Chapter 24 Friendship Duels
Friendship Duels
Connor
Idon’t understand what happened. One minute Maisie and I were perfect, our usual friendly selves, but with a little extra flirtation seeping in. Should I not have told her that I’m happy when she’s happy? Was it too much? I’ve said more than that before. Ugh.
She looks like a robot watching a film to study it—damn AI—instead of the joyful little Marvel lover I know her to be. She hasn’t even looked over to see my reactions. This is a rare form of torture.
The movie ends, and we must paint an awkward picture. We’re stiff as boards, but neither one of us makes any effort to move. I decide to take the plunge and slowly slide off the bed, turning to face her.
“When does the next movie come out in theaters?” I ask.
“Oh, um, not until the summer.” She’s staring at the far wall.
“Well, I can’t wait to see a new one with you. Hopefully we’ll have watched enough that I’ll understand what’s going on,” I say, infusing hope I don’t currently feel into my voice as best I can.
She flicks a hand. “They make, like, little clips for characters to help you remember and prep you to watch the new movies. You’ll be fine.”
I frown. It’s like the spark has gone out of her, and I don’t like it one bit.
“Did I do something?” I ask.
Her eyes widen and her head jerks to look at me. “No, of course not, you’ve been the best part about this day. I’m sorry. Everything else is just really getting to me. The dive, my parents, all of that. Stuff keeps playing over and over in my head and then my brain says mean things to me.”
I shift so I’m standing in front of where she’s sitting on the bed and brush a piece of fallen hair behind her ear. “Like what?” I ask.
Her chin tucks away from me, and her eyes fall. “Like, that I’m a failure. Not good enough. Don’t deserve to compete. Don’t deserve good things.”
A current of anger swirls in my chest. I hate that anyone or anything has made her feel this way.
I take a deep breath and let out a low whistle.
“That beautiful brain of yours sounds like quite the bully. Want me to beat it up?” I let my mouth twist to the side and raise my eyebrows playfully in hopes of making her laugh.
“Too soon,” she says, but pushes my shoulder teasingly. Her phone buzzes beside her, and she looks down to see who it is.
I hold my breath, praying it isn’t someone who will make her feel worse.
She laughs at her phone before turning it around for me to see.
Angie: Just wanted to check in. And wanted to make sure you didn’t forget who your real best friend is. Tell Connor I’m prepared to duel for the honor
“Ha! I’d like to see her try. I would be the obvious winner.” I shift my right foot forward, bending at the knees. I plunge my imaginary sword into the air in front of me. “I mean, obviously, right?” I ask, standing back up and running a hand through my hair. I puff out my chest for emphasis.
She shrugs noncommittally, but she can’t hide her smile. “We’d have to see. Sisters before misters. Feminine rage and all that. Could be a close call.”
“Well, I’d gladly duel for you.” I bend down so we’re eye to eye. I see red run up her dimpled cheeks, and her eyes dart away for a moment.
“Thanks, Connor. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Her eyes return to mine. “I mean it.”
The moment feels heavy, important. My hands inch closer to her hips. “Back at you, Betty.”
My tongue is dry. Should I kiss her? No, not after the day she’s had. Right? It’s still not clear if she even has interest in me as more than a friend. I can’t chance it.
The silence drags on for a beat too long.
Maisie rescues us by asking, “Do you have any plans this week?”
She leans back on her hands, and I follow like a moth to a flame. We’re so close. She eyes me warily, and it snaps me out of my Maisie-induced trance.
I need to answer her question. I accidentally spit out, “I have a date Wednesday.”
Why did I say that?! My stomach bottoms out, regret eating at me instantly. I search her features for any clue as to how she is reacting to this news. About what it could mean for us.
She inhales sharply through her nose, but other than that, she looks fine. Normal, even.
I avert my eyes. Why did I let the guys convince me this was a good idea? Why did I ask about it now? After the day she’s had, I don’t think she would mask her reaction, so I guess that makes her feelings pretty damn clear. I didn’t really want this information.
“I see…” she says. “So no movie Wednesday, but how about another night this week?” Her voice pitches up.
I don’t think I’m doing a good job of hiding the tension pulsing through me. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. Can she hear it too?
I’m going to need a moment to get a handle on the news that she doesn’t return my feelings.
A break from seeing her. I know it’s shitty, but I respond, “I’ll have to see.
I start my mandatory therapy this week. Not sure when my sessions will be.
Plus, I have that big project due for business fundamentals. ”
It’s a lame excuse. I know it, and it looks like she knows it too, because her casual smile drops, and she replies, “Oh, okay, well then, I guess just text me when you know your schedule.” Her icy tone is a punch to the gut. How did I fuck this up so bad?
I reach for her arm, but she slides out of the way.
“I think I’m gonna call Angie to come home. I’m tired and wanna sleep but probably shouldn’t be alone just yet.”
“I’m happy to stay until—”
“No, it’s fine. I can tell Angie wants to come home. She said something about you kicking her out?” She raises an eyebrow, trying to be goofy, but her demeanor is still off.
“I didn’t kick her out,” I scoff, placing a hand to my chest dramatically, praying for one more smile out of her to tide me over before not being able to see her for a while. “I said it would probably be better for you to have fewer people here when you woke up. I never said she had to leave.”
She rolls her eyes. “Poh-tay-toe, poh-tah-toe.”
“Well, I can at least stay until she gets back…”
I’m grasping at straws. I don’t know how to rectify this situation.
I can’t lose Maisie, but I also know I can’t just be the friend she wants.
The friend she needs right now. I want so much more, and knowing she doesn’t seem to want the same?
My head spins and my chest constricts. It feels worse than when I get a call from my dad.
I can tell she’s upset that I didn’t want to make a plan to hang out this week, but I need some time.
I need to learn how to accept this somehow. If there is a way…
Maisie yawns and stretches her arms high above her head.
“Thanks for everything today. You can have the burgers and fries you brought.” She walks over and bends at the waist to retrieve the bag of food from the ground.
Her ass is on full display, and I can’t help that my eyes linger for a moment.
I’ll never get over her athletic curves.
She straightens and turns to hand me the bag, careful that our fingers don’t brush. Then she opens her bedroom door and leans against the side of it, arms crossed.
“Night, Connor. See you sometime.”
It’s pointed. The lack of plans. The ambiguity of it all. I feel awful, but I don’t know what else to do.
“Night, Maize. I hope you have a good sleep and feel better in the morning.” I instinctually move to hug her but pull back before I can really initiate the motion.
I’m sure she doesn’t want that right now.
I give an awkward half-smile before dragging myself out the door.
She closes it behind me, and I hear the lock shift into place.
I heave a sigh and close my eyes. This was not how I planned for today to go. And I definitely didn’t want to make her day worse after everything she’s been through. I need to sort through my shit.
I take my time walking home. The more I ruminate on what just happened, the more frazzled I become. By the time I walk through our apartment door, I must look as good as I feel because Hunter’s first words to me are, “What the hell happened to you?”