Chapter Seventeen: Kayla

I finally rolled out of bed at 10:30. I had told my mother I felt sick that morning before she left to go to the diner. I don't think she believed me, but she called the school and informed them of my absence anyway.

I had spent most of the night stressing about my conversation with Frog, about what I had said, and more importantly, about how he had reacted. I wasn't even certain that I loved him, so I didn't know why I had said that. I had strong feelings for him for sure, but I wondered if telling him that I loved him was some kind of desperate plea for attention. Regardless, the way he had responded made it clear that he did not have the same feelings for me.

I stumbled to my bathroom and splashed water over my face. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I take a hint? First I had kissed him and he hadn't talked to me for over a month, and then I had blurted out that I loved him and he had hung up on me. It was all so ridiculous. Why was I spending so much energy worrying about him? He wasn't that great, and he definitely was not that attractive. I went back into my room and pulled out a yearbook from last year. I flipped it open and found his picture. I stared at it, willing myself to be repulsed or at least disinterested. It was a pretty awful picture of him, with his stringy hair and huge eyes and his face covered in acne. I tried to convince myself that he wasn't worth my emotions, that there was nothing special about him. But I couldn't. I knew him. I knew his talents and his sense of humor and that quiet strength that had made him keep showing up at school even though everyone bullied him.

I shut the yearbook and sighed. I couldn't deny that I had romantic feelings for Frog, but I was going to have to get over them quick. I had a fleeting thought that maybe I had overwhelmed him, like Milo had suggested before, but I buried it. It wasn't going to do me any good to hold on to slim possibilities. I was going to have to deal with the fact that Frog had been a wonderful friend, and just forget about him. And the best way to forget about him was to stop moping around my house.

I got myself ready and headed over to the school, making it in time for orchestra class, where I actually paid attention for the first time in weeks. After that was lunch. I got my food and went to sit with Milo at our table in the corner. I wasn't really looking forward to talking to him, because inevitably he would bring up Frog, but I figured I could try and steer the conversation away from that topic.

"So, are you ready for chem lab today?" Milo asked as I sat down.

I racked my brain, trying to remember what was supposed to happen in class. "I guess so," I replied hesitantly.

Milo raised his eyebrows. "We're dissecting frogs."

Before I could groan, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Miranda standing behind me. Her face was slightly puffy, as if she'd been crying.

"Hey Kayla, can I sit here?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, then looked behind her, wondering if this was some kind of trick. She sat down next to me, not waiting for an answer.

"Kayla, I believe you," she said, staring at the table, "about what happened with you and Wyatt."

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling indignant. "What did he do to you?"

"He forced me to…" and then Miranda broke into tears.

I didn't know what to do. On one hand, she had been awful to me the past few weeks, but on the other hand, I knew how she was feeling, and no one should have to feel that way.

I leaned closer to her and lowered my voice. "Miranda, are you… pregnant?"

"No, he didn't get that far," she sniffed. "But he probably would have if my dad hadn't come in."

"Your dad? Where were you?"

"In my bedroom."

I shook my head, shocked at Wyatt's audacity. To try something like that at her house when her parents were home was ludicrous.

"Kayla, I know I've been terrible to you, and I'm so sorry. Do you think we could be friends again?"

"Sure, but you'll have to be friends with Milo too."

Miranda looked at him and Milo gave her an impish wave. She shrugged. "That's fine."

I stared at her. This was the girl who didn't even want to go near unpopular people, and she hadn't even hesitated. The experience with Wyatt must have really changed her.

"Okay," I said, nodding, "let's work on being friends."

She smiled and wiped the tears from her face. "Thanks, Kayla. And thank you too, Milo."

Milo reddened. "Anytime," he replied awkwardly.

"So you'll probably want to change your seat in chem lab," I said quickly. "I don't think we can have three at our table, but I bet you could switch with one of the football players."

I glanced over at Miranda, but she wasn't paying attention. She had shrunk back in her chair and was looking at someone behind me. I knew exactly who it was.

"Looks like rejects band together," Wyatt laughed, leering at Miranda. "You're building up quite the little convent over here."

I was so angry at Wyatt that I was ready to hit him over the head with my chair. But before I could do anything, Milo jumped out of his seat and walked over to Wyatt. He only came up to his chest.

"Haven't you done enough?" He said defiantly. "Leave them alone already!"

Wyatt looked down at Milo and chuckled. "Or what, little man? Are you going to punch me in the knees?"

Milo inclined his head. "Actually, that's not a bad idea." He grabbed his lunch tray and slammed it into Wyatt's knees, causing him to buckle over, then Milo elbowed him hard in the ribs.

"I will kill you, you little hobbit!" Wyatt yelled, lunging at Milo. Milo slipped out of the way and Wyatt crashed into a chair. He straightened and whipped around, ready to charge at Milo again, but I quickly stood in front of him.

"I wouldn't fight back," I said evenly. "That's not going to help your case."

Wyatt glared at me for a moment, then snarled and walked away.

I sat back down at the table and turned my attention to Milo, who was calmly eating his sandwich. "That was really impressive," I said.

Milo shrugged. "It's just something I learned from playing so much Street Fighter V."

"I know that game," Miranda said quietly. "I played it a few times back in middle school."

Milo's eyebrows shot up. "Cool. We should all play it sometime."

"Yeah, that'd be fun," Miranda replied with a tentative smile.

I shook my head. This was all so weird, but I was liking where it was headed.