Chapter Two – Ruining Relationships
It is official. Jack Thomson is not only the most boring person ever he is also the most irritating.
I've come to the conclusion that he is not even attractive; you see his hair is 'bouffant' in a really sickening way and his teeth are not quite straight. Also I happened to get a good view of his arm when he tried to drag Annabelle of me and I have to say his muscle tonnage – zilch. Rumour has it that, he's the best football player the school has had in years but I refuse to believe it. Anyone who has arms similar to spaghetti is not an athlete. I'm pretty sure I could beat him in a fight. Actually I'm pretty sure Annabelle could beat him.
To make matters worse Annabelle is pretending she is completely besotted with him. She must be pretending because come on – Jack Thomson? I think it's because now they are 'intimate' she thinks they have to be in love. Or maybe she's trying to annoy me to death – if she is then she is more of an evil genius than I ever imagined, because trust me it is working.
I really wanted not to sit with them at lunch but since I have recently become Annabelle's personal dietary expert (aka I force feed her every lunch) I don't have much choice.
As part of my plan to keep at least part of my sanity I have decided Thursday is going to be a girl's only day. That means no Jack at lunch and I can spend some quality time with Belle. The small flaw in this nifty plan is that I haven't run it by Annabelle yet.
"Hey Belle" I smiled as I descended for breakfast on Thursday morning. She quickly narrowed her eyes suspiciously at me. Damn she knows me too well.
"What have you done?" I roll my eyes,
"Why do you presume I've done something?"
"What have you done?" she repeats impatiently tapping her spoon on the table.
"Ok well I've decided that today is going to be our day."
"Our day?"
"Yup" I exclaim happily, "from now on Thursday is going to be a girl's only day and, since we don't have any girl friends, it will just be the two of us. No Mark, no Kenny and definitely no Jack."
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"You can't decide that I'm going to ditch my boyfriend for you, I see you every day anyway, just because you've turned into an insanely jealous cow!" she shouted her eyes darkening.
"I'm not jealous but why are you ditching me for that prick anyway!"
"He's not a prick and I've not been ditching you! We let you sit with us at lunch don't we?"
"Oh how kind of you" I mocked, "I feel honoured."
"Grow up Cassie," she snapped.
"Me grow up? Just because you've had sex doesn't make you suddenly more mature than me."
"Will you shut up" she hissed glancing nervously around for Aunty Em, "You know you're not ready for sex and I was. Deal with it, I trust Jack completely and he's not going anywhere."
"Oh come on Annabelle, we both know he would go a running if he found out you were a witch," I laughed.
"No. He wouldn't!" she cried, "He wouldn't care."
"Puhh-lease."
"Well we'll just have to find out won't we" she said her blue eyes watering.
"You're actually going to tell him?"
"Yes" she spat, and then she grabbed her bag and stormed dramatically out.
"You're going to ruin everything Annabelle," I called after her. I ran my fingers through my hair frustrated; we didn't often fight and it sucked.
"What the hell's going on?" gasped Aunty Em who had just come downstairs. I took an apple from the fruit bowl and swung my bag over my shoulder.
"Well your selfish cow of a daughter has decided to tell her idiotic boyfriend that she's a witch."
"What?" choked Aunty Em, her eyes widening in fear.
"Oh yeah and she's also having sex with him – in case you're wondering." And with that traitorous statement I flew out of the kitchen before the tears started to fall.
By the time I had got to school I was so annoyed with myself. I should not have told Aunty Em about Annabelle and Jack; it was going to backfire badly in my face. Also I shouldn't have cried. I hate crying; it's such a pointless self pitying thing to do.
I ran straight to the girl's bathroom and looked at myself in the mirrors. My eyes were a little red and my face a bit blotchy. My hair didn't look as good as usual because Annabelle hadn't charmed it for me and I had forgot to do it myself so it was a bit frizzy. Luckily I found a rubber band in my bag and quickly tied my hair back into a messy bun. It looked quite good actually; I should wear my hair up more often. I always carry a bit of concealer, mascara, eyeliner and lip-gloss in my bag so I got rid of any evidence that I had been crying and felt confident enough to face the school.
