No more school? I found myself asking.
I need money Parker…I need to work more. Unfortunately, that’s my priority right now.
I felt sorry for her, she had barely turned seventeen…it just didn’t seem fair.
Well I can’t say I’m not surprised…but you know I will always support you in whatever makes you happy, I typed in response. I was simply happy she was letting me in, confiding in me regarding anything. It was one small step in the right direction.
* * *
“Hey, wait up—we’re not in a race or anything are we?” Dylan hollered after me.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed nature and hiking that when Dylan had invited me to hike one of his favorite mountains, I wasted no time agreeing. It was a cold, brisk, November morning but I breathed in deep the clean, fresh air.
“Have you taken the recruitment pt test for the army yet?” Dylan asked as he sipped on his cold water bottle.
I shook my head no. “I thought I told you I wasn’t going to be joining the army anymore?”
“Yeah, you might have said something along those lines…but I can see how much you want it. What is stopping you?”
“Nothing,” I replied quickly, attempting to avoid the conversation altogether.
“I think that’s a bold-faced lie. I think that a 5’6 brunette we both know very well is a big factor here.” Dylan knew me all too well.
“She wouldn’t agree with it, and you know it,” I snapped back.
“Well, maybe that’s a problem, dude. You need to start thinking about yourself and your well-being over others if you want to get anywhere in life.”
“I love her,” I replied, not able to form another answer.
“This isn’t about whether you love her—there’s no question about that. It’s about if she can love you after you tell her, and if she can, then she is the one.” Dylan was full of wisdom tonight. “Don’t settle man, I’m speaking from experience.”
I furrowed my brows. “Kendall?”
Dylan glanced back at me, a guilty expression running its course across his face.
“Damn it.” I threw my palm against my forehead angry with myself. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy man…is this what you’ve been trying to talk to me about the past few weeks?”
“Try past few months…” Dylan muttered nearly under his breath.
“Dylan, what’s going on with you and Kendall?” I asked.
“Oh, nothing, we are perfect. It’s more like what’s not going on between us.”
“What does that mean?” I pushed.
“We’re just headed in different directions in our lives and I don’t know if they are supposed to intertwine.”
I opened my mouth to speak but Dylan continued. “I don’t even know who I am anymore man.” He paused, sighing loudly. “Every day I’m with her feels like a lie.”
“Do you love her?” I found myself asking in an attempt to help my friend.
“Of course…but I am not in love with her.” He said the famous words that had ended some of the most iconic relationships.
I sighed. “Then you take your own advice and stop settling. You owe it to her to end it and not string her along anymore.”
I felt conflicted giving Dylan such advice, but he was my best friend and I cared about Kendall…if Dylan continued to date her out of pity she would only be more broken in the end.
Knowing how big of a hole it was going to leave inside Dylan made me sick. After our all day hike and intense conversation we finally said our goodbyes and I took it upon myself to call Maddy.
It was a chilly night and to make it worse it had begun sprinkling.
Even though a lot of what Dylan said was what I needed to hear, I couldn’t stand to lose Madalynne, so I planned to ease into the entire conversation over time.
“Come outside,” I said after she answered.
After waiting for less than five minutes I heard the wiggling of the door handle. “Parker, what are you doing here?” Madalynne asked quietly as she exited her house and closed the front door behind her.
She had her hood up, shielding her from the droplets and had short shorts on. She had to be freezing.
“What are you wearing? Are you aware of the temperature outside?” I asked, throwing my arms tightly around her body.
She was definitely shivering, and I responded by rubbing my hands up and down her arms quickly.
“Well I wasn’t expecting you—not that I’m not happy about it though.” She inched closer to me, pressing her lips softly against mine.
She pulled away, smiling through closed eyes. “So tell me again, why are you here?”
“I never told you in the first place.” I tucked her hair behind her ear, chuckling.
“Stop playing.” She pouted.
