Anything Goes on a Friday Night (20 page)

“I found out my good friend Dillon committed suicide today.”

“Seriously? That’s what you’re upset about? Apparently, he wanted to die. Shit happens, Elena. Get over it!” Nancy shoved past me and went into their room. She shut the door behind her.

Dad opened his arms to me. If I hadn’t need a daddy hug, I would’ve just gone to my room. He hadn’t stuck up for me when Nancy said those hurtful things, but in a moment when I should’ve been pissed at him, I just couldn’t be. I needed a hug, and he was conveniently there. I needed someone to care even if it wasn’t a lot.

I threw myself into his arms and held on. It didn’t matter how angry I was with him. A daddy hug was a daddy hug, and it could heal the deepest of wounds, even if he was the cause of several of them.

T
HE FUNERAL WAS AS
hard as I’d expected it to be. I sat with Alyssa, Channing, and Katie. Sometimes you just had to put drama behind you, no matter how badly someone had hurt you, and just be there for one another. You’d think that you’d react one way in a situation until you’re actually in that situation. If you’d told me before Dillon passed that I’d allow myself to forgive Channing and Katie for the sake of a friend’s death, I would’ve called bullshit and laughed in your face.

“You promise you’re okay?” Tryston asked me. Jane was sitting in his lap. These two were freaking adorable. I could have never pictured them together before, but now I couldn’t picture them apart.

“I’m fine. Really. I’m actually starting to accept that my life is just a big rollercoaster. God didn’t see fit to give me a normal life.”

Alyssa laughed. “Come on, Ellie. Who honestly has a normal life? What’s normal anyway? Who knows?”

I shrugged and took a drink of my Coke. “So, what’s our plans this weekend?”

“No clue. I haven’t talked to Finn at all today. Have you?” Tryston asked, pulling a cigarette from his jacket pocket. Jane lit it for him and then laughed after she took the cigarette from him, getting the first hit.

I smiled at them. “No. I think his uncle has him really busy at the shop or something, so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him after school either.”

“Oh. Don’t you two talk a lot during sixth period, though?”

“Usually, but I had a lot of homework today, so I worked on it.”

“Is he still pretending to suck at math, so you’ll help him?” Tryston chuckled.

I scrunched my nose. “What?”

“Okay, he sucks at math for real, but not as bad as he makes out.”

Jane nudged him. “Tryston, don’t. You promised.”

I raised a brow at them. “Promised what?”

“Nothing. Forget I said anything. Jane is right. Finn would be pissed.” Tryston took a hit off the cigarette.

“No, now you have to explain!” I stood, placing both hands on my hips to exaggerate my protest.

Jane and Tryston remained silent.

I gave them both the death stare.

“I’m going to be so pissed if you don’t explain! You can’t say shit like that, and then become a damn mime!” I stomped my foot and crossed my arms in front of my chest. They both laughed at me. I’m sure I looked ridiculous.

“Forget it, Ellie. Really.” Jane laughed some more.

“I’m gonna leave and be pissed for the rest of our lives.”

“You’re so damn dramatic.” Jane rolled her eyes and smiled. “We just think that Finn likes you. Tryston talked to him about it, because he’s been really flirty with you lately, like more than normal, and we assumed.”

“And?” I sat back down.

“And Finn just shrugged it off,” Tryston answered. “He never gave me a direct answer.”

I leaned back. “Oh…” My forehead creased.

Finn didn’t think of me like that. He had made that very clear. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew feelings could change, but if they had for him, wouldn’t he tell me? I laughed to myself. Of course he wouldn’t. He was stubborn as hell and would never admit that he had been wrong about us in the first place.

I wanted to get excited. I wanted so badly to ask Tryston to dig deeper into Finn’s head to find out juicier details. I wanted to talk to Finn myself. But what if Tryston and Jane were wrong? I couldn’t risk our friendship again. We were finally at a good place again.

“I hope that doesn’t make things weird. It was just an observation,” Tryston added. “We’re probably wrong. We usually are when it comes to him. The dude is always surprising us.”

I smiled. “I’m fine. No biggie.” I looked at my phone when a text from Finn came in.
Speak of the devil.

Finn: Just checking on you. Are you okay? Do you need my shoulder for a few hours?

Me: No. Lol. Thanks anyway. I’m actually okay today.

