Troubled

FORTY TWO

KYLE GARCIA

"You are whipped."

Ray spoke over the rim of his energy drink, looking at me dead in the eyes. But I pretend not to hear him.

"When did it start?"

I was going to send another message when my phone went off, I had ignored the ten percent warning and I was still shocked when it goes off.

"When did what start?" I ask as I ruffle through my bag for my charger.

"Between you two."

"There is nothing between us. " I find my charger under the rumble of things in my bag.

"If you're going to keep up with your lies at least make it better. That's the least you can do for us. We are your friends, we deserve that much."

I briefly remember what she said about deserving something just because of what you are to the person. If they deserved the truth as my friends. What about me? Don't I deserve to keep the truth for myself? The girl was unbelievably selfish but that was how the rest of the world operated. They were selfish to say they deserved it for being your friend. Her point of view of the world was unexpectedly refreshing.

"But I am telling the truth. What would I gain from lying to you? Besides, what if I lied? What will you do to me?"

I ask testily as I take a gulp of my orange juice.

"We won't do anything. Anything at all. It's just, we used to share everything together. Why can't you tell us this one?"

"Am I not allowed my own secrets or personal experiences?"

They stare at me wordlessly.

"I don't mean anything by that. Trust me, I'm not even mad. I'm just trying to get you to believe me."

"You're not even convincing. No actually you are convincing. Or not. Either way you are telling us you like her and she probably doesn't feel the same way."

I stare at Dawson, wondering if our friendship was even worth it. I don't know if I'm even seeing where it was heading if he could come to such a conclusion.

"We are letting you off the hook for this one. You can do whatever you want. Just tell us if anything is going on with you. We want to know you're okay."

I nod at Ray. Always the voice of reasoning. Always the peace keeper.

"Well, we came to see if you were doing okay, and you are. So we will be leaving now."

"We are?" Dawson asked Ray.

"Yes, you still have hours for your community service thing."

Dawson grumbled under his breath as he finishes off the last crumb of cookie.

"See you in school tomorrow?" Ray asked, he looked at me dead in the eyes, he was daring me to say no. I wasn't ready for a lecture from him do I nod enthusiastically. Like I loved going to school.

"See you tomorrow."

I did not see them. I was on my way to school when I got the text from Cora saying she wouldn't make it. So yes people, I did make a U turn to her house. I could hear Dawson's voice at the back of my mind, taunting me.

'you do like her.'

I shake it off and drive to her house. Like yesterday, there was no car in front of it. I had to call her to open the door, before that huge door came outside again.

"Hey you think you can come open the front door for me?"

"Wait you're here?"

Her surprised voice brought a smile to my face. How much I missed hearing it. Yes I haven't heard it for half a day sue me for wanting to hear it all the time.

"It does occur to me that I am here. So will you be a peach and come downstairs?"

"Smart ass."

I chuckle. Then I have an idea.

"Actually, I want to take you somewhere, is that okay?"

I hear her breath hard. Like she didn't know what she would answer to that. But I don't push her, I let her decide. That was how I did with her.

"Are you asking me out?!" She sounded alarmed.

"Jesus no, Cora, I didn't think of you as the type of girl that jumped into conclusions."

"I didn't think of you at all." She murmured. I know she was embarrassed. So I laugh a little. The girl was so cute.

"I just want to show you some place. You'll ruin it if I say something more."

She doesn't answer for a minute. With her, I was starting to learn patience. She was not the kind of person that needed to be rushed, she had her own mind, she just needed a little bit more time to make her decisions.

"Can I bring my pencils? I'd like to draw."

I smile brightly.

"Sure of course, why not?"

"Okay, I'll be down in a minute."

I can't stop the smile that takes control of my features. Three months ago if someone told me I would be in my car in front of someone's house who I never knew existed, excited to take her to my place, I haven't even taken Dawson and Ray there ever before. I only went there when I was trying to escape the reporters and prying eyes of my class mates.

The door to her house swung open. Her small figure emerged from it, I could feel the muscles around my face stretch into smile.

She was dressed in her usual black hoodie, it was drawn over face hiding her hair in her hoodie. I did want to see the hair again. Shame. She wore a black skinny jean with the hoodie. She can make one think today is yesterday since she was monotone with her fashion sense. I'd like to think that's what she wore to blend into her surroundings. I chuckle at how much she was failing at that.

"I'm not sure if I'm supposed to get in the front seat." She murmured when I rolled down the window.

I laugh.

"Am I your taxi driver? Get in front."

She got into the front seat of the car, and I pull out into the road.

"I didn't tell anyone my location. You better not be trying to kill me." She warned as she brought her bag to her lap.

"It won't be fun to kill someone who people won't be looking for. How else will I get the recognition I so deserve?"

I could swear I heard her chuckle lowly. It was hard driving and looking at her when I only saw her emotions in her eyes.

I face the road and try to get there quicker so I could see her eyes. I hear Ray's voice tell me.

'you are whipped.'