Never The End

Chapter 5 - He loves me, he loves me not

I hoisted my bag from the floor and flung it over my shoulder. A loud bang sounded as I threw my bag to the floor next to my new desk for the "Geographical term" as Mr Peterson liked to call it.

Just as I'd claimed the seat my own, Jason slung his bag on the floor next to the desk next to mine. I tried to subtly edge my bag to the opposite desk with my foot. He was trouble, he'd got my one detention in the first day of him being here so I wasn't prepared to tarnish my sterling reputation yet again because of him.

"I guess it's me and you again then?"

My foot froze mid-push. I hooked my foot around my bag and pulled it closer to me - a sign of defeat. I sighed loud enough for him to hear but he didn't seem fazed by my obvious repulsion towards him.

I sat as far away from him as humanly possible without going onto Alice's desk at the other side of the room. I felt his arm touch mine when he pulled out his books. The hairs stood up on end. I pulled my chair slightly to the side. Each time I inched away, he budged his chair to be next to mine. I moved. He moved. This went on until he was practically touching me. "Go away." I whispered through gritted teeth.

"Make me." He smiled. It's fine, only..... 47 minutes of torture left.

The torture didn't stop there. The whole lesson he proceeded to copy my work, make stupid comments, pass ludicrous notes to me (I refused to read them of course) and just make a prat of himself. I decided I'd have to get mum to ring in and speak to Mr Peterson. He was completely disrupting my studying and I couldn't deal with that. 

I barged the front door open and slammed it behind me. My muddy school shoes slid off my feet, the sweat acting as a lubricant. I'd run the whole way home, crying most of the way. The mirror hanging in the hall reflected just how I felt. It was cracked and worn round the edges.

I slumped into the dining room chair. Mum came in and put her arm around me. "Hard day?"

I nodded and grimaced. "There's this new boy. He just won't leave me alone mum. I can't concentrate when he's around and he sat next to me all day."

"It happens to the best of us!" She winked at me as she stood up.

"No mum, he's not... we're not..."

She turned the kettle on and pulled out two mugs. "Anyway, I've invited the new family.... the Trumans round for dinner tonight. I hope that's ok with you."

I felt my whole body freeze. My heart stopped beating for a split second. 

She proceeded to pour boiling water in the cups and dropped a tea bag in each.

"Mum! What have you done?!?!" I yelled behind me as I stomped up the stairs. I couldn't believe it, she'd ruined everything. My heart was pounding. Jason Truman was going to be at my house in a few hours. Jason Truman - the most irritating, stupid, brain dead... idiot on the planet was going to be in my house!

I flung my pillow against my wall and growled. This was so ridiculous. I pulled open my wardrobe vigorously and slung each hanger to the side. My wardrobe could barely be classed as a wardrobe. It consisted of two T-shirts, a cardigan, a dress and a pair of jeans. Not exactly a Burberry fashion show. Since dad left, we'd not exactly been well off. We were living off benefits so my clothes were provided by various charity shops from around town.

I looked in the mirror at the plain baby blue dress that hung loosely off my shoulders. My face looked pale and uninteresting and the dress was completely unflattering. I tugged the cardigan over the dress. The colours clashed a bit but it was better than nothing.

The doorbell rang. I groaned knowing full well who was about to walk through the door.

The doorbell rang again and I heard mum shout something to dissuade them from ringing it again. She seemed stressed from what I could hear. Slowly, I drew myself away from the mirror and leant against the banister on the stairs.

I heard the door open and the sound of bustling feet. I crept down a few stairs and peered in the direction of the door.

“Olivia, our guests are here!”

I cursed mildly to myself. “Coming.”

My feet sounded loud and heavy on the creaking stair case. I could feel my nervous energy bubbling up inside me. I could only see what I presumed must have been Jason’s parents. Trying to avoid making eye contact, I stayed huddled next to my mum.

“Do come in, take off your shoes – make yourself at home.”

I hated having guests over. Whenever anyone came to visit, mum had a habit of blabbing on and trying too hard to make sure they felt at ease. She was always paranoid around new people, I think it’s because she was lacking self-confidence. She clearly was a people person and (like most other people) she wanted to be liked.

“Tea will just be a few minutes; I hope that’s ok with everyone?” She looked around as if waiting for a response. No one replied. “Ok, follow me then.” She had a sickeningly sweet smile plastered on her face.

I was still hovering at the bottom of the stairs. Mum gave me “the look.” She mouthed something to me – something which I couldn’t actually understand. I took it as something along the lines of, “Olivia, don’t be so rude.”