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Sleepovers were always awesome. (Except the time I cut my own bangs.) There's always a sort of palpable aura of fun coming from everyone. This time was no exception. (The exception was the time I cut my own bangs.)
All our teammates were here. We had just lost, sure, but everyone was happy. Even if Taylor had broken up with Yuwen. Even if I had quit. Even if I broke Kai's ankle.
Everything was just right. This night was a night off. For everyone to relax. And chill.
"Guys who wants to play truth or dare?"
Never mind.
Everyone gathered around in a big circle.
"Well, I'll start, since I initiated it," Yuwen said.
Don't ask me don't ask me don't ask me don't ask-
"Kai,"
Yes.
Everyone went around, asking crazy personal stuff, as I faded behind.
People who knew me enough knew not to put the weight of questions, and people who didn't know me had better stuff to think about.
Until Tom had to come mess it all up.
"Laurie, truth or dare?" He asked, his voice cracked and squeaky.
I reddened, stammering out syllables.
"I- uhm... Truth?"
Sweat. So much sweat.
"Who do you like?"
Oh my gosh...
"I can't say..."
That's an answer, now stop bothering me, Tom.
"Why? is it cause he's here?"
Yes. That's exactly why. He's sitting to your left staring right at me.
"N-No! Of course not, I just..." I knew they knew I was lying, but they didn't need to know I knew they knew that.
"Aw c'mon Laurie, tell us!" I could've recognized that loud chuckle anywhere, dripping with over-confidence. Yuwen. The voice came right from next to Tom.
Great. Now there's really no backing out of this.
"I..."
"C'mon spit it out!"
"Yeah!"
"Are you too scared?"
"Spit it out! Spit it out!"
-
The cold hard wet concrete that contoured Taylor's pool wasn't quite the comfiest spot to sit, face burried in the arms I had propped up on my knees to cry. But it was the only quiet spot this sleepover had to offer.
"Hey, uh, sorry for earlier..." A voice came from behind me. I could recognize it. Him. Yuwen. His crocs squeaked as he walked over to sit next to me. "Shit, are you crying?"
I looked up at him. He wasn't the same hot-headed, annoying Yuwen I knew. But in the same way, he was the one I always knew was somewhere. Soft-spoken, careful, true.
I sniffled, wiping my face with my hand. "N-No?.."
He chuckled softly. It was different from the usual laugh he lets out during class. This one was polite, almost, compared to evil-laugh-adjacent noise he uses in public.
He takes a deep breath. "I didn't mean to be such a jerk. Sometimes I just think... Never mind. It's stupid." He groaned, looking away, his gaze fixed on the teal pool water.
"I... don't mind. Thoughts can be stupid and still be real, y'know?"
He looks back at me, his eyes meeting mine in what felt like a promise. "That's smart. That's a smart thing to say."
"So... What's on your mind?"
"It's just—" He groans again, wiping his hand with his face. "I've only ever told Taylor about this." He paused. "And, that went to hell, so... I don't know if I... y'know?"
"I know. Nothing's pushing you."
"I didn't mean to push you so much. It's just that people were laughing. And I like when people laugh with me. It reminds me they're not laughing at me."
"Real." I said. slowly dropping my head onto his shoulder. He doesn't disagree. He doesn't tense. He just lets it happen. I close my eyes for a split second. "I forgive you,"
"Thank God. "
"Can I ask what happened with Taylor? I mean... You were all lovey-dovey for like a week straight and then... The game thing happened..."
He let out a sigh, covering his face in his hands again. "I don't even know. One day we were just together in the halls. And then Tom showed up."
"Tom?"
"Tom. "
"What did he do?"
"Nothing much, it's just Taylor. She started laughing with him. Like she usually did with me. In front of me. So I snapped. And then she snapped. And then I said something dumb. And then... Well." I watched as his top lip quivered, he was on the verge of sobs. "And then she broke up with me."
I wrapped my arm around him, slowly caressing his shoulder. "Can't believe I'm the one comforting you."
"Shut up!"
"You first!"
We fell backwards, looking at the stars.
"So, who is it you like?"
Dang it.
"I'm not telling you! "
"Why not!—Oh wait. Is it cause it's—?"
I nodded.
"Ohh. Yeah that makes sense."
He took a pause. It was excruciating. I was overthinking every single breath I had ever taken in his presence.
"You free Friday?"
"I'll have to ask my dad, but I'm pretty sure, yeah."
"Nice."
-
"The stars look nice."
"Your face looks nice." He turned towards me, slowly taking my face in one of his hands, laying a peck on my nose,
"Cornball alert."
"Says you!"
"Whatever, you're just mad you don't have my swag."
"Swag? Okay buddy..."
"You're just a hater..."