Finalists in a Final

It was now time, finals. Becca and Demitri were more than ready, but hadn't seen much of each other since their drunk kiss. They didn't know what to think of each other. Were they just friends? Did they both feel the same? Their thoughts were identical, but they made sure their paths never crossed.

Becca was studying for her exam when Kendra called her. She sighed, knowing what this was about.

"Hello?" Becca answered.

"He dumped me, Becky! Steve fucking dumped me!" Kendra cried into the phone. Becca listened to her sobs.

This wasn't news to Becca. She knew that Steve was focused on his basketball career and anytime now, Steve would dump Kendra.

"I'm so sorry." Becca said, comforting her.

"I thought that this was it Becky. I thought Steve was my soulmate." Kendra said. Becca mentally sighed and sank in her chair, skimming her study materials while listening to her friend. Kendra droned on about Steve and the break up. Becca nodded along and counted off the stages of grief. 

"I mean. I should have seen it coming, but I wish we had a stronger relationship. Like you and Demitri." Kendra said, snapping Becca back into the conversation.

"What?" Becca asked to give herself time to process.

"Yeah. You guys were together like all the time." Kendra said. Becca sighed.

"Not much lately. I think I made things akward by taking Steve's dare." Becca admitted. Kendra sighed.

"Yeah I know, Steve sucks. I hope you and Demitri get back together." Kendra said.

"What do you mean back together?" Becca asked. 

"I don't know. But whatever you guys were, I was so jealous of you two." She said, making Becca think for a second. Her and Demitri were like siblings, but that was before that kiss. That stupid, mind-blowing kiss. Half of her wished that Demitri would just forget it and they could go back to being friends, but the other half of her wanted more.

Furthermore, Kendra was always jealous of Becca. Why wouldn't she be? Becca was smarter, more athletic, and even though Kendra wouldn't admit it Becca was prettier as well. Becca knew about some of Kendra's jealousy, but never thought that the better half of the school's dream couple would be jealous of her and her best friend.

"We were just friends." Becca said, making her chest fall slightly. Maybe that's all she and Demitri would be, friends. 

"Oh come on. You really think a guy like that could be 'just friends' with a girl like you?" Kendra said, somewhat angrily. Becca didn't know whether to take offense, or take it as advice.

"What do you mean?" Becca asked, hoping to clearify what she should be thinking.

"You don't think he's at least thought about it?" Kendra asked. Becca was stuck in her head for a moment. She started analizing every interraction she ever had with Demitri. The library, the field, even a drunk kiss and Becca really thought they were both happy being just friends. Now she had a choice to make it real.

"You really think he'd think about me? Like I said, we were friends." Becca said, uncertain of what the word 'were' meant. She didn't want to be friends, that's for sure. 

"Hold on." Kendra said and muted her end. A couple seconds later, she hung up. A couple of minutes pass before a text from Kendra appeared on Becca's phone. Apparently Steve wanted to talk, so she was ditching Becca mid-conversation. Becca rolled her eyes, wanting to get back to studying.

Then, a part of her stopped herself from moving towards her desk. A part of her wondered if it was worth talking to Demitri again. Maybe Kendra was right, and Demitri was waiting on the other end of the phone. Or maybe Kendra is wrong, as Kendra most often is.

Meanwhile, Kyle had crashed with Demitri for a couple days. Demitri was planning to crash with Becca and study, but Steve totally gave away Demitri's crush. He was certain that Becca was avoiding him because it was a mistake. So, he figured that he and Becca were done. He hoped for once, he was wrong.

"Dude, are you actually doing something important?" Demitri asked Kyle. He hates studying alone, but his mom was at work all day and he didn't want to bother her.

"No. Highschool is over, man." Kyle said and continued to play games on his laptop. Demitri tought Kyle might study with him if he just hung around enough, but no one could replace his preferred partner.

"Well, it's not over over, just over for now." Demitri said. Kyle rolled his eyes.

"I don't know why you're studying so much. Don't you have above 100% in every class? Like, I didn't even know that was possible." Kyle said.

