“Not nearly as hard as it is for me to ignore you,” he smiled.
“See? You know what I’m talking about. I don’t think I have it in me. If we could at least acknowledge each other, talk to each other, the rest might not be so unbearable.”
“It might draw some unwanted attention from Serena. Are you sure you want that?” He looked doubtful.
“Please,” Bri scoffed. “Like I care what anyone in that school thinks of me. I’ve got one more semester, and then I never have to see those people again. I can survive anything for a few months.”
Cole thought it over for a minutes.
“Okay, I’m in,” he smiled.
“Really? We can be friends?” she smiled excitedly.
“Definitely! We should still keep it low key, so we don’t draw too much attention. But I think it’ll be good for Trey and everyone to see that I’ve got other friends, too.”
“Baby steps,” Bri nodded. “I can do that. And since we’re not at school right now, I can also do this!” She pulled him in and kissed him, letting her lips show him just how excited she was. She felt a stirring of hope and enthusiasm for her last semester of high school.
Maybe this could still be the best year of her life. Anything was possible, right?
Bri woke the next day back in her own bed, and to an empty house. She decided to take advantage and indulge in all the things she never got to do with her family there. She got up and went for a run, then came home and made herself an ice cream sundae for breakfast. She then grabbed her book and climbed into a steaming hot bubble bath and read for a couple of hours. When the water got cold she climbed out and headed to her room, not even bothering with a robe. She blasted her music as she got dressed and did her hair. After running down to the coffee shop for a peppermint hot chocolate and a piece of coffee cake for lunch (Summer would have a fit over all the junk food), she actually started to get lonely. Her family wasn’t due home until later that night.
Bri decided to call Layla and invite her over. She caught Layla in the middle of shopping, but she promised Bri that she’d come over when she was done. Bri figured she should probably get some homework done while she waited for Layla, but instead decided to call the person she was really lonely for.
It was funny. After spending so much time with Cole over the past few days, it was weird not seeing him that morning. She was surprised how much she already missed him. She could’ve invited Cole over, but after her naked Cole fantasy, she didn’t think that would be prudent. Plus, her dad would blow a gasket if he found out she had a boy over when they were all out of town. Deciding not to push her luck, she settled on a phone call.
Cole picked up after the first ring.
They talked for a while, and Bri was glad to find that he missed her as much as she missed him. It was less pathetic if they both were feeling it. They laughed and chatted until they were interrupted by Layla’s insistent pounding on the front door. Reluctantly, Bri said goodbye, and went to get the door for an obviously overexcited Layla.
Layla catapulted herself at Bri with a squeal and wrapped her in a bear hug.
“You’ll never guess what Devon got me for Christmas!” Layla pulled back and flashed the very pretty, very expensive looking charm bracelet on her wrist. “Can you believe it? Though I’m totally convinced his mom helped him pick it out, this is still the sweetest thing anyone’s ever given me!”
“Wow, Lay, it’s beautiful!” Bri admired the bracelet. “Is it real gold?”
“Yep,” Layla beamed proudly. “Must’ve cost him a fortune, too! Look, he got the ballet slipper for me, the football helmet for him, and the heart is for us,” she flipped through the charms. “And he promised he’d get me enough charms to fill the whole bracelet. I wonder how long that will take?”
“That’s awesome. Devon really deserves bonus points for this. He’s a great guy. I’m glad you two are happy.”
“Yeah, me too,” Layla gazed lovingly at her present. “Oh! That’s a pretty necklace,” she motioned to Bri’s butterfly.
“Thanks,” Bri beamed. “I, uh, got it for Christmas.”
“Nice! Speaking of presents, let me show you what I bought today!” She picked her shopping bags off the porch and headed into Bri’s room. “You have to help me figure out what to wear to Natalie’s New Year’s Eve party. What are you wearing? We should totally coordinate. You are going, right?”
“Natalie is having a New Year’s Eve party? Um, why on earth would I want to go?” Bri wasn’t surprised that she hadn’t received an invite from her nemesis on the Dance Team. Though a truce had been called for competition season’s sake, Bri and Natalie weren’t on friendly terms.