Hey Cadence. You okay?
I send the message, wanting to check in on her before I jump into what’s been going on between us lately.
Yeah, I’m fine. Why?
Well, you just kind of ignored me back there…
Yeah. I guess I did.
But it’s been kind of easy since you seem to also be ignoring me.
Is that what you think?
Yes. It is.
Well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it seem like that. I was trying to give you space since everything.
I was expecting you to text me the next day.
Damn it. I knew I should have just reached out like I wanted to. But I wasn’t sure if it was too soon.
I’m sorry, Cadie. I am.
Why did you ignore me for so long?”
I wasn’t trying to ignore you. But you and I both know that things have gotten complicated and that maybe the space between us is best.
Is that what you really want then?
TBH? No, not at all.
Can I ask you something?
Of course, Cadence. Anything.
Do you like me?
Cadie you know I shouldn’t answer that question.
Why not?
You know why.
Yes or no.
I hesitate, even though I know deep down that my answer is plain and fucking simple. But spelling it out for her and admitting it somewhat out loud is grounds to complicate things. As if they aren’t already complicated enough. But I can’t lie to her. I don’t like lying to anyone else but to her, I just can’t. So I give her my honest truth.
Yes.
So then why are you going on a date with Brianna tonight?
Fuck, she must have heard from someone at school. I mean, of course she’d hear. Girls spread shit like wild fire in our school. But the thing is, I don’t want to be going on this date. It just kind of happened as a last minute thing. But I was afraid of this, of her finding out and feeling some type of way about it, so I do what I can to ease her mind, texting out the truth.
Brayden is going on a double date tonight with a girl he’s talking to but the other girl’s date cancelled, so he asked me to fill in, Cadence. That’s all it is.
And you just said yes? Why didn’t you tell me?
We weren’t really talking, Cadie. And it doesn’t mean anything so I didn’t think it was a big deal.
