The First Aider

"You can't just keep avoiding him."

"I really think I can," Taylor responded, glancing over at Aubrey.

They were sitting in their English classroom, waiting for class to start.

"There are like fifty people in our grade, no matter what, you are going to run into him again."

"Weren't you the one who was all for me cutting it off?"

Aubrey tilted her head, her brown eyes narrowing. "I was, but now you've lost your position which you liked, a lot," She glanced over at the small group of boys, where Nasir was sitting. "And I don't know what you said to him, but it was obviously not nice."

"Of course it wasn't nice," Taylor said. "I cussed him out."

Clara appeared suddenly, having been running late after a large snowfall had almost all the roads in town a foot deep. "You actually cussed someone out?" She laughed. "I'm proud of you."

Taylor rolled her eyes, looking up as her cousin placed her stuff on her desk and then proceeded to sit on Taylor's desk. "I told him to fuck off,"

Aubrey sighed. "I know I said I was all for it, but you lost the job that you really liked, and after seeing Nasir, I feel kind of guilty."

"And you should see my dad," Clara chimed in. "He isn't happy either, and he's scrambling to find someone else. If they don't get one in time to play Fort Qui in the New Year, they are going to have to forfeit, meaning they won't make it into playoffs."

Taylor ignored the twinge of guilt. "I don't understand why you are both suddenly for me going back."

"Because," Clara said. "You were happy doing it, and I know it's sucky what Nasir did, but he doesn't even know, and he looks like a wounded puppy."

Taylor flicked her eyes briefly in the direction of where Nasir was sitting. He had on a navy blue shirt, and a black jacket. He did look sad and was pouting slightly, only this time it was genuine. Taylor sighed, and turned back to her friends, recalling the moment in the booth where he had pouted at her. It was cute then, and it was still cute.

Taylor squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm not going back, it'll make me seem weak-willed."

Clara scoffed. "You? Never."

Taylor shot daggers at Clara. "You are making this much worse than it has to be."

Aubrey shrugged and tugged on the hem of her salmon pink sweat-shirt. "We both just want you to be happy Taylor, and if quitting hockey gave you any sense of relief, then fine, we won't hound you."

Taylor tried to keep her gaze hard, but she knew her gaze must've given her away because the corner of Clara's lip quirked up.

"But you enjoyed it, and kind of want to go back, but you can't," Clara teased. "Because it'll give it away that you liked him."

"Shut up," Taylor groaned, slouching in her chair. "I hate you."

"No," Clara chuckled, twisted to sit into her actual seat. "You don't."

Taylor let out a soft noncommitting noise and twisted in her seat slightly, pressing her hands into her thighs. "I don't know. I feel bad for saying those things. It was more heat of the moment kind of thing."

Aubrey nodded and patted her leg. "To be honest, Clara and I have no romantic experience except watching trashy romance movies, so we aren't the best people for this."

Taylor scoffed. "I noticed."

Clara pinched her arm. "Seriously though, if you liked it, just go back, it's not like you ever have to speak to them."