Page 50 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
I could tell the news was disappointing to them, and I felt a little bad. Maybe, Alexander, I shouldn’t have played up our relationship as much as we had. Just like with my family, I hadn’t thought about how upset other people would be when we ended everything. They exchanged a look, then Liv spoke up.
“Well, that sucks,” she said softly. “But I'm sure you'll figure it out. He just needs some time to process everything, and then you can explain it all to him.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “Maybe.”
As much as I did want to figure this out, I wasn't sure if Alexander would want to. We were supposed to "break up" over the holidays, anyway. Would he just want to go back to the way things were before we started this whole thing?
Only talking when our families got together and barely acknowledging each other outside of that? I couldn't blame him if he did.
Liv wrapped her arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Penny,” she whispered. I tried to blink back the tears that were suddenly springing up. “Hey, why don’t we go out or something after the assembly? We can get your mind off him.”
“Really?” I asked. I looked at her face for any hint of deceit, but she was looking at me with big, sincere eyes. “You still want to be friends with me? Even if Alexander and I aren’t together?”
Liv’s eyebrows pulled together in confusion. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I just thought that...” I swallowed thickly. “I thought that you were just friends with me because I'm dating Alexander. And now that we might be over...”
Liv looked hurt. “Is that why you were friends with me? Just because I was friends with your boyfriend?”
“Of course not!”
“Then why would you assume I am?” Liv asked.
I sighed and wrapped my arm around her. “I don't know. I guess after Nikki, I'm just not used to people wanting me around.”
“I still want to be your friend,” Liv said. “Even if Alexander is gone.”
I felt a weight lift off my chest. “Thank you, Liv.”
Kyle nodded. “We're your friends no matter what, Penny.”
I smiled gratefully at them and rubbed my arm where Liv had hugged me. It felt nice to know that even though Alexander and I were over, they still wanted me as a friend. Even if we weren't together, we could still be okay.
I spent the rest of the assembly trying to focus on what was being said, but my mind kept drifting back to Alexander and what might be going on with him. What was he doing? Was he okay? I hoped that everything was okay and that he wasn't too upset with me.
When the assembly finally ended, we were officially on Christmas Break, but it didn't feel as good as I thought it would. I'd finally been in the Christmas spirit, but with everything going on now, I had no interest in it anymore.
“Do you want to go out for coffee?” Liv asked as we walked out of the school. I checked the time on my phone and sighed.
“I can’t,” I said sadly. “I have a family thing.”
“Okay.” Liv squeezed my hand. “Call me later, yeah?”
I nodded. “Thanks. I will.”
Things weren’t perfect right now, that much was obvious. But at least I had friends by my side to help me through it.
The family thing was welcoming my brother Elliot home from college. When Mom told us we all had to be here for it, Charlie pointed out that she didn’t do anything like that for his home-coming, but Mom said this was different because the whole family was being reunited for the first time since Labour Day. Personally, I didn’t see the big deal. Elliot had been going away for college for four years now, and we were all very used to it.
Mom made us line up beside the door in Christmas sweaters. It was like we were the Van Trapp’s or something.
“This sweater is itchy,” I said. I pulled at the neck, where it was actually sitting against my bare skin.
“So is mine,” Florence said.
“Mine's too small!” Benjamin complained.
