Unlikely Allies

"Since when? You just met a week and a half ago," Brad said incredulously.

"Well, not all of us enter relationships at a snail's pace like you, Gary," Dan teased. "I told you two before break I was seeing someone."

"Really? You throw out a SpongeBob reference. What are we, twelve?"

"Well, you act like one when it comes to girls," Dan teased, wheeling his chair out of the way.

Car and I watched their antics, smiling. "Seriously?" I asked, nodding toward him.

"Yeah," she said, defensively.

"I think it's great," I said, meaning it. There was no denying their happiness.

We stayed out late, drinking coffee and catching up on the holiday. I glossed over my decision to let Mason go, and they had the good graces to leave it alone, which made me even more certain I had made the right decision. Instead, we talked about Dan and Car's budding relationship and Brad's solely lacking relationships.

Over the next few weeks, I watched my new friend's and my best friend's relationship grow from casual to something more, and I tried not to dwell on how easy it was for them. It became abundantly clear that Mason and I had gone about our relationship the wrong way from the very begi

"I can't believe you're really leaving!" Carol wailed as I was packing up the last of my stuff the day before winter break started.

"Um, seriously, Car, you've known for months that I was leaving," I pointed out.

"I know, I just thought you'd change your mind or something," she admitted. "What am I going to do without you?" she wailed.

"I think you'll be fine. After all, you've been pretty absent lately."

"True," she said, smiling mischievously. "I can't help it. I think I love him. Is that crazy?"

"No, I think it's pretty cool. How do his parents feel about you?"

"I don't know. I'm going to spend the second part of winter break with them, so I guess we will see."

"Really?" I asked surprised. "Holding out on me, huh?"

"I didn't want to rub salt in any wounds."

"Oh Car, I'm over him," I said for emphasis.

"Right," she said, eyeing me knowingly.

"Well, I'm almost there," I said, laughing ruefully.

"Do you want to go grab some grub?"

"Can't. I told Brad I'd grab a coffee with him. I think he's finally worked up the nerve to ask that girl out from his Conspiracy Theories class."

"It's about time. For a while I thought he was hooked on you," she admitted.

"Nah, there's no spark there. He's a great guy and I will always treasure our friendship, but it was just missing that something special. You know?"

"Yeah, I know," she said, looking at me sadly.

Taking that as my cue to leave, I headed out to meet Brad. I found him waiting on the steps of my building, per usual. He held a cup of steaming coffee in each hand. "I picked up our poison so we could hang outside since it's so nice out."

"Good idea," I said, taking my cup and breathing in the fragrant aroma.

We settled on a bench not far from my dorm. "So, did you ask her, Gary?" I teased, stealing Dan's line.

"Nah, I figured asking her out before break was lame. I'll ask when I get back."

"You're a mess," I teased.

"And you're not?" he asked, raising his eyebrow at me.

"Oh well, we know I'm a mess."

"We can start a lonely hearts club," he said, ruffling my hair like a sibling would.

"Stop," I grumbled. "That means you'll have to move to Colorado," I teased.

"Ugh, cold weather? I think not," he said, shuddering. "I'm going to miss you though. I've never had a girl for a friend. It's kind of nice not always worrying about you getting in my pants."

"Ha-ha, you wish, big boy," I said, laughing.

"Maybe," he said, turning serious before leaning in to give me a kiss on the lips. I didn't protest when he deepened it before pulling back. "Well, nuts."

"Destined to be friends," I said, smiling sadly at the spark we were missing. I almost wished there was something there so I wouldn't feel so alone.

"Destined to be friends," he repeated, kissing my forehead. "We could be friends with benefits," he teased.

I socked him in the arm. "You're such a guy."

The rest of our time passed quickly as we chatted about more lighthearted topics.

"I better head to my dorm," I finally said. "I'm hitting the road early."

"When is your dad coming?" he asked, walking me back toward my dorm.

"On Monday, the day before Christmas Eve."

"Are you excited?"

"Yeah, I kind of am. I've dreamed about spending Christmas with my father my whole life."

"I'm going to miss you," he said, pulling me in for a tight hug.

"Me too," I said, wiping a stray tear away.

"I'll visit, and you better call me whenever you're in town."

"I will. I promise," I said, watching as he descended the stairs. I couldn't help feeling a small pinch in my heart, wondering if I was making the right decision. Just because we were missing a spark didn't mean we couldn't be together. For a brief moment, I debated calling him back. As if he sensed it, he paused on the stairs, but didn't turn around. After a moment, he moved on.

I swiped another tear away as I headed up to my room. I knew the decision was right, it just felt like déjà vu.

Chapter 20

My departure the following morning was gut-wrenching and filled with tears. After promising to text daily and call with weekly updates, I was finally on the road. The three-hour ride passed quickly as the excitement of my new venture began to creep in. I would miss my old life, but I was looking forward to spending time with Rick and Amy.

I pulled into the driveway just before noon and Mom greeted me at the door.

"How was the drive?"

"Uneventful. Hopefully, my trip with dad will be the same."

"It was nice of Rick to offer to make the drive with you," she said, grabbing my suitcase from the trunk of the car.

"Yep, it'll definitely help getting all my crap there."

"Are you hungry?" she asked, dumping my bag on my bed.

"Sure," I said, unpacking my art bag. My sketchpad flipped open when I tossed it on my bed.

"Is this Dan?" Mom asked, bending over to pick it up.

"Yeah, he wasn't crazy about me sketching him with the wheelchair and all, but I told him it might be really helpful with the campers at Unlikely Allies."

"You're portraits are spectacular," she said, flipping through the pad, past the one of Dan. I reached out to grab the pad before she could flip the page again, but I was too late.

She studied the drawing carefully and then flipped to the next page and then the next and the next after that. "They're amazing," she finally said, stopping on the last drawing of Mason I had done.

"He was a good subject," I lied, stowing the sketchpad away.

"Kim..." she started to say.