𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐈; flipped

𝗙𝗜𝗩𝗘; 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖺 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾

||꒰𝒃𝒓𝒚𝒄𝒆꒱||

I did not expect Juli to sit with me at lunch. I did not expect her to ask to be friends. Nor did I expect her to accept my invitation to ride bikes together in the mornings. I did, however, expect it to be difficult to talk to her. How do you face someone that rejected you but still never leaves your mind?

When the bell rang and I walked back to class, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, I still had a slim chance with Juli.

I stopped doing well on the tests when our seats were switched. Now, Juli was across the classroom, much further than I wish she were. Not because of the answers, of course. Just because I like being around her.

And before you ask, yes, I know people catch me looking at her. Honestly, I don't care anymore. Everyone knows I like her. What's the point of trying to hide it now?

•••

Placing my books into the basket, I mounted my bicycle. After a minute or so, Juli was beside me.

"How was your day?" she asked brightly.

I smiled at her. "Science sucked. But it's better now."

"Why?"

"Why'd science suck? Because of Shelly, of course," I replied. Man, did she not notice that? Was she not hoping to be partners with me?

Juli shook her head. "No, no, I meant why's it better now? I knew you were partners with Shelly."

"Oh," I spurted, relieved. She paid attention after all. "It's better now because... because of you..."

Her cheeks turned a tomato red. "Aw, Bryce, that's awfully sweet..."

My heart was pounding. She called me sweet. She complimented me! Gosh, maybe all hope wasn't lost after all.

"Well, we're home now," Juli said, interrupting my thoughts. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, tomorrow morning."

"Sounds like a plan," she replied.

I waved to Juli from my front porch as she went inside, and I couldn't help but feel excited. She wanted to spend time with me. She had talked to me, and she hadn't been mad! Oh, buddy, you'd think I was crazy for this girl... which I sorta am.

Stumbling back into the door, I clambered inside, peeling off my grey baseball sweatshirt. Hoping I could sneak off to my room unnoticed, I tip-toed down the hall. To my despair, I was called from the front room by my Granddad.

"Bryce, son, would you come here, please? I'd like to talk to you."

"I'll be there in a minute, just let me put my things away!" I shouted back, dumping my books in a mess on my bedroom floor and then proceeding to where I had been called from.

"Yes?" I asked reluctantly.

He looked over my face sternly. "What's going on between you and Juli Baker? You rode with her both before and after school, has she forgiven you?"

I swallowed thickly. How could he know about that? It wasn't even his business! "I-I'd like to think she's forgiven me. And, well, we're just good friends at the moment and she prefers to ride to school on her bike so I accompanied her today." Inhaling sharply, I prayed that Granddad inquired no further.

"I see," he replied with a nod. "You seem, how do I say this, smitten with her."

Great, just great. "Well, I mean, it seemed like you wanted me to like her before.. ya know, telling me about how she's 'iridescent' and special and everything." And she is! Oh, she is, the way she can form words into these beautifully abstract ideas that no other eighth-grader could imagine.

"It's not that I have any issue with her, quite frankly, if I chose for you it would undoubtedly be her, it's just that I want you to know that you can be honest with me. And if you ever, say, need a way to leave the house," he said with a wink, "I could be of service."

It felt good to have someone's support. "Thanks, Granddad, I'll keep that in mind. But, uh, I wouldn't think that far out. Juli and I.. we're just friends at the moment, and I don't even know if she likes me!" The words I spouted stung, and though I had my fantasies, it felt like I was truly absorbing the true meaning of Juli's actions thus far. I didn't have any evidence that she like -liked me. Man, I should've known! She might just want to be friends after all..

"Oh, and Bryce?"

"Yes?"

"I fixed your radio; so the music should work fine now," Grandad replied.

"Oh, thanks!"