"Hey, Aline!" Sam says, beckoning me in a way.
"Wh-what happened?" I scramble to say, angry at something or someone without an idea about who or what.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He says calmly, taunting me. My voice turns into a quivering whisper.
"About Cara. I told you and now everyone knows!" I say, confused. I clearly am assuming he did it and he knows.
"I know, right? It's so weird!" He says, pissing me off immediately.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!" I hushedly yell.
"Nothing!" He convinces me, obviously offended.
"Listen ma-!" I whisper, getting cut off by his footsteps getting softer and softer. My eyes turn extremely red. I give up. I angrily walk into the homeroom. Are you kidding? This literally isn't even my fault! But-b- what if he didn't do anything? Did he? I don't know, man! I flick under my ear without holding back. I slump in my chair as footsteps dance around my head.
"I'm sorry." I hear a whisper. It's Cara. Her beautiful face puts my pain at ease.
"It's not your fault." I say, but I'm not even sure anymore.
"But- I'm here. I'm so, so sorry I put you through this." She says politely. I start to tear up.
"Thank you." I squeak out.
"Listen. Come to the tables after school today. I'll be there with two soda cans, alright?" She says.
"I-I-thank you so much. I love-" I pause.
"I love you." I respond. Everything melts away after that. The horrible situation was pulled out of my mind, blinded by her beauty; her pretty lips, her fair skin, her sweet eyes. Blinded by true love. I kiss my palm trying to imitate what I think the feel of her skin would be as she walks away. The day comes and goes in a blur. Genuinely, no thoughts came through my mind- well, except the ones about her. As soon as you know it, I'm sitting on the cold seat, waiting for her to come. I don't care about what my parents think I'm doing. I don't care about anyone looking at me sitting alone at the front of the school waiting for her. Soon enough, she comes. I can imagine that the pupil of my eye pinkens and turns into a heart.
"Hello." She waves to me.
"Hey," I say, trying to act casual. She throws a can at me and I catch it.
"I'm still really sorry. All I know is that Sam spread it." She says, cracking her can open.
"I had my suspicions." I say, not caring about him anymore.
"I thought you guys were great friends, though." She says, sitting down in front of me.
"Yeah, we are- or were." I act sad, beckoning for her attention.
"It's alright. There are people you just have to get rid of in your life. But, hey! I'm not making that decision for you." We both chuckle.
"Thank you for doing this." I say, taking a small sip of my soda.
"Don't mention it." She says.
"You're so nice." I say.
"Oh, please." She pretends to spit out her soda.
"Don't be so lovey-dovey with me." She jokes.
"Oh, you're so beautiful, girl. I want to marry you, babe." I taunt.
"Shut up!" She says, laughing. I follow along.
"I wanna kiss you hard, baby." I continue to joke. She turns to me seriously and smirks.
"Then what're we waiting for?" She asks. I laugh, assuming it's a joke. However, in seconds, she lifts the collar of my shirt like a middle-school bully and comes closer to me until we're touching our foreheads- and- bam! I've dated for years but I've never kissed a girl, I realize. She looks at my shocked face and panics.
"I'm sorry! Was this too fast for a first- er- second date? I'm so sorry I-!" I cut her off.
"It's a'ight, man. I'm impatient anyway." I say confidently. I just kissed a girl.
"That was the most disgustingly cringey thing I've ever heard." She responds honestly.
"I know, right? But hey, you took your turn at it. 'Then what're we waiting for?' My god." I joke.
"Pffft!" She laughs.
"Shoulda said that before I swept you off your feet." She jokes back.
"I-NO! YOU WISH!" I yell, embarrassed. She giggles cutely.
"So, what're you gonna do about Sam?" She continues, changing her mood from funny to serious.
"I honestly don't know." I say.
"All I know is that I'm not talkin' to him anymore unless I mean business." I say.
"Great. Again, there are some people who you have to let go." She says.
"I've never- like- done something like this. I've never been-" I pause.
"-betrayed like this." I say.
"Alright, Mr. Poetry." She says. She looks at me and sees my honest sadness. The realization starts throbbing in my skinShe sighs.
"I'm sorry. Really. Don't worry, though. You're not alone. I've been hurt plenty and I'm okay." She looks at me sweetly.
"You're doin' great, man." She says.
"Thank you." I say, wiping my tears off. I look back at her to see her face an inch away from mine. Bam. Again. This is insane. I think.
"I think I have to go now." I say, wiping more tears from my eye.
"Alright then." She says.
"-b-but can I tell you something first." I say. I don't wait for her to answer.
"My parents don't know about any of this. They think I'm still dating Akako but-b-but I don't know what to do. My dad didn't even want me to date her. Now- now, if I tell them I- you know- cheated on her, I'll be dead. Who knows?- my parents might be divorced because of me." I say.
"Don't. No one's going to be divorced because of this. Trust me. After they meet me, they'll be super on board." She jokes.
"Thank you so much." I say.