Be Alright

Twenty-Nine

Twenty-Nine: Rumors

With the flick of a wrist, Haley's hand smacks across my arm, making me feel a slight pain in the area. She then pushes at my arm, nearly making my hand turn the wheel too far to make us end up in the wrong lane.

"Ow!" I shout at her. "What is your problem?" I ask, shaking my arm out to make it feel normal again.

"You kissed Jace! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" She shouts at me, clearly much more enthusiastic about the even than I was.

"Because I didn't kiss him, he kissed me," I correct her.

Haley scoffs, loudly and annoyingly, right in my ear. I knew she was going to be dramatic when I told her, which is exactly why I waited so long to share the news.

"Either way, your lips were on his lips. He leaned in a put his lips on yours. I'm not trying to be dramatic but if that isn't a sign he wants you then I don't know what is," she tells me.

I turn my blinker on and merge into the right lane, taking the exit off the highway. After going through what seemed like a million lights, we're finally turning into the parking lot.

"Wait!" Haley shouts, stopping me from getting out of the car. "Are you going to tell Tyler?"

"No. I didn't kiss Jace back and like I said, it didn't mean anything. He was just caught in the moment," I defend.

I didn't need Tyler to hate Jace or have a problem with our friendship. Most boyfriends wouldn't even allow their girlfriend to be close to another man. Jace and I are deeper than just close. He's my best friend. He's always going to be a big part of my life.

If Tyler ever had a problem with Jace and I being friends I wouldn't know what I would do. I just hope that if never comes down to it. Choosing between Tyler and Jace would be one of my toughest decisions yet.

"Just caught in the moment? Gee, if I was caught in the moment of committing a crime I don't think the first thing I would do is kiss someone. He kissed you because he likes you," Haley tries to convince me.

"Okay, so maybe he does like me. He's probably just confused and lonely. He hasn't been with anyone except Kristen in eight years. This is new to him," I justify.

Haley rolls her eyes but doesn't speak on the subject any longer. We both get out of the car and walk side beside into the mall.

It seems like we do this a lot. Her and I always end up shopping. Even when we walk out empty handed, knowing we don't have the money to treat our selves we still enjoy getting out and seeing what's out there.

"The other girls are already here," Haley comments as she looks down at her phone.

"Meeting at the food court?" I ask and Haley nods as we make the familiar route towards the food court.

I went over and over in my head all the things I could say to Kristen, though nothing seemed right. I made no effort to reach out to her after her breakup with Jace and I just feel like a horrible person for it.

Jace and I may be closer, but Kristen and I are friends too. She's been there for me when I was goin through my breakup with Ryan, the least I can do is repay it back to her.

I just don't know what to say. It's been weeks and I haven't made any attempt to reach out to her. She did agree to hang out with us, so that's something. I'm sure she isn't mad at me.

"Are you going to tell Kristen that Jace kissed you?" Haley asks as we grow closer to the food court.

"Why on earth would I tell Kristen that?" I ask Haley, who's clearly not thinking before she speaks.