I felt awkward walking to Chemistry by myself. I got a few odd looks from classmates who weren't used to seeing me without Annabelle. Typically Chemistry was one of the classes we shared together. I sat down at my usual seat and drummed my nails nervously on the table. I had it all planned out. I was going to apologise now before Aunty Em exploded at her and it was too late. I loathed apologising too; I'm stubborn and don't like to admit I was wrong, but Annabelle knows this and hopefully it will mean we'll make up quicker.
She walked in about five minutes later, her head held high and avoiding eye contact with me.
"Belle" I called but she ignored me and walked to the front of the class, "Belle. I need to talk to you." Annabelle didn't blink in my direction causing a few sniggers from my classmates.
"Mr Richardson" she said her voice clear and bell like, the teacher smiled fondly at her; Annabelle had most of the teachers under her thumb, "I'd like to move seats and change Chemistry partners please." I stood up angrily,
"Annabelle stop being stupid. I'm sorry ok?"
"Erm don't you want to sit with your sister Miss Black?" asked Mr Richardson looking hesitantly between the two of us.
"I don't have a sister sir."
Bam. I felt like I'd been smacked I could see the class were too shocked to even laugh. We were supposed to be inseparable. Best friends.
"What do you mean you don't have a sister?" I growled moving closer to the front of the class. A few people shuffled nervously away; I was known for having a bad temper. Annabelle didn't flinch,
"Well you're not my actual sister anyway are you?" she said her eyes dangerously narrow. I almost broke into tears again. I hadn't realised she was this mad. "Mum phoned me up" she snarled. The blood drained from my face. That explained it. "Well my mum anyway. She's not your mum after all is she? You're only here because she pitied you"
"You fucking little cow" I snapped, I had had enough of apologising. I lunged at her and slapped her hard on the face.
"Don't do that" she shrieked pushing me back hard. I noticed her eyes darken significantly but I still shoved her back.
"I hate you" I screamed, "I hate you. I hate you."
"Stop" commanded Mr Roberts and surprisingly we did. We stood breathless glaring at each other.
"You're a selfish bitch and you're going to ruin everything," I hissed before walking out and banging the door as hard as possible behind me.
'Shit'. I thought. 'Shit. Shit. Shit.' I wasn't crying but I felt numb with pain. I walked until I was behind the science building and slid down the wall. Pulling at my hair in frustration I pulled my knees up to my head. I couldn't believe that Annabelle had announced to everyone that I wasn't her sister; everyone thought we were twins. She had been so close to losing control too, I had seen it in her eyes.
"Penny for your thoughts?" I looked up through my hands to see Mark with a cocky grin on his face.
"Fuck off Lawson" I snapped; I didn't feel in the mood for flirting. He sat down next to me,
"I got your bag. You left it in Chemistry." Sure enough he had my bag in his hand.
"Thanks" I mumbled. He laughed and threw an arm around me.
"You're going to be fine Cassie." I smiled and lent my head against his shoulder, "you can hang round with me, no strings attached, until you make up with your sis-with Annabelle." I scoffed; I highly doubted there was 'no strings attached'.
Sure enough it wasn't long before he was pulling me closer. I looked up at him through his eyelashes, he really was extremely attractive when his hair fell over his dark eyes. I smiled reassuringly at him as he lent in to brush his lips against mine. The contact instantly made me feel better so I kissed him back. I knew he was taking advantage of my delicate state but I didn't care; the kiss gave me comfort. It turned passionate pretty quick and true on form Marks hands cupped my breast. I moaned. Fuck, the boy is a bastard but he sure does have magic hands. I only seemed to gain some sense when his hands started to creep up my skirt.
