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Best Friend or Boyfriend Ch. 25

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CHAPTER 25: No . . .

     Charity was right about Lucas being really busy after school. Most of the time Lucas would come back to school after running the same time as Charity's practice ending to catch up with her. That and Scottie is a part of the team too, so Lucas had another reason to meet with Charity as soon as possible. Lucas has targeted Scottie for competing to better himself for when races start in early October.

     Lately . . . Scottie and Lucas would race each other at the last mile back to the school to meet with Charity, being their goal point each time. Whenever they reach her they would catch their breath and talk to her. Charity has been talking to Scottie more and more lately. Lucas did tell her to be careful and seeing how she talks to Scottie . . . Lucas can't help but feel bothered by it. The guy is even flirting with her.

     By the time mid-October rolls in, Scottie catching up with Lucas in a jog asks, "Has she said anything about me?"

     "Who? Charity?" Lucas huffs. This guy . . . being near him makes Lucas' blood boil.

     "Yeah . . . is she . . . interested in anybody?" he asks, keeping his eyes ahead of him to the school.

     "I dunno," he shrugs. "Why does it matter to you?"

     Scottie smirks. "I know you like her a lot. It's obvious too. You're stuck in the friend zone and stick around just in—"

     "What the hell is your point?" Lucas growls. Yes he loves her . . . but he has to set his feelings aside. He had to say farewell and throw away the dreams of ever being with her. Of ever kiss her lips again, touch her how he wants to touch her, and hold her when she needs comfort. He had to let go of it. But he still keeps his promise to stay by her side. To be with her and make sure she'll be okay.

     "Would it piss you off if I said I have a thing for her?"

     "Yes . . . it would piss me off." Lucas swears under his breath. Dammit . . . this guy would definetly have a chance being with her. They haven't known each other as long as Lucas has known Charity. She eternally sees the six year old she met nine years ago. When she sees Scottie she sees a seventeen year old cross-country guy. "Tell you what. Lets have another race. If I win you stop seeing her."

     "And if I win I'll ask her out," he smirks.

     Lucas glares at Scottie and starts to make a run for it. He has to win . . . she'd say yes. He knows she will say yes. But if he wins . . . then he'll be able to sleep peacefully again knowing that a guy is forced to give up after losing a bet. A bet is a bet. Gentlemen's rule. Scottie runs past him. Lucas pushes himself harder to run faster, but Scottie has longer legs than Lucas. That and he has been in cross-country much longer than Lucas. Dammit! No! Lucas sees Charity walking up to the band room with her teammates, equipment in hand, and Scottie just coming up behind her.

     No . . . he lost.

     Lucas finally catches up, slowing his pace as he overhears Scottie and Charity's conversation. "Hey Charity can I ask you something?"

     Charity nods at him, wiping sweat off her brow as she looks up to Scottie. "Sure, ask away."

     "You like me right?" he asks hesitantly.

     "Yeah, I think you're cool," she replies, hugging her equipment closer to keep them from slipping out of her arms.

     "Well . . . I'm not sure if you'd want to go out sometime."

     Here it comes . . . just deliver it Charity. Say yes . . . make your choice . . . Charity stares at him with deep surprise and blushes a bright pink color. Just say it . . . you know you want to . . . Charity drops her eyes from Scottie and shakes her head. "Sorry, I'm just not that into you," she replies in an embarrassed tone.

     Really? But . . . she stared at him in that kind of way . . . like she really liked him. They became comfortable talking to each other, laughing with one another, and fooling around for a few seconds like she and Lucas would do. So she's not interested in him?

     Lucas couldn't help but come around and hug Charity around her shoulder. "How was practice?" he asks Charity happily. She rejected him . . . she broke yet another heart. A super heartbreaker, isn't she?

     "Ew! Luke! You're all sweaty!" Charity exclaims. She looks up to Scottie and shrugs. "Sorry. Can we still stay friends?"

     Scottie hesitates for a moment, looks to Lucas who smirks at him triumphantly, then looks back at Charity. "Yeah. Sure . . ."

     "Sorry," she apologizes again and starts walking again to the band room. "Now let go Luke! You reek!"

     "You're all sweaty too," Lucas laughs and rubs himself on her more.

     "EW EW EW!!!" she screams before nudging him off her.

     Lucas laughs as he follows her. He waits outside for her to get the rest of her things before walking back home with her. They stay quiet for a long while, taking the excuse that they're really tired and doesn't want to talk.

     Lucas looks to Charity and sighs. "Well you had me fooled. I thought you liked that guy."

     Charity shrugs. "Meh, I'm just not looking for anything," she blushes.

     Lucas chuckles under his breath and pats her head. "Keep that up and you'll die old and alone," he laughs.

     "Yeah right. I'm too charming to die alone so it seems," she jokes. She nudges him into his street and waves him off. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?" she smiles.

     "Got it, see ya," he waves her off with the same bright smile before he turns away to go walk to his house.