Finn: Sorry I just cut out right after school. I know we all usually hang out before work, but I had to hurry up and get to the shop.

Me: I know. It’s fine. Tryston was wanting to know what our plans were this weekend?

Finn: No clue. Why don’t you three figure it out and let me know? I’m down for whatever.

Me: Will do.

I looked at Tryston and Jane. “That was Finn. He said for us to decide what to do.”

“Do you work this weekend?” Jane asked me after placing her hand in Tryston’s.

“Nope. I’m actually off all weekend.”

“Do your parents work, or are they home?”

“They work out of town, why?” I asked.

“What if we just hang out at your place? A quiet weekend with just the four of us?” Tryston smiled and pleaded with puppy dog eyes. He knew how I felt about having everyone over. If Dad and Nancy found out, they’d kill me.

“As long as you all help me clean up.” I laughed.

“Really? We could cook for the guys and watch movies. What about staying the night?” Jane asked.

“I guess that’d be fine. Dad will be out of state, and Nancy will be over an hour away all weekend. Like I said, as long as we clean up, I’m fine with it.”

Jane clapped her hands together and smiled. “This is gonna be so much fun!”

F
RIDAYS MADE ME NERVOUS
now. I kept waiting for something to go wrong, but so far the day was going great. Jane and I were going grocery shopping after school for the slumber party at my house this weekend. Tryston and Finn had told their parents they were staying over at one another’s houses, so they could get away with staying over with Jane and me.

Sixth period rolled around, and Finn was staring at a piece of paper in front of him. I tried to talk to him, but he told me to
shhh! s
o I worked on homework instead. I was about to work on my last math problem when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I looked back and saw a piece of folded paper. I looked over it and saw Finn smiling. He wiggled the paper in my face until I took it.

I turned in my seat and read.

Ellie,

I’ve been thinking a lot about that day at your house when you told me you had feelings for me. I admit, I thought you were crazy and was so confused about how you could see me like that. But now I get it because I feel the way I thought I never could about you.

Don’t get weirded out and avoid me like I did you. It would kill me. I understand if you no longer feel the same way. I can’t believe I’m doing this through a note, but…

Will you go out with me?

Check:  _ YES or  _ NO

Finn

I stared at the paper in shock and laughed a little. A stupid smile spread across my face. Maybe this was some sort of joke.
If I checked yes, and this was a joke, Finn would make fun of me for the rest of eternity. But what if this wasn’t a joke and I checked no?
I chewed on the eraser of my pencil while I thought. I peeked over my shoulder at Finn who looked at me once he noticed I was looking at him. I felt my cheeks heat up and knew I was beet red. I turned back around and looked at the paper again.

I wrote the word
Maybe
after the yes and no and put a line in front of it and a check
.
I folded up the paper and held it behind my back until I felt it slip from my fingers. When I brought my hand back around, I noticed it was shaking. I was excited, nervous, and downright scared.

If I dated Finn, which was what I’d wanted since the moment I realized I had feelings for him, it could either be great or horrible.
What if he hurt me like Channing did? What if I hurt him like Channing hurt me?
There were so many what-ifs, but above all, I wanted Finn to be mine. Good or bad, we’d figure it out.
I hope
.

I felt a tap on my shoulder again. This time, there was no paper, just Finn leaning in close. I turned the rest of the way around and smiled at him. I waited for him to talk first.

“Yes or no, Ellie?” he asked in a serious whisper.

My smile faltered. I was truly scared. I cared about Finn so much, and after almost screwing up our friendship before, I was so afraid to do it again.

“What do you want me to say?” I whispered back.

“I’m hoping for a yes.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded, and his cheeks turned a little red.
So cute.

I nodded. “Okay, then. Yes. But I swear if you’re just kidding, I’m going to kill you,” I whispered.

He laughed and shook his head. “Not kidding.”

The stupid grin that Finn had a habit of putting on my face showed up again. “Then I won’t kill you.”

He laughed some more. “We’ll talk more after class. We’re getting dirty looks from the teacher.”

I looked at the teacher and then nodded at Finn. I turned in my seat and touched my stomach. It was full of butterflies. I smiled to myself. Finn was mine. He was
finally
mine.

AFTER CLASS, I WAS
so nervous it was hard to breathe.
Do I walk to his next class with him? Or will he walk me to mine?
There is nothing more awkward than the first few moments of dating someone. Especially, after being good friends.