Prove It

Chapter 29

"I was scared," she said.

"Of what?" he snapped.

It was her turn to go up against the locker. She needed the support. Her words fought to stay inside but she owed him the truth, once and for all. No matter how stupid she felt. She couldn't look at him when she spoke.

"I thought if you knew I wasn't interested in you like that, then you would stop being nice to me." She watched his hands curl into fists and forced herself to continue. "You always treated me like I was special and I didn't want to give that up just because I liked someone else." She knew what she was saying was hurtful. She chanced a look at him and he avoided her gaze. "Reggie, I'm so sorry. I understand if you never want to speak to me again. But I'm hoping you'll forgive me. Give me a chance to be the friend I should have been to you."

He rubbed the back of his neck. He still wouldn't face her. "I used to think you weren't like other girls. It's the reason why I liked you so much. But damn, Sierra, this is some trifling shit."

He was mad. She couldn't blame him. "You're right," she said. "Tell me what to do to make this right. I'll do anything."

"Be serious."

"I swear. Just tell me what it'll take."

When he turned to her, his eyes fell to her mouth. She noticed and took a step back.

"Ok, almost anything."

"You shouldn't say things you don't mean."

"Reggie, I can't."

He seemed to understand. "I know. You would never betray him that way and I wasn't going to ask you to. I'd be lying if I acted like a kiss from you isn't exactly what I want right now but I would never make you to do something you don't want to."

Even after everything, he still pined for her. What was she supposed to do? She wished she'd handled things better. "Reggie ..."

"Don't go feeling sorry for me. I'm fine. I wanted you to be straight with me and you were."

"Come here," She said and grabbed him for a hug. "You know I didn't really mean to hurt you, right?"

He pulled her very close and she let him. "Yeah, girl. I know."

"Are we cool?"

"Nah, we're not. Not yet." She buried her face in his shoulder and he tightened his grip on her. "But we'll get there."

                                                                                 ***

The day dragged on. Sierra was shaken up about what happened with Reggie and she needed her boyfriend. She didn't see him at lunch. She ran into Jason and he hadn't seen Tristan either. Maybe she should try the lockers again. He had her running in circles. Did he ditch? He wouldn't do that when he told her to meet him, would he? Maybe he was sick. She didn't know what to think. She texted him for the millionth time.

She thought she was imagining it when she heard Tristan's ringtone then she looked up and saw him coming out of the principal's office. He was here. Finally. Relieved, she marched over. She stopped when she saw his father exit the room behind Tristan.

Tristan spotted her. He said something to his father before walking toward her.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"We need to talk. Walk with me?"

He seemed tense when he took her hand. She let him lead her outside where they found an empty bench. As soon as they sat down, Tristan kissed her hard. Sierra let her books fall to the ground to kiss him back. All of her anxiety from earlier started to ease.