In the Girls' Bathroom
"So did you see it? In English?" A brunette girl asked excitedly as she carefully applied lipstick.
The blonde girl next to her stared in the mirror at her reflection. "What? Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano? I didn't even know they were like, dating."
The brunette looked at her lips critically, "Yeah, Lisa said she saw them like, coming out of the boiler room after class. It's so obvious Jordan's just using her. I mean, like what would Jordan Catalano want with Angela Chase? Have you seen her? She's totally not his type."
The blonde smirked, "I remember at the beginning of the year there was this rumor going around about how they had sex in his car. And then he like, totally dropped her."
The brunette put the cap on her lipstick, "I give her two days, tops."
A toilet flushed and Sharon Cherski walked out of the bathroom. "Excuse me, but do you think it's possible for you guys to like, mind your own business?"
The two girls turned and looked her up and down. The blonde girl smiled, "Oh, like you are?"
Sharon narrowed her eyes, "You two don't know anything about Angela Chase."
The brunette smirked cruelly, "We know she's a slut just like her friend Rayanne Graff."
Sharon ground her teeth, but kept her smile, "You know, you're starting to sound really jealous. What, you think Jordan Catalano will ever come get you from English?"
The girls sneered at her before flouncing out of the bathroom. Sharon sighed and her shoulders slumped. As she turned towards the mirror another toilet flushed and Rayanne stepped out. She started to wash her hands, darting looks in the mirror at Sharon.
Sharon rolled her eyes, and turned to look at her, "What?"
"Nothin'." There was a pause and Rayanne glanced away, "So uh, Cherski… Angela's back with Catalano?"
Sharon pursed her lips and hesitated, "I think so. He came to English and stood in the doorway like, forever trying to get her attention. She saw him, he grabbed her hand and they left." She looked back at Rayanne, and her voice softened, "Are you okay?"
Rayanne quickly masked the hurt on her face and shrugged indifferently. She pulled back and grabbed a paper towel, "Who me? I'm fine. It's Angela you should worry about."
"C'mon Rayanne, talk to me."
Rayanne looked at her and averted her eyes. She stared expressionlessly at the ground, "It's just…how could she forgive him when she won't even…talk to me?"
Sharon put on her concerned, gently reproachful look, "Have you tried apologizing?"
Rayanne scoffed, shaking off her mood. She grabbed her bag and hoisted it onto her shoulder. "Yeah, like that'll work. Look, I gotta go. Tell Angela congratulations."
In the Hallway
"Rickie, it was so incredible. It was perfect- almost like a dream or something." I smiled, remembering.
Rickie stood next to me, watching me put my books in my locker. He smiled halfheartedly. "That's great Angela. That's really great. I'm so happy for you."
I shut my locker and looked at him, concerned. "What's wrong?"
He paused and then pulled me to the side, away from the crowd. "Look, Angela. Are you sure about this? I don't- I don't want to see you get hurt. Not again."
I smiled softly, running my eyes over his features. I don't know what I'd do without Rickie. He's like, the closest friend I have. "Rickie…" I leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."
He kissed me back and nodded. We linked arms and walked towards the cafeteria. "So…what are you going to do about Brian?"
I sighed. "I don't know that I have to do anything. I mean, my feelings haven't changed just because I know he likes me."
"But don't you think he deserves more? I mean, he did write the letter, even though it was helping Jordan. And he's your friend, right?"
Why does life have to be so complicated? Every time something wonderful happens, reality has to push its way right back in. I picked up a tray, "Well what do you want me to do?"
"Well…" Rickie eyed the container of brown mush. Gross. I swear cafeteria food is a form of torture. We picked out slightly more edible looking food and paid the lunch lady. "I told Delia I would eat lunch with her today."
What? "What?"
"Delia…you know, Delia Fisher." In case I still didn't know who she was, he raised an arm and pointed to a table a few yards away. The girl in question giggled and stood up, waving him over.
I frowned slightly, feeling left out. What was it with Delia Fisher and my guy friends? "Oh."
Rickie turned back to face me. A group of jocks brushed past us rudely and we moved to the side. "So look, I'll go sit over there. You can come with, or…" he trailed off and I followed his gaze to a table in the corner of the cafeteria. Brian Krakow sat by himself, picking miserably at his food.
I watched him for a minute and then looked sideways at Rickie. He patted my shoulder encouragingly and started to walk towards Delia. I sighed and squared my shoulders, turning to face Brian.
I remember this time when we were in 8th grade. Sharon, Brian and I were starting to become like, different people. During PE one day, Brian got hit in the nose by a ball. He had to go the nurse because he was bleeding all over the place. It was really disgusting. The coach asked if one of his friends would go with him to the nurse for…I don't know, moral support, I guess. Everyone, like, looked right at me, but I didn't answer because I didn't want to…to claim him or whatever. What was worse was Brian totally found out. I think I hurt his feelings pretty bad. For the first week afterwards I avoided him because I couldn't stand to look at him- I felt so guilty. Like I had let him down somehow.
That was nothing compared to how I feel now.
AN: So whaddya think? Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, it's been a full on week. I've pretty much got the next chapter written so that'll be out pretty soon.
Thanks so much to guardqueen22, Pale-Spaz101 and cheese makes the world go round for reviewing! Reviews are seriously the reason I write! So please….REVIEW!
