Pretend

by Charlene Antrobus

  "Well whatever, just don't embarrass me," she said as he pulled up at Janeson High.

  "I'll do my best," he replied.

  "Whatever!" She said as she opened the car door and jumped out.

  "I've got to go to the office. I'll meet you in homeroom, ok?" She said as she leaned back into the car, towards me.

  "I can come with you," I said.

  "No, it's cool, I'll just meet you there, don't worry," she said before smiling and running off towards the entrance.

  "You're really going to talk to Cameron?" I asked as I leant forward.

  "Yeah, I just want to make sure that he treats her right," he said as he turned to face me.

  "Maybe if I had done the same last night all of that wouldn't have happened," he said as he glanced down at my wrist.

  "It’s not your fault," I replied in a low voice.

  Every time that I thought about what happened with Jake it made me feel kind of sad.

  "You ok?" He asked as his hand gently lifted my chin.

  "Yeah," I said as I forced a smile onto my lips.

  "So, tonight," he said as a smile filled his face.

  "Tonight?" I asked in confusion.

  "Yeah, Crystal's going on her date isn't she," he said.

  "Yeah, I know," I said as I wondered why he was pointing out the obvious.

  "So, that means that we have the house to ourselves," he said as he smiled at me.

  "Ohhhh, yeah I forgot about that," I said as a tingle went through my entire body.

  Was it possible to be both excited and nervous at the same time? Well I was.

  "Well, I have a surprise for you," he said.

  "What surprise?" I asked as a smile spread across my lips again.

  "Now, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you would it?" He said as he looked me in the eyes.

  "Yeah but now I really want to know," I moaned as I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

  "No, I thought I already told you, your puppy dog eyes don't work on me beautiful," he said as he let out a little laugh.

  "Now, I really got to go because trying not to kiss you is getting harder by the minute," he said as his eyes glanced down at my lips.

  I laughed, bit my lip and then got out the car.

  "Have a good day," I said as I began to walk away.

  "You too," he said as he leaned against the car and watched me walk away.

  There go the butterflies again.

  It was so hard to stop myself from turning back around to look at Aiden but somehow I had managed. It was the low vibration of my phone that interrupted my thoughts. A smile filled my face as I wondered what Aiden had to say now. As I slipped my phone out of my pocket and looked at the screen, my stomach dropped and a feeling of sickness came over me.

  It was Jake.

  What the hell did he want?

  As I stared down at the screen of my cell and read Jake's name for the fifth time, I could feel the pit of my stomach bubbling. I hated that I felt this way but I just couldn't help it. I didn't want Aiden to pick up on my sudden change in mood as he watched me walk away so I quickly slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed towards Janeson High's entrance.

  I let out a deep breath as I slipped through the doors and headed towards the restrooms. As I quickly made my way there with my eyes fixated on the ground, I felt like everything around me had been heightened. Everyone seemed to be moving faster, making more noise and staring at me.

  I wasn't sure if it was real or just in my mind.

  "Sorry," I heard a tall, thin, dark haired boy say as he accidently bumped into me on his way to wherever he was going. He looked at me in the strangest way as he continued to head in the opposite direction. I really needed to get a grip and stop being so jumpy. I had about seven minutes till the bell would go, hopefully that would give me enough time to compose myself.

  As I approached the girl's restroom and lifted my hand to the handle, I was suddenly interrupted.

  "Hey, I've been calling you," Jess said as she rested her hand on my shoulder.

  "Oh, sorry, I didn't hear you. You ok?" I asked as I tried to avoid eye contact with her.

  "Yeah I'm fine thanks, you?"

  "Yeah, I'm good, just need to go to the toilet, I'll catch you up," I said as I turned the restroom handle and began to make my way in.

  "Oh, no need, we've got plenty of time, I'll wait for you," she said in a chirpy voice.

  Great, I really needed to sort myself out.

