The Photo

A few weeks had passed and we were heading into the holiday season. I loved this time of year. Not only was it my 16th birthday soon, but we always did a Friendmas at our house. Everyone would come, including Keegan. This year I asked my mom if I could invite Jeff. We had been boyfriend and girlfriend publicly now for over a month. He even gave me soft pecks in front of Baylen now. My mom agreed that Jeff and Cyman could come, so we had to add them into the secret Santa. Jada and Audrey were coming as well. My mom was going to make beautifully crafted notes and matching envelopes for the Secret Santa gift exchange. I would pass them out at school. I would need to give Keegan one for Jada since she goes to a different school.

When I got to school that day, I made sure to tell everyone the date of the Secret Santa and when to expect their letters. I saw Keegan at his locker. I had avoided him since Jeff and I started really dating. It was really to protect my own heart and not his. I asked Jeff to come with me to talk to him. We walked over to him and I tapped him on the shoulder. He was grabbing down books for his Physics class and I didn’t want to startle him.

“Hey Kee,” I started.

He turned around and smiled when he saw me. “Hey Squirt. Hey Jeff. I haven’t seen you much lately girlie. What’s up?” he asked, still smiling at me.

Jeff was being called over by some of our other friends so he kissed my cheek and excused himself. Keegan looked away and grabbed his notebook and pencils.

“Oh, I wanted to let you know the Secret Santa date and let you know I made Jada a part of the exchange as well. So if you can have her fill out that G****e form that I sent, that would be great,” I finished.

I tried to stay focused on him and our conversation but something caught my eye in his locker as he was responding. I am not sure I heard a word he was saying. Hanging right there in his locker next to a picture of him and the football team, were the homecoming pictures Audrey and Baylen took and the one that Jeff and I took. Why did he have that? How did he have that?

“Brees?” Keegan said concerned, “is that alright?”

I looked at him and then back at the picture. He followed my gaze. He tapped the pic of Jeff and I. “Baylen gave me a copy of this. You guys look like you had a blast. Thanks for thinking of me and giving me one of the four copies that were printed,” he said.

Wait what? There were four copies? I only saw three. This however explains why Audrey had two copies when she dropped them. I thought this whole time that there were only three. Baylen must have snagged a copy before I left the Photo Booth. I stood with my mouth open for a second. I was in disbelief. Keegan clearly didn’t care that I was kissing Jeff in the bottom photo so why should I.

“Oh of course. We were sad you couldn’t be there Kee,” I said, patting his arm.

“It looks like you were super tore up Squirt,” he joked.

I rolled my eyes at him and playfully punched his arm. As I walked away I couldn’t help but wonder when he decided I was not an option. Was I imagining our chemistry? Did I imagine the moment we shared at his birthday party? I must have. I must have really been so in love with Keegan that I dreamed up the possibility that he could love me too.