I smiled.
“Let me order us some coffee,” Kent said, and winked at me.
****************************************
When I got home in the afternoon, and went to my bedroom, after telling Dad that I got back, I saw a text from Ned, and no texts from my girls’ group, except for one text from Jane.
Ned: How was your day?
Me: It was interesting
Me: How was yours?
Ned: I was working on our comics before the end of this week, so we can print it
Ned: Did you search for available printers?
Me: Oh god…
Ned: You forgot didn’t you?
Me: I’m so sorry
Me: My mind was wrapped up
Ned: That’s okay :)
Ned: I’ll make a few phone calls to help you out
Ned: I know you’ve been staying with your mom to take care of her today
Ned: So you don’t have to worry about it
Ned: Okay?
Me: Ned, that is so sweet of you
Ned: What are friends for? :)
Ned: I wish we had the time to meet up today, but I know what you’re dealing with everyday
Me: I’m so sorry
Ned: No need to apologize
Me: I feel like a crappy person
Ned: We can meet any other day, right?
Me: I guess so
Ned: Alright, how about tomorrow? :)
Me: That sounds wonderful
Celia sent a heart sticker
Ned: Ah, the heart stickers
Ned: By the way my friends will be there
Ned: If you don’t mind
Me: The ones I met before in your house?
Ned: Yeah, they like you a lot
Ned: They feel you’re a very good person
Ned: And I couldn’t agree more
Ned sent a heart sticker
Me: Yeah, I don’t mind
Me: Oh, that’s so sweet of them
Ned: We’re going to build some sculptures and maybe play some basketball in the back yard
Ned: We have a small one that fits our small yard
Ned: It’s just a little warm up we do sometimes
Me: Sounds cool
Me: Umm, Ned?
Ned: Yes?
Me: Tomorrow I need to tell you something
Ned: Oh, uh
Ned: That sounded like my ex
Me: It’s not that bad, just something I need to be honest about
Ned: Well, good, because I want to talk to you as well
Me: About what?
Ned: You’d know tomorrow for sure
Ned: I’ll bake some homemade pizza tomorrow
Me: Cool, see you tomorrow then
Ned: See you
I opened a text from Jane later, and texted her back.
Jane: Max is so angry at you
Jane: I think you went too far
Me: Me? NO!
Me: She’s the one who went overboard
Jane: You need to call her and apologize to each other
Me: She doesn’t understand
Me: I’m not ready to talk to her yet
Me: Still mad at her
Jane: Celia, Max is your best friend
Jane: If you let this gap go on for a while, you might lose her
Me: Jane, stop it
Me: She’s an adult, she can handle it
Jane: Please, Celia
Jane: For the sake of our friendship
Jane: I don’t want this bond to be broken
Me: I’m not talking to her until she apologizes
Me: She’s salty most of the time
Me: It’s about time she realizes that
Jane: That’s how Max is
Jane: She IS salty
Me: I know, but I’m just so mad at her right now
Jane: I understand
Jane: Maybe you both need time out
Me: Yeah
Jane: Oh, by the way
Jane: The guy she was crushing on was playing on her
Jane: She was heartbroken
Me: WHAT?
Me: When did this happen?
Jane: Yesterday
Me: She hadn’t told me
Me: Why?
Jane: Because she knew what you were going through, and didn’t want to hurt you more
Me: But that wasn’t necessary!
Jane: Yes, I know, but that’s what friends do
Celia sent a heartbroken sticker
Jane sent a hugging bears sticker
Me: I feel like giving her a hug right now
Jane: See? You still care for her
Me: Maybe I’ll give her a call tomorrow
Jane: It’s better if you do
Jane: She really cares about you
Jane: I care for you both as well
Jane: Don’t ever forget that
Jane: We fight, and we make up
Me: But I need to give her a bit of time
Me: She’s probably still angry
Jane: Do what you feel is right
Me: Well, I better get going
Me: I need to prepare dinner
Jane: Talk to you later
Me: Later!
Before I closed our chat, another text came in.
Kent: Boo
Me: Yes?
Kent: Are you free tomorrow?
Kent: I was thinking of meeting up somewhere
Me: Sorry, but I have other things to do tomorrow
Kent: Shit
Kent: Cool, then
Kent: We can plan for another day
Me: Yes, we can
Kent sent a kiss sticker
Celia sent a heart sticker
Kent: Take care for now
Me: You too
Chapter Seventeen
I knocked on the front door of Ned’s house with my knuckles, carefully not to sound too eager to go inside, and rush towards him. I cleared my throat and fixed my curly hair. The sun was sitting on the orange horizon, and the streets were calmer than the morning. I took a deep breath, and wore a smile.
I hear footsteps rushing towards the front door, and with a click, the door opened. I saw Ned’s grin when he saw me, with his blue eyes sparkling.
We stared at each other for a moment and he finally said, “Hey.”
“Hey,” and waved my hand momentarily.
“Oh, yeah, come in,” he shook his head to his senses, and moved out of the door to let me in.
I entered the living room where his friends were sitting around a table, playing cards. Tyler turned from his wheelchair, and waved at me, “Hey,
