Chapter 8

Ian missed her too much. He re-read her text whenever he felt alone. She was like a star, which he couldn't see but was always there. Tonight he was working alone in the auto body shop. After fixing everything, he switched off the lights and locked the door. Once he turned away from the door, someone stepped out from the shadows jolting him.

"Jesus, Wanda you scared the crap outta me!" He yelled but he couldn't control the smile forming on his face.

"Surprise! Surprise!" She giggled.

"You were supposed to come tomorrow" He said folding his hands

"I changed my mind. Just now I arrived, can't wait to see you, so I came" She exclaimed. He raised his eyebrows at her.

"What! Didn't you miss me?" She asked him.

"You have no idea" He said putting his hand on her shoulder and tugging her with him. On the way to their home, they talked about everything that happened. By next week, they are going to start tenth grade.


It was the first time Ian going to play in the school team officially. He was the only sophomore in the team. He was practicing after school for the game ahead. After a long practice, he stretched out on the ground to relax his sore muscles. Kyle was also in the team.

He ran up to Ian and shouted "Hey bro, your girlfriend is waiting for you"

"My girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend" he said and looked at stands where Kyle pointed. Wanda waved at him.

"Kyle, knock it off. It's Wanda. She is my best friend, not girlfriend"

Kyle chuckled. "Yeah, your best friend" he said sarcastically.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ian demanded.

"Are you saying that she is just a friend and not more?"

"Come on! She is my buddy. I don't see her that way" he argued

"Uh-oh"

"I don't"

"Yeah sure"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ian yelled at him.

Kyle shrugged. "Nothing. Just noticed how you watch her sometimes."

"Oh please enlighten me! How do I watch her?"

He looked down at Ian and said, "Like she is something precious and you want to keep her all to yourself" What did he watch her like that?

"No I don't" Ian sounded low.

"Yes, you do bro"

"It's all in your head"

"Whatever you say" Kyle said pissing him off even more.

He didn't look at her that way. Did he? She was his friend, his amigo. Ian thought it was nothing and Kyle was just being stupid. He stood up and walked towards the stands. He could see Wanda from here. She fluffed her long wavy golden hair absently and her gray eyes sparkled in the bright light. She looked his way and smiled up at him sweetly and that tiny dimple playing at the corner of her mouth. It's the kind of smile that melts everything. It's the kind of smile that puts dazzle on her lips and her pink cheeks. He realizes that, he has never seen her like this before. She looks so soft and vulnerable. When did she grow into such a beautiful girl? His thoughts were incoherent when he reached her.

"Hey"

"Hey you, nice game" She said bumping his shoulder.

"Uh-oh thank you". What a lame reply.

He was standing there awkwardly and suddenly he got an idea. "Hmm Wanda"

"Yes"

"There is a game next week and there is this t-shirt thing that is every player's girlfriend got to wear their jersey you know… in order to cheer them and I don't have a girlfriend you know... so I just thought maybe … hmm maybe you could wear mine's" He blabbered. Oh god what is he proposing! She looked confused. "Oh its okay if you don't want to. Never mind, just forget I asked you"

"You want me to wear your jersey for the game" Wanda said simply.

"Yeah"

"Okay"

"Really, are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure Ian. I'll wear it for you" She said.

He was excited. "Oh Wanda! You are my favorite person in the whole world" he said hugging her tightly. She groaned.

"Hey Ian" His coach ran up to him. "Haven't you showered yet?" He said to Ian and looked at Wanda. "I don't know how you are standing so close to him. He stinks." He said to her and walked away.

"Oh I'm so sorry Wanda" Ian blushed. "You should've told me" She waved off like its nothing.

Ian grinned at her. "I better go shower. See you" He said before walking away.


At night, he couldn't get any sleep. He kept thinking again and again, about what happened today. Is he attracted to Wanda like that? Kyle said that he wants to keep her all to himself. Is that true? Yeah whenever he found someone flirting with her or messing with her, he got angry and threatened them. He did that because he was protective of her. He didn't want her to get hurt. Did it mean he has feelings for her? Does he has some selfish reasons? He thought about today how he drooled over her. He couldn't help when she was that breathtaking. All those days missing her somehow changed him. He thought about everything they gone through together and finally realized that he couldn't live without her and Kyle was right after all. Thinking about this he got frustrated. He definitely has feelings for Wanda. Somewhere deep inside, he had always known this. He didn't want to acknowledge it because her friendship means so much to him. He wouldn't risk their friendship over this. What if she feels the same way about him? No, it's impossible; it's obvious that she thought of him only as a friend. But she could in future. Anyway, there is still some hope. Everything was effortless with her. But, he wouldn't want to confuse her right now.


Author's note: Actually, I thought of something else but ended up writing this. I think this is okay. What do you think?