Keep on Going

Kacey forced out a laugh as Ben continued to tell her a story about something that happened to him at a party once. It wasn't that she was not interested, it was just that since she had left Kennedy earlier that day, she had been a complete mess. She didn't know what to feel or what to think at this point.

"Are you ok?" Ben asked as she aimlessly watched the straw she was moving back and forth in her iced coffee.

"Huh? Oh yeah." She replied as her eyes met his.

"You seem, I don't know, out of it."

"Oh, sorry. I guess I'm just tired." She lied with a grin which he returned, "I see. And what did you in fact do to be tired?"

"Kennedy took me hiking yesterday which is never a good idea and then I ended up falling asleep on his couch."

She was getting good at this lying stuff which made her feel even more horrible about it all.

Ben chuckled as if it was nothing, "You went hiking?"

"Let's not talk about it. Ken's a jerk. I have a battle wound on my knee to prove it."

As Ben laughed, her mind went back to the moment in the woods and she shook her head trying not to think about him anymore. She was here with Ben. She shouldn't be doing that anyways. She really needed to put some space between them...

"So I was thinking, if you are ok with it, one of my friends has a lake house not too far away and he invited a group of people to go this weekend and I was kind of hoping you would want to come with me."

Her eyes met his and he rubbed the back of his neck clearly a bit nervous.

"You don't have to of course. I mean we've only hung out a few times so I won't hold it against you." He spoke immediately as if she was already turning the idea down.

Kacey grinned, "Sure." She spoke without much thought. She would deal with her over thinking later when she was alone.

"Really? I mean, no pressure."

She chuckled, "I know that but yes, I'd love to go."

A smile lit his face and she couldn't help but return it with her own. This could be good for them. She could spend more time with him and a few days without seeing Kennedy would probably do her some good.

"Great. I'm really stoked about it. It's a cool place and plus, I want you to meet some of my friends. Well, you know some of them but still..."

She chuckled, "Can't wait."

He smiled once more before pushing back the chair and standing from the table. She eyed him and he held his hand out for her now more confident since she had agreed to going.

"Let's get out of here."

She smiled widely as she placed her hand in his. The pair threw away their now empty coffee cups before exiting the small shop. Her mind couldn't help but wonder to Ben's invitation. Sure, she liked him but she was unsure about it now. Then again, she couldn't help if that was just because of what she was now feeling for Kennedy.

She tried to be a bit more talkative as he drove her back home and by the time they arrived she was certain he didn't think anything was up anymore. If he even did. She probably was just being paranoid like always.

"So, can I see you tomorrow?" He asked swinging their hands between them as he walked her to the door.

"You can say no, just so you know. I won't be offended." He added quickly and she laughed. She honestly had no problem spending time with him. He was funny and took her mind off things. She was determined to like him. She had nor reason not to...except for a boy who didn't return her feelings so that didn't count.

"You can see me tomorrow." She finally responded with a smile, coming to a stop as they reached her door.

"Great!"

He smiled down at her and before she knew what he was doing, his lips were on hers. The kiss was purely innocent and yet she couldn't help the feelings she now felt taking over her.

"Sorry, was that too soon?" He asked once he pulled back looking a bit unsure of himself.

She laughed, "No, it was not. Goodnight Ben." She replied standing on her toes to peck his cheek.

Once inside she let out a sigh as she leaned against the door. She needed to sort out all of her feelings or they were going to get the best of her.

"Um, are you ok?" She heard only to look up and see Abby standing there with a worried look on her face.

"Oh, yeah."

"Everything go ok with Ben?"

Kacey nodded and Abby raised an eyebrow, "Ok, so it went so good that you can't walk?"

Kacey groaned, "Shut up."

"I thought he was ‘the one’?" She asked using finger quotations as Kacey walked to the couch.

"I may hit you."

Abby fell beside her just staring at the girl.

"Can you go away?"

"No, what happened?!"

"Nothing, it was a good date. He invited me to the lake with his friends this weekend."

"Well that's a good thing, right?" She questioned, pulling her legs underneath her as she situated herself on the couch.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm sure it'll be fun. He's a awesome guy."

"But..."

"But, he's not Kennedy." She whined, burying her face into the arm of the couch. She hated admitting that. Especially to Abby.

