Rule 24: Become his friend! Talk to him but do not become one of his boys!
Kelly grabbed two braided leashes from the hook near the back door.
She clipped a leash to Reba and then one to Nimmi, leading both dogs out the back door.
The animal shelter was at the front of a wooded five-acre lot. Trails had been worn away in the forest where the workers at the shelter took dogs on walks.
“Come on, you two,” Kelly said.
The sun beat down on Kelly’s bare shoulders as she walked across the lawn to the perimeter of the woods. As soon as they entered the dense growth of trees, the temperature instantly cooled.
The dogs, too, seemed happier. Reba surged ahead, but Kelly tugged her back. Nimmi was content to trot along Kelly’s right side, keeping with her pace.
They turned a corner in the woods and walked through sun-dappled leaves. A squirrel scampered across branches overhead, the leaves rustling. For the most part, the woods were quiet until Kelly’s cell went off in her pocket.
She checked the new text.
Her heart leaped into her throat when she saw the message was from Drew.
Are we still friends?
She shifted her weight. Were they friends? Technically, they were more than friends if they both liked each other, weren’t they? You can’t be friends with someone you’re in love with.
You just can’t.
But Drew didn’t know how she felt yet. After that whole fiasco with Sydney, Kelly was afraid to admit her feelings to anyone, let alone the one guy who mattered. What if Sydney found out? She’d done something sneaky in order to intercept Kelly’s email and then hid in the park until Kelly showed up. What if she, like, bugged Drew’s phone or something?
It was ridiculous, but still…
And it would just further complicate everything if Kelly told Drew. He wasn’t likely to forget her confession and go on his merry way with Sydney.
No, admitting would only make things worse.
I dont know if we can b friends, she texted back, feeling all the blood drain from her cheeks. Losing Drew felt akin to losing her foot. She just couldn’t live without him, could she? He’d been a best friend for forever now. Could she really cut him out of her life?
And would he even let her?
I’m sorry I ever said anything, he replied.
Dont be sorry!
I just. I thought you and me. there was something there.
Ur with Sydney, Kelly punched in on her cell while also trying to manage the dogs, even if there was something. we cant.
What are you saying, Kel? he sent back. you either like me or you don’t. forget Sydney. forget everyone for one minute and give me a straight answer.
Kelly stopped again, clenched a hand into a fist. She growled at the silence. Why did this have to be so hard?
Why did she have to like Drew? Like, seriously, what made her like him so much? What was it about him? And why couldn’t it have been someone else?
“Anyone else!” she screeched.
The dogs barked.
What was she supposed to say to Drew?
Either she was honest with him and herself and told him the truth. Or she gave him an answer that was better for everyone involved. If she and Drew got together, the effects would ripple through Kelly’s entire group of friends.
She felt the first stinging of tears as she typed in the new message. She didn’t want to do this, but it was the right thing to do.
I dont think we should talk anymore. and thats the truth.
She hit the SEND button and turned off her phone.
“So what movie do you want to watch?” Sydney held up 10 Things I Hate About You and The Perfect Potion. “Comedy or mystery and intrigue?”
Drew grabbed one of the velveteen throw pillows and propped it between his head and the arm of the couch. “I don’t care.”
“But there’s a huge difference between a comedy and a mystery. What do you feel like watching? Light or serious?”
He looked over at her. “I don’t care, Sydney.” He enunciated each syllable as if he thought she were slow today or something. He’d been like this since she got off work. He’d barely spoken at all and when he did, he was extremely cold.
“God,” she muttered, “you don’t have to be such a jerk.”
She stood up.
Drew spread out his arms. “And I told you I didn’t care which movie we watched!” He stood, too. “I don’t even want to watch a movie. So there. I made my decision. Neither.”
“What is with you today?” Sydney put her clenched hands on her hips. “Did I do something wrong?”
He sighed. “I just really…don’t want to watch a movie.”
Sydney was really trying to make an effort to make Drew happy. It was her idea to have a movie night tonight, just her and Drew. She wanted to forget about everything else for just one night. Instead, Drew showed up in a bad mood and nothing Sydney did seemed to matter.
She was tired of this…tired of everything. Tired of Drew’s mood swings. Tired of her mother making promises and breaking them. Tired of her friends judging her on everything from her footwear to how she expressed her feelings.
“You know what”—she pointed a finger at Drew, narrowed her eyes—“I changed because of you, Drew. I made an effort to be a different person. The person you wanted me to be. I tried to be the person my mother wanted me to be, and I took all the AP classes and was on the student council. Nothing seems to be good enough! For anyone! I’m in this house all alone every single day! Why do I strive to make so many other people happy when no one is even looking to see what I’m doing?”
She took in a breath.
Drew’s shoulders visibly sunk. His expression went soft.
But Sydney wasn’t going to give him a chance to apologize. Not now. It was too late.
“I’m done pleasing everyone! Starting now. I think we need to break up.”
Drew stilled. It took him a few seconds to blink and shift. “Syd.”
She shook her head. “Just go.”
He parted his lips as if he were going to object but instead exhaled. He didn’t say anything as he scooped up his car keys from the coffee table and left out the back door.
Sydney sunk to the couch. She didn’t even feel sad. As a matter of fact, she felt like a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.
She picked up her cell from the kitchen counter and dialed a number.
Weeks ago, Quin had invited her out to learn a few photography techniques. At the time, she’d never considered accepting the invitation, but she needed this, she needed something new, something just for her.
“Quin?” she said when he picked up. “If the invitation still stands, I’d like to take you up on that offer to learn some photography techniques.”
He didn’t even pause before answering. “Sure. When would you like to go?”
“Um…now?”
“Well, sure, I guess. I’m not doing anything.”
Sydney gave him directions to her house, and they said good-bye. As she hung up, Sydney couldn’t help but smile to herself. She felt better already.