Chapter 9

1634 Words
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an orange hue across the park as I gathered the remnants of our picnic. Yes. Kennan and I went to another picnic at the park. And just like the first time, it left me a little disappointed. The once lively atmosphere felt heavy now, the laughter and lightness fading with each minute Kennan spent in silence. I tried to ignore the way his disinterest gnawed at me, but each passing second felt like a relentless reminder of how far I still had to go. “Thanks for the food,” he finally said, his voice flat. He didn’t even look at me as he packed up his share of the sandwiches. “It was… okay.” “Just okay?” I couldn’t help the disappointment that seeped into my tone. “I put a lot of thought into those sandwiches.” “Thought doesn’t always equal taste,” he quipped, his eyes still focused on the food rather than on me. I forced a smile, though inside I felt the sting of his words. This was the Kennan I had been hoping to c***k open his exterior, tough as nails and cold as ice. But the more I tried, the further he seemed to retreat into himself. It was infuriating, and part of me wondered if I was wasting my time. As we finished packing up, I felt my friends approaching from a distance. Timmy, Lenard, and Shin strolled over, their faces a mix of concern and amusement. “What’s up with you two?” Timmy asked, eyeing Kennan and then me. “You look like someone just stole your lunch money, Wayne.” “Just a minor setback,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light, but my voice cracked under the pressure. “Minor? Man, you’ve been working your ass off for this guy,” Lenard said, genuinely impressed. “I didn’t think you had it in you.” “Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to care,” I snapped, the frustration bubbling to the surface. “I’ve done everything I can think of like picnics, gifts, even trying to have actual conversations. And what do I get in return? Silence.” Shin crossed his arms, concern etched into his brow. “Dude, you can’t take it personally. He’s like an iceberg. It’ll take time to thaw that frozen heart of his.” “Or a serious disaster,” Timmy added, grinning as if he had just thought of a brilliant plan. “We could stage a dramatic rescue! Like, I don’t know, set up a fake fire at a gallery or something.” “Not funny,” I grumbled, but a flicker of amusement danced in my heart at Timmy’s ridiculous suggestion. “It just feels like no matter what I do, he’s not interested.” “Maybe you just need to let him see you,” Shin suggested. “Like, really see you. Don’t be afraid to show him who you are, Wayne.” “Yeah,” Timmy chimed in. “You’re not just some guy trying to impress him. You’re awesome! Just be yourself, man.” Their support warmed me a little, but my doubts lingered like an unwelcome guest. “I guess I just don’t want to give up. Not yet. He’s worth it.” “Then don’t give up!” Lenard exclaimed, slapping my back encouragingly. “What’s next on the agenda?” I took a deep breath, my resolve hardening. “I’ll invite him to a movie night. Something casual, just us. No pressure.” “Make it a horror movie,” Timmy suggested with a wink. “That way you can have the classic ‘jump into his arms’ moment.” I laughed, though the idea both excited and terrified me. “I’ll figure something out.” As we walked back to campus, I couldn’t shake off the anxiety gnawing at my insides. What if he rejected my invitation? What if my efforts fell flat again? ... Later that evening, I sat in my room, staring at my phone. I typed and deleted a message to Kennan several times before finally hitting send: “Hey! I was thinking of having a movie night this Friday. Just us. What do you say?” I stared at the screen, waiting for the dots to appear, but nothing happened. The silence felt deafening. I flopped back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe it was foolish to hope he’d say yes. The next morning, I woke up to find a message from Kennan. My heart raced as I opened it, only to be met with the familiar chill of his indifference. “I don’t really do movies.” Disappointment crashed over me like a wave. I typed back quickly, “What if I said I’d make it worth your while? I’ll bring snacks. Your favorite, the popcorn with extra butter and sour gummy worms.” The dots appeared again, and my heart raced as I waited for his reply. Finally, he responded, “Fine. But don’t expect me to get all cozy or anything.” A small victory, but it was something. “Deal!” I typed back, and for the first time in days, a smile broke across my face. As Friday approached, I poured everything I had into preparing for the night. I cleaned my apartment, stocked up on snacks, and even created a cozy atmosphere with fairy lights strung around the living room. I wanted to impress him, to show him I was more than just the guy who had stumbled awkwardly into his life. When the evening finally arrived, I was a bundle of nerves. I paced around my living room, glancing at the clock every few seconds. When the doorbell rang, I felt my heart leap into my throat. “Hey,” Kennan said, his expression as unreadable as ever, but he looked good in his fresh jeans, a fitted black hoodie, and that same cool indifference I had grown to expect. “Hey! Thanks for coming,” I said, trying to sound casual as I led him inside. I couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement as I saw him take in the setup like the snacks, the lights, the movie ready to play. But just as quickly, I felt the weight of his gaze turn heavy. “This is… different,” he remarked, his tone barely concealing his surprise. “Yeah, I thought it would be fun to have a cozy movie night,” I replied, attempting to hide my nerves behind a smile. He settled onto the couch, crossing his arms defensively. “Right. So what are we watching?” “Uh, I thought we could start with a horror movie,” I said, trying to gauge his reaction. He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of interest sparking in his eyes. “Horror? You think I’m scared of horror movies?” “No, not at all! But I thought it might be fun to scream together,” I teased, hoping to lighten the mood. For a moment, the corner of his lips twitched, almost betraying a smile. “Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got.” I pressed play, and as the movie unfolded, I tried to steal glances at Kennan, hoping to catch him laughing or reacting to the jump scares. Instead, he sat there, stoic and seemingly unaffected, which only added to my determination. Halfway through, I decided to take a risk. I shifted a little closer to him, nudging him playfully. “C’mon, lighten up! It’s supposed to be scary, not a funeral.” He turned his head slightly, and for the first time, I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Is this your master plan? To make me laugh?” “Maybe. Is it working?” I shot back, my heart racing as I held my breath. “I don’t know yet,” he said, finally turning toward me. Just then, a loud noise erupted from the movie, and I instinctively jumped, bumping into him. My heart raced, not just from the scare but from the electric tension that hung in the air between us. “Whoa, scared?” he smirked, his teasing tone laced with something warmer. “Just caught off guard,” I stammered, but his presence felt suddenly different, more engaging, less distant. As the movie continued, I found myself relaxing, allowing my laughter to flow more freely, despite Kennan’s cool demeanor. Something was shifting in the air, and even though I didn’t fully understand it, I felt a spark of hope reigniting within me. By the end of the night, as the credits rolled, I leaned back against the couch, my heart pounding with anticipation. “So, what did you think?” Kennan glanced at me, the flickering light catching the contours of his face. “Not terrible,” he admitted, surprising me. “Not terrible? I’ll take that as a win,” I grinned, feeling a rush of triumph. “Just don’t expect me to say it again,” he replied, but this time his voice held a hint of warmth. As he stood to leave, I caught his gaze. “Hey, thanks for coming. I really enjoyed this.” He paused, looking back at me, and for a moment, I dared to hope that I might just be breaking through the walls he had built around himself. “Me too, Wayne. Don’t get too cocky about it.” As he stepped out into the night, my heart raced with the thrill of possibility. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to fight for what I wanted, no matter how cold the path ahead might be.
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