CHAPTER 14

That evening when Carly finally arrived home,she was beyond herself with joy.Spending the evening with Dylan had been the best thing that had happened  to her in weeks.After the food truck where they had eaten hot dogs,they had walked further along together,talking as she showed her around some of the places that were not too far.At least that was what they had settled for,for that day with the promise of doing that more often.They were becoming great friends really first.Did she have to explain how that happened?Dylan was easy going,simple yet fun to be around especially with her wicked sense of humor that made Carly want to be around her more.Too bad the evening had to come to an end and each had to go to their separate houses until the next day. 

One thing she would be lying about though was saying it was just friendship between them.At least on her part she felt it wasn't just that because she found herself thinking about Dylan in ways more than what friends did.Had she come to turn her life upside down?Not that she would tell anyone about that because,well,she was not the kind of person who took well to being judged.She also didn't know what she would do about her feelings because each flirtatious gesture that Dylan made,each joke she said and each time she smiled,Carly seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper.They had talked,laughed and made jokes.Dylan had told her how her life had been like back in Louisiana and she had told her what to and not to expect here and it had been the best time.After only a few minutes,one looking at them would have thought that they had known each other for ages.

That night when she went to her bedroom,she took out her phone to see whether Dylan had texted her as she had promised.She had given her her phone number earlier on.There was no message so she decided to take a shower first.Instead of a message,the phone rang just as she had finished wearing her sleeping shorts.She quickly slipped into an oversized tee shirt and got into bed then swiped the screen to answer the call.It was a new number and since she hadn't given anyone else her number,she knew it was Dylan.

    "Hey you," she said cheerfully.

    "Hey,I decided to call instead of texting.I hope that's okay?"

    "Yes it is,did you miss my voice?" she teased even though she somehow knew that she was playing with fire.If the previous moments before didn't say as much,then she was just being ignorant and dismissive about the whole thing.But that was not Carly.She remembered in detail every feeling,every single gesture no matter how subtle it had been.Dylan was all about teasing and she remembered every single thing she had felt.And the eyes,dear God! Those eyes would be the death of her because there was no way of ignoring them.So,if we were to say that she was being ignorant,then she was choosing to be.And not because she didn't like whatever was going on but because she wanted to see what Dylan was capable of doing.

She heard her chuckle at the other end of the line before replying.

    "I did miss your voice.Didn't you miss mine?"

Okay,tables turned.She hadn't expected Dylan to admit something like that.Turned out she was even  bolder than she seemed.Her heart jumped as a sudden jolt of electricity ran through her body. 'What is happening to me?' What kind of question was that? Of course she knew what was happening to her.She was becoming more and more attracted to Dylan by the minute.So,of course she had missed her voice,her laugh especially but instead of admitting that,she laughed nervously then said, "Why would I miss your voice?" 

    "Ouch!That hurts.I guess I should end the call then?"

    "I didn't say that," she replied quickly hoping that Dylan was joking.

    "What are you up to?"

    "Nothing,just lying in bed talking to you,she replied."What about you?"

    "I just got to my bedroom after helping my mom with the dishes."

    "You and your mom are close." It was more of a statement.

    "Yes we are," she paused,"Hey,I had a great  time today.Thanks for keeping me company."

    "At least I didn't have to wait until after soccer practice for Carl.Thanks for letting me ride with you on your bike." They both laughed.Of course it hadn't been as comfortable as riding in a car but at least it had been fun.She would choose that over and over again than the grumpy car ride with her brother.

Carly sighed.Maybe she could have given another teasing reply but she felt that she didn't want to take it too far.The way Dylan had said that last statement made it feel like it had been the best time they had shared.She herself had enjoyed every second of it and since being honest had never hurt anyone,she closed her eyes and let the words out slowly and softly.

    "I had the best time with you Dylan.I enjoyed being in your company too."

She listened for a while as Dylan remained silent on the other end and wondered what was going through her ind.Several seconds passed before she spoke again.

    "Have a good night Lee,I'll see you at school tomorrow."

    "Okay,you too."

The call ended but Carly remained staring at the phone blankly with a tiny smile on her face until the light went off.That was when she lit it up again,saved Dylan's number then covered herself to sleep,with a contented heart.

  *****

 The following day when she arrived at school,she went past the bicycle rack and noticed that Dylan hadn't arrived yet.Since it was still some minutes to the first period,she decided to wait a while just outside the building. What made her do that,she was not sure.It was just an urge.Several minutes later,Dylan arrived and secured her bike then quickly ascended the flight of stairs towards the entrance.She stopped abruptly upon seeing her leaning on the wall.She smiled and moved away from the wall.

    "Hey,what are you doing here?"

    "Waiting for you,so we could walk in together."

    "Why?" Dylan asked with a grin.

    "Because that's what friends do."

