**Chapter Ten**
The next day rolled around and I'm honestly quite relaxed. Drew is supposed to show me something later today and I'm not nervous at all. In fact, I was more excited about the meeting. It's not the skate park, but whatever he wanted me to see would be great. Drew is a very interesting guy.
Before that, though, I was in between classes while informing Dillon of what's going on. She didn't seem to think it was a good idea. Trying to get over him whilst meeting up later is contradictory. Committing to this sort of thing is challenging. Drew proposed a friendship, so who am I to turn him down? Dillon felt the opposite.
"It makes little sense that you want to get over him, but you're going to hang out." She said. "Where is he taking you, anyway?"
I shrug. "He didn't say. Only that he wanted to show me something," I explain.
Dillon rolls her eyes. "I'm assuming Juliana knows nothing." That part was true.
"No, but it's not going anywhere. He strictly said he wants to be friends," I remind her.
The last thing I wanted was to just be friends with Drew. However, it's what needed to be accepted. We've become pretty decent enough friends with Juliana that I didn't want to keep pining over her boyfriend in private. Though it was hard not to think about the agony of never getting my fantasy relationship with him. He was head over heels for Juliana. There was nothing I could do about it.
It shouldn't be anything to do about it. Drew wasn't mine to fight over as I thought. He was Juliana’s, and I needed to respect that to the best of my ability. Today there would not be any feelings getting involved. It would be two friends hanging out like normal. For my sake, and to show Juliana that I'm a good friend.
"Did he say it or did you take it that way?" Dillon never believed my words.
I nod my head. "He literally asked to be friends. That means he doesn't feel the same way I do." The words spoke for themselves.
Dillon snickered. "That's because you haven't given him a chance to feel those things," she argued.
"Oh, just like you didn't give Dre a chance, but you sure like kissing him," I tease.
Her face turned red. "I was drunk!" She yelled.
I loved making fun of her about the kiss with Dre. Not only has she complained about him, but she made it seem like he was never on her radar. Then get a little alcohol in her and things change. I wonder how Dre felt about that. He was the one who did the chasing while Dillon pushed. Yet he kept going back for more. Would it not be confusing to him if she would kiss him and then pretend like he doesn't exist right after? Maybe guys differ from girls in that they can have a good time and not make a big deal. Still, it had to sting at least a little.
Though I wouldn't pick too much with her, but I wanted to know where her head was. She's been avoiding talking about the matter but always got flustered when it's brought up. Dillon never talked about her true feelings as blunt as she was. Feelings weren’t something she liked to speak about. Dillon has been closed off for quite some time now. It started back in high school and I've never been able to find out why.
"Did you feel anything?" I queried. "You had to feel something."
Dillon sighed. "Don't pick my brain, Anna, you know I hate that," she whined.
I smile, trying to add some lightness to the situation. "I'm your best friend and I want you happy. It's ok if you felt something, what's the worst that could happen?"
She thought for a moment. "How do you seriously like someone without expecting to get hurt?"
It was a good question. One that I couldn't answer, but good. If you go in thinking you could get hurt, then you probably will. Though, if you were hurt before, you'll be weary of every relationship after that. It's a conundrum that might never be solved. However, I'm not sure what category Dillon fell into. I don't remember her dating anyone before for her to get hurt. Unless she did in secret and that's why she's so closed off. Only she would know.
For her sake, Cameron finally showed up. He seemed in good spirits as this smile was bright across his face. Sitting next to me, Dillon and I looked at him, amused, as he sat smiling quietly. He didn't even notice us staring at him until moments later. Something had him all riled up, and I couldn't wait to find out what or who it was.
He didn’t notice us staring at first, but when he did, his eyes were still lit up. “Hey, what’s up, guys?” That smile never left his face.
“What’s up? You’re the one smiling like a lovesick puppy,” Dillon teased him.
I couldn’t help but join in. “Is there a lady involved?” I questioned.
I was right. “Yes, and she’s in my math class.” He gushed.
This was perfect for him. Now that he had someone of interest in mind, it’ll stop people from thinking we had a thing going on. This only meant I would be the odd one out since Dillon had Dre, though she didn’t admit it. Drew had Juliana and now Cameron might have someone. How were we all supposed to hang out if they were all in a relationship? That’s so pathetic for me. It didn’t make me any less happy to hear about her. Whoever Cameron liked had to be great because he was great.
Dillon smirked. “Who’s the lucky lady?” She questioned, sipping her drink.
Cameron’s smile grew even brighter. “Her name is Kayla, and she’s gorgeous. A little on the shy side, but that makes her even more cute.” He was completely smitten.
I smiled at him. “Oh, boys got some game, huh?” I say, ruffling his blonde hair.
He laughed every time I did that. “She’s going to be at the party, so you guys will get to meet her,” he says. “I hope this works out. It’s been a while since I’ve dated.”
Dillon scoffed. “It’ll be great. As long as you go in with a good attitude,” she reminded him.
The party couldn’t come fast enough. I was excited to meet and see what she was all about. Cameron deserved to have someone he could have fun with. This was going to get everyone off our case and he’ll have proof. Juliana may be disappointed, but I told her we had nothing going on. I just hope this girl will be everything Cameron wants and more. He hasn’t told us about his dating history, but it doesn’t sound like it’s any good.
