Here's a picture of Dakota as a reminder
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Dakota's POV

His crisp Air Jordans stand out, but match his bright red sweatshirt that tugs at his arms. It fits his chest tightly. He avoids my glance, but doesn't leave the hallway. We perform this tense dance as the last few lingering students empty the hallway. His tight, boyish curls bounce lightly around his head as he idles by his locker before turning to finally face me. He attempts to walk by me, but I make my move before he can escape. His forest green eyes lock onto mine and jolt my heart.

"You're ignoring my texts and calls," I say.

"I'm still pissed at you," Devon replies, trying to walk around me.

"How many times do I have to apologize before you forgive me?" I ask, stepping back in front of him.

"I don't know. How many times are you going to put my reputation in jeopardy with your stupid mistakes?" He asks.

"I wasn't trying to put your reputation in jeopardy. Levi won't say anything. Especially now that he's dating my little sister's best friend. It was an accident and I promise it won't happen again." I plead.

He presses his lips together and stares at me, not giving me an answer. I hate how much we fight, but if he wasn't such an excellent kisser, I wouldn't waste my time.

"Hey, let me make it up to you. Jackson keeps a small stash in his car. Want to meet up later and smoke it? That always cheers you up," I remind him.

"Fine. Text me your location after school. Now I have to go meet up with the team. We're moving the principal's car today," he says.

My feelings for Devon have nothing to do with the fact that he's one of the few gay kids in school, even if he hasn't come out, yet. It has everything to do with how he looks at me when he needs me. That lust and desire for me is what keeps me around.

Bailey's POV

Dakota and Denver join me at the lunch table with the same food. Looks like we all chose the special today. Once again the twins are matching. This time they're both wearing white shirts with black suspenders. Denver wears a black skirt, while Dakota wears black skinny jeans.

"Look who is finally awake!" Dakota laughs.

"Was I that bad?" I chuckle.

"Yeah! We all spent the night, and you were still passed out when we left, which was around noon." Denver says.

I'm patiently waiting for Georgia to get here so I can explain what happened to me. I just need her to get here before Levi because for some reason this feels too personal for him to know.

"I hate the meatloaf special," Georgia grumbles and plops down next to me.

Right off the bat, I notice Georgia looks slightly different today. She's wearing contacts instead of glasses and her hair is down instead of her usual everyday ponytail. However, the rest of her remains the same. Black skinny jeans with an oversized Led Zeppelin shirt and Converse.

If my news wasn't so time sensitive, I would press Georgia for answers, but that will have to wait until another time.

"Now that everyone is here, I want to talk about the party," I announce.

Before I can explain anything, Georgia takes over the conversation, "That party was awesome. I learned how to play Call of Duty. I always thought board games were better than video games, but maybe I need to reevaluate."

"Wow, I guess you had to turn fifteen before the wisdom hit. Well, I'm glad you had fun. All I remember is drinking, dancing, and vomiting." Denver laughs.

"I would have had fun if Levi didn't make us leave so damn early." Dakota pouts.

Georgia points her finger at me, "That's because Bailey was fighting AnnaMae, then passed out on the screened porch."

"Yeah, what was that-" Denver asks me.

I interrupt, "I have something important to say and I want to say it before Levi gets here. At the party someone laced my drink, and it caused me to pass out. I don't remember anything from the party. Well, that's not true, I remember drinking with you all, dancing, talking to cheerleaders and the rest is hazy. I don't know why I fought AnnaMae. Then I lied to my mom and told her we were playing a game and it was on purpose because I didn't want the police involved."

All that speed talking causes my head to spin a bit and my body starts to hyperventilate. I inhale and exhale, trying to stay calm.

The looks on their faces does not make me feel any better. Dakota scowls as he looks at me. Georgia and Denver both look confused. I guess this is not normal in Baraboo.

"What the fuck?" Dakota says.

"Yeah, that's a lot of information to take in." Denver admits.

"Oh my god! Someone tried to drug you? Who would do that?" Georgia asks.

"I don't know. Someone who handed me alcohol," I reply.

"Who handed you alcohol?" Georgia asks.

"She doesn't remember, you idiot." Dakota smacks Georgia's arm.

"Levi poured our first round of shots. I remember, because then he told you not to drink anymore. He was worried you would be sick." Denver says.

"You don't think Levi did it, do you?" I ask.

"Nooo," everyone says in unison.

"Did what?" Levi asks.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit. He would show up at the absolute worst time possible. What do I say? I need an excuse. Something to steer our conversation away from the topic.

