"TEEN ROMANCE" ~ Malachi Barton

Chapter - 5

THE NEXT MORNING

I wanted to text him, or call him. Just to talk to him or see him. I still don't understand what happened. How could he just change so drastically in the span of a few hours? I pulled up his contact on my phone.
"Don't do it." I told myself not to text him, but I couldn't help it.
"You don't care" i repeated over, and over, in my head. Trying to convince myself that I really didn't.
I could smell bacon cooking from downstairs. I got up and walked to my door, swinging it open, than his words repeated in my head. "She's so fat." Maybe I shouldn't eat after all, maybe if I didn't he would be friends with me again. I closed my door and lay back down in bed, closing my eyes. I don't want to get up, I just want to sit in bed all day, and do absolutely nothing.
My mom brought food up to my room and put it on my desk.
"Thanks," I said as she left the room.
I got up and picked up the plate of food, scraping it into the trash can. I placed the plate back down on the desk and lay back down in bed.
I pulled out my phone and got on to TikTok. I was scrolling in my followings list and I saw that Autumn and Malachi made a TikTok together.
"Why is he hanging out with her?" I wondered.
I felt even more betrayed than I had already.
"I thought he hated her!"
I put my phone down and lay there, doing absolutely nothing. What was there for me to do?
I can hear the low growl of my stomach, which I tried my best to ignore.

I was laying on my side with my eyes closed when a buzz came from my phone. I turned it over and it was from an unknown number.

(Giovanna is italics, unknown is bold)

Hey, it's Johnny from cooking class
Is this Giovanna?
Yeah how'd you get my number?
Ur friend gave it to me
Oh cool
How's your break so far?
It's okay ig
I'm sorry to hear that, how so?
Wanna tell me on call?
Sure

He called me and I picked up.
"Hey, what's up?" I was greeted by his sandy hair and emerald eyes. His phone was close enough to his face were I could see all his freckles, so maybe too close.

"Hi, how are you?" I couldn't help but smile

"I'm good, what's wrong?" He asked confused, his smile turning into a more serious face.

"It's kind of a long story."

"That's okay, I'll listen"

"So...uhm I guess. You just can't tell anyone anything, okay?" I am a bit worried that something i say might get out and spread.

"I promise I won't." He reassured.

"Okay..." I hesitated, "so pretty much. I have a crush on Malachi, him and I have been pretty close friends for a while. Then yesterday, everything was normal with him and then he wasn't in gym. Then, Autumn tells me that Malachi doesn't wanna be friends with me anymore. So, I went to my locker and tried to text him and nothing was going through. So, then I snapped him and he was being dry and shit. Then, my brother asked me to go to McDonald's with him and Malachi and his friends and Autumn and her friends were there. Then, Malachi called me fat and said that I would probably order the whole menu. Than, he snapped me and told me that we shouldn't be friends anymore because I'm too fat to be seen with him." I finished. I looked back at Johnny, and he seemed shocked.

"Woah, that's a lot to take in."

"Yeah...sorry,"

"No, no it's all good. I just didn't think Malachi was like that." He sounded shocked.

"Yeah same." I looked down. It made me sad to think about this.

"That's so weird that he just switched up like that. Something must have been said to him."

"You think?" I hoped that Johnny might have known if someone said something.

"Yeah. Plus, your not fat at all, your like hella hot. Malachis loss, not yours. He's a dick,"

"Oh, thanks." I was caught a bit off guard, "Malachi thinks your a dick as well."

"Oh? Well him and I have beef, or whatever,"

I puzzled my face, "why?"

"Well, I'm like popular, ya know. And like he thinks he's the shit. He also always likes the same girl as me. It's mad annoying." He kept ranting about it.

"That's weird..." I didn't really find it weird. But, it was funny that johnny was this pissed about it

"So, you busy this week?" I was a shocked he was asking me this.
"Nah, not really. You?"

"Nope. Maybe we could hangout sometime?"
I didn't really know if I wanted to hangout with him. Especially, after this whole Malachi situation. But, maybe it could make Malachi jealous.

"Sure!" My mood has completely changed after talking to Johnny.
"Do you play any instruments?"

Johnny shook his head, "no, but I play for the school football team."

I didn't know that. "Oh that's cool."

"Do you play any instruments or sports?"

I pulled my guitar out, and pointed at it. "I play guitar and soccer."

"That sick. Could you play me something?"

"Sure, what song?"

"Do you know any Zach Bryan?" His eyes lit up.

"I do. I'll play Burn Burn Burn?" I grinned.

"I love that song!" He smiled.

I began to strum the chords. Playing off of memory was a bit difficult because I hadn't practiced the song in a while. When I started singing, I almost laughed at the shocked look on his face. When I finished the song, he had a cheeky grin and was clapping.

"You sing too?" He sounded so excited.

"Indeed, I do!"

"That was so good! Can you play another song, please!" He begged.

"Sure, what song?" I was very proud and excited to play for someone.

"Do you know..." he thought for a moment, "my kind of women, by Mac Demarco?"

My face lit up, "yes! I love that song!"

"I do too!" He exclaimed. Watching me and waiting for me to start playing.

I started to play the song. This one was more difficult than the Zach Bryan one because it had farther stretches for the chords. But, I had practice it a lot so I was very good at it.
Again, after the song was over he clapped and smiled.

"Your so cool GiGi. I wish I could play guitars like you." He complemented.

"Aww thanks Johnny. Your cool too.

"It's really Malachis loss."

"Heh thanks." The subject was still very touchy and I don't want to talk about it.

We stayed on FaceTime for a few more hours. Till he had to go somewhere. I spent the rest of the day in my room and I at a bowl of cereal all day and thinking about Malachi, even though my mind was off the topic while talking to Johnny. As soon as I was alone, it all came back.