“I just wanted to remind you that I love you and be able to kiss you like this.” Aggressively, I kissed her, taking her breath away. I ran my fingers through her long hair as our tongues wrestled on the battle field.
Her breathing had intensified by the time I pulled away, gasping for air.
“What? Where are you going?” She pouted again.
“I’m going home and you are going to bed…to be continued.” I pecked her lightly on the lips.
“Hey—no fair! You showed up on my doorstep in the middle of the night.” She pointed out the obvious.
“You know I can’t resist you,” I said softly, my hands at her hips. “But I don’t think it’s smart for either one of us to get worked up any more than we already are—understand?”
Her shoulders dropped instantly in defeat. “They sure broke the mold when they made you Parker…”
I grinned widely, kissing her on the top of her head. “Love you.”
“I love you too.” She snaked her arms underneath mine and around my body tightly. “Thank you.”
I smiled to myself before pulling away and heading back to my car.
Mission accomplished.
Fourteen – What are Friends For?
Madalynne
“Kendall, you’re going to have to come out at some point, you can’t live your life from under those covers,” I said lightly to the big lump underneath the blankets.
An audible groan came from inside the hideout.
To be fair, I wasn’t sure I could blame her—her boyfriend of three years had blind sighted my best friend when he told her he wanted to break up. From the small bit of information I was able to retrieve out of her and Parker, I came to the conclusion that Dylan didn’t know what he wanted.
It was a sad time for all of us because our group now had a ripple in it. We wouldn’t be able to go on group outings or group dates anymore. At least not until the awkwardness and tension dissipated.
Dylan had spilled the beans on Wednesday—it was now Sunday and unfortunately Kendall was in no better state. My heart hurt for her. She had always been a great pillar of support for me, so I had been stopping by her house every day after school to attempt to coax her out of her safe zone with no such luck.
“Fine, I’ll be back tomorrow after school—hopefully you will be in a better mood.” I sighed before heading towards her door.
“Don’t bother,” I heard faintly muffled from the covers.
“She speaks.” I whipped around heading back towards her bed.
“Leave me alone,” she said next, with more bite behind it.
“I’ll take it.” I smiled to myself. She hadn’t spoken more than a few sentences in between sobs in days. I knew she was still in there somewhere.
“I mean it, get out of here Maddy!” she growled from underneath her safety net.
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” I replied in a soft, calm tone. “You forget I was the master at bitchiness. But you’re pushing away the wrong person. I just want to be there for you—to hold your hand through this pain.”
A sob escaped from underneath the pile of blankets and Kendall.
I reached my hand under her comforter an
d grabbed her hand firmly. Surprisingly she squeezed back.
“I thought I had lost you,” I said honestly. “Your parents are worried sick about you. You need to let them in. Your mom will take away some of the pain, that’s what mothers are here for.”
I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw her stir abruptly, pulling the covers from her face.
Her blond hair was a mess, obstructing her view and shielding her face. “How do I look?” she asked in a serious tone.
“Best friends don’t lie to each other right?” I think I was trying to convince myself more than anyone else. “You could use a shower, and a brush of your hair and teeth…I don’t even want to know what might be growing under there.” I lifted her arm slightly to act as if I was searching for a forest growing from her armpits.
“You’re so kind,” she replied and I heard a giggle escape her lips.
“My, my, I think I just caught a smile,” I exclaimed happily.
“Oh shut up.” She pushed me out of the way as she made her way to the bathroom.
She had emerged from the covers and even though her attitude was foul, she was making progress.
Go Kendall.
* * *
“Honey, can you peel the potatoes?” my mother asked, fidgeting more than normal.
“Sure,” I replied and then walked over to the refrigerator taking out the bag and grabbing a bowl from the cabinet. “Is everything okay?” I found myself asking as I sat down at the kitchen table.
“Everything is fine Madalynne, your father just called me last minute and asked to come.”
“Here? For Christmas dinner?” I didn’t know why but I felt myself choking on my words.
“Yes, do you have a problem with that?” My mother eyed me down.
