Short Story- Right to Smile
“You care too much about what people think, you know. Sometimes you just have to learn to let things go…”
The hypocritical words spoken from his lips had been harsh, albeit true, and I was tired of being the way I was. I looked up from my spot underneath the big tree of Idunnowhatspecies and across the park. There he was, running and playing, hair flapping in his face, cheeks red from exertion.
How such a nice boy could have such, such---dicks for friends was completely beyond me. I glared at the boys he was running around with, imagining my face covered with a malice that would make a small furry animal cringe and run.
“She’s kind of fat, you know.”
Ugh.
I stood up, forgetting the books I’d brought to the park with me, naively assuming I’d study, and they fell from my lap.
He looked at me then and sent me a flicker of a smile before returning his attention to the aggressive kick-the-can game the boys had going on.
Like he had any right to smile to me.
I picked up my things and walked back to my house just across the freeway. I’d barely set my stuff down on the living room table when I heard a knocking, and yep, there he was at my patio door. I could see him through the glass; he could see me, but still, a seriously massive portion of my brain was contemplating running away and locking myself in my room.
“You gonna let me in?” he asked, his voice sounding hollow and distant through the pane.
“I dunno.” I put my hand on my hip.
“I’m kind of thirsty,” he said, wiping his face with his hand and then propping himself up against the door. “I could use some water.”
I just rolled my eyes and went to open the door for him, and he slid in, leaving a trail of sweat from his hand across the glass.
“Disgusting.” I pointed to the line, brown, mixed with the dirt from his hands, but he just shrugged.
“Can I get some water?” he asked. I said nothing but waved him to the kitchen. I could hear him pulling a cup down from my cupboard; he’d been over enough to know where they were.
I settled upon my couch and closed my eyes, deciding to take a nap. I was somewhat happy that our friendship hadn’t been totally ruined, but also confused that a melodramatic apologetic session hadn’t been necessary to salvage the remains of two broken hearts.
It was like yesterday had never even happened.
He sat down next to me, and I could feel him without opening my eyes. “Can I watch TV?” he asked as he switched the set on.
I just smiled.
Things were normal.
We would return to being best friends like we had been since we were six, and he would just continue to let them tease me and call me fat and ugly.
As long as they didn't know we were still friends, of course.
"You wanna go to the movies Saturday?" He nudged my leg. "The guys cancelled."
I just smiled.