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AN: Look an update :) Two more. I hope I still have readers.
Review please.
37
I sat in the booth of the ice cream parlor with Stacey waiting for Carmen to come back.
"Here's for you," she said handing Stacey a chocolate cone, "and you," handing me my vanilla cone. I sighed as she sat down and rested my head on her shoulders. It was weird. When Ashley and I were going out – I lost my friends. Now I lost my girlfriend and I gained my best friends back. Why did it seem like it had to be one or the other? We sat in silence for a few minutes just eating our ice cream. It felt warm with them. Comforting. But eventually we had to face some things and Carmen broke the silence.
"Spencer, do you want to talk about it?" she asked quietly, almost timidly.
"Not really," I replied. I was tired. I had cried the entire way to the ice cream shop and my eyes were burning.
"What happened?" asked Stacey taking my free hand into her own and squeezing it gently.
"I just – I love her and she's too afraid to tell people she loves me back," I said. Maybe she really just doesn't feel as strongly as I do. Something deep down told me that wasn't true but I couldn't quell the creeping sense of paranoia.
"Spence, she may be afraid but she'll get over it. Because she cares about you and that's clear to see," Carmen said soothingly. I lifted my head from her shoulder and stared at her.
"How would you know?" I asked slightly harsher than I intended, but it wasn't like I could just forget everything that happened these last couple of months. Every fight and every nasty look was burned in my head. I was grateful that they were here for me but I couldn't help the flash of anger than coursed through me. Carmen hung her head and Stacey adverted her eyes from me.
"Spence, there are not enough apologies that I could give you," she said playing with her thumbs. I let the anger seep out of my body. I couldn't stay angry at them because I cared too much and I missed them too much.
"I can't even explain why I reacted the way I did," Carmen continued.
"You don't have to," I whispered.
"Yes we do," Stacey said.
"Spencer, I think I was confused. We had spent so long hating on Ashley and all of a sudden there you were kissing her. She hurt you and I was worried that it would happen again. I was also angry at you for forgiving her. In the process of trying to protect you I hurt you. Ironic, isn't it?" she said her eyes welling up. I felt Stacey wrap her arm around me. I took each one of their hands and squeezed them comfortingly.
"I get it I do. It just hurt. I was confused to but – It's Ashley and I just was sucked in. I never expected it to happen. You guys are my best friends and I kept a huge secret from you," I said.
"You shouldn't apologize for falling in love Spencer," Stacey said, "We all made mistakes. We said and did things that shouldn't of happened but we're here now. Can we all agree just to forgive one another?" Carmen nodded and we pulled one another into a hug.
"Alright let's stop this sappy crap," Carmen said after a moment and I laughed. It was great to be able to be back with my friends. I had really missed them.
"Are you guys done?" Stacey asked standing up and Carmen and I nodded joining her.
"Alright now let's go shopping for dresses!" She said excitedly pulling Carmen and I along out of the ice cream parlor and into the warm sunny afternoon
"Whoa dresses for what?" I asked.
"The dance," Stacey said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Carmen rolled her eyes.
"I don't know guys, I wasn't going to go after everything," I said as the slowed to look at me.
"Come on Spence. You can go with us; it'll be fun," Stacey said.
"Oh yeah, third wheeling is loads of fun," I said sarcastically.
"I know you're upset but you should go. We promise not to be all couplely," Carmen said while she and Stacey and her puppy dog pouted at me. I rolled my eyes at their antics and sighed.
"Fine," I said and Stacey returned to dragging us down the street. It would be an interesting dance. I wonder if Ashley will go. Whatever it shouldn't matter, after break I won't have to deal with her again. The semester is ending, I'll be done with health. We can go our separate ways; which is probably best after everything.