Friends are just known enemies

Chapter 10

School was finally over for today. The rest of the week had been surprisingly uneventful, Jason and his friends only pushed me into a locker once and that was at the start of today. Other than that, no one bothered me or even talked to me. Especially Marco. I have absolutely no idea why he acted the way he did, but he seemed so pissed at me and he had ignored me all day.

I’m pretty sure he even went out of his way just to make sure we didn’t run into each other between classes and when I did pass him, he looked like he was ready to kill someone. And I am confused as hell. I don’t know if we are friends, considering I never really had any and even if we are, it doesn’t explain his strange behaviour toward Kyle yesterday and his attitude toward me at the moment. And strangely, it bothers me.

It feels wrong to have him not talking to me, even if I found it to be annoying and it had only happened a few times. In times like these I wish I didn’t have any feelings at all. It would make so many things a lot less complicated. But no, I’m left trying to figure out what exactly it is I’m feeling, something I should have control over. Or at least be aware of. I feel so helpless and frustrated, like I’m trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle and just can’t get them to fit properly. At least I don’t have work today, so I can go and see Alex. That’ll help clear my head.

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“What’s wrong?” That’s the first thing Alex says to me, the second I walk through the door. “What makes you think anything’s wrong?” I sigh, slowly making my way toward him while looking at the new shirts that were lying on the tables. “Nothing’s ever right with you” He grins at me and I give him a pointed look, but then find myself smiling too.

“True. Just some issues with, and I cannot believe I’ll actually say this, friends” His eyes widen at that and he just stands there, staring at me with his mouth agape for a solid three minutes. “Friends?” He repeats, his tone full of disbelief and I let myself fall heavily in the seat in the corner. “Friends” I nod and he laughs. In fact, he laughs as though I just told him the funniest joke in the history of hilarious jokes.

“Oh wait, you’re serious?” He suddenly stops when he notices my completely blank expression. I hum in response and lean back in the seat, staring up at the ceiling. “But you don’t have friends. Besides me of course. But that’s just because I’m so awesome” He smirks cockily and I roll my eyes. “Sure, that’s why” I reply sarcastically and he gasps in mock offence.

“But seriously, this guy made an effort to talk to me ever since we met and then he just ignores me” I mutter and Alex straightens up in his seat next to me. “I didn’t realise we were talking about guy friends” He sounds so protective, kind of like I always imagined fathers or brothers to react when they found out their daughter/sister actually had contact with the opposite sex. Stupid, I know, but still. “What’s the difference?” I shrug and he almost laughs again. “You have no idea about relationships of any kind, do you?” He chuckles and I scowl.

He’s right but hearing someone say it out loud still hurt, even if it was just a little. “Says the guy who spends his free time in a shop, hanging out with his only costumer” I mumble and luckily he doesn’t hear me. “Sorry, tell me everything” He says after a long silence, which is the result of me ignoring him and pouting. And so I do.

I tell him about Marco and how he tried to talk to me and then hung out with Jason. How he humiliated me (not that that was anything new, but still), then regretted it and tried to make up for it and stood up for me. And of course, about the whole Kyle situation. By end of it, I feel a strange kind of relief, having shared everything that bothered me with someone I trust. And Alex just smiles, shaking his head.

“You got yourself caught in a love triangle, love” He chuckles and I frown. “Love triangle?” I stare at him, waiting for some kind of explanation or even a “Haha joke, you didn’t really believe that, did you?” but I just looks back at me. Could he be right? No, of course not, no one ever liked me before, why would they do now? And two at the same time at that? Why was this happening to me?

I remember, way back in the day, when I was about five and used to dream about my prince meeting me and falling in love with me. I was so naïve. And now this was, at least according to Alex, actually happening. Sort of. “A love triangle.” I sigh and bury my face in my hands.

This is too much, there is too much going on right now, it makes my head race with thoughts and emotions and I can’t process it. I just can’t, I feel like I’m going to pass out. “I have to – to” I stammer and get up, but what do I have to? I don’t know. I can’t even form a coherent thought right now. “Liz, calm down, we’ll figure it out” Alex tries to grab my arm, but I’m almost at the door. “I just need some time alone” I say and in that exact moment, the door opens. The day that I’m having a mental breakdown, the day that I can’t even stand being around my best friend happens to be the day Alex has his probably first costumer besides me. In the door frame, looking at me with a huge grin is Kyle. “Hey Liz” That’s all it takes and I break down.

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 Uuuuhhh cliffhanger ^^
I've decided to have a regular update schedule, so from now on I'll try and have a new chapter up every Tuesday!
(Emphasis on 'try', sometimes I'm just really busy or don't have any inspiration, so please don't hate me if I update late)
Anyway, I hope you liked it, let me know what you think :)
Stay awesome (new catchphrase? ^^)
Love, Jess