One Chance (3 page)

“I’m not going to
West Virginia with you and Kenzie.”

“What?  Yeah you are, we all got accepted.”

“I know, but I got accepted into another school and I don’t want to be Kenzie’s shadow anymore.”

“You were never her shadow.”

“Don’t tell her that.”

“So where are you going?”

“Michigan,” I say softly, nervous about his response.

“Seriously?  That’s awesome,” he says surprising me.

“Yeah, I’m pretty excited about it,” I say happily.

“I could tell you liked it there when we went to the football games.  It’s a good school.”

“Yes it is.  I need to do this for me Brody.  I would love to be friends like we once were, but I can’t go to West Virginia with you guys.”

“No
, I understand and I’m really happy for you Hails.  You deserve this,” he says before leaning in and giving me a hug.  “Damn, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a dick.”

“You’re in a relationship, it happens.”

“But it shouldn’t have.  She’s your sister and you were my best friend.  I shouldn’t have let that change and I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“You tell Liam you’re going to Michigan?” he asks changing the subject.

“No, why would I tell him?”

“Because he goes there.  He could probably help you out.”

“No, that’s okay, I’ll figure it out on my own,” I reply quickly.

“It’s a big campus; he could give you some pointers.”

“Brody
its fine, he doesn’t need to know I’m there.”

“Did something happen?”
he asks looking confused.

“No, he just hasn’t been very nice the past few years, so I pref
er him not knowing I’m there if possible.”

“You don’t think he wouldn’t recognize you?” he asks while looking at me like I have two heads.

“I know he would and if he does then I’ll deal with it, but he doesn’t need to know now.”

“Okay, if that’s what you want.”

“It is.  Do you want me to take you home?” I ask changing the subject.

“No, I want to hang out with you and remember this night forever,” he says as he stands up.  I follow suit and we head to the back
of the house where the bonfire is.  He walks over to the cooler and grabs us each a bottle of beer.

“Are you sure you should drink anymore?” I ask worriedly.

“I’m fine, I’m gonna slow down.”

“Okay good,” I say as I find a lawn chair and take a seat
next to the fire.  It’s getting chilly the later it gets.  The fire is burning brightly and I watch it burn, while Brody takes the seat next to mine.  For the next three hours, we sit there talking about everything and anything, just enjoying one another’s company.  It feels like the old days and damn have I missed him.

Before I know it, it’s already passing midnight and
the majority of the crowd has left, due to being drunk.  Some are passed out in the back yard, others had friends drive them home.

“Do you want me to drive you home?”

“Yes please,” he says as he stands up.  We make our way to my car.  I stopped drinking hours ago, so I know I’m good to go.  I drive us home deciding to just park in my driveway and let him walk across the street.

“You feeling
okay?”

“Yeah, tonight was fun, thank you.”

“It was fun.  I’ve missed you Brody.”

“I’ve missed you a lot
Hails.  No matter what happens with Kenzie, can we be friends again please?”

“We will always be friends.”

“No, like I miss talking to you about everything, can we talk like that even if it’s through text or calls or hell even emails?”

“Are you sure?   That may cause problems with Kenzie.”

“I honestly don’t care.  If she can’t accept the fact that I’m friends with her sister, then that’s her problem.”

“Okay, we can see how it goes.  I don’t want to cause issues though, you know that.”

“You won’t, so don’t even worry about it.”

“Alright
, if you say so.  Are you okay to walk across the street?”

“Yeah, I sobered up some.  Thank you for hanging out with me tonight.”

“Anytime,” I say as I get out of the car, as Brody gets out on the other side.

“Night Brody.”

“Goodnight Hails,” he says before making the short walk across the street.  I head inside and get quickly washed up before heading to bed.  Kenzie’s door is shut which tells me she’s here; I wonder why she didn’t come out tonight.  Even if they fight, she still shows face.

The next morning comes quick and before I can register what’s happening
, I hear Kenzie screaming at me.

“How fucking dare you,” she snaps.

As I try to adjust my eyes to morning and the rampage my sister is on, I try to figure out what her deal is before opening my mouth.  “What is your problem?” I ask softly.

“You,” she shrieks.

“What did I do?” I ask as I sit up in my bed.

“What did you do with my boyfriend last night?”

“Talked and then I took him home, why?”

“You can’t have him Haley, he’s mine.”

“I’m not trying to take him.”

“Why can’t you just let him alone?”

“He was my best friend until you became a girlfriend from hell.  He is my friend and you just need to get over it.”

“You can’t have him,” she says again.

“I want him as a friend Kenzie, that’s all.”

“Since when?”

“Since you started dating him,” I snap back.

“What?”

“I would never go after a guy you date, you’re my freaking sister.  You two have been together for four years, why would I try to break that up?”

“Because you want him for yourself.”

“I want his friendship, I miss being best friends with him, but I can assure you, that is all I want from Brody.”

“It better be.”

“But Kenz, we are going to be friends again and you need to deal with that.”

“We’ll see,” she says as she walks out of my bedroom, slamming my door.  I look and see its only 8:38 a.m.  Ugh, it’
s too early for this crap.  I try to lie back down but it’s useless, I’m not getting any more sleep today.

