Things We Never Said

One

I leaned back on my elbows and tilted my head up towards the sun. I closed my eyes, taking in the rays of sunshine. It was rare for us to get a sunny day like this in the fall.  

"How long until you think it rains?"

I glared at my friend Vanessa. "Shut up before you jinx it. I'm hoping it doesn't rain for at least a few more weeks."

She snorted. "I highly doubt that will happen."

“Well, then, enjoy it while it lasts."

Vanessa shrugged then put her sunglasses on. She laid back on the grass using her hands as a pillow, enjoying the last few minutes of lunch.

Ethan walks up to us. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.

I smiled. My heart fluttered. "Of course."

"Where's your girlfriend?" Vanessa sneered.

"Nessa!" I hissed. What was up with her today? She's usually blunt but today she was taking it to the extreme.

"It’s fine," Ethan said to me then to Vanessa, "She went to lunch with her friends."

"So, we're just sloppy seconds?"

I refrained from slapping her.

"Of course not. You guys are my favorite," Ethan replied.

Vanessa made a fake gagging noise. I nudged her. Why was she acting like this? She's never this mean to him.

"Stop," I said to her.

She said nothing. I turned my attention back to Ethan. "You're our favorite too."

Ethan smiled. "I'm glad." He glanced up at the sky. "So, there's a party this weekend."

Vanessa perked up. She took off her sunglasses. "And?" she prompted. I rolled my eyes at her. This was the only time she actually liked Ethan; whenever he mentioned a party.

"You guys are invited." He cleared his throat. "Girls I mean. Sorry." He blushed a bit. I think he was expecting Vanessa's wrath, but she just stared at him patiently waiting for the details about the party.

"Who's going?" she asked. I knew who exactly she was referring to. I loved that she had my back all the time, but she didn't need to be rude to Ethan's girlfriend. Sure, we didn't like each other, and we barely got along but she had never been openly rude to me.

"Well, I'm going. Gabriel, Steven, possibly Alex and a few other guys." His brows furrowed in confusion as he asked, "Why?" 

She shrugged. "I don't want to go if there's going to be people who start drama." She leaned back and put her sunglasses on. I knew exactly who she was referring to. Krista. 

"I don't know anyone who intentionally starts drama that is going but you're welcome to come."

"Bring your own beer?"

"I think some will be provided."

Vanessa said nothing more.  

Ethan turned to me. "You want to go?"

"I don't think so. I have too much homework."

Ethan pouted, "Come on, it won't be the same unless you go."

I shook my head. "I think I'll pass."

"You never go and just once I'd like you to come with me."

Come with me repeated in my head. My heart started to beat a little faster. I know I was overthinking it and I know he has a girlfriend, but he was my best friend. That had to mean more, right?

"I don't really like parties and they don't really like me..." I trailed off.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Just go. For once. I'll never ask you again if you come this one time."

I contemplated his offer. It would be fun to go since I've never really actually been to a party. And it would be nice if he stopped asking me every single time that there was a party. I mulled over his offer for a minute.

"Fine, but you can't ask me ever again."

"Deal, but you have to actually go. You can't back out at the last minute," he said with a knowing smirk. "It won't count if you do." 

I bit my lip. Damn, him. We never broke promises to each other. He knew that and this was his way of forcing me to go.

"Fine. I promise," I said at last. I held out my pinky finger and he interlaced his with mine. 

"Well aren't you two just so cute," Vanessa said, making me blush. 

"Having a bad day?" Ethan asked with a small smile. 

Vanessa grunted. "Not at first." In a quiet tone she continued to say, "I was having a great day until you showed up." 

"Nessa! What the heck?" I exploded. She didn't even bother to look at me. 

"It’s okay, Rose. I know I haven't been the best friend lately," Ethan said, brushing off Vanessa's childish behavior. My heart fluttered when he called me by my nickname. 

Before I could say something, the bell rang. Vanessa got up from the grass and brushed herself off. She grabbed her backpack off the ground and swung it over her shoulder. Ethan also got up from the grass, extending a hand to help me up. 

The minute our hands locked I felt the electricity run through my body. I quickly messed with my hair to hide the blush that was creeping onto my face. 

"I'll see you in sixth," he said to me before walking off. 

I picked up my bag from the grass as I watched him walk towards the main building for his next class. 

"I wish you wouldn't feign over him so much, Rosalie." Vanessa came up behind me also watching Ethan walk off. "You know he has a girlfriend and I don't want you to get your heart broken," she added. She only ever used my full name when she was serious or angry. 

Vanessa silently followed me on the way to our next class. I knew in a way she was right, but she had to understand that he was my best friend and had been for years. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't push him out of my life.  

"I'll be okay," I said. 

"I hope so." 

We took our seats at the same time the final bell rang. Vanessa said nothing more for the entire class period and I couldn't be happier. Before leaving for her sixth period she did say she was still going to stop by my house after school to work on our project but that was it. 

I loved her dearly and I knew she was looking out for me, but I still hated the way she sometimes treated Ethan. She wasn't always like that with him. In fact, we were all really good friends before his girlfriend, Krista came into the picture. 

Even then, Vanessa wasn't as bad as she is now. It wasn't until Krista came directly up to me to tell me that I couldn't be friends with Ethan anymore and when I had told Ethan what happened all he could say was she didn't mean it like that, and he would talk to her. That's when Vanessa started to have a problem with him and really hate Krista. 

