Chapter 15: Well... This is Awkward

Jason

10:02 A.M.

It's been over an hour since I found Tamia crying in the bathroom. I didn't know why and I didn't ask because I wasn't sure if she even wanted to tell me. But it broke my heart to see her like that, so I called my driver and explained to him that a friend of mine wasn't feeling well, but she couldn't go home at the moment. Bray (my driver) can never say no to me, so he agreed to come get us.

We were sitting in my room. My parents weren't home, and neither was Raymond. Just Tamia and me. She had fallen asleep in my bed, so I headed back downstairs to get her some food. She may not even be hungry, I thought to myself, but I decided to make her something anyway. I know, an ice cream sundae! No one can resist that!

After I made the sundae, I headed back to my room. When I opened the door, Tamia sat up on my bed. "I didn't mean to fall asleep," she said in the sweetest, softest voice.

"It's okay," I said, handing her the sundae. "I made this for you."

The smiled that I loved so much reappeared on her face. "Thank you!" she said taking the bowl, but then her smile soon faded. I sat down next to her. "Today I found out that Larry's been cheating on me for a whole year," she finally said. "...and we broke up."

I didn't know what to say. Was I surprised? Honestly, no. Did I want that to be true? Of course not. I hated seeing her and Larry together, but I hated seeing her cry even more. I really hated seeing her cry because of Larry.

"I'm so sorry," I said, giving her a hug. Now I felt bad. I just asked Penny to be my prom date. And she said yes! Now Tamia doesn't have a date... and she'd already bought her dress. If only I had waited to ask!

"And you're not gonna believe how I found out!" she said, her tone changing, But first, let me go wash my face.

"Okay," I said. Then I realized: Tamia never texted me back this morning! Maybe she didn't even read my message?

I glanced over at her purse. There was her phone. I slowly pulled it out and... nope! She hasn't read the message yet. I quickly delete it. Just a few hours ago, I was so excited to tell her the good news, but now I couldn't. Not when she was heartbroken.

Just as I neatly placed her phone back, she returned, and told me the whole story: how she caught him kissing Lanna in the hallway, how they'd been sneaking around for a year, and how he tried to blame her for cheating... with me? I won't lie, I blushed at that part. Maybe because I've thought about it a few times? I know, it's terrible, but lately, I couldn't help it.

She snuggled closer to me. What was happening? I didn't want it to stop, so I held her closer. "You know what?" she asked, looking up at me. "I'm done crying over him. He doesn't deserve my tears. I don't need him. I already have great friends... like you Jason. You're my truest friend.

"You're mine too," I said back.

"No, seriously," she said, sitting up. "I haven't even known you that long and you're always there for me. I mean, somehow, you found me crying in the bathroom, and you even dedicated your entire morning to me! I- I love you Jason." She said.

My heart stopped. Did she really just say that? I... I was speechless. She loved me? Like friendship love or in love? Before I could ask, she leaned closer and planted her lips on top on mine. It was the sweetest kiss. It started to become more passionate... but it had to stop— I mean, I didn't want it to stop, but I had to tell her. She just poured her whole heart out to me. She told me that I was her truest friend. Well, a true friend doesn't keep secrets so I pulled away.

She looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry!" she said, "I don't know what came over me, I just—"

I cut her off with my lips. I just had to kiss her again... it could be my last chance. But I quickly snapped out of it and pulled away again. "No, I'm sorry," I said. "Tamia, the truth is... I really, really like you."

"Will you be my prom date?" she asked.

My heart stopped. Yes, yes, YES! She's the only one I ever wanted to go to prom with since we met, but I couldn't and now it was because of a different reason. I really had to tell her now. "I-I... I already asked Penny to prom this morning... and she said yes."

Tamia was silent. I felt horrible— no, I literally felt sick.

"If...if I had known, I wouldn't have asked her," I reassured her, "I really, really, really want to go to prom with you, but... You know what, I can tell her no. I'll tell her that I want to take someone else, I—" but I was cut off.

"No, it's okay," she said. "You already asked her. I mean, I even put you up to it. You should take her to prom. I'll just go by myself."

My heart was torn in pieces now. Hearing her say that, she didn't sound convincing, so I knew I hurt her. The heart that Larry had just ripped to shreds, I stomped on.

"I-I'm sorry," I said. I could feel my throat getting tight. "Do you want to—"

"Can you please ask your driver to take me home?" she asked me.

I didn't want her to go, but I didn't want to force her to stay either, so I just said, "Okay." And she went home.



Wednesday- Tamia

12:30 P.M.

For the next week and a half, I was silent. I didn't want to talk to anyone since... the incident. Of course I updated Morrissa and Vie on everything: How I found out that Larry was cheating on me, how Jason found crying in the bathroom, how I kissed Jason and asked him to prom, how I was devastated when he told me that he'd already asked someone else. The most devastating part? I was the one who told him to ask someone to prom so he and his date could double date with Larry and me. So I can't blame him for having a date— I mean, he didn't even want to go to prom in the first place.

The next few days were kind of awkward. I kept getting smirks from Lanna whenever we were in passing, and Larry was VERY publicly displaying his affection for her. Why couldn't he do that with me? What's wrong with me? I guess they were an official couple now. What's worse is that Penny acts as if she and Jason are an official couple, although Jason has repeatedly assured me that they're not. As if things weren't awkward enough between us.

What's even more awkward? Penny invited herself to sit at our table at lunch! According to Jason, she invited him to sit with her and her friends, but he declined. When she asked if she could sit with him, he didn't know how to tell her no. I'm not even sure if he wanted to tell her no. Sigh.

"I'm going to get us some ice cream, babe," Penny said, getting up from the lunch table, and giving him a peck on the cheek before leaving.

Jason looked super uncomfortable. I knew my friends— specifically Morrissa— might say something now since this is the first time (to my knowledge) that Penny has kissed him.

Morrissa finally spoke up and said, "Okay, I've been holding my tongue long enough. Jason, what is going on with you and Penny? Are you guys a thing?"

"No," Jason said immediately. I could tell that he was looking at me, but I was looking down at my food... not even eating. "She's just my prom date, nothing more."

"Does she know that?" Vie asked. Vie and Caiden were still going strong, and I even noticed that she had rubbed off on Caiden. He wasn't as outspoken as before— not completely silent, but definitely toned down.

"Yeah..." Jason answered slowly, "...she's asked me to take out her a few times, but I've turned her down every single time."

"She obviously likes you," Caiden said.

"I'm back!" Penny announced proudly.

"There's only ice cream cup," Jason stated.

"I know, I figured we could share," she replied.

At that point, I'd had enough of this. I silently got up, hoping no one would notice (they all did), and went outside to the courtyard.