Bruises (BWWM)

17

17

Ben

It turned out that bribing Amber into becoming my fake love interest for a few days was one of the most arduous task I ever had to accomplish. At least definitely in the top ten, along with quitting smoking and learning to sleep without a nightlight back when I was six years old -the same irrational fear accompanied me for the three. I almost had to sign a contract with multiple clauses all assuring that her feelings and Tamra's wouldn't end up broken in the process.

But I couldn't really promise her that, because I knew that in life, nothing ever ended up exactly as planned. So I lied anyways.

"I'm sure she knows that something's up with us two," Amber said through gritted teeth, stuffing a few books inside of her backpack. As I leaned onto the locker next to hers, I shook my head and grinned at her nervousness. It was clear she hated lying to her friends about stuff concerning them.

"Relax, it's only been three days, plus isn't it what we want her to think? That I'm interested in you?" I countered with.

She simply ignored me and zipped up her bag. As she was about to close her locker, a mathematic textbook fell from it. We both squatted down at the same time to pick it up, but I gripped it first. She looked annoyed as she flipped some of her golden locks away from her face and watched me open the book.

I recognized the various equations and graphics and couldn't help but let out :

"I aced that last year."

"Well, great for you cause I'm failing it as of right now," she sighed as she angrily snatched the notebook from my curious fingers.

We both rose up and she slid the book back in its orginal place inside of her locker.

"I could always help you out with it if you'd want me to," I suggested as she slammed the door of the locker shut.

"We're doing this so Tamra can stop dating this idiot called Alex Anderson. You don't need to pretend that you actually want to be my friend again. You've already been once, and it didn't end well for me."

I began walking her to her class, in silence, as I thought about what she had just said. She was wrong. I wasn't pretending. I really wanted to help her and be her friend, because we bonded over something as wrong as our addictions and to be honest, she was, as surprisingly as it may sound, a cool person to be around with. She was drenched in positives vibes most of the time, and I enjoyed that a lot.

It helped me forget about the darkness of my life.

"Are you still off of it?" I subtly asked, keeping my voice low and referring to the drugs she was taking, wanting to steer away from the topic that was the state of our very much brand new friendship. She looked up at me and nodded, a sly smile drawing itself upon her lips.

After our talk the other day, she told me she'd try to stay clean and seek some help. She said I inspired her to do so and that I might need someone to share my struggle with. Never thought I'd become someone's role model one day, but I couldn't say I wasn't flattered at the thought of it.

Amber gave me a small hug before we parted ways and she entered her classroom. I spun around and walked towards the stairs leading to the floor above. As I pushed open the doors of the empty staircase, I saw Tamra coming down. Alone. I automatically wondered where Alex was, as he usually was glued to her hip. She looked up at me and smiled, but I could clearly see that she wasn't okay although I wasn't going to ask her about it.

She'd simply lie to me.

Her dark eyes were unusually circled with heavy eyeliner as to further conceal the emotion dissimulated beneath them. I could just sense that something was wrong.