"Yeah, but I want to keep them there. Harvard is looking at me." Demitri explained. Kyle laughed.

"hopefully not too hard." Kyle joked, making Demitri sigh. He wished he never agreed to the stupid dare. Becca was clearly trying to get out of the dare by telling him not to accept. It's not like he forced her to kiss him, so why did he feel so dirty?

The evening passed and eventually dinner time came around. Kyle left and Demitri's mom got home from work a tad late. She told Demitri that they were having dinner at Becca's house and the colour left his face.

"I'm not feeling too hungry actually." Demitri said.

"Really? Kyle told me you didn't have much to eat." His mom said.

"Since when do you talk to Kyle?" Demitri asked.

"Demitri, I care. Now go change, you've been in those clothes for days now." his mom said. Fucking Kyle!

Demitri figured there was no point in trying to fight it. If he does, he might just push Becca further away than he already had. Maybe she was waiting at the table to offer him a seat. Or maybe, this is Demitri's brain making a positive out of a shitty situation.

If he had to see Becca, it wasn't going to be like this. He hadn't changed his clothes in three days, and hadn't showered for four. It was hard to keep a routine when he had so much work to do. He went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, seeing just how awful he looked.

His uneven stuble, and baggy eyes are probably what drove Becca away. He turned on the shower and took off his clothes, taking a look in the mirror at his scrawny physic. He puffed his chest out and tried to look muscular, but he shook his head and sighed when he realized how stupid he probably looked.

He got in the shower, letting the hot water drench his patchy, pimply skin. Becca hates him, but they could be civil. He knows he's safe; he just wished he were comfortable, even in his own skin he felt dirty. He picked up his shampoo then looked at his mom's strawberry banana body wash.

Maybe Becca would like him more if he smelled like that. Even though he knew it was a futile attempt to get Becca to like him, it never hurt to smell good. He put down the shampoo, and picked up the body wash, dumping it all over himself. 

He covered his hair, chest, arms, legs, and groin. He wanted to make sure he was clean. He. Did. Nothing. Wrong. No matter how many times he told himself that, he couldn't believe it. He must have done something wrong, otherwise Becca wouldn't be avoiding him.

'What would I do if Becca were here?' He found himself asking. His groin seemed to have an answer. He sighed and thought more. Could he even do that? Could he disrespect his best friend like that? The answer: Absolutely! According to the blood rushing down his body, making him harder, he would do a lot of disrespecting. 'Better to handle these thoughts now.'

Demitri thought about Becca as he took care of himself. How he would hold her and kiss her all over again. The kiss was the final bit for him. That stupid, mind-blowing kiss.

Soon the dreaded event would happen. Soon Demitri would walk to Becca's house with his mom. Soon Demitri would sit and eat with the same girl he had unspeakable shower thoughts about.

Becca was worrying over every detail. This is the moment she planned to tell Demitri how she feels. She wants to give the tension between them a chance, even if it gets them no where. Every detail had to be perfect for him.

If there is even a shred of doubt in Demitri's mind, it would fade when he sees the spotless house, and amazing food she helped prepare. And if that doesn't work, Becca was wearing her best clothes: her favourite tshirt and jeans that made her look curvy and cute.

Demitri hid behind his mom as she rang the doorbell. Becca answered immideatly as if she had been waiting by the door. She greeted Demitri's mom, then her eyes met with Demitri's. they entered the house and both mom's started setting the table.

Becca stood in front of Demitri, waiting for him to say something. She hoped he didn't even remember, but if he mentioned it now she could transition into her speech. But was she ready? Was he? Maybe Demitri was being quiet because he doesn't want to talk. Maybe it was all just a huge mistake.

"Umm... hi." Becca finally uttered. Demitri, hearing these words, assumed that means Becca doesn't want him here. That's the only reason she would stare him down at the door... right?

Demitri waved akwardly, not being able to speak, and walked past Becca to the table. Becca sighed. It looks like her plans might have changed.