Chapter 15
Kyle
Kyle: I think it would be good if we texted each other updates so we know how we are doing with our mission.
Lily: Are you looking for excuses to text me?
Kyle: I don't need excuses. I want to talk to you.
Lily: You're insufferable.
Trying to be Jeremy's friend was not going well.
For the past week, I'd been trying every approach I could think of to get close to him.
I'd "accidentally" bumped into him between classes, offered to help with his chemistry homework (which Lily told me was his worst subject), and even tried complimenting his fashion choices (which, admittedly, were always on point).
But Jeremy Richardson was not an easy person to befriend when he didn't want to be. Every time I approached, he'd find some excuse to slip away, usually with a thinly veiled look of suspicion.
"I need to get to class." "Sorry, I'm meeting someone." "Actually, I'm good with chemistry now."
By Thursday, I was starting to wonder if Lily was having better luck with her brother.
We hadn't really talked since our day at the park, as if we had agreed to give ourselves some space to adjust to this reality.
I'd see her in the hallways sometimes, and our eyes would meet briefly before one of us looked away.
It was strange, this dance of avoidance with someone who once knew me better than anyone else in the world.
Sometimes, when she hasn't been looking at me, I've taken the opportunity to analyze this new version of the person I used to know.
I realized that although she had matured, many things were still there, like the way she pushed her short blonde hair behind her ear when she was concentrating, or the slight furrow between her brows when she was thinking hard about something.
Ten years had passed for both of us, but those little habits that made me crazy the first time were still there. And part of me was afraid that those details would trap me again.
"My god, you can't be more obvious," a voice said from behind me, making me jump.
I turned to find Jeremy standing next to me, his arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, quickly averting my gaze from where Lily was organizing books in her locker.
"Please," Jeremy scoffed. "You've been staring at her like she's the only person in this hallway for the past three minutes. It's actually kind of pathetic."
I felt my face heat up. Had I really been that transparent?
Part of me didn't want to admit it. She didn't seem to mind my presence in the slightest, but there I was, more immersed than ever in her eyes.
"Also," he continued, "what's with you following me around all week? It's getting weird, Kyle."
So he had noticed.
I ran a hand through my hair. "I wasn't—"
"What do you really want with me?" he interrupted. "And don't tell me it's to be my friend, because I don't believe you."
This was it, the opening I'd been waiting for.
But now that it was here, I hesitated. Jeremy and I had never been close in our original timeline.
He'd been Leo's and Lily's friend more than mine, and after everything that happened, we'd lost touch completely.
I had no idea how to relate to him or make him trust me.
And the truth, of course, wouldn't work: Hey, I'm from the future and I know you're secretly in love with Leo, who's about to be framed for murder, so could you maybe not go to Oliver's house when you're invited to a party to avoid a fight?
Yeah, that would go over well.
"Look," I said finally, "you're right. I have been trying to talk to you. It's just..." I trailed off, searching for a reason that would make sense. "My friends are great and all, but sometimes they're a bit..."
"Immature? Hyper-masculine? Emotionally stunted?" Jeremy finished for me.
I laughed. "Yeah, exactly. I can't exactly talk to them about certain things, you know?"
Jeremy's eyes narrowed, but I could sense he was interested. "What kind of things?"
"Just... stuff. Personal stuff." I shrugged, trying to seem casual but knowing I was failing miserably.
Jeremy's expression suddenly transformed, his eyes widening comically.
"OH. MY. GOSH," he said, emphasizing each syllable.
"Lily and you had a fight and you want my help?
RIIIIGHT?" he paused to make a little dance, and then composed himself.
"Don't worry, I will keep your secret. Tell me everything. "
I opened my mouth to correct him, to say that wasn't it at all, but then paused. This was actually perfect, the excuse I needed to spend time with him, to gain his trust. And then to finally steer the conversation toward his own feelings.
"Yeah," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "That's... that's part of it."
Jeremy clapped his hands together with delight. "I KNEW IT! You were always together, and suddenly, she acts like she doesn't even know you. Also, you've been watching her like a lovesick puppy all week, so it must have been your fault that something happened."
Had I? I thought I'd been more subtle than that. But the confirmation seemed to please Jeremy, who was suddenly all smiles and enthusiasm.
"This is so exciting! A classic second-chance romance is brewing right under everyone's noses. The popular jock did something to the mysterious girl and needs forgiveness, it's like a movie!"
