“You sure?” I smile. “Cause it’s seeming like you’re just a little bit jealous.”
“No!” she says again and anger flashes in her eyes, which promptly fades to denial, then confusion, then acceptance. “She’s, like, twelve. She shouldn't think she's entitled to anything she wants—especially you," Darcy says, her voice tight with barely contained emotion.
"Especially me?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
Her eyes lock on mine, and I struggle to read them. She almost looks sad, but there's something else there—a hint of long-buried hurt.
"Nothing," she says quickly, then sighs. "It's just... seeing her approach you like that, it brought back memories."
I lean in, curiosity piqued. "What kind of memories?"
Darcy hesitates, then seems to make a decision. "Do you ever think about what would've happened if we hadn't had that falling out as kids?"
The question catches me off guard. "Yeah, I do," I admit. "Especially lately. Why?"
Darcy nods. “Yeah. Me too.” Her teeth tug at her bottom lip and I can see the cogs turning in her brain. She’s silent and I don’t dare speak while she’s putting the words together. “You know when we were still friends, everyone always thought we’d end up together. Your parents thought we’d get married. Mine always talked about you taking me to prom.”
I remember so clearly that it’s painful. It’s like mourning a life you never got to have. “Yeah. You were my first kiss. My first best friend.”
"It's just..." Darcy trails off, then squares her shoulders. "You know, I've been holding onto this anger for so long. But being here with you, it's bringing everything back up."
I feel a knot form in my stomach. "What do you mean, anger?"
“It's fine," she rushes, plastering on a fake smile, but I can hear the hurt beneath her words. "It's ancient history, right?"
I know I should let it go, but something makes me press on. "It sounds like it still bothers you."
Darcy lets out a bitter laugh. "Bothers me? Cody, you were my best friend, and then suddenly you weren't. Do you have any idea how that felt?"
I lean back, shocked by the vehemence in her words. "Whoa, where is this coming from? That's not true at all."
"Isn't it?" Darcy challenges, leaning forward. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you just decided one day that you were too good for me."
"I didn't mean to hurt you," I say, feeling defensive. "Things were complicated back then."
"Complicated?" Darcy's voice rises slightly. "What was so complicated about ghosting your friend?"
I look away, unable to look her in the eyes.
Every fiber in my being is telling me to walk away, to get up and leave before this conversation can go any further. "Look, I’m not going into this right now. Just when I thought you might actually be a reasonable human being, you’ve proven me wrong.”
"Of course," Darcy says bitterly. "Run away. That's what you're good at, isn't it?"
Her words stop me in my tracks. I turn back, anger and old pain bubbling to the surface. "You want to do this now? Fine. Let's do it. What exactly am I running from, Darcy?"
"Everything!" she shouts, gesturing wildly. "Come on, Cody. You can't tell me you've forgotten how things ended between us."
The accusation in her tone stings, and I feel my own frustration building. "That's not fair, Darcy. You never understood?—"
"Understood what? That you were an arrogant jerk who liked humiliating people? Oh, I understood that perfectly well after the talent show fiasco!"
I feel my control slipping. "You don't know anything about that night!"
"I know enough," Darcy spits. "You ruined something I'd worked hard for, just because you could."
"That's not—" I stop, running a hand through my hair. The truth I've buried for so long threatens to spill out. "You want to know the truth? Fine. That night wasn't about you. It was about me being embarrassed.”
Darcy's anger falters, confusion taking its place. "What are you talking about?"