  "So," I heard Jess begin as I shut the toilet door, sat on the closed toilet seat and placed my head in my hands.

  "Are you going to Murphy's party on Saturday? I hear it's going to be really good, I think that nearly everyone from school is going," she said excitedly.

  "Yeah, I should be," I replied.

  "Well don't sound too enthusiastic," she said, sarcastically.

  "Sorry, I think I'm just tired," I replied as I tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to escape from my eyes.

  "Are you sure?" She asked.

  Was it me or did her voice seem like ten times louder?

  "Positive," I said as a tear escaped my eye.

  "Then why are you sat there crying?" She asked, making me jump out of my skin. As I looked up, I realised that she was peering over from the other cubicle.

  "Come on out," she said in a sympathetic voice.

  As I opened the toilet door, she had already made her way to mine and I was greeted by the warmest hug ever. I needed that.

  "Now what's up?" She asked in a gentle voice.

  "It's a long story," I said as I walked towards the sink and washed my hands. I didn't go to the toilet but it felt weird just walking out without washing my hands now.

  "Ok, so I'm all ears, especially if that mark has anything to do with it," she said as she gestured towards my wrist with her finger.

  I let out a deep sigh and then just stared at her for a few minutes.

  "Ok but after homeroom," I said.

  "Ok, we've got English together so you can tell me all about it then since Mr Budgen spends the lesson sleeping anyway," she said as she let out a small giggle. I joined her and it felt good.

  "Yeah," I said before she took my hand in hers.

  "Come on let's go before we're late," she said as she threw me a warm smile.

  "Thanks and Jess-"

  "I know, don't mention this to anyone, I get it," she said as she dragged me out of the restroom and towards homeroom. I gave her a gentle smile and then let her lead the way.

  I was completely silent during homeroom. Jess kept throwing me small smiles throughout, which I have to admit, made me feel better. It sounds strange but I was looking forward to talking to somebody. I needed to let some of the stress of the week out, at last.

  * * *

  Before I knew it, I was in English. Mr Budgen told us that we would be watching a film today. We had to study it carefully as we would have a quiz on Friday all about it...Fun! Then just as Jess had said, he fell asleep, typical.

  "So?" Jess said as Mr Budgen let us know that he wouldn't wake back up until the end of the lesson by making a long and rather off putting snoring sound. This caused everyone to laugh, quietly of course, no one wanted to be responsible for waking him up.

  "I don't really know where to start," I whispered as she kept her eyes fixated on me.

  "How about with that?" She said with a sad face as she looked at my wrist.

  I quickly pulled the sleeve of my cardigan down. She was making me wonder how many other people had spotted it already.

  "It was Jake," I answered, quietly.

  "What? You're saying that he did that to you?" She asked as her eyes increased to twice their size.

  "Yeah, we went on a date yesterday and when I told him that I wasn't really looking for more, well, he sort of got angry," I said as I fought with the tears.

  "Sort of? He's left a mark, I can't believe that," she said in an angry tone.

  "So what then?"

&n
bsp; "Well Anthony and Aiden came home and they went looking for him," I replied.

  "Good, I hope that he got what he deserved," she said.

  "Well I don't know, Aiden didn't say much when he got back but he was pretty mad."

  "So would I have been, I would have kicked his butt if I was there," she said. She made me smile.

  "Thanks," I said as I squeezed her hand.

  "That's what friends are for," she said as a gentle smile filled her lips.

  "I don't understand why he got so mad though?"

  "I don't know but from what he was saying I gathered that he had had his heart broken a few times and by me saying that I had feelings for someone else probably didn't help. I kind of feel sorry for him," I said.

  "Well I don't, there's no excuse to put your hand on anyone well except for him, for what he did but there's still no excuse," she said.

  "I know," I mumbled.

  "So, the guy?"

  "Huh?" I asked in a confused state.

  "The one that you have feelings for, Kyle?" She said.

  Oh, she picked up on that.