Abby snickered, "Should have seen they coming. All from that almost kiss, huh? Don't worry, he likes you. It's obvious."

"He does not!"

"And you loveeee him." Her friend teased and she fault the urge to push her off the couch.

"I do not!"

"And Ben is cool but not Kennedy cool."

"Kennedy is not cool!"

"Oh please! You like him because he is unlike any guy you've ever liked."

"How so?" She asked crossing her arms over her chest.

Abby grinned and shrugged her shoulders, "He's different. Look, Kacey, I think if you in fact like Kennedy, then just give it time. I think he's starting to warm up to you."

Abby let out a sigh and before she could speak the front door opened and they both turned their eyes to it.

"Claire!"

Kacey groaned covering her face as John walked over to them.

"Why is he here?" She mumbled through her hands and Abby chuckled, "He wanted to hang out."

"I swear if you start dating him all respect will be gone."

"Hey!" John shouted as he sat down across from the two.

"Not going to happen."

"Hey!" The boy repeated and the girls laughed.

"What's wrong with little princess?" The boy asked, relaxing against the seat.

"Nothing."

Abby rolled her eyes and John continued, "Kennedy?"

Kacey immediately looked at the boy and he smirked, "Oh come on. I'm not that stupid. I see the way you two are around each other."

"We're just friends."

"Right and the sky is green."

Kacey glared at him and he chuckled, "No need to give me dirty looks, Princess. I'm just saying, we all notice."

"There's nothing to notice."

"That's what you think."

"And what do you think, John?" She asked glaring at him and he shrugged, "I think, he likes you but he'll never admit it because he for some reason is anti-commitment. And you like him but you'll never admit it because you don't think he will change his anti-commitment feelings and yeah, you may be right about that, but you also didn't see him the day you went on a date with someone that wasn't him." John replied smoothly, a smirk lining his lips as he finished his statement.

Butterflies immediately hit her stomach although she tried to keep cool over his words. How true could they be really? Stuff like this is what gave her hope and she knew that hope always ended up smashed.

"But what do I know?" John asked throwing his hands up.

"So you think he likes her?" Abby asked and John shrugged, "I'm just saying if I didn't like a girl I wouldn't give a shit if they were mad at me or anything and yet, he seems to care a lot, huh?"

Kacey bit her bottom lip as she stared at the boy. She really didn't need to hear this. She did not want to get her hopes up again. She knew how Kennedy was and she knew his feelings for her were strictly platonic. She needed to stop letting them get in her head.

"I think he likes you too for what it's worth." Abby chimed in and she sighed as she covered her face with her hands.

"I promise you he doesn't." She mumbled out and John scoffed, "Oh he told you this?"

"Well no, but..."

"Then but nothing."

She groaned at the two as Abby laughed.

"Boys suck."

"Yep." John spoke up and she chuckled softly, "Especially boys in bands."

"Yep."

"Why are you agreeing to this?" She asked and he shrugged, "It's true. Trust me, I know. We're shitty people and even when we do care about someone we are never home so yeah, you make a valid point, but the thing is, Kennedy isn't one to play around about things. If he is interested in you, he truly is interested in you, so if you have feelings for him, try to leave Ben out of the equation. You're just going to push him further away."

Kacey sighed, "So what? I just need to wait around for him to decide he likes me and wants to date me? How is that fair?!"

"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying Ken's not going to tell you he likes you even if he does so don't rub Ben in his face. It'll only make it worse."

"I honestly think you two are just delusional. I spend a lot of time with him. He doesn't like me like that and in fact he is the one who asks me about Ben. It's not like I always bring him up."

John shrugged, "Fine, ok. Like I said before, what do I know?"

She sighed as she stared at the boy across from her. She wanted to believe him just because the optimistic part of her was way too big, and yet she knew she shouldn't think too much into it. It would just lead to her feelings getting hurt and she really didn't want that. Not this time. She had to keep repeating that to herself but she could feel her feelings immediately shifting in Kennedy's favor all over again.

No.

She would go with Ben on that trip with his friends and hopefully during those few days she would forget about Kennedy, fall in love with Ben and live happily ever after.

How hard could that be?