CHAPTER TWO #9
A comfortable silence settled over the table. The waitress returned with their food, setting two plates in front of them before disappearing again. Amanda looked down at her burger. Then back at Michael.
"So..." He raised an eyebrow.
"...Can I ask one more embarrassing question?"
"I have a feeling you're going to anyway."
Amanda grinned.
"...Probably."
She picked up a french fry.
"...How long have you known I liked you?" Michael laughed.
"Oh... look--!"
He pointed across the table.
"You're not changing the subject that easily."
Amanda groaned dramatically.
"I knew this was coming."
Michael smiled.
"Since middle school."
Amanda froze. The fry slipped from her fingers and landed back on the plate.
"...Middle school?"
He nodded. Amanda stared at him.
"You've known… for years?"
"I had a suspicion." "A suspicion?"
"You blushed every time I walked past."
Amanda covered her face.
"Oh, no."
"You accidentally waved at me once."
"I DID NOT."
"You absolutely did."
"I was waving at somebody behind you!"
"There wasn't anybody behind me."
Amanda groaned louder.
"I'm never recovering from this conversation."
Michael laughed so hard he had to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye.
"I thought it was cute."
Amanda slowly lowered her hands.
"...Really?"
His smile softened.
"Really."
She looked at him for a long moment.
"...Then why didn't you say something?"
Michael shrugged. "For the same reason you didn't."
Amanda blinked.
"I was nervous."
She stared at him.
"...You're joking."
He smiled.
"I'm not."
"You're the quarterback." "So?"
"You literally have girls throwing themselves at you."
Michael leaned back in his chair.
"That doesn't make talking to the girl I actually like any less terrifying." Amanda's heart skipped.
"...The girl you actually like?"
He smiled.
"I believe I already admitted that."
Amanda laughed quietly.
"...I just wanted to hear you say it again."
Michael smiled.
"I had a feeling." For a little while... Neither of them spoke. Not because they had run out of things to say. Because the silence no longer felt awkward. It felt... Comfortable.
Amanda stole another glance at Michael. He was focused on peeling the label from his water bottle with surprising concentration. She smiled to herself.
"What?"
Michael looked up immediately.
"What, what?"
"Nothing."
"You smiled."
"I did."
"Why?"
Amanda rested her chin in her hand.
"I was just thinking."
Michael smiled.
"Dangerous."
She laughed.
"Melissa says the exact same thing."
The smile on Amanda's face lingered... Then slowly faded. Michael noticed instantly.
"You miss her."
Amanda sighed quietly. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
She looked toward the river.
"I miss..."
She searched for the words.
"...the Melissa I came with tonight."
Michael remained silent.
"I don't know who was standing in that living room."
Her voice grew quieter.
"She looked like my best friend... but she didn't choose me."
Michael understood. At least... As much as someone who had only witnessed one night possibly could.
"I don't think she meant to hurt you."
Amanda smiled sadly.
"I know."
"But why does it still feel like she did?"
Michael didn't have an answer. Because sometimes... Intentions didn't erase consequences. Amanda absentmindedly traced circles against the wooden tabletop.
"We've been best friends since we were kids."
She laughed softly. "You know what our biggest fight used to be?"
Michael smiled.
"What?"
"Who got the purple popsicle."
He laughed.
"...Seriously?"
Amanda nodded.
"She always wanted purple."
"And?"
"I always wanted purple."
"So what happened?"
Amanda smiled faintly.
"We broke it in half."
Michael chuckled.
"Problem solved."
"Exactly."
She looked down.
"Everything was so easy back then."
Michael watched her quietly.
"I keep wondering..." Amanda whispered.
"...if I could've stopped tonight somehow."
"You couldn't."
"I could've."
She looked at him.
"If I never agreed to come. If I just drove home."
"If I ignored Maria. If I never spun the bottle."
Michael shook his head.
"Amanda."
She met his eyes.
"You didn't embarrass yourself tonight." His voice was calm.
"Maria embarrassed herself."
Amanda looked unconvinced.
"You don't have to keep carrying something that isn't yours."
She felt her throat tighten. No one had ever said that to her before. The waitress returned with their food, setting a plate of burgers and fries in front of each of them. Amanda stared at hers. Michael noticed.
"...You're not eating."
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
She looked up. "Everything."
Michael picked up a fry.
"I highly recommend thinking after eating."
Amanda laughed.
"Is that professional advice?"
"It is now."
She finally reached for a fry.
"Happy?"
"Ecstatic."
Amanda rolled her eyes playfully before taking a bite. A surprised expression crossed her face.
"...Okay."
Michael grinned.
"What?"
"This is actually really good."
"I told you."
"I thought you were exaggerating."
"I would never exaggerate over cheeseburgers."
Amanda smiled.
