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Did I mention I’m okay?
“Vee, open the door. My hands are full,” Dia requests from outside my bedroom, and I drag myself out of bed to let her in.
A smiling Dia stands in my doorway, a mountain of unhealthy snacks huddled up in her arms. She insisted we have a slumber party after tonight’s basketball game, more than willing to skip the party at Theo’s place.
Translation: she’s worried about me.
“That was quick.” I give a small chuckle as we plop down onto my bed. “Did you fly here?”
“Came as soon as the game ended.” Dia laughs, snatching a bag of Jolly Ranchers off the pile and tearing the bag open. I wince at her flavor or choice.
Cherry.
You better not have ruined Jolly Ranchers for me, asshole.
Dia props her head against the decorative pillow on my bed and sighs. “The game was a fucking disaster. Xav-the-scumbag played like shit all first half.”
I grin at her new nickname for him. Got to love the best friend solidarity.
“No, you know what? Saying he played like shit would be an insult to shit. I don’t know what the hell was up with him. Good thing Finn came through. He carried the game on his back.”
There was a scout from Duke in the crowd.
Did Xavier blow his chance?
“What about the second half? Did Xav recover?” I ask, more curious than I can bear. I hate myself for giving a damn.
“I’m guessing Coach Diaz threatened to make him swallow his balls or something because he killed the second half. He ended up scoring the winning shot.”
Thank God.
Did I just think that? What part doesn’t register, heart? We hate him now. Catch up.
Dia nibbles at her lip when she takes a good look at me, her expression morphing into a mix of guilt and pity.
“Shit, Vee, I’m such an idiot. Going on about that crap bag after what he did to you, I’m sorry.”
“What are you talking about? I’m fine.” I’m shocked by the weak, broken sound coming out of my mouth. I freeze when I taste something salty.
Wait…
Am I crying?
“Come here.” Dia sits up, opening her arms for a hug.
“I’m fine, I promise.” I shake my head, rejecting her embrace.
“Vee.” She arches an eyebrow.
“I-I’m fine.” I’m sobbing now.
What. The. Fuck.
It’s like my brain and heart are in disagreement, battling each other to death. My brain screams that I shouldn’t care about Xav, but my heart is a pain in the ass I wish I could unfriend on all socials.
Dia ignores my miserable attempts at keeping a straight face and wraps me into a hug so tight I feel myself crumble to pieces.
Neither of us say a word for the next two minutes. Dia just lets me cry in her arms the way she once did in mine, and I toss my pride to the side, admitting what I’ve known from the start.