    "What if I was already inside?You could have stood here in vain."

    "Then I would have been mad at you for not waiting for me,"she replied trying to act serious which made Dylan laugh.That was something only middle schoolers did and now that she said all that,she realized how stupid it sounded.Surprisingly Dylan didn't seem to take it that way.She was amused.

    "Good to know,"she said.They walked together and as they were heading down the hallway,Dylan added," So,shall we hold hands too?"

Carly panicked.Her mouth worked,trying to utter some words but none came to her.Of course Dylan was joking from the expression on her face but what if she had been serious?It was okay  if girls held hands in middle school but now in high school,that would definitely mean something more than just friendship.Every time their hands touched,it came with strings attached and every time she had pulled away because even though it had felt nice,she was a little bit scared.And what if she was feeling this way alone?

    "Relax,I'm joking."

    "Good,because I wouldn't want people scrutinizing us and questioning our friendship." She did mean every word in her statement but she also said that out loud to see what Dylan's reaction would be. Their eyes met and for a moment they looked at each other,stared at each other.Dylan's eyes once more drowning her and making her want to take those words back.She knew she wanted to but she didn't even know what Dylan was thinking.Dylan shook her head but never left her gaze while she said the next words.

    "No,of course not."

Her expression was so unreadable yet her gaze was so intense that it was too much for her.She looked away and nodded then without a word went into their class,Dylan going in after her.They didn't say a single word to each other when they settled and for the next few hours of the day,there seemed to be an underlying tension;this time from both of them.They both seemed to even avoid each others eyes.

It was finally during the late hours of the day that they finally addressed the issue.It was after their afternoon practice which had ended around the same time.Carly was putting way her cheer leading pom poms in her gym locker when Dylan came and stopped beside her.She leaned against a locker,her hands in her shorts pockets and her eyes lifted up to the roof.

    "Hey,"she said softly.

    "Hi,"Carly replied without looking at her.

    "There has been a lot of tension between us today after our conversation this morning.I feel like you are kind of avoiding me.Did I say something  to offend you?"

Carly looked up in surprise.Did Dylan really have no clue about what was going on with them or was she just testing her?

   "I'm not avoiding you Dylan.I'm just kind of confused,"she replied.

Dylan looked at her questioningly,"Why?"

Carly closed her locker and leaned in the same position that Dylan was in.How was she supposed to explain her confusion?That she was growing strong feelings  for her new friend who she had only known for a few days? That she was questioning if she was feeling the same thing as her? That she wanted her to touch her again even though she would still pull her hand away?

    "We are friends,right?" she finally asked.

    "Yes,of course."

    "And there's nothing more to it?" she asked before the words could disappear. She saw Dylan shift through the corner of her eye.That question had definitely made her uncomfortable but she couldn't bring herself to face her.She waited for a while before Dylan finally replied.

     "No,there isn't?"

Carly closed her eyes and let the words sink in.God knew how much she had wanted,how much she had hoped Dylan would say the opposite.Her heart sank in disappointment as what she had feared most was confirmed.She was attracted to a girl who wasn't feeling the same thing.The words had just confirmed that and she now regretted asking the question.She felt tears threaten to break down the walls in her eyes and closed the eyes more tightly,willing them to roll back in her head.Luckily,they obeyed.She felt a hand land on her arm and she flinched. She opened her eyes and found Dylan looking at her,waiting for her reply.

She nodded,"Good to know." She then looked down at the hand that was still on her arm and for the first time,she didn't want to pull away.But what was the point of this one sided feeling.She breathed out then said,"Can we not do that again?"

Dylan understood immediately what she was talking about and pulled her hand away. "Okay." This time,there was a confused look on her face.She returned both her hands in her pockets. "I'm gonna go get my bag,are you going home with your brother today?"

Carly thought for a second about the question.She could have just said yes to avoid having to be in Dylan's company for the next few minutes but then,she didn't want to complicate their friendship further.Even though it was new,it was the best thing that had happened to her ever since she joined high school.So she put her feelings aside and replied.

 "We can walk together," she added,"I'll meet you up front."

Dylan nodded and left.As soon as she was gone,Carly leaned against the locker once again and let out a heavy breathe.There was that,her young feelings had been hurt and there was nothing she could do.A stubborn tear escaped from her eyes and she quickly rubbed it off then stood up fully.Dylan and her stupidly cute smile and her insanely beautiful eyes. She laughed softly. "How could I be so stupid?" she murmured.She took several more seconds to gather herself then took her bag and left.She found Dylan sitting on the stairs waiting for her but her look seemed so distant as if she was thinking deeply about something.She didn't even seem to be aware of her presence until she talked.

    "I'm ready,let's go."

Dylan shot up quickly confirming her guesses. "Okay," she nodded and they were on their way.