15.

"Can you look at me..?" She asked softly.

I slowly looked up and see a sad smile on her face. I felt my heart being squeezed.

"I forgive you...but..." She hesitated. Oh why is there always a 'but', I thought dreadfully. "I need to tell you why I was so upset..."

I waited patiently as she gathered the right words to say.

"I wasn't actually upset with you," She struggled to hide a mischievous smile.

"Wha-you?"

"I wanted to see if you would be bothered by it," She said while giggles escaped her lips. "I asked my best friend Gale to give you a nudge in the right direction."

"I-so...it was all a trick?"

"Hmmm...in a way, I guess so but it was only to get your attention," She pouted. Damnit why does she have to look at me that way? "I hope you're not mad at me." She said blinking innocently, giving a little wiggle in the process.

"Tch," I look away from her and gaze at the now empty school. After a moment or two I look back at her. "There are better ways to get my attention, you know."

She gasps and her face lights up.

"Does that mean you're interested in-?"

"No,"

"Awww, why not," She whined, drawing out the "not". I give her a look. She huffs and puffs her cheeks out. She looked so adorable I couldn't help but laugh. The sound of my laughter shocked her for a moment before she smiled and joined me.

Afterwards, we talked about nothing yet everything at the same time. We shared laughs and some things about ourselves. When it got late we left and as I drove "home". I couldn't help think to myself: I should've been mad in that situation. So, why didn't I?

The complexity of that question gave me a headache and made me go straight to bed, skipping dinner. But sleep couldn't claim me as much as I wanted it to. I lay there in the darkness, not thinking of my so called home or the father that doesn't love me or the toxicity of Charlie. I wasn't thinking of tomorrow. Or yesterday. I was thinking of today and the time I had spent with her. It gave me such peace just being near her. Is this what friendship feels like?

I've never had a friend before but maybe I could now. If I just let her in.....