Movies and Girls

The rest of the school year kind of flew by. I decided to break up with Jeff for good and to work on myself. I was accepted into a softball program for advanced skills in pitching. The program started two weeks after summer break began and was at LSU for three weeks. My mom wasn’t on board with me living there for three weeks, but my dad and Ms. Kyren convinced her and she reluctantly agreed. She still was not happy with me and my shenanigans that caused a brawl in Punta Cana, but we were slowly getting back to where she trusted me.

Keegan had been back to his old self. I wasn’t sure if I loved this or hated this. He was calling me “Squirt” again and texting me memes and reels as if we had never had that kiss in my living room six months ago. I enjoyed having him around again and I know Baylen did too. Ms. Kyren was having my mom stay over her house more and more and Keegan would also stay at ours. I loved how much our families loved each other. It was one thing that made me happy.

Baylen would ask me every once in a while if I was over Keegan, but I didn’t really know the answer to that question. Could I ever really be over my first love? I guess in some ways I was. I didn’t get all stupid when I saw him anymore. I could have him be in the same room with me and not have butterflies the entire time. He was just Keegan.

Baylen didn’t get into the training camp he wanted at LSU, but he got into one close to home. So he would commute daily for two weeks and train there. I was really proud of Bay. He and Quinn were still going strong and he was so goal oriented since he met her. It was nice to see this maturity in him. It definitely transferred into our relationship as well. He didn’t spazz out when I spoke about a boy and he didn’t seem to mind if Kee hung out with me.

Baylen and Keegan decided to have a sleepover at our house so that my mom and Ms. Kyren could spend their 4 month anniversary alone. I could hear their movie playing loudly in the basement and I didn’t want to interrupt, so I made some popcorn and headed to the living room to watch my own movie.

As I fiddled with the remote. I heard someone behind me.

“Hey squirt, Baylen smelled popcorn and wanted to know if you could make us some? He is on the phone with Quinn for a minute so I thought I would come up and ask,” he said, pulling on the strings of his hoodie.

“Yeah, give me a sec though. This remote isn’t working and I may throw it through the window here pretty soon,” I jested.

He laughed and sat down next to me. He put his hand out for the remote and started to inspect it. It was so natural for us to be friends. Nothing was complicated and nothing was awkward. I watched him toy with the remote. His curls fell forward as he carefully tinkered.

“Yeah kid, I think it’s just the batteries,” he suggested.

“Oh there are some in the kitchen. Follow me. I’ll grab the popcorn for you to pop as well,” I said motioning towards the door.

We walked into the kitchen and I gave him a bag of microwave popcorn. He placed it into the microwave. He turned the dial to two minutes and stood in front of it watching it like it was a movie.

I grabbed his arm and pulled him back away from the microwave.

“That’s dangerous behavior there Patts,” I joked as I continued to move him backwards away from danger.

He laughed and allowed me to guide him backwards. As I was walking back I stumbled and Keegan did as well. He whipped around quickly to catch me, but I fell anyway.