Chapter Thirty-Nine—

Slowly, I creaked open the large door, wondering if I was going to get into major trouble for ditching class… again. It was the end of the year, so I assumed that my presence wouldn’t be terribly missed. Besides, it’s not like I was missing a final or some stupid standardized, state test- just a dumb movie on whales. Our science teacher is legitimately insane.

      Our regular science teacher had a baby, so is out on maternal leave. She left lesson plans with the substitute. The sub lost the lesson plans, so is now teaching us about whales. This lady is psychotic, and I don’t use that term loosely, considering my grandpa was a psychologist. She’s about one hundred and twelve years old, and wears a sweater to every class. It’s the spring, meaning it’s hot out. Cr-a-zy! She has this quiet little voice one can barely hear, and has asked me to leave the room on multiple occasions due to “distracting movements”. Right, because shaking my leg… under the table is totally considered “distracting”. Bitch.

      “Hello?” I yelled in a whisper. No reply. Though following the instructions from a text sent using a blocked number might not seem like “smartest” idea, I had a pretty good generalization of who had sent it. Besides, it was better than getting yelled at for sharpening my pencil or coughing.

      Tiptoeing, I entered the auditorium, curious as to why I was needed. I looked around, and saw nothing (mainly because it was pitched black). I heard movement, but didn’t see anybody.

      “Jules!” someone called. I looked around, searching for the possessor of the voice, but couldn’t see anyone or anything.

      “Over here, loser!” a voice I knew belonged to Trent said. I continued to stare into the blackness, until my eyes partially adjusted, and I could barley make out about five or so figures in the front of the room, close to the stage. I walked towards them, fully knowing I was among friends.

      “Hey,” I said once I reached them, “who sent the text?”

      “We were hoping you did,” Kim said, as I saw the outline of her toss her braid over her shoulder.

      “Sorry, but this unfortunately wasn’t my doing,” I said. “Anyone have a flashlight?”

      “One sec,” a masculine voice I recognized to be Owen’s said. I heard a rustling noise, and a beam of light illuminated our faces. “Let there be light!”

      Izzy and Mia were the two others that had been assembled here, not surprisingly. After soaking in everyone’s features, something struck me as odd. “Owen,” I said, “why are you missing class?”

      “We’re in the same science class,” he explained. “I didn’t feel like being patronized by a person of lesser brain power than I, nor watching yet another video of whales swimming in the ocean. I believe the first eighteen were enough.”

      “Ah,” I said, completely understanding. The sub had taken a disliking to Owen for some reason. I think it was because he was smart, and she may have felt intimidated.

      “Oh yeah, I heard about that lady! Sucks for you two!” Trent laughed.

      “Trent, what are you missing?” Kim inquired.

      “I don’t know,” he shrugged.

      “Trent!” she scolded.

      “Art class,” he mumbled. “It’s a fake class, so I didn’t think missing it would affect my intelligence or knowledge intake.”

      “Izzy and I are missing math class,” Mia chirped.

      “So, why are we here?” Trent summed up the questioned that had been looming in each of our minds.

      “Because I wanted to talk to you guys,” a voice said from the distance. As footsteps dipped in swag neared, I knew exactly who it was, and why we were called.

      “I’m leaving!” Kim stated seriously, as she too understood what we were about to endure.

      “No! You can’t! I need to talk to everyone,” Logan said as he inched closer to us.

      In the past month, little had been said to or about Logan. No one out of the six (myself included) gathered had had much to do or say to him. He had apologized to each and every one of us as I advised, but no one was willing to forgive him. What he did- what we did was inexcusable. He used a girl. I unwittingly helped in the overarching scheme of things. I still regret kissing him. He shouldn’t have done it, and I shouldn’t have let him.

      “Fine. Talk,” Mia said sharply.

      “Okay, I’ll start with you, Mia,” he said, facing her. He inhaled, and exhaled words that were easily predictable for the situation, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I used you. I’m sorry I led you on. I’m sorry for being a douche. I suck. What I did was wrong. You don’t need to forgive me or understand my actions; all I ask for is a chance? Mia Bently, please give me a chance.”

      “We’ll see,” she muttered, not fully sold by his apology. To be fair, I too had heard better as well.

      “Owen,” Logan said, turning to the only one out of us who actually had an assured bright future, “I suck at being a friend. Sorry for bring all this unneeded crap into your life. You don’t deserve it. You never deserved a friend like me. I’m sorry.”

      “Personally, I was the least touched by all this, so I believe I’ll wait to see how the majority rules until casting my own opinion on the matter,” Owen said, confusing me like he so often did by the jumble of smartness that came out of his mouth.

      “Izzy, I hurt you. I was a dick, and hurt two- no, three of your close friends. The solidarity that you have with each of your friends is something I truly admire, and will most likely be the reasoning behind denying me the opportunity to prove that I am truly sorry.” Solidarity. Nice one, Logan. Big word, makes you sound sincere and smart, and shows you put thought into planning the apology; I’d believe you.

      “Like Owen and Mia, I think I’ll wait,” she said, unfeigned by his words.

      He nodded, and moved onto the next person on his hit list. “Trent,” he said. I couldn’t wait to hear this one! “You helped me in a time when I really needed someone. I needed a friend. You were more than that to me; you were a brother. You taught me so much about life and how to live it. I look up to you, and, frankly, I miss you bro. I miss talking to you, and those times when we don’t say anything yet know exactly what each other’s thinking-”

      “If you miss me so much, then why the fuck did you do what you freaking did?” Trent interjected strongly.

