspace. “Oh god, what if he hates me?”
“Please—the hating game is my department. Leave that to me.” Ha ha.
We continue to stand there as we wait for Kyle to reply, and it doesn’t take very long—her phone pings within a minute, and she squeals in delight as she reads.
“What does it say?” I lean in to see the screen.
“It says ‘I miss you too, I’ll meet you at my place in ten minutes.’” Another squeal, and we hug on the sidewalk, students and faculty passing by, a few of them shooting us odd looks, but for the most part, nobody cares that we’re jumping up and down like fools.
“Aren’t you glad you texted him?”
“Yes. Thank you—I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.” She’s smoothing a hand down her hair. “How do I look?”
Like she’s sleep-deprived and miserable. “You look beautiful.”
“Liar.” Lilly looks me up and down. “What are you going to do?”
“Me? I’m done with classes so I’ll probably hit the coffee shop. I also have to call my parents. They have no idea I’m living somewhere new—I should definitely give them a buzz.” I glance up at the sky. “Plus it’s going to rain, so maybe I’ll watch a movie and eat my feelings.”
“I have all the ice cream you need if you want me to have Kyle drop it off.” She giggles.
“Speaking of Kyle, you’re down to what—eight minutes? Get going!” I swat at her, shooing her away. “Go!”
“I’m going, I’m going.” She kisses me on the cheek before running off, excitement palpable. “Eek!”
I remain in my spot on the sidewalk after both of my friends have walked away, leaving me there alone. I’m mollified by the steadfast relationship between Lilly and me but troubled by the one I have with Kaylee. I’m doubtful we will ever be the same or that we’ll even speak again, and for that I am regretful.
A rumble in the sky catches my attention and has me watching a gray cloud rolling above; I should head home before the storm comes. It’ll take me at least ten minutes to get there since I now live farther from campus in the residential part of town.