The Best Years Of Our Lives

~Part Three~

Martina’s POV.

‘Niall.’ I said firmly, pushing him away. My head was still spinning; I had to admit that he was a very good kisser. ‘We can’t do this.’

‘Why not?’ he asked, his arms still around my waist.

‘Because when you said we’d be friends, I actually believed you.’ I felt angry with myself for being so stupid.

‘Oh, come on.’ he said, finally letting go of me. ‘It’s not like you didn’t enjoy that.’

‘Excuse me?’ I snapped. I realised then that he was just like all the other boys I knew: an arrogant, selfish player. I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand.

‘Martina.’ he whispered. ‘I’m sorry, okay?’

He looked like he meant it, but I didn’t care. I pulled my hand free and started to walk in the direction of the entrance. I was mortified to see Niall’s friend, Liam had been standing not too far from the bridge and had proabably seen everything. I blushed as I swerved towards the benches to avoid him.

I was almost at the gates, when someone called my name. I cringed to find Francesca and Alisha, two of the girls from my Maths class making their way towards me. They didn’t look like they had just come to say hi either; the phrase if looks could kill came to my mind.

‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ Alisha asked, straight away.

‘I, I don’t understand.’ I stammered, even though I had a pretty good idea. Who else had seen what had happened?

‘Don’t pretend like you don’t know.’ Francesca said. ‘You realise Georgina is crying her eyes out?’

Georgina. I remembered that she had not spoken to me at all at school; I guess I knew why now. I felt so horrible, I didn’t know what to say.

‘You ever try anything like that…’ Alisha begun.

‘I really didn’t mean to hurt anyone.’ I said, but my voice came out as barely a whisper. I felt tears pricking at corners of my eyes but I blinked them back.

‘Just leave Niall alone, okay? You don’t even know him.’ Francesca said, frowning.

I didn’t bother explaining myself. I rushed out of the park and turned down the main street. I thought there was no one around so I didn’t look where I was going, focusing on keeping the tears in. I barely registered someone come out of a house, brush past me, then stop.

‘Hey, is everything alright?’ I looked up to see Jade’s blue eyes focus on mine, a worried expression on her face. I’d sat with her at lunch and from what I gathered she was good friends with Niall.

I nodded, scared that my voice might give me away.

‘Yeah, right.’ she said, crossing her arms and eyeing me up and down. ‘Come on inside, I was only going to the park.’

I didn’t know why I agreed when every part of me was screaming not to. This was Niall’s best friend after all, what would she say about what he’d done? Yet, for some reason I found myself telling Jade the whole story. She sat quietly as I told her how we had kissed and how the girls had come up to me afterwards. I had started crying at the end, but I couldn’t help it.

‘And now everyone hates me.’ I said, tasting salt on my lips.

‘I can’t believe he did that.’ she said and I looked up in surprise.

‘What?’

‘Niall can be such a dick at times.’ she sighed. ‘He always does stupid things when it comes to girls. I know you didn’t mean for anything to happen.’

‘Really?’ I sniffled, suddenly feeling a whole lot better.

‘Of course. I promise I’ll talk to him, okay?’ she smiled and gave me a hug.

‘Okay. I should really go now.’ I said, looking at the time. It was already 8:30.

As I walked home, I reflected on my first day at school. All in all, I doubted it could have gone worse. Just before I got into bed that night I heard my phone beep. I checked my messages:

I’m really, really sorry for everything. I heard that the girls had spoken to you, but I’ve told them it was all my fault. You didn’t deserve that. I hope you’ll forgive me. N.

-end of pt.3-