Page 50 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
Should I tell her the truth? No, that’s a bad idea. If we could build some sort of friendship, I might mess it up. I’ve seen a kind side to Phoenix as we chatted online and now I’m starting to see it face to face. I don’t want to lose that.
No. LiamC will remain a secret for now.
“Why are you shaking your head?” she asks.
I blink at her. “What?”
“I said I think it’s okay if we could try to be friends.”
I nod slowly. “Right.”
She lifts a brow. “You don’t want that? But you just said—”
“No, I…” I clear my throat. “I do want that. It’s just that…”
“What?” She rolls her eyes. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to drag my butt here and apologize? I thought you hated me for the way I’ve been treating you. I mean, I deserved it and everything and that’s why it was so hard. I even practicedin front of the mirror. I so expected you to kick me out of your house, or shut the door on me.”
I wave my hand. “I’d never do that.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to see that now. You’re a good person.”
I shake my head. “I’m not. I try to be, but I’m failing.”
“I don’t think you are. You apologized to Katie for not making her lead singer. You saved me like some knight in shining armor when Thad ditched me. And you saved the presentation. I just…” She hesitates. “I just don’t know why.”
I lift a brow. “Why what?”
“Why you came to find me that night.”
“I told you why. I didn’t like the idea of you walking alone so late at night.”
She doesn’t say anything and we’re quiet again. Then she gets to her feet. “I think I’m going to head home. Thanks for accepting my apology.”
“No problem,” I say as she makes her way to the door. “And I’m sorry, too.”
She turns around, eyebrow lifted. “For what?”
“For everything that’s happened between us.” And for lying to her online. A part of me urges me to tell her, to just spit it out. But I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to stand those beautiful hazel eyes filling with rage. Because I know that’s going to happen when I tell her the truth about LiamC.
She nods slowly. “Me, too. See you on Monday.” She leaves.
I go to the window and watch her leave. Why am I…upset that she’s gone?
***
Later that night, I’m sitting at my computer getting ready to meet up to play with Phoenix, but I don’t load the game. I can’t, it doesn’t feel right. She came to apologize to me, and it wasn’t easy. I’m such a jerk for hiding this from her.
Maybe it’s best I just forget about Liam. Make him vanish from the face of the Earth.
Yeah, that’s probably best. I keep myself occupied with homework and YouTube and text Charlotte a little.
But I find my eyes darting toward the computer, where Phoenix is sending me a million messages, asking me where I am.
I’m not strong enough to hold back and cave within a few minutes.
PhoenixFireBird: There you are. I was starting to get worried my best online buddy abandoned me to play with someone else.
LiamC: Ha, that’s never going to happen.
