When Our Worlds Collide by Lindsey Iler

wrong place at the wrong time.”
    “I just need a real answer from you because this whole ‘You
don’t deserve to have your future ripped from you’ isn’t cutting it,” Graham
argues. His voice is rapidly rising with his aggravation.
    I sit there pulling at a loose piece of string on my
comforter thinking about what he is asking of me. I don’t know how to answer
without somehow revealing too much or embarrassing myself. Graham and I are on
two different planets when it comes to high school hierarchy. He’s the King and
I’m the peasant. That’s just how it is, how it will always be. I’m not under
the impression that any of that will change.
    I dig deep for the confidence that I need to say this to
him. “This isn’t going to make much sense, but I’m going to say it anyways, so
please listen. I’m only saying it once because once will be enough to embarrass
me for a lifetime,” I look him directly in the eyes as I speak. I take a deep
breath in and release it before I begin. “When I was standing on the stage that
night I looked out in the crowd and I saw you watching me and for a split
second I saw the guy who I believed that you were or at least hoped that you
were. I’ve heard the rumors and see how everyone moves out of your wake in fear
of being swallowed up by you. I know how everyone sees you. I just see
something different I guess. Maybe I’m naïve and you’ll prove me wrong but I’m
hoping that I’ll be right about you after all.”
    Did I just say that out loud?
    Graham sits next to me clearly thinking about what I had
said. His facial expressions change a few times trying to work it all out in
his head. His cluelessness is adorable.
    “Okay,” he speaks quietly and hesitantly.
    Sliding over to give him more room to sit down, I push play
on the remote control. The movie springs to life with Julia Roberts explaining
to Richard Gere how to drive his car. Graham takes a minute to realize this is
my way of inviting him to stay to watch the movie. He looks unsure as he slides
off his tennis shoes and props a pillow up behind his back before leaning
against my headboard to get more comfortable.
    We sit watching the movie for a half an hour before I can’t
contain myself anymore letting out a giggle that quickly turns into a
full-fledged laugh.
    “Something amusing?” he looks over at me with a playful
amused smirk.
    “This is a bit ridiculous, right? I mean you sitting here in
my bed watching Pretty Woman with me. No one would believe us if we told them.”
I glance over at him and he is watching me laugh.
    “I suppose it is.” Graham’s laughter falls perfectly in with
mine and echoes through my room.
    God, he has a great laugh. Don’t even think about it,
Kennedy. Never gonna happen. It’s best that you remember that.
    “What do we do now? I mean, are we friends or…” I trail off
afraid of what he will have to say and slightly embarrassed that I even asked.
    “I’d say we’re friends,” Graham smiles. It doesn’t reach as
far as his eyes. Clearly, he’s hesitant.
    “I didn’t think Graham Black had friends that were girls,” I
joke. It is one of the many rumors that I’ve heard about him.
    “I don’t, but I’m willing to make an exception for you.” He
keeps eye contact with me as he says it. I believe him, but what does that even
mean?
    We sit in silence for a while until the movie is done
playing. The room falls silent for a beat until I hear my parents arguing. Not
again, I don’t have it in me to deal with them tonight especially with Graham
sitting right next to me. They must have forgotten that he is here or else they
wouldn’t have started in on each other like this.
    How convenient.
    “What do you mean you got laid off?” My mother shouts.
    “It’s only temporarily. They are trying to adjust the budget
then I’ll be back to work,” my dad explains.
    “How are we supposed to afford to send Kennedy off to
Columbia when we can barely afford Will’s