Juan Diaz: You were right... We need to talk
I read the text over and over again. I should've been happy, right? So, why wasn't I? I was finally going to get my best friend back. Yay.
I showed Gabby the text the next morning. She squealed.
"Go get your man!" she said, smiling.
"He's my best friend not my man." I corrected her.
"Yeah, okay." she said sarcastically, still smiling.
I rolled my eyes.
I took a shower and put my hair into the "eternal bun". I wore a black sweat shirt and sweat pants. Juan texted me to meet him at the coffee shop at ten.
I was just about to leave her house when Gabby saw me.
"That can't be what you're wearing," she said, looking at me with the most annoying judge look ever.
"What?" I asked, visibly annoyed.
"It's just so plain," she started. I rolled my eyes. "I mean you're going to get your man."
"My best friend," I corrected, again. What was with her and calling him my man.
"Whatever," she said. "You still have to wear something more... "
"More what?" I interrupted.
"More, sexy," she said. "Yeah. Sexy."
"What? No," I said frowning. "I'm going to try to reconcile with him not have coitus."
I shivered a little. The thought of doing the devil's tango with Juan made me want to throw up.
"Okay," she said, raising her hands up in surrender. "Whatever you say."
"Bye," I said, leaving.
~~~~~~~
I got to the coffee shop an hour early. So, I started reading the book I always carry around with me, "A Wrinkle in Time". I had read it many times before but, I had nothing better to do.
I was so engulfed in my book that I didn't even notice someone sitting across the table from me.
"Hi," he said.
"Hello," I said not looking up from my book. I was at the best part. "I'm sorry but, that seat is taken."
"By who?" he asked.
"I don't think that's..." I said, looking up and realizing who I was talking to. "Juan."
"Hi Green," he said.
He looked so tired like he hadn't been sleeping. I wasn't going to say that though.
"Hi," I said back.
We sat there in silence for about five minutes.
"I just feel that..."
"I'm really sorry that..."
We both said at the same time. We burst out laughing.
"Okay you got first," I said.
"I'm sorry I overreacted," he started. "It's just that I kind of have a crush on you" I knew it. "But I knew you don't have one on me so, when you asked I was really hurt that you'd put me in that position." Oh.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't know." I was such an idiot.
"It's fine," he said.
I smiled. He glared. What did I do wrong now?
I really he wasn't glaring at me bit at something behind me. It was Mace Smith. I waved at him and turned back to Juan.
"Isn't that the guy you were with the other day at school?" he asked, still glaring.
"Yeah," I said, deciding to ignore his glare.
"Who is he?" he asked.
"Who am I? Who are you?" Mace Smith said. I hadn't noticed that he walked to the back of my seat. "Hey Green."
"Hi Blue eyes."
"Wait. Blue eyes? You mean the blue eyes that stalked you? That blue eyes," Juan said.
"Yeah?" I said.
"Jesus. Green what the hell is wrong with you?" Excuse me. "I leave you for what seven days and you make friends with a creepy stalker?"
I looked round the coffee shop and then, looked at Juan.
"I'm sorry," I said, with as much venom as I possibly could. "I had to look around for the baby you obviously think you're talking to."
Mace Smith was holding back a laugh. Obviously enjoying the scene in front of him.
"Green. Listen. You..."
"No. You listen. I have been nothing short of amazing to you. A freaking breath of fresh air if you would. And I'm aware that I don't really know how friends or the world works in general, but I sure as hell know I don't have to put up with this BS." I stormed out of the coffee shop.
To say I was mad would be an understatement. I was furious. What was going on with Juan? He was always so sweet.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice someone running after me and calling my name. He tapped my shoulder.
"What?" I turned, frowning. "Oh. It's just you." Mace Smith.
"Nice to see you too," he said, sarcastically.
"What do you want, Mace Smith?"
"Nothing really," he started. "It's just i saw a car similar to yours by the coffee shop and I was wondering why you were walking."
My car. I was so mad that, I forgot I drove there.
I started walking back to my car.
"Hey, hey," Mace Smith said. "I didn't hear a thank you."
