Turning to the room, I look at Bryce and Pia. “I appreciate you sticking up for me, but I don’t want this. I’ve got no issue with Kiera,” I say, looking over my shoulder at her. “I really don’t,” I reiterate to her.
“I came to apologise,” she says.
Everyone is silent, and the music is off. I step out the door and wave everyone off. Pia doesn’t look happy. Hell, no one looks happy, but tough.
Shutting the door on them all, I face Kiera. “So you did trip me then?”
She sighs and looks to the ground. “Yeah, I did.”
At least she’s being honest.
“Kiera, I don’t want any shit with you, okay? But I’m also not going to be bullied, and you know I’m not leaving Sloane.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“We’ve got a few months left, and then we’re done. Can we just, like, call it quits and enjoy the rest of our senior year?”
She plants a hand on her hip and looks at me. “Why aren’t you pissed? You can’t be this nice. No one is this nice.”
I scoff. “It’s not about being nice. What you did really fucking pissed me off, but I’m not wasting my energy on it. I just really want to get through this year with as little bullshit as possible. End of story, as long as you leave me alone.”
We’re never going to be friends, but a ceasefire is doable.
Huffing out another sigh, she nods. “Fine. You won’t have a problem with me.”
“Great. Now, are you coming in?”
“I don’t think I’m welcome, do you?”
“I think it would show more ovaries to step inside and get through a bit of awkward shit than it would to leave. All your friends are in there.”
“Friends that blew me off after the race you mean?”
Ah, now I understand the apology. Seems the once-powerful Kiera has learned she’s not so untouchable as she thought.
“It’s up to you. Just know, I’m cool with you being here.”
Stepping back inside, I head for my friends who are congregated in the entryway. “Did she apologise?” Pia snaps.
“Right, take a breath, yeah. Everything is sorted and Kiera, as far as I’m concerned, is welcome. No more, P. It’s done. I just want to enjoy the party.”
Pia narrows her eyes and then surprises us all by laughing, hard. “I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth!”
The rest of the groups crack up too, and that’s fine. It means we’re back to normal. Sloane takes my hand and drags me away from everyone. She leads me through the kitchen and outside. Our butts hit the bench in the maze a few minutes later.
“Everything, okay, babe?” I ask.
She snuggles into my side. “Yeah. I just wanted some alone time, and your ankle probably needs a rest.”
Leaning my head back, I look up at the sky. The stars are out in force, and I’m happy to chill here, looking at them with Sloane in my arms.
After a quiet few minutes, she shifts and rubs her nose against my cheek. “Remember last time we were here? I offered to show you my room so you could watch TV and chill.”
“I do remember that.”
“Want me to show you my room again? You know, just in case you forgot how to find it?”
I like where this is going.