"I'll remember that." "You should."
For several minutes... They simply ate. The conversation drifted effortlessly from favorite classes...
to terrible teachers... to football games...
to Amanda admitting she'd once failed a chemistry quiz because she'd spent the entire period doodling hearts around Michael's last name instead of taking notes.
"You did not."
"I absolutely did."
Michael laughed so hard he nearly dropped his drink.
"I wish someone had told me that sooner."
Amanda buried her face in her hands.
"I cannot believe I just admitted that."
"Oh..."
Michael shook his head, still laughing. "I'm never letting you forget it."
"You have to."
"I absolutely do not."
Amanda pointed a fry at him.
"I have embarrassing stories too."
His smile faltered.
"...You do?"
She nodded confidently.
"I've seen you trip over your own backpack." Michael blinked.
"...Once."
"I've seen you walk into a glass door."
"...That happened one time."
"You waved at a teacher because you thought she was your mom."
Michael stared.
"...Who told you that?"
Amanda grinned proudly.
"I have sources."
Michael laughed.
"I've seriously underestimated you."
"I know."
She leaned back in her chair.
"I'm full of surprises."
"I believe that now."
Amanda smiled. It felt... Normal. The entire evening suddenly felt normal. Like the party had happened weeks ago instead of barely an hour earlier. Michael noticed the smile lingering on her face.
"I'm glad you smiled."
Amanda looked at him.
"I wasn't sure you were going to again tonight." The words caught her off guard. She hadn't realized he'd been paying that much attention. She looked down at her plate.
"I almost didn't."
Michael's expression softened.
"I'm glad you did."
Amanda met his eyes.
"So am I."
The string lights overhead swayed gently in the evening breeze, casting a warm golden glow across the patio. Amanda looked around the restaurant. Families laughed together. An older couple shared dessert at the next table. Someone celebrated a birthday near the entrance.
The whole world continued spinning... Completely unaware that one broken high school party had somehow changed two lives forever. Amanda looked back at Michael.
"You know..."
"Hm?"
"This isn't how I imagined tonight ending."
Michael smiled.
"I'm guessing your original plan didn't involve having a drink dumped on you."
She laughed.
"It definitely wasn't on my bingo card."
"Mine either."
Amanda tilted her head. "So... If Maria hadn't been completely insane tonight..."
Michael raised an eyebrow.
"...Would you have ever talked to me?"
He smiled.
"I was actually planning to."
Amanda blinked.
"...You were?"
"I've been trying to work up the courage all week."
Amanda stared at him.
"You?"
"Me."
"The quarterback."
"Still me."
She laughed.
"That's adorable."
Michael pretended to look offended.
"I was going for confident."
"You missed."
"I can see that."
Amanda smiled. "I like adorable better."
Michael smiled back.
"Good."
Because for the first time all night... They weren't talking about Maria. Or Melissa. Or the party. They were simply... Two teenagers discovering that the person they'd admired from across crowded hallways had been quietly admiring them too.
And somehow... That felt even better than Amanda had imagined. The check arrived far sooner than either of them expected. Amanda frowned as the waitress set the small leather folder on the table.
"...Already?"
Michael laughed.
"We've been here almost two hours."
Amanda blinked.
"...Seriously?"
He nodded.
"You talk a lot."
She pointed at him.
"We talk a lot."
"I'll accept partial responsibility."
Amanda smiled as he reached for the bill. She quickly reached for it too.
"Oh, no."
Michael looked at her. "I'm paying."
Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Michael. You bought absolutely nothing."
"Exactly."
She grinned.
"Which means it's finally my turn."
He laughed.
"I invited you."
"I know."
"So let me."
Amanda folded her arms.
"I am perfectly capable of paying for my own cheeseburger."
"I never said you weren't."
"Then stop acting like it."
Michael looked at her for a second. Then... He smiled.
"Compromise?"
Amanda tilted her head.
"I'm listening."
"You buy dessert next time."
Amanda froze. "...Next time?"
Michael immediately looked away, suddenly fascinated by the salt shaker.
"I mean..."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"If..."
He laughed awkwardly.
"...if there is a next time."
Amanda couldn't help smiling.
"I'd like there to be."
Michael looked back at her.
"...Really?"
She nodded.
"I'd buy dessert."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Good."
Amanda laughed softly.
"So..."
She stood, grabbing her purse.
"Tonight's officially your treat."
He held the restaurant door open for her.
"And next time..." Amanda smiled as she stepped outside.
"...dessert's on me. I mean it!"
The September air felt cooler now. The streets had grown quieter, most of the nearby shops already dark for the evening. Amanda glanced up at the stars.
"You know..."
Michael looked over.
"What?"
"I don't think I've ever stayed out this late."
He laughed.
"Seriously?"