     Charity smiles and walks back home in time. She goes into the fridge to get herself a water bottle and goes upstairs to take a shower. Afterwards she crashes into her bed and stares at the ceiling for a while. She looks to a white sundress her mother had bought her this summer but never wore it because it's too farm girl girly. She blinks at it then looks up at the ceiling again before falling asleep.

*****

     Charity wakes up the next morning, sits up and stares at the wall for five minutes, gets out of bed to clean herself up, and goes back into her room. Her heart thumps like crazy as she takes the dress in her hand. Taking in a deep breath and exhales, she slips into the dress. The last time she wore something this girly she was in elementary school.

     She hates wearing dresses . . . but . . . she wants to this time. Her mom was more than happy when she told her the news and even told her she's going to wear the dress for that occasion. Her mom was even happier that her pretty little daughter is going to dress up like a girl than an emo girl in loose shirts and skinnies.

     Charity looks at herself in the mirror and blushes bright red before taking it off. Yeah, it fits. She'll wear it when she gets out of zero period.

     Lucas wakes up about an hour after Charity did. Something is going to happen today . . . he has a feeling about that. A strong gut feeling about that. He gets out of bed and gets himself cleaned up. Lucas eats his cereal then leaves the house, telling his father that he'll be back after practice again, and ride his bike to the school.

     As expected, not a lot of people are around except for students whos parents have to drop off their kid super early because the parents work early or friends waiting for their friends to get out of the zero period. The zero period bell rings for everyone stuck in early classes to get out and stretch, collect their things for other periods, and eat if they haven't eaten.

     "Hey Luke."

     Lucas looks over at Jessica who is smiling shyly at him. "Hey Jess. What are you up to?"

     "Ummm . . . ." she fidgets, her cheeks turning into the boldest shade of pink, her eyes avoiding eye contact with him, and bites her lip before she continues, "Can we talk?"

     "Um, yeah." Lucas pushes himself off the wall and follows Jessica inside. When they find a hall that isn't full of noisy teenagers Jessica steps and looks at Lucas. "So what do you need? Help with notes again?"

     "No . . ." she answers quietly. "Um . . . what do you think of me?"  she asks.

     Wait didn't something like this happen to Charity just yesterday? "I think you're cool. You're really nice," he compliments.

     "And . . . Charity . . . do you have feelings for her?" she asks, keeping herself from sounding angry. Charity is always around.

     Lucas looks away with a blush. Dammit is it that obvious? He scratches the back of his head then looks back at Jessica. "It's complicated."

     "I have this . . . crush on you, you see," she practically mumbles. "You're really considerate of people's feelings, serious at times, and playful when the moment is right. You're always smiling . . . but," but when he looks at Charity—"It's clear that she doesn't see you that way . . . but I do. She . . . wants you to be happy doesn't she?"

     Lucas can only stare at her. Yes . . . Charity would want him to be happy. She's the kind of person that would want her loved one to find happiness. She already said her fears of what could happen if she and Lucas become a couple. Charity is still probably afraid of those. He sighs. He waited for her . . . but maybe it's time to let go. She said she's not looking for anyone.

     "In other words you want me to be your boyfriend or something?" Lucas asks quietly.

     Jessica blushes a darker pink. Well there's his answer right there. He lightly smiles. Might as well get the feel of what its like to have a girlfriend . . . to be someone's boyfriend. He really wished that Charity would be his first and forever only. But it's time to let go . . .

     Farewell Charity . . .

     Lucas rests his head on Jessica's forehead, feeling her heat rise for him even touching her. Might as well . . . he kisses Jessica's cheek, making her squeal. They stare at each other for a long while before Jessica gets closer and slowly kisses Lucas' lips.

     "Oh . . ." They stop and look towards Charity. Lucas realizes that she's wearing a white sundress and even has her hair pulled out of her face half up. She looks so beautiful. "I wasn't really expecting this to . . ." but she stops herself and turns away. "Sorry to disturb you guys," she mutters and goes around the corner with her backpack, pulling her hair down to cover her face again.

     Dammit . . .
THE PICTURE IS NOT MINE!! I just found it online that really suit the plot of the story and thought I could use it. LIKE I SAID!! NOT MINE!!

Finally got to this chapter! I was going to write some more but I had to quicken the pace.

Chapter 26--[link]
Chapter 24--[link]
© 2012 - 2024 AprilDawson
Comments13
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Refugnic's avatar
Heh. FUN! The two of them SO had that coming, honestly :D

I especially loved the last word you put in...summed it up quite nicely.
And damn it, it's HARD to keep up with you, you know?

But then again, we're writing in different areas, so it's somewhat hard to compare, isn't it? I'm more for the 'epic' stuff, which might happen once every few thousand years, while you focus on the daily stuff, which might happen any day :)

I guess if I infringed on your territory I'd fail miserably though :P

But yeah, that chapter deserves a Fav of it's own :)
Nice job :)

Too bad, that Lucas would never be happy with his 'second choice'.
As bitter as it sounds, but Charity kinda deserves that end, after letting her opportunities of happiness get away like that.