"That's okay," I said, unlocking my car door. "I never said 'thank you'"
I noticed Mace Smith's car wasn't any where to be seen.
"Didn't you bring your car?"
"No," he said. "I was doing some morning jogging when I saw you."
"Oh."
"Do you want a ride home?"
"Um, yeah. Thanks." He got into the car.
~~~~~~
I totally forgot I was driving Mace Smith home. I got to my house and realised was still beside me. Being furious is really annoying.
I turned to him.
"I am so sorry," I said, putting my face in my palms. "I forgot I was driving you home."
"It's okay," he said, trying not to laugh. "You dint know the way to my house any way."
"Oh," I said, realising. "Is it far from here?"
"No," he said. "I'll just walk there."
"Great. Now I feel guilty," I said. "At least come inside and drink some water or take a shower or... something."
"Sure. If it'll make you feel better," he said. "And maybe you could tell me why your boyfriend" I glared at him. "Or ex boyfriend called me a stalker." My glare remained. "Or not."
~~~~~~~
When we got inside, I saw my mother cooking.
"Good morning, mother."
"Hi honey." She was smiling
That was weird cause my mother was almost never home to cook. She only ever cooked when... Then I realized.
"Father!" I shouted, then jumped on him.
"Princess," he said, laughing and hugging me.
My father had been gone for almost a year and I totally forgot he was coming home that day. At least one good thing happened to me.
When we finally released each other, my father started looking at someone behind me. I turned around and saw Mace Smith standing there awkwardly and really confused.
Did I mention my parents are both white?
"Oh. Father, mother, this is Mace Smith. He's on the basket ball team."
"Hi," they said at the same time.
"Hello," Mace Smith said, still looking a little shocked.
"What about Juan?" my father asked.
"Um... We're not speaking at the moment," I said.
"Oh, honey" mother started.
"Mace Smith and I are going to my room now. Bye," I said before anyone could say anything else and dragged Mace Smith up the stairs.
We got to my room and I shut the door.
"Green?" Mace Smith said.
"Yes," I said.
"Your parents are white."
I gasped sharply. "No shit," I said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know you were adopted."
"I know that. I didn't tell you," I said, getting really bored with the topic. "The only other person who knows is Juan and he hates you."
"Oh," he said.
"I'll go get your drink then, I'll take you home," I said, my hand on the door knob.
He held my free hand.
"What are you doing?" I said, my facial expression matching my question.
"Let's talk," he said.
I checked my pocket to make sure I still had my taser that looked like an iPhone. Juan gave it to me. Best present I'd ever gotten. It was still there so I said, "sure."
We sat there in silence for a while. Then Mace Smith broke the silence.
"So," he said. "What's up with you and Juan?"
"None of your business," I said, not realising how mean I sounded.
He looked at me in shock.
"I'm sorry," I said. "That was way too harsh."
"It's okay," he said. "I know what it feels like to be in a toxic relationship."
"Really? With who?" I asked, really curious.
He looked at me weirdly. Like he was trying to figure out whether or not I could be trusted. I guess he decided I could cause he started speaking.
"It's my girlfriend," he said. "She's... something."
"Oh," I said. "Does she hurt you? Like... physically?"
He looked down. "Physically, mentally, verbally."
I didn't say anything. We stood in silence for a while. Then I said quietly, "Are you going to break up with her?"
"I want to. I really want to," he said, I could hear the sadness in his voice. "But I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't know how to explain it," he said. "Any time I try to, I feel horrible."
"Let me guess," I said. "She manipulates you. Makes you feel like the bad guy. Then, for a couple days she's nice and then goes back to her normal abusive self?"
"Yes..."
"And you can't talk to any of your friends about it cause their all backwards misogynists who not understand you and just tell you to 'man up'?"
"How did you..."
"Spend a lot of time being bullied in this town without any friends and loads of free time and you pick up a few things."
He stayed silent for a while. I couldn't take it any more.
"Let's get you home," I said. "We'll talk later. "
He just nodded.
You never know how soft and sad someone is until you get to know them. Forget Juan. I was going to help Mace.