6 Cold Shoulder

“Yes,”

“No,”

“Yes,”

“No,”

“Yes, yes,”

“No, no,”

“No, no, no,”

“Yes, yes, yes,”

“Oh yeah, I won.” Evy fist pumps in the air.

Now you might think, what exactly is this argument about? The thing is, Max has got a huge crush on Hailey and is scared to ask her out.

“This is not fair, Evy.” Max folded his arms and pouted.

“Everything is fair in love and war.” She sang.

He was frowning now.

“Come on, Maxy. Man up and ask her out.”

“Easier said than done.” He was glaring at her.

“It’s not that difficult.” She told him, completely frustrated by him.

“It is difficult. What if she rejects me?” He asked her.

“Max, there are many what-ifs in life. What if she agrees to go on a date with you?” Evy tried to reason with him.

To which Max sighs.

“Max, she won’t reject you. Trust me! You are only asking her for a friendly date. In fact, it wouldn’t be even considered as a date as you two are just going for a cup of coffee and not a romantic get-together.”

Yes, you heard her right. Max wants to go on his so-called ‘friendly date’ with Hailey. He wants to take things slow. One step at a time, or I would rather call it baby steps.

“Okay, okay! I will ask her out.” Finally, he agreed.

“Finally!!” She sighed in relief.

After that, he left. Probably to find Hailey and to ask her for his so-called friendly date.

Now Evy was sitting on one of the benches in the park outside the school building, listening to music. She hopes Max doesn’t back out. Eddy saw Evy sitting alone on one bench in the park. She is still the same. She always likes to listen to music when she is alone to kill time. He went towards her. She was about to get up and leave as soon as she saw him, but he grabbed one of her hands.

“Don’t go,” he whispered.

“Why?” She asked him coldly.

“Because I want to talk to you.” Ed tried to reason with her.

She was staring straight into his eyes.

“Please,” he beseeched to which she nodded. He sighed in relief. Well, it’s a start.

“I am sorry, Evy. I know that I messed up big this time. I also know for the fact that you didn’t forgive me. It’s been a week since you came here, and till now, you have been giving me the cold shoulder. I don’t deserve that.”

She let out a small laugh.

“It hurts, right? Receiving a cold shoulder from your best friend. Oops!! Ex-best friend. That’s what you gave Hailey and me for the entire year. It’s only been seven days, and you are not able to tolerate it. Just think about us. You have been giving us this treatment for one freaking year. You are right. You don’t deserve this. Heck!! You deserve worse than this.”

Her words made Eddy flinched. She was about to leave, but she turned around and said.

“Yes! You are right. I didn’t forgive you, and I will never be able to,” she whispered. “And one more thing, next time, if you plan to say sorry, don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” With that, she left.

Her words were as sharp as a knife. Never once did he think how Evy and Hails might have felt when he treated them like this. Then why now?

Maybe because he misses them.

Evy did say that she didn’t forgive him and she never will be able to either, but that means she wants to forgive me.

Then what’s holding her back??