Not Like Her

2

We began walking in what was the most awkward silence ever. 

I attempted to get rid of it, "Hi."

"Hey," He replied, flashing a smile.

My heart churned, it did a little dance than abruptly stopped. We passed by a group of some boys who were fake tackling one another. Macy smiled and waved at them, they grinned back at her. If I had smiled and waved they would have just 'booed' at me. Macy's cute little wave was just like all her other specialties. They guaranteed her the sort of attention she wanted. 

Andrew showed obvious likings to Macy. But me? He was obviously not interested in me. And even if he were, I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Macy liked him.

But Macy looked at me and smiled, Andrew seemed to see this and continued the small talk.

"So, uh, what's your name?" He asked with a forced smile.

I mumbled, just loud enough for him to hear, "Akayla. And that's Macy."

"Macy, huh?" He muttered, smiling.

She giggled, "Yeah... Your Andrew Davis, right?"

He nodded, his hair rumpled as he went through it his his hand. Macy's attention went to his bicep. Which I had to admit, was pretty impressive. 

"I have you on snapchat I'm pretty sure." Macy said, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

Macy was like a beautiful butterfly, she knew how to spread her wings and how to get the attention of others. I was like a caterpillar still waiting my turn to become pretty.

Macy slung her bag off her shoulder, "Akayla... could you please take our bags away? I think I'll show Andrew some more areas."

But the teacher hadn't even asked?

Oh.

I get it.

I decided to joke around, something Macy and I did a lot.

"Why don't you, lazy?" I teased.

But Andrew took it to heart, he turned those stunning eyes on me and raised his voice. Evidently scaring me actually.

"Why call her lazing?? Your literally the lazy one she just asked you to do something. Your her best friend!? Don't be so rude." He pointed at me and my lip quivered.

Another sort of attractive yet obnoxious boy.

I grabbed their backpacks, not even bothering to look at Macy for backup as I knew she was getting her phone out to show Andrew their snapchat texts. Speed walking down the concrete pathway to our classrooms, I breezed past the chicken coop and spied my other friend, Meg feeding the chickens.

"Hey, Meg!" I called.

Meg turned around, smiled and waved. Then got back to work, I thought of offering myself up for her service but remembered the extra two backpacks I was carrying. Andrews was heavier than mine and Macy's together. 

Our school was very inclusive, I mean being a public school and everything it had to be. But they never made people feel left out. I wasn't necessarily one of the popular kids, nor was I one of the really smart nerds. But I still felt accepted none the less. 

When I got into the locker room, there was a blond headed boy poking something in my locker!!

"Hey!!" I growled angrily, I wasn't going to let this guy put skunk spray in there like the other one did. Otherwise my bag would be smelling like farts for weeks!

The blond boy whirled around at the sound of my voice and it was...Jake?

Jake was everything you could imagine a boy to be; a player, a smart alec, a trouble maker and maybe a little bit cute.

"Akayla!" He stuttered, obviously surprised to see me here. He ran his fingers through his 'glorious' hair that I knew he spent at least a couple hours styling. 

"What do you want?" I said with a specific tone. I thought of using the word idiot but felt it would be too harsh.

Honestly, whenever I talked to Jake I almost couldn't hold myself back. I just wanted to unleash every bad word I had on him.

He looked into my eyes, and I stared right back. Unflinchingly. I loved eye contact and never shied away from it; Macy was the opposite. 

"Where is Macy?" He asked, breaking eye contact, his blue eyes looking to the ground. 

I replied, "Off with some boy."

But then I remembered.

Jake was one of the guys Macy was 'talking' too. He was her first kiss, her first boyfriend. Her first everything. 

I was his first kiss. but that's for another time. 

Josh was going to be so upset, and from the way his lips were downturned and he repeatedly blinked-I knew he was probably going to tear up.

"Joking!!! You know how she is... such a sociable butterfly. Showing the new.. girl around actually." I laughed nervously, Macy was going to be in trouble!

It felt weird seeing an adolescent boy, nearly 16 years old, cry. 

"Uh..." He focused on something behind me and as I turned around I wanted to slap Macy in the face.

Macy was leaning on Andrew, and his eyelids were droopy, his hand resting on her hip. Defitnly not how she would be with the 'new girl' whoever that was. 

Oops..

I looked back to Jake and realised he had left, he was racing towards the mens bathroom stall right outside the lockers. I groaned internally, I was Macy's best friend. And it was partly my fault that Jake was so upset. So I needed to fix her problems. It wasn't really my business but... I was a really good friend. 

It felt really weird to walk up to the boys bathroom stall. But I did anyway, for Macy. 

"Jake?" I whispered through the door, making sure not to touch it.

Male germs probably littered it.

The boys who were tackling eachother earlier ran by past, snickering as I waited outside the males toilet. I stuck out my tongue and then focused back on the problem at hand. I urged him to come out, and that Macy was just a touchy person.

Once he came out I suggested we go somewhere to talk.

"I know a great plac-" I put my hand up for a high five, but Jake cut me off.

"Leave me alone, Akayla! You aren't Macy and you never will be." He scoffed, "Loser."

He ran off in the opposite direction.

You never will be.

It rang in my head like a bell for the entirety of the the day. I didn't see Jake at all and Macy was off with the new boy Andrew. During recess and lunch I just sat on the steps near the veggie garden and read my books I had borrowed from the library.