I cried and she comforted me the entire night. We stayed up watching all my favorite shows while eating all my favorite foods. She promised me that night that she would punch Ethan the next time she saw him, and she did. She kept her promise. 

"Earth to Rose," Ethan said. I didn't realize that he had already came into class and sat down next to me. 

I shook my head before smiling. "Sorry. I was daydreaming." 

"About?" 

I shrugged. "Things." 

Ethan narrowed his eyes and said, "I'm curious to know what's going on in that pretty little head of yours." 

I blushed at his comment. He needed to stop saying things like that. Before I could reply, our teacher got up from his desk to begin the lesson.  

Twenty minutes into the class, I could feel my eyes drooping. A nudge woke me up. I glanced at Ethan. He smiled, making my insides turn. I turned my attention back to the teacher at the front of the class. I hated having math as my last class of the day. 

I jumped out of my seat the minute the bell rang. Ethan quickly gathered his stuff and followed me out of the classroom. 

"Why do you always sleep in math?" he asked as we walked towards my locker. 

I shrugged. "The teacher is boring. What can I say?" 

He chuckled. "I know he's not the best but for once try to stay awake," he said, giving me a pointed look before continuing to scold me, "before you get in trouble." 

"He's so blind he probably can't even see me dozing off." 

Ethan leaned against the locker as I switched some books out. I double checked everything to make sure I had the correct ones. I slammed the locker shut then leaned against it, facing Ethan. 

"I'll pick you up around eight on Saturday." 

I groaned. I had already forgotten about the party. I was hoping he would too. "I think I have to go buy something tomorrow after school." 

"You don't need to buy anything. I'm sure what you have is just fine." 

I laughed. "I can't go the party in a T-shirt and jeans. No matter how much I want to." 

He laughed. "Why are you so lazy?" 

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not lazy all the time." 

"There you are! Come on, we need to go!" Krista said, coming up to Ethan. She didn't even acknowledge my presence. 

"Alright," he said to her. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. Seven twenty," he said to me. 

I nodded. "I'll be ready." 

Krista scowled at me. As Ethan and Krista walked away, I heard her ask him why he had to pick me up every morning before school. I think Ethan knew that there was some sort of feud between Krista and me. At least I hope he knew and wasn't that stupid and couldn't see it. 

"She's my best friend," I heard him say. 

My stomach dropped at the site of Ethan wrapping an arm around Krista's shoulder. 

As soon as I got home, I changed out of my school clothes and into some yoga pants. I checked my watch to see how much time I had before Vanessa came over. Since I had some time to kill, I went to watch a little TV in the living room. 

Ten minutes later I heard a knock on the door. I jumped up from the couch and went to open the door. Instead of finding Vanessa on the other side, it was Krista. She had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot impatiently. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked. 

She rolled her eyes. "I came to talk to you." 

"Well, I don't want to talk," I said, closing the front door. 

Krista stuck her foot in the door. She pushed it open. "Too bad. Listen, you need to stop getting rides from Ethan." She scowled. "Walk to school." 

"If Ethan wants to give me rides to school, he can. It's none of your concern. Now leave my house." 

"If you don't stay away from him, you will regret it. I'm serious," she threatened.  

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever, Krista." 

She turned on her heels and walked to her car. I slammed the door shut and went back to watching TV. I didn't even pay attention to what was going on. I was furious at Krista. The worst part about this was I couldn't say anything to Ethan. He would just take her side and say that she didn't mean any harm by it. 

I heard the front door slam shut which made me jump. 

"Mom?" 

"What? No! Not even close," Vanessa said, walking into the living room with a cup of coffee in each hand. 

"You scared me!" 

Vanessa smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I brought coffee." She handed me a cup. "Vanilla latte for Rose. And a matcha latte for me!" Vanessa had a huge smile on her face. 

"Thanks." I take a sip.

Vanessa sat down next to me. "Why are you watching an infomercial?" 

I shook my head. "I'm not really watching it." 

"So, you're just sitting here not watching an infomercial?" Vanessa asked, confused. 

"I was watching TV but then I got a visit from Krista?" 

Vanessa stopped, coffee mid-way to her mouth. "What? Why?" 

"She came to tell me to stay away from Ethan." 

"Really? The b***h just keeps getting crazier and crazier." 

"What do I do?" I leaned my head back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Do I tell Ethan?" 

Vanessa stared at me blankly. I waited for her to say something. At last she said, "I don't know." 

"I feel like I should." I bit my nail as I thought about Ethan's reaction. 

"But...?" she prompts.

"But he'll probably just take her side." 

"If he does, I'll slap him." 

I frowned. "You don't need to do that. I think you abuse him enough." 

"Apparently not," she muttered. 

I threw a pillow at her. "You shouldn't be so mean." 

"You shouldn't be so nice when he's an asshole to you." 

"He's not an asshole." 

Vanessa gave me a grim look. "You're just blind and refuse to see it." 

"There's nothing to see." 

Vanessa said nothing. She watched the TV and took sips of her latte. I felt bad because I knew she was only looking out for me. 

"Should we do homework?" I asked. 

"I guess." 

I laughed. "I know you don't want to but we both need a good grade." 

Vanessa groaned. "Fine. We shall go and do homework then."