"Stop" I gasped pushing him back, "fuck Mark not here."
He smirked and helped me up. I brushed myself off and did up a few buttons that seemed to have come undone. He opened his arms gave me a hug.
"I knew you'd give into me again."
"Do you not give a fuck that I've been dis-sistered by Annabelle?" I snapped. He rolled his eyes,
"That's not even a word Black and you'll make up. Eventually."
"Thanks" I laughed sarcastically as he took my hand.
At lunch I sat with Mark and his friends. Annabelle was giggling with Jack and anyone apart from me would think she was completely not fazed by our argument but I could see the flicker of uneasiness in her eyes.
"Why do you have two sandwiches Black?" laughed Mark. Great we were back to Black. I looked down at my lunch and sure enough I had picked up two sandwiches, one cheese and one cucumber. I don't even like cheese.
"Maybe I was feeling particularly hungry" I snapped, not wanting to admit that I had bought one for Annabelle out of habit. Glancing over at Annabelle I sighed seeing she had no lunch and had to fight my instinct to go and give her some food.
Mark laughed and went back to talking to his friends. I didn't want to act like a spoilt girlfriend or girl-friend / snogging partner but I couldn't help but feel left out.
"She's got nice tits though" smirked a black haired boy who was fairly attractive but thought himself to be much more. Sam I think he was called.
"Who has nice tits?" I asked. He looked at me as if he had not realised I was there,
"Errm Jenna Bond."
"Jenna Bond?" I sniggered, "she's got more padding in her bra than Susan Piercing and that's saying something."
"What? Padding. Seriously?" asked another brown haired boy.
"Yup" I smirked popping the 'p'.
"How would you know this Black?" asked Mark, one eyebrow raised.
"I have P.E the same period as her. We get changed in the same room. You lot compare cocks, we compare tits."
"You actually compare tits?"
"Well maybe not everyone but I certainly do. I like to check out the competition."
Mark chuckled and put an arm around my shoulder,
"So who's your biggest competition?"
"If by biggest you mean biggest? Well it's pretty obvious Naomi's got biggest boobs but that's all she's got going for her." The boy's looked at me in amazement,
"Do you feel each other up in the changing rooms?" asked Sam.
"No. Why? Do you lot feel each other up? 'Cos if you do I'm Ok with that; I'm all for feeling the love and I'd rather you felt each other up than stay in the closet for years. Eyy Sam?"
"It's Smith." I frowned; what sort of a name is 'Smith'.
"Mind if I call you Smithy?"
"Err yeah."
"Shame. You should lighten up a bit Smithy." 'Smithy' frowned as the rest looked on in mild amusement.
"Why are you even here?" asked Smithy.
"Because, I'm an awesome kisser and although you may prefer the hard chest of Bob over there," I said referring to a brown haired boy.
"I'm not called-"
"Mark here prefers my chest." I smiled condescendingly at him, "Oh and talking about chests does not give you all a free invite to stare at my tits" I added with a scowl.
Mark took this as the opportunity to start a rather long snogging session. I had my suspicions it was to shut me up but I wasn't complaining. When the bell rang I caught Annabelle's eye, she shot me a disgusted look and stormed out with Jack hot on her heels.
It carried on in a similar way all day. We kept shooting daggers at each other, Mark kept kissing me whenever he could and Jack kept smiling infuriatingly smugly at me.
When I got home Aunty Em was sad moodily at the table. I threw my bag dramatically down on the kitchen floor and tried to make a theatrical exit but unfortunately I tripped over the cat, Buttons, and fell flat on my face. Aunty Em snorted into her tea, a misfortunate habit of hers. I brushed myself off, in what I hoped to be a dignified way and, spinning on my heel, marched off to my bedroom. I locked myself in my bedroom with the intent of ignoring Aunty Em and Annabelle all night.
Ignoring people who don't want to talk to you proved to be remarkably easy.