I couldn't help but smile at his characterization. If only he knew just how complicated the real story was. "It's not that simple," I said. "I don't think she wants to get back with me."
"Oh, honey," Jeremy let out a soft sigh and patted my arm. "No offense, but you men are so clueless when it comes to these things. You're always so... mechanical. You lack the romantic intuition."
I raised an eyebrow. "Mechanical?"
"You treat it like a problem to be solved, a formula to crack. You see that she's angry and you assume that's the end for you, but you don't even try to change what made her doubt you in the first place. But that’s not how real connection works."
I blinked, taken aback by his sudden seriousness. But I tried to go along with it, remaining as neutral and interested in his advice as possible. "And how am I supposed to show her that I want to change?"
Jeremy glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Most of us are too scared to be honest. We put on masks, play roles, pretend to be what we think people want instead of showing them who we really are. And then we wonder why our connections feel shallow."
"You sound like you know something about that," I said carefully, thinking more about his life than mine. Does he really feel that way about Leo? Like someone who has to put on a mask to be in his life? Or is it something deeper than that?
He suddenly became serious, as if he was thinking exactly the same thing I was. "We all have our masks, don't we? Some of us just wear them better than others."
"Jeremy—"
"The point is," he said, his bright smile returning but not quite reaching his eyes, "if you want Lily to forgive you, really forgive you, you have to be willing to let her know how sorry you actually are.
And that means being honest about who you are and what happened, not just showing her who you think she wants. "
"I never saw it that way," I replied, thinking again about Lily.
All this time since we met again, I've tried to impose my presence in her life, to make her want and need to be with me.
Forcing her to see me again. But I haven't had the chance to truly show her that I can be useful to her.
That I've changed. And that I can truly be someone she can trust.
And then there's the kiss I gave her... How I invaded her space and did something she didn't want just to prove my point. Right now, I feel like a complete idiot—no wonder she doesn't want to be around me, even though I've already apologized.
"You need someone with emotional intelligence to guide you, and lucky for you, I am an absolute expert in matters of the heart." Jeremy said, taking me out of my thoughts.
I bit back a laugh. Jeremy was so dramatic, but I kinda liked him.
"So you'll help me?" I asked.
"Absolutely. Consider me your personal Cupid.
We'll get started immediately." He linked his arm through mine and began steering me down the hallway.
"First things first, we need to work on your approach.
You can't just stare at her from a distance like some kind of vampire.
That might work in young adult novels, but in real life, it's just creepy. "
"You know," I said, interrupting his lecture on the importance of timing, "you seem to know a lot about this stuff."
Jeremy smirked. "Of course I do. I'm very in tune with people's emotions."
"What about you? Is there someone you aren’t honest with? I can be really useful too with my advice, and we can help each other with our relationship issues."
"Me? Please. I'm way too busy for romance right now. Besides, not everyone in this school is up to my standards."
He didn't take the bait as I expected.
But there was something in the way he started saying those words that told me otherwise. I decided not to push yet, because he felt like he wanted to convince himself, too, not only me. This was only the beginning. I'd gained his initial trust, and that was enough for now.
"Fair enough," I said, shrugging. "So what's next in your master plan for getting Lily to realize that I am truly sorry?"
Jeremy's smile returned, mischievous and excited. "Well, first we need to arrange some 'accidental' encounters. But more importantly, you need to figure out what you really want to offer to her. Not just flowers and pretty words, but something real. Something she can't get from anyone else."
"And what would that be?"
"That's for you to figure out," he said, his expression grew serious again. "Love isn't about convincing someone to choose you. It's about becoming someone worth choosing. And that starts with being real about who you are, even the parts you're not proud of."
And that was it.
For the next few days, Jeremy became my self-appointed wingman.
He'd give me tips on when to approach Lily, what to say, even how to stand to appear more confident.
Most of his advice was ridiculous and childish, and I knew Lily would see right through it, but I played along because it was the way I was keeping Jeremy close.
It was giving me a chance to build the rapport I needed.
At the hospital, I'd catch glimpses of Lily in the hallways or the break room, but I never approached, partly because I wasn't sure what to say after our day at the park, and partly because I didn't want to mess up whatever plan she was working on with Leo.
We were both playing our parts, keeping our distance publicly while privately working toward the same goal.
But Jeremy's words stayed with me: Love isn't about convincing someone to choose you. It's about becoming someone worth choosing.
Maybe that was the real lesson here. Not just about saving Leo or preventing Oliver's death, but about learning to be the people we should have been the first time around.