Katie
The one person I didn't expect to see on my doorstep was Stacy Hemmings.

"What do you want, Stacy?" I ask with a dead look.

"Can I talk to you?" Stacy asks.

To be honest she looks like death warmed over. She is wearing sweatpants and an oversized shirt. Her eyes are puffy and her hair is in a messy ponytail.

I cross my arms. "About what?"

She scoffs, but it wasn't a mean one like usual, it was more out of embarrassment. "A lot of stuff."

I give a her blank look and she sighs. "Can I come in?"

"Please." She adds whispering.

"Yeah," I sigh.

This will be interesting.

She follows me into my kitchen and sits down on a bar stool. I lean against the other side of the counter to face her.

Stacy starts picking at her nails with a terrified look.

"I don't have all day," I say annoyed.

"Right sorry. I came here to say I'm sorry for being such a bitch towards you."

I feel my eyebrows raise.

That was unexpected.

"After the video came out I realized how right you were. I've been an awful person." Stacy's eyes travel slowly to mine.

I smile softly. "Yeah, a mega bitch."

Stacy nods her head. "That's an understatement."

She takes a deep breath. "I also wanted to talk to you about Wyatt."

I take a sharp breath.

Stacy shakes her head. "Katie, please let me explain."

I motion for her to continue.

"I always had a thing for Wyatt. When he kissed me at that party a few months ago I thought he liked me back."

She lowers her head. "He didn't. But unlike a normal person, I didn't back off. As soon as school started I followed him around like a lost puppy."

I smile and Stacy smiles back.

"When I heard y'all were dating I was so jealous that I devised a stupid plan to hopefully break you up."

I shake my head in silent laughter.

"I know pathetic."

Stacy giggles. "Anyway, I knew If I tried anything with Wyatt you wouldn't believe it, so I made a deal with Sophie."

The smile falls off Stacy's face. "I knew she had a thing for Wyatt like most girls at school.
I told her if she helped me I would make sure she would make cheer captain next year."

"Do you remember when we all went to the movies?" Stacy asks.

I give Stacy a 'seriously' look.

"Sorry, stupid question."

"I saw you and Wyatt together and realized I couldn't break you up. I realized Wyatt would never look at me the way he looks at you."

Stacy takes another deep breath. "I called it off with Sophie, but she didn't want to. She threatened to tell everyone a secret about me that no one should know."

I wanted to ask what secret, but I knew it wasn't my place.

" I had to go along with the plan. At the party Sunday I spiked Wyatt's drink knowing he's a lightweight. Sophie made her move on him and he immediately pushed her away."

Stacy looks up at me with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry Katie. You can hate me all you want but please give Wyatt another chance."

That's a lot of information to take in.

I give her a small smile. "Thanks for apologizing."

I tilt my head. "Why were you so mean to me?"

Stacy gives me a confused look. "You hadn't figured that out yet?"

"No."

Figured out what?

"It started in fifth grade. My parents had just divorced and I just moved here with my dad. I had to start a new school in the middle of the year."

Stacy fidgets with a napkin. "I tried talking to people, but no one wanted to be the new kid's friend."

"At the end of the first day. I was waiting for my dad who had forgotten to pick me up when I saw you and Izzy playing on the playground."

Stacy gives me a humorless smile. "I watched y'all play; I almost came up to talk to you. Then Tyler and Derek showed up on a bike to pick you up."

I remember they did that every day that year.

"I remember Tyler throwing you over his shoulder."

A smile ghosted Stacy's lips. "You pretend to be mad at him, but the smile on your face said otherwise. He finally put you down and Izzy punched him on the shoulder."

We both laugh quietly.

"You got on the back of Tyler's bicycle and Izzy got on behind Derek. That's when the jealousy started."

Stacy looks into my eyes.

"I wanted your life so bad. You had friends and a family that adored you." Stacy says barely louder than a whisper.

"You wanted my life? Stacy, my mom died when I was five." I say surprised.

"At least you had a dad that loved you." Stacy snaps.

"My dad could care less about me. All he cares about is his new wife and her kids." Stacy adds.

"Wait, you didn't start bullying me till eighth grade."

Stacy rolls her eyes. "Yeah, that's when I finally made friends with the 'popular' crowd. I was so jealous and insecure that I took it out on you."

I walk around the table and pull her in for a hug. "I forgive you, Stacy."

She starts shaking from crying so hard.

When she calms down I pull away. "I'm sorry too."

She wipes her nose. "What are you sorry for?" She exclaims.

"I was mean to you too."

"Yeah, because I was mean to you first," Stacy says after blowing her nose.

"I could have killed you with kindness," I say handing her another napkin.

"Well, that's not how you work, Katie," Stacy says giggling.

I have an idea.

"How about we start over."

Stacy raises her eyebrows. "What?"

"Let's start over."

I hold out my hand. "Hi, I'm Katie Fleming. Would you like to be my friend?"

Stacy laughs. "It's nice to me you, I'm Stacy Hemmings, and I would love to be your friend."

I shake her hand. "That should have been done seven years ago."

Stacy nods.

I check the time and realize I have thirty minutes till dinner.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

She stands up. "No, I have to get home."

I walk her to the door. "Hey, Stacy."

"Yeah."

"If you need anything I'm right here."

I see her eyes well up. "Thanks, Katie."

I grin. "Hey, that's what friends are for."

Im working on homework when the door to my room opens. "Hey."

"Hey," Tyler says back.

I turn around. "No, you're not allowed in here."

Izzy roll her eyes and Tyler put his hands on his hips.

"Why not?" He whines.

I grin. "Did you not see the sign on the door saying 'no idiots allowed'?"

Tyler smirks. "I figured it wouldn't matter since you're in here."

I gasp and Izzy stops me before I say my come back.

"Katie, we want to talk to you about something."

"Why does everyone suddenly want to have a heart-to-heart with me," I mutter.

At dinner, I told everyone what happened with Stacy.

To say Izzy was surprised is an
understatement.

"It's about Wyatt," Tyler says sitting down.

I groan.

"I think you should hear him out," Tyler says.

"It would give you closer and would help you move on," Izzy adds.

I narrow my eyes. "I'll think about it, okay."

Izzy smiles. "Awesome."

Wyatt
Sugarlips: Planted the seed. It's up to her now.

Me: Thanks, man.

Sugarlips: let her come to you or it won't work.

Me: Great. I guess God is itching to teach me some patience.

Sugarlips: All great things come to those who wait.

Me: 🖕🏼

Sugarlips: Very rude I'm trying to help.