      “Because I’m a fucking idiot. Which brings me right around to you, Jules,” he said, his eyes connecting with mine. I wondered what he could possibly say that I hadn’t heard before. “I kissed you.” No shit. “I knew Trent had a thing for you, and I still kissed you. I’m the only one who can be blamed for that, and I’m sorry. You’ve heard it before, and I’m sure this whole apology session is pretty boring for you right now, but I want you to know how sorry I truly am.”

“I get that you’re sorry, but I’m not the one needs the apology,” I said, rolling my eyes. I was beginning to think the crazy lady and video on whales would’ve been more interesting…

      “Kim. I don’t know if you’ve received the texts that I’ve sent you or not, but a hundred texts doesn’t make up for my behavior. Nothing does. I used you. I cheated on you, and I didn’t even deserve you. I’m sorry,” Logan gulped.

      “Anything else?” Kim asked icily.

      “I talked to Katrina,” he said, surprising me along with the rest of the assembled people. “She admitted that the reason she cheated on me was she was scared. She didn’t know what love felt like, and was scared of falling with no one to catch her.”

      “Bullshit,” Kim said, shaking her head.

      “No, Katrina Selby does indeed possess emotions,” Logan said calmly.

      “Envy, anger, and deceit among them,” Owen mumbled.

      “She told me she wanted to start over. She regrets what she did, and I told her the same. We were young, didn’t know any better, and now want to crazily try it all over again,” Logan laughed humorlessly.

      “So are you two… going out?” Mia questioned.

      “I don’t know,” he said. “I think we’re trying to be friends, and seeing where it takes us.”

      “Good luck,” I found myself saying. I think deep down inside, or in another life, I secretly love that mushy, gross, crappy, romantic, fairytale shit. Every girl deserves her Prince Charming. I was lucky enough to snag Chase as mine, and I do hope that Katrina realizes that Logan is hers. There’s something magical about a girl finding her happy ending that appeals to me.

      “Thanks,” Logan said.

      “I don’t know about you guys,” I said nervously, unsure of how they’d take it, “but I think I’m ready and mature enough to forgive this guy.”

      “Me too,” Izzy said, backing me up on my proclamation.

      “I need more time,” Kim admitted, “but I will acknowledge the fact that you’re sorry.”

      “Thank you,” Logan said solemnly.

      “I forgive you,” Mia said easily.

      “It’s beginning to feel like one of those campfire circles where everyone tells secrets and sings songs; I don’t like it,” I said, wondering how my brain makes connections. From apologies to campfires. I think it’s safe to say that’s talent right there! Trent laughed, ultimately agreeing with me.

     “Jules is right, and considering I hate those campfire circles, I’m going to have to say I’ll try to forgive you, dude,” Trent said.

     “This doesn’t concern me in the slightest, in fact, I’m not even sure why I’m here, so I obviously forgive you, Logan… though I was never truly upset with you in the first place,” Owen said.

     “Thanks, guys,” Logan said. “I really am sorry for being such a tool.”

     A bell sounded, and reminded me that we actually had school going on around us. “Crap!” I said. “I have a literature final!”

     “Ha. Have fun writing essays on stories that dead people wrote!” Trent said. I shook my head, smiling, and walked out of the auditorium, leaving the six to catch up and bond more.

     They’re good kids. I don’t even know how I became friends with them, but I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t change them for anybody in the world, and I do think that they’ll eventually come around to Logan once again. The bond that the six of them share is something truly remarkable that I doubt will be broken.

     Though I was included in this little get together, it wasn’t about me. I’m still, and always will be, an outsider to that group. I’m just glad I’ve gotten the chance to at least try to be friends with them. They’re a unique crowd, and each bring something different and special to the friendship. Over the past months, I have learned something from each and every one of them about myself, and about life in general. I don’t think one little screw up by Logan will tear up a group that strongly tied.

     “Hey beautiful,” someone whispered into my ear. I looked up, and saw that Chase had somehow materialized beside me by some great miracle… or he was tracking my phone and stalking me so he knew where I was at all times. I’m going to have to go with the first.

     “Hi!” I said.

     “So, you ditched whale class?” he asked, drooping his arm around my shoulder.

     “Yup!” I said.

     “What happened?”

     “Logan apologized and some shit.”

     “Fun.”

     “Not really,” I sighed. “I have a literature final next. If I die, you can have all my shoes.”

     “You’re not going to die, and, no offense, but I don’t really want your shoes,” he laughed.

     “Oh Chasey!” I said. “How’s Sam doing?”

     “Well considering Gloria sends pictures of him every ten seconds, I’d say pretty good,” he assessed.

     “That’s nice,” I smiled.

     “How are you doing besides all this?”

     “I think I’m ready for the summer,” I said longingly.

     “Yeah, me too. Look on the bright side, Jules, there’s only a month left. I think we can make it,” he said cheerfully.

     “As long as I have you, I think I’ll be able to make it through anything- finals included.”

     “Oh Jules,” he said, bringing me into his body more. I looked up at his face, and planted a gentle peck on his lips. By the glint in his eyes I could tell that he wanted more of a kiss almost as much as I didn’t want to take my test.

     “Bye Chase,” I said, slipping out of his grip.

     “Bye Jules,” he said, allowing me to leave him. “I love you!”

     “I love you too,” I called behind me as I began my journey to the room where I would be taking a literature exam sent from Hell. With Chase, even something as mentally grueling as finals are possible.