Work in Progress

Chapter 14: Nevermind

*SAM'S POV*

I didn't wake up until lunchtime and didn't really have much of an appetite so I just went back to bed. The events of yesterday flashing through my mind. Getting harassed. Being saved by the person who hates me. Realizing how I really felt about her. Knowing I have to change things. I sit up and text Jane and Kate to come over. They arrived within thirty minutes.

"What's up?" Jane asks, plopping down on my bed. Kate does the same. I look at them. I know I can trust them. They've been my friends since middle school, helped me get through what Sophie did to me, and supported me until now despite my obvious bad choices. Sure they had their own taste for bullying but we all know we didn't really care much for it. We just... did it for fun. But now it wasn't fun for me. I know making people think less of themselves won't make me better than them. That was just an excuse I said to myself.

"Uhhh hellooo? Earth to Sam," Kate says, waving her hand in front of me.

I take in a deep breath and say, "I have to tell you guys something." Then I proceed to tell them about what happened yesterday at the park, how Eli rescued me and gave me a ride home. How she's actually nineteen and not seventeen like the rest of us. I didn't tell them why she got held back because I figured that was for her to tell. I just said it was something personal and serious.

"... and I can't help but think I'm just being unfair to her when she didn't even know about me until she bumped into me by accident. And she doesn't even go out of her way to torment me or even Brendan despite his many pranks. I mean... who has that much patience?? I guess what I'm trying to say is--"

"You want to call off the mission," Jane says matter-of-factly.

I nod.

"That's alright. If you think about it, we never really started. That frying pan was just a spur of the moment fluke. I'm still mad she found it funny though," Jane pouts.

"Wait!" Kate suddenly shouts. "If she's nineteen then why has she been flirting with me?" I look at her jealous but Jane says, "She flirts with everyone, dude. Why do you think Brendan's efforts to make her an outcast is failing? Either she says a witty comeback to shut you up forever or she looks at you with those deep eyes and says something cheesy. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. She's really owning her sexuality."

"Ahh.. How could I not notice that?" Kate says thoughtfully.

"Because you don't pay her any attention outside of the classes you share."

"Oooh but you do," Kate says, poking Jane's side.

"Please," Jane rolls her eyes, "I couldn't care less. Hella straight remember? Already checked. But I know someone who does pay attention to Eli." They both look at me, Jane moving her eyebrows up and down.

"What-- me? Ha!" I scoff.

"Oh don't try to hide it, Sam. Kate and I know you too well. Why else would we be calling off the mission just because someone is nice? That's never stopped us before."

"Do you like her?" Kate asks me.

Yes. "I... I don't know."

"That's not a no, which means it's a yes. So I'll back off." Kate says simply.

"What?! No, that's not what I'm saying. You don't have to do that for me. If you like her then--"

"Relax, Sam. If I really wanted to date her then I would've been aggressive from the start." Kate says smiling at me.

"True that. Poor Ash. Didn't know what was coming for him." Jane says pretending to be sad. We all laugh remembering Kate's ex-boyfriend.

That night I slept easier knowing that no matter what, the girls were there to help me. Now I just have to face Eli. But that can wait until Monday.

A/N: I know things have been moving either really slow or really fast but I guess it depends on my mood when I was writing. I really just started this to destress and have some creativity in the midst of all the science I'm doing so... yeah. I hope you stick around anyways