After grabbing a quick shower, I throw on a pair of shorts and a tank top before heading downstairs to grab a bite to eat.

“Hey,” I say, looking confused to see Brody standing in the kitchen.

“Morning,” he says looking towards the floor.

“Kenzie wake you up too?”

“Yeah,” he says looking bothered.

“I told her we are going to be friends and that she needs to deal with it,” I state firmly.

“That’s why I’m here,” he says finally looking up.

“What’s up?”

“I don’t know what to do,
” he says looking nervous.

“Seriously?” I ask angrily.

“She’s pissed.”

“Fine, we won’t be friends.  Problem solved,” I say
annoyed as I walk over to grab a bottle of water out of the fridge.

“
Hails stop.  We are friends, I miss being friends with you and that’s going to change.”

“How?  If you can’t stand up to my sister
, then no it won’t.”

“Stand up to me about what?” Kenzie says from behind us.

“That we can be friends.”

“You aren’t friends
, you two haven’t been for years.”

“Whose fault is that?” I snap.

“Look Hails, I love you, you’re my sister, but I can’t have you messing with my relationship.”

“And how have I messed with your relationship?”

“You want my boyfriend,” she states matter of fact.

“Wow, you have some fucking nerve.  For your information Kenzie
, I don’t want Brody.  I moved on from him a long time ago.  I miss my best friend and he was my best friend and if I can get that back, then I will.  You need to get over yourself.”

“That’s not going to happen,” she states angrily.

“It’s not your decision.”

“Brody tell her,” Kenzie orders.

“She’s right, it’s my decision,” he says standing up for himself, hopefully for our friendship.

“What’s your decision
, Brody?” I ask, both of us watching and waiting for Brody’s comments.

“
Hails you’ve been my best friend practically forever minus the last four years and I miss it.  I’m sorry Kenzie, but I want my friendship with Hails back.”

“What?” she shrieks.

“Why can’t I date you and be friends with Hails?” he asks calling Kenzie out.

“Because you can’t.  It’s weird.”

“What’s weird about it?” I ask.

“
You can’t date me and be best friends with my sister, it just doesn’t work.”

“Yes it can.  What are you afraid of
Kenz?” I ask surprised.

“I’m not afraid of anything,” she quickly retorts.

“Then what’s the problem?” Brody asks.

“Ugh, fine, be friends
, do what you want, I don’t care,” she says before storming up the stairs.

“Well that went well,” I say sarcastically.

“Yeah, sure did,” he says looking to the floor again.

“What are you thinking?”

“That I want my best friend back.”

“Are you sure?  It seems it may cause a lot of problems for you.”

“For you too, she’ll just have to get over it.”

“Good,” I say with a smile.

“Do you want to hang out today?”

“Yes.”

“Game room?”

“Yes, let’s go,” I say practically pushing him out of my house.  We run across the street and head to the game room.  We start playing games and talking like no time has passed.

After a few hours, we decide to sit on the couch and talk.

“Are you seriously not coming to West Virginia?”

“I’m not.  I need to do this for me,” I admit.

“I get that
, it’s just not going to be the same, now that we are getting back to where we once were.  I’m sorry I didn’t fight to keep you in my life before.”

“Its fine, no need to apologize, what’s done is done.”

“I know, but if I would have stood firm on what I wanted, then we wouldn’t be in this situation now.”

“Brody we still saw each other, hell
, our families will always be close.  We were young and you and Kenz needed that time to learn more about each other as a couple.  I get it.”

“I’m sorry though.”

“You are forgiven.  Now let’s just hope she gets over herself.”

“She will.”

“I bet she’s glad I’m not going to school with you two now.  But I can promise you, I’m over you, that was a long time ago,” I say truthfully.  I watch, as he just stares at me not saying a word.

“Hey,” Kenzie says from the stairs.

“Hey,” we say in unison.

“I’ve been thinking,” she says softly, “I want us to all be how we used to be.  I shouldn’t have made you two end your friendship like I did.  Neither of you deserved
that; I guess I was just jealous and dumb.”

“It’s fine.  How about we just move forward starting now and let the past
stay in the past?” I ask hopeful.

“I’d like that,” she says happily as she comes over
and takes a seat beside Brody, “I love you both and I want us to be close.”

“I want that too.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a lousy twin sister.  I guess I just like the attention way more than I should and what I’ve done to you is not fair.  I won’t do that anymore Hails.”

“I’m over it.  Now we leave in a few short weeks to start the next phase of our lives,” I say excitedly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come to West Virginia with us?  I don’t know what I’m going to do without you there.”

“You’ll be fine, you have no trouble making friends and you’ll have Brody there with you too.   I’ve made my decision.”

“Michigan, really?” she asks solemnly.

“Ye
p.  I love their campus and I’m excited.”

“I’m happy for you,” Brody says kindly.

“We are going to come visit you and you have to come visit us,” Kenz says sounding hopeful.

“Definitely.  Plus we’ll still text and talk.”

“Okay, let’s make a promise that we will not let college pull us apart,” Kenzie says looking between me and Brody.

“College could never pull us apart,” I say honestly.

“I agree, if anything, it may make us closer,” Brody says happily.