In the meantime, we kept talking and laughing with one another before our next class. Of course, Dre and Drew would show up as soon as I link my arm with Cameron resting my head on his arm. This was normal behavior for the two of us. Neither of us thought anything of it, but outsiders always did. It only sucked because Drew looked right at us and his expression changed. He was so hard to read, but Dillon noticed this time, too. I knew I wasn’t seeing things, but what could it mean?
Dre was cheerful as always, looking at Cam and me. “Close as ever I see,” he pointed out.
Cameron and I immediately unlinked our arms, rolling our eyes at the comment. “It’s not like that. I happen to meet an awesome girl today.” Cam shut things down quickly.
I raised my brow at him. “Oh, so I’m not awesome?” I teased. I was only messing around.
Cameron looked at me, shocked. “Don’t do that to me, Anna,” he whined.
I laughed because I was only joking. I knew what he meant, and it was the truth. He met an awesome girl today and maybe she’ll be a part of our friend group at some point. As for now, I’m a single Pringle.
That made Drew’s expression change once again as he spoke to Cameron for the first time. “Really? That’s good news.” He sounded relieved when he said that.
“Anyway, why are you guys here?” Dillon asked, hostile as ever.
Dre sat next to her, putting his arm around her. She didn’t remove it either. “We’re here because, after a long debate, we wanted to see if you guys wanted to hang out after classes.” He suggested.
That didn’t sound like a bad idea. Last time we had a get-together we had a pretty good time. That one ended with everyone making out except for two, but I bet that’ll be better. We all seemed to form bonds with one another and that wasn’t something you get every day. Hell, this was more friends than I ever had back at home. Whatever they had in mind, I’m sure we would all be down. Juliana would also be a part of this get-together as well. Completing our little group.
The only downside was that I wouldn’t get my alone time with Drew. We were supposed to go somewhere after my last class today. I’m assuming that would be no more since we were all going to hang out now. Not that it was a big deal. I was on a mission to let go of my feelings for him. Us not being alone would surely aid in my journey to moving on.
Still, I was curious about what they had in mind for us to do. “What are we doing?” I asked.
“We were planning to go to this bar we found last year,” Dre answered.
“A bar? How the hell are we going to get into a bar?” Dillon asked a valid question.
Dre smiled at her. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head,” he winked at her. Dillon rolled her eyes while I laughed.
It seemed a little irresponsible for us to be going to a bar in the middle of the day. There was also the matter of us getting into said bar. What kind of connection did Drew and
Dre have that they could do all this stuff? How was Juliana ok with all of this stuff? She had to know what he was always up to. I’m surprised she said nothing to stop him. Or maybe she did, and I didn’t know about it.
Regardless, we all agreed and planned to meet up after we finished our last class. We were all getting ready to head to them, but before I could, I felt myself getting stopped by Drew. His hand grabbed mine, making me shiver slightly. It’s not like he never touched me before. I’m just a sucker for him in every aspect of the word. Drew was my weakness that I needed to get over.
Turning around, Drew’s eyes caught my gaze, and I fought with even fiber of my being to not collapse. I’m going to commit to getting over my crush on him. It was hard, but I’ve been doing an ok job. Not the best, but ok.
“Mind if I walk you to class?” He asked me, letting my hand go.
I was stunned he would ask such a thing, but thrilled. “Ye-yeah sure,” I smile softly.
He chuckled. “Always with the stuttering,” he pointed out as we walked.
I held onto my book tightly, walking with him. It was awkward on my part at first because I didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, I wanted to play things cool because I’m trying to get over him. Then again, my mind screamed that he offered to walk me to class. Something I wanted him to offer to me all throughout high school he was offering now. It’s hard to think that I was nothing to him before. Now he always talked to me. We were becoming good friends. That’s right, Annabelle, friends.
Clearing his throat, Drew spoke with lightness in his voice as we made it to the science building. “I’m sorry we can’t go to where I wanted, but maybe tomorrow we can,” he apologized.
I nod, looking away from him still. “My classes end at 12 tomorrow, so that would be good,” I say.
“I’m done at 1, so this works.” He sounded happy. “Don’t feel pressure to drink at the bar, either. If you don’t want to, you say no.”
We made it to my class before stopping. I looked up at him, biting my lip. Drew could tell I was nervous and to make them worse, he walked up to me slowly. There was no telling what he was doing, but I stood there frozen. The closer he got, the quicker my heart rate picked up. Why was all this happening now? This isn’t the first time he’s been close to me. It was the first time he purposefully did and not for the reason I thought.
No, Drew walked closer to me because of the beanie I wore. Nothing to do with me. “Ah, no way can I borrow this?” He asked, admiring the design.
I giggle nervously. “Um, no, I don’t mind.” Truthfully, I didn’t mind, but it was shocking he wanted it.
He smiled as I handed it to him, immediately putting it on his head. It looked so cute. “Sweet. I’ll give it back after the bar. See you later, Annabelle.” He said before taking off.
He could keep that hat forever for all I cared. I’m just happy to give him something.