  "Erm, no," I said before I could convince myself to lie.

  I just wanted to be honest with someone as crazy as it sounds.

  "Then who?" She asked in shock.

  "Promise me that you won't say a word to Crystal," I said in a serious tone.

  "Oh my gosh, you like Cameron? This is like something from Jerry Springer-"

  "No, not Cameron," I interrupted, quickly.

  "Oh, then who? Wait, it can't be...It is," she said as she slapped her hand across her mouth.

  "Aiden?" She whispered after looking around and making sure that nobody was listening. I nodded my head.

  "Ok, so I can totally see why but you haven't told Crystal?" She said.

  "Not yet but I will," I said.

  "Ok, so have you told him?"

  "Sort of," I said with a slight smile on my face.

  "What does that mean?" She asked as a big grin filled her face.

  "We're kind of dating," I whispered.

  "Ahhhhh!" She screamed, making Mr Budgen shift in his chair. Luckily he didn't wake up.

  "Sorry, sorry," she said as she slapped her hand over her mouth again.

  "Shut up," a few annoyed people said as they looked at her with an angry expression.

  She turned back to me and took in a deep breath.

  "This is a lot to take in. So are you happy?" She asked in an excited tone.

  "Happier than I've ever been," I said, honestly.

  "Then Crystal will have to deal with it but you do have to tell her," she said.

  "I know. I'm going to tell her on Saturday, I'm just preparing myself."

  "Yeah, I'd rather you than me although Aiden is hot," she said as a smirk filled her face.

  "I think it's cute, he's like one of the very few good guys left in this world, so I say cease the opportunity. Everything else will fall into place soon, don't worry. Crystal won't hear anything from me but please do hurry and get me out of this position," she said, sympathetically.

  "I know, sorry to tell you but I felt like I was going to burst," I whispered.

  "I know, I'm glad that you told me, I feel honoured," she said with a smile on her face.

  "Thanks," I said as I threw her another smile.

  "So, why were you so upset, it sounds like you have something to be at least a little bit happy about?" She asked in a confused tone. Without saying a word, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and placed it on the table in front of her.

  "Have you read it?" She asked as she stared at me with a sad face.

  "No, that's what I was going to do when I bumped into you," I replied.

  "Do you want me to?" She asked.

  "Please," I replied.

  I watched her intensely as she opened up the message, read it, took a deep breath and then turned towards me.

  "Ok it says, ‘Hi I'm sorry about last night, I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you-"

  "Ok," I interrupted.

  "There's more," she said.

  "There is?" I asked in a confused tone.

  "Yes he also said ‘please can we meet up and talk’," she said as she handed me the phone. I scanned over the message quickly before looking back up at her. I took in a deep breath and then rested my head on the table.

  "What are you going to do?" She asked.

  "I have no idea," I said.

  "You're not going to meet him are you? April come on this guy put his hand on you," she said in a frustrated tone.

  "I know but I think that he's really sorry Jess, maybe I should hear him out, it can't have been easy for him to say sorry like that. Maybe he just needs a good friend," I said.

  "I don't trust him. If you go then take Aiden," she said, more as an order than a suggestion.

  "That wouldn't work, Aiden hates him," I said.

  "Well then take someone else or don't go. I think you need to think about this April, you could get hurt," she said as she looked at me with worried eyes. She was right.

  "Ok, I'll just tell him that I'll think about it but I promise that if I do decide to go then I'll take someone with me, ok?"

  "Ok," she said as she threw me a smile.

  I quickly sent a message to Jake saying that I would think about it and let him know later. Seconds later he replied saying thanks and then I put my phone in my pocket and turned to Jess.

  "So, what about you?" I asked with a smile on my face.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Is there anyone that you're interested in?" I asked.

  "Well," she began as her smile increased.

  "Spill."

  "Ok, so Anthony has text me a couple of times but I've ignored them," she said as though she was rather proud of herself.