"What?" Levi asks, again.

"She was wondering if you were one of the people who moved the Principal's car." Dakota saves my ass by taking control of the conversation.

Levi shakes his head, "No. That was Hunter, Devon, Zach, Mark and Jake."

Thank god Dakota jumped in there. I was a deer in the headlights, but how did he know the Principal's car was moved?

"Ah, I forgot a fork for the meatloaf," Levi says and heads back to the condiments stand.

Before I can ask him how he knew about the prank on the principal, Dakota interrupts me.

"We don't have much time before Levi comes back. We need to retrace our steps at the party and see who handed you a drink."

Denver adds, "Dakota and I can find out why you fought AnnaMae."

The Weber's always have my back.

+++++++

Levi's POV

The gym teacher waits for us all to shuffle out of the locker rooms before announcing the plan for today.

"Alright class, the weather is above 45 degrees today so we will be running outside. I want all of you to run past the Sears to Moretti's restaurant. Pay tribute to Jack, then turn around and come back," he says.

Devon and Jake stretch next to me as usual, but today things are unusual between us.

Devon's eyes are fixated on the ground and Jake is oblivious of the situation.

Since I caught Devon and Dakota going at it, again, he's been avoiding me. This morning I noticed he purposely changed directions when he saw me walking toward him in the hallway.

I know I need to address the situation, but I can't shake my earlier conversation with AnnaMae.

"Hey, are Georgia and Bailey friends? I see them eat together." Jake asks.

"Yeah, they're best friends. Have been for years," I reply.

"Is, um, she single?" Jake asks.

"Yeah, that I know of. She's never mentioned anyone to me, at least." I say.

"Cool," Jake says.

Does Jake have feelings for Georgia? Now that is coming out of left field.

I glance over at Devon, wanting to know his reaction to Jake's questions, but he continues to give me the cold shoulder.

"You ready to run?" Jake asks the both of us. He releases his grip on his leg and finishes up with standing stretches. He is still unaware of the tension in this room.

"You guys go ahead. I have to clear my head, so I'm going to run alone today," I tell him.

"Suit yourself," Jake says.

Both Devon and Jake take their leave and I continue to stretch for a few more minutes. After I see them disappear, I get up and take off.

Today is perfect running weather. Although I can see my breath, the cool air feels good against my skin as I jog across town. Decent weather in March is rare when you live in Wisconsin.

In the distance, I see Jake and Devon running side by side. I need to tell Devon that everything is cool. That I don't care who he dates. It doesn't matter if he's gay or straight. Love is love.

What I'm worried about is making him uncomfortable if I bring up the subject first. I know he will never approach the topic and I don't blame him. The football team has never had a gay player before. Not that it should matter.

Maybe if I shoot him a text and make it casual, it won't push him away.

I jog around the street corner and see the Sears. Signs are posted all around the store, Store Closing, 60 percent off, Everything Must Go. The entire town is shaken up about the store closing. About a quarter of the town works there and if you don't, then you know someone who does. Jake is one of those people. That was the most franchised store we had. It used to be Kmart, but that closed like eight years ago.

After I pass Sears, I see Moretti's restaurant. Instantly, I'm taken back with memories. Jack and I spent a lot of days eating free food here. Even amongst his relatives, Jack was the favorite. Everyone loved him. I wonder if they miss him too.

Once I reach the restaurant, I stop. In the window hangs a picture of him with the words, In Memory placed across the top. I miss him. A single tear dangles from my eyelash. I miss my best friend.

What I'm doing is wrong.

Hunter says it. AnnaMae says it. Hayley is practically shouting it from the rooftops. Jack, are you saying it too? Is my relationship with Bailey upsetting for you?

I sit down on the curb in front of the restaurant and think about what AnnaMae said.

All I wanted was for Bailey to be happy, to not feel like she was in her brother's shadow. To not feel that jealousy we both suffered from Jack's glory. I thought by helping her make the squad, she would be happy. But maybe her happiness means Jack's betrayal. What do I honor?

It's my fault Jack is dead.

I thought if I dated Bailey, even if it was pretend, that I could atone for what I did. If I protected her I could do what Jack can no longer do.

However, everyone is right. This isn't what Jack would have wanted. He never wanted her on the cheerleading squad. He never wanted her to attend house parties. He never wanted us together.

AnnaMae is right, what I'm doing is pure selfishness.

With tears rapidly building up inside me, I force myself up from the curb and begin jogging back to school. I have to fix everything. I have to break up with Bailey.

~~~~~6/4/20 • 1905 words~~~~~

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