“No.” I shook my head. “Just surprised, I guess.” Not completely true, more like worried. I hated getting my hopes up about a reunion only to be let down. My emotions were not to be toyed with.
“Me too, but this is his home and it is Christmas—I think it’s the Christian thing to do.”
“Mom, you’re not a practicing Christian.” I chuckled, peeling the potatoes in front of me.
“You don’t have to be, you just need to have faith.” My mother, always the voice of reason.
“Will Parker be making an appearance tonight?” she asked as she stuffed the turkey.
“After he is finished opening presents with his family.”
“What college is Parker applying to?” she continued drilling me, attempting to keep the conversation flowing.
It was one of the first questions about Parker that stumped me. For something so important, we really didn’t delve into that subject often, knowing it could make us or break us.
I shrugged, keeping myself busy with the potatoes.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit important? Are you two planning on being together after graduation?” My mother’s direct questions were alarming.
“Mom, can we not?” I snapped, instantly feeling guilty when I saw her face fall.
“Madalynne, please call your father and ask what time he plans on stopping by.” She wouldn’t even look me in the eyes.
“Mom,” I tried.
“Now Madalynne.” She was closed off and it was all my fault.
* * *
Christmas actually went better than I had anticipated. My parents appeared to be getting along and were even smiling. Parker was charming as always and he didn’t fluster under pressure, no matter what difficult questions my mother fired off at him.
“Give the boy a break Shannon,” my father interjected finally. I shot him a thankful glance. “He’ll make those decisions when he is ready.”
Oddly enough my mother backed off immediately after my father stood up to her.
Parker and I ate more food than we could fathom and then disappeared into my room for our gift exchange.
“Was it just me, or were your parents getting along really well?” Parker pointed out the obvious.
“Not just you…something is definitely up. They aren’t even biting each other’s heads off. I don’t know whether to be happy or worried.”
Parker chuckled and then grabbed my face into his hands. “Merry Christmas, babe.” He reached one of his hands into his pocket and pulled out what looked to be a ring box. My heart was hammering at my chest.
“Open it,” he urged, his eyes burning holes into me.
I swallowed, unsure of its contents, and then quickly opened it. A small diamond ring was staring back at me. My eyes were bulging from my head.
“It’s a promise ring,” Parker said then, slowing my heartbeat.
“It’s gorgeous,” I replied, breathless.
I took it out of the small box and slipped the ring onto my finger, loving the way it looked, the way it felt. “Thank you.” I tilted my chin upwards so he could easily kiss me, which he did eagerly.
He pulled away after a moment of bliss. “What did you get me?”
I knew it was a conflict of interest, but I wasn’t sure what else to get him, so I went to Gamestop and got the newest versions of Call of Duty and Need for Speed. I pulled out the bag and handed him the games. “Rules are still the same, you still are required to spend time with me apart from playing these games.”
“Yes ma’am,” he was basically salivating at the mouth. I knew how badly he had wanted the two games. I had really hit the jackpot.
He put down the bag and tackled me suddenly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I was giggling underneath his frame.
“You’re the best present I could ever ask for,” Parker said, full of cheese.
“Ditto,” I replied, kissing him firmly and deeply. The cheesy man was my dream man. Lucky was an understatement.
Fifteen – The Winners Circle
Parker
“Hey! What did I say mister? No peeking!” Madalynne’s costume for the New Year’s Masquerade Ball had come in and she wasn’t giving me any hints.
The New Year’s Masquerade Ball was a new tradition for our high school, yet a timeless one nonetheless.
“Do I even get to know the color? I mean, I still need to coordinate my corsage don’t I?” I asked.
“We’re not going together.” Madalynne chuckled softly.
“We’re not?” That was news to me.
“What would be the fun in that? We are going to find each other there.”
“That’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” I replied, dumbfounded.
“They say love conquers everything.” Madalynne flashed her award winning smile at me and I forgot why it would be a problem.