  "Seriously?" I asked in shock.

  "Yeah, what? I was trying to play hard to get, I know that he's a player and I really am starting to like him but I didn't want to seem too eager or make him think that I’m like all of the other girls that he’s been with. Was it too much?" She asked with a worried expression on her face.

  "Exactly how many texts has he sent and how many have you ignored?"

  "Well we text each other a couple of times after he took my number at the park. Then he text me yesterday and this morning and I haven't replied to either of them," she said, still looking worried.

  "He broke the rule," I muttered in shock.

  "What rule?"

  "Ok, so Anthony has the ‘one text’ rule."

  "The what?" She asked.

  "The ‘one text’ rule. Basically he sends a girl one text then she replies and he ignores her for a few days and then he finally replies if he plans on seeing her again that is. However, if he sends her one text and she doesn't reply within twenty four hours then he never texts her again. It's been his rule for years," I said in shock.

  "Oh," she replied with a half excited, half confused look on her face.

  "What I ‘m saying is, he must like you if he broke the rule. This is crazy," I said in an excited tone.

  "So what should I do now?" She asked.

  "Ok, so maybe just text him later this evening," I said.

  "Ok, I'll do it when I'm at Crystal's later," she replied.

  "You're coming to Crystal's later?" I asked.

  "Yeah, she wants help getting ready for her date, she said that we all have to be there except for Jinnie and Erica because they've got some family thing," she said, casually.

  "Ok, don't panic but Anthony's coming round later, him and Aiden are going to give Cameron some talk," I said as I rolled my eyes.

  "Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?" She asked as a look of panic filled her face.

  "Ok, don't message him, just wait till you see him later and then you can figure it out," I said as a smile filled my face.

  I didn't want to get Jess' hopes up too much but I have a feeling that Anthony may really like her. He never breaks the texting rule.

  Suddenly the
bell rang, interrupting our conversation.

  "I've got chemistry now so I'll see you after," Jess said as she raced towards the door.

  She had Mr Marvin and everyone knew to never be late for his lessons, ever.

  "Ok, see you later," I replied as I watched her run through the door.

  "Erm, Mr Budgen," I said as I tapped him gently.

  "Huh," he said as he jumped up from his seat with what looked like dribble running down from the corner of his mouth, ewww.

  "The bell just went sir," I said as I kept my distance.

  "Yes, I know. Right off you all go and don't forget the quiz on Friday. I hope that you were all watching that film closely," he said as he stood at his desk.

  I wonder how long it would take him to realise that I was the only one left in the room.

  * * *

  It wasn't long before lunch came around, although I wasn't feeling quite as hungry as usual. Maybe I was coming down with something.

  "Hey," Crystal said as I walked into the canteen.

  "You not eating?" She asked as I stared down at all of their food filled trays.

  "No, I'm not feeling too good to be honest," I said as I gently rubbed my stomach. The smell of the food was not exactly helping my current situation.

  "I hope it wasn't the pancakes, I'm sure that they were in date," Crystal said with a guilty face.

  Note to self, never eat food provided by Crystal again.

  "Let's hope not," I said as I raised an eyebrow in the air.

  "So has lover boy told you where he's taking you tonight?" Jinnie asked Crystal.

  "Well I already knew that we were going to watch a movie but he text me last night to say that we’d go for something to eat as well," she said with a huge grin on her face.

  "Cool," Jinnie replied before looking at me.

  "How did your date with the hotty go last night?" Jinnie asked as she looked at me.

  "Erm it was...Erm-"

  "Turns out that he wasn't her type," Crystal interrupted.

  "Aww that's a shame," Jinnie said and then without another word she began eating her food.

  It was times like these that I was thankful for her poor attention span.

  As I turned my head to smile at Crystal, I spotted Kyle leaning against a wall in the canteen.

  "Hey guys I'm just going to find out about Mimi," I said as I stood up.