XIII: Best Friends Girl

Dylan's P.O.V.:

"What are you doing later tonight?" I ask Jeremy. Myself and Jeremy have been friends since 1st grade. Inseparable. That is until Mia came into his life.

"I'm hanging out with Mia for a while," he replies.

Of. Fucking. Course.

Mia is Jeremy's girlfriend. They've been dating for 3 years. Since 8th grade, middle school. She had a glow-up over 7th-grade summer break and has had a crush on Jeremy for the longest time. I guess having a glow-up really changes things.

"Right," I nod slowly. "Well, I guess I'll just hang out with Carol tonight."

"Sounds good," Jeremy says. "My grandma really misses you. You two can play chess again." He smiles, completely oblivious to the fact that I don't want to do that ever again.

----

Stella-Rose's P.O.V.:

"You love playing with my grandma," Jeremy says.

"No, I don't," Dylan retorts. "I only did because you were always hanging out with Mia."

"Okay, well, that doesn't get rid of the fact that you slept with her," Jeremy states and my eyes go wide.

Dylan sighs. "You don't understand."

----

Dylan's P.O.V.:

"I want to sleep with you," Mia says to me and my eyes go wide.

"Why?" I ask. "You know that my father is the priest. I can get in big trouble."

"No, you won't," she instantly states. "Because no one will know."

I shake my head. "I can't do that to Jeremy."

"So, what you're saying is that if I break up with your friend, we can be together?"

"Well, not necessarily-"

"Okay, fine," she says. "But, you want me. I know it."

She walks away from me and winks in the process. I look away in disgust.

----

Stella-Rose's P.O.V.:

"That isn't what she told me!" Jeremy shrieks.

"Well, that's what happened," Dylan argues.

"What did she tell you, Jeremy?" I ask, curious, and wanting this conversation to run on, so I don't have to handle my situation.

The buzz in my pocket begins to be continuous, but again, I ignore it.

Jeremy looks straight at Dylan. "This is what she told me."

---

Jeremy's P.O.V.:

"He just took me to his room and pinned me down," Mia explains to me what Dylan had done to her.

"What?" I ask, ashamed.

"He just jumped on me, not letting me out of his grasp. I was so scared, Jeremy."

At this point, she was weeping and cuddled next to me in total horror.

I, as well, was horrified. I never knew Dylan could do anything like this. Ever.

----

Stella-Rose's P.O.V.:

"She's a liar," Dylan says blatantly.

Jeremy looks down at his shoes. "I don't understand."

I begin to laugh. Both boys look in my direction. Right at me.

"Please, don't tell me that you two didn't talk to each other after," I look at both of them.

Jeremy is still looking down, but Dylan replies. "He didn't want to talk. He thought I was a monster."

"She made you seem like you were," Jeremy replies. This time, he is looking at Dylan. "I'm sorry, Jackson."

"Me too, Jeremy." They look to one another and smile.

"I'm sorry too," I say. "Both of you were too much of children when handling this situation."I nod to myself.

"Shut up," Dylan says and I send him a dirty look.

"Yeah," Jeremy says and I look shocked.

"What?" I ask, annoyed.

"You're always saying shit," he continues. "You haven't even figured out your shit, but you're coming at ours."

I look at him, surprised.

Dylan doesn't look like anything happened, so I look to him. "What just happened?"

"You must not know Jeremy Stewart."

I look at him confused. "What do you mean?"

"You think I'm mean?" Dylan asks. "Then you haven't met Jeremy."

I look to Jeremy. "What?"

"I thought it was weird that you were touching up on him," Dylan adds. "He never does that."

Jeremy sighs. "Let's not go there."

"No, let's go there," I say. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he replies. "I just don't make friends with just anyone."

"But, you said you wanted to be my friend," I fire at him.

"No, you said you wanted to be friends," he corrects me.

I think for a while. "Okay, true."

"Look, I'm not trying to fight with you. It's just that, you can't be giving me shit about my life and my relationships."

"I bet that you really liked that Jaime guy, but I'm not giving you any shit for that," he says.

I nod at him. "Okay, sorry."

He smiles.

"Okay, cringe," Dylan says, clearing his throat rather loudly.

Jeremy rolls his eyes and I laugh.

We spend a couple more hours talking and laughing, until we had to get home.

Dylan lives on the other side of town, while me and Jeremy live closer to the middle of town. We wave goodbye to the rude boy and walk home.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asks as we walk back home.

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about what you said," I reply. "I'm sorry for what I said. I've never really had friends before, so this is kind of new. The only friend I had is super close to Jaime, but I haven't seen Jaime in a long time."

Jeremy nods. "It looks like we're in the same boat."

"How?"

"We both need help. Mia ruined me and made me hate my best friend. You are making yourself hate your ex-boyfriend because of reasons only known to yourself."

I raise a brow, but Jeremy shakes off my weird look.

"You know," he says. "You're cute when you're caught off guard."

I hit his shoulder out of reflex. "I'm so sorry."

He chuckles. "It's fine. I'm guessing that no one has called you cute before?"

"Only Jaime," I say and he nods, knowingly.

We turn around the corner to pick up some pecans for my mom.

"How old are you, Stella-Rose?" Jeremy asks me out of the blue.

"Why," I giggle, a bit suspicious. He's silent. "If you must know, I am legal, so no worries, unless if you're not."

He laughs, shaking his hands. "No, I'm 19."

We get to my house and he waves at me to go inside. I smile and wave back, signaling him to go home too.

"Hello, dear," my mother greets me as I walk past the staircase towards the kitchen.

"Hello," I say, then look to my right at my uncle. "Jerome," I nod.

"My pecans?" my mother asks and I hand them to her. She goes upstairs to her room with them, leaving me and my uncle downstairs, alone.

"I'm going upstairs," I tell him.

"Wait," he hollers at me. "We need to talk."

"No time," I say instantly. "I have things to do."

He damn well knows that I don't have shit to do, but he sighs.

"Look, Danielle," he starts. "I understand that what you found out this afternoon might have been surprising, but I really don't want you to avoid me like this, or think of me as nothing less than your uncle."

I don't say a single word.

"I know this will take some adjusting, but I really hope that you can come to understand me and love me for who I am."

He waits for me to reply.

"Like I said before, Jerome, I have things to do."

I run to the stairs and kick off my shoes, then run upstairs.

I feel a light buzz in my back pocket.

What does mom want now?

I take my phone out snd open it. Jaime. Oh, God.

Jaime: Hey, we should meet up some time, maybe?

Jaime: If it isn't awkward for you?

Jaime: I'm willing to visit, if that's okay?

Jaime: I just talked to your mom. She says that I'm free to visit next week.

3 missed calls from Jaime Wilson.

Oh shit.