Turning Sixteen

Chapter 2: School and Invitation

"Amelia!"

I heard my name being called, still unresponsive, I kept my head down.

"Miss Claire, I understand the fact that you haven't scored well in your Algebra test, but that doesn't get you to day dreaming, does it?" Mrs Smith scoffed. I pulled myself up with great force and looked up at the small lady with horn-rimmed spectacles and uttered "I just don't feel well."

"Oh well, then I suggest you to lie down in the Sick-Room." She gave her million dollar advice which I couldn't deny, but had to accept.

The Sick-Room was actually sickening. If you'd just walk past it, you'd feel sick, even if you were not. It was quite creepy, with the light blue coloured walls and cream curtains.

I marched towards the washroom, as fast I could, but still I kept slow. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

"Amelia, you forgot the Out Pass." It was Brittney.

"You okay?" she asked.

Her worried face almost made me feel as if I would just puke. I grabbed the Pass, ignoring her, and walked back my way. Well I think, it was quite rude of me to disregard Brittney's concern for me.

I placed the Pass on the granite slab, near the basin and splashed some chilled water on my face. It felt good. For a while, it felt like, all my worries were gone, and that was an experience was incomprehensible.

My eyes were swollen, puffed up with pain. I tried putting up a fake smile every time, so that no one got a chance to ask me what was wrong with me.

I felt better after the cold water treatment and headed back to my class. The first thing I did as I reached, was to thank Brittney. I owed her a thanks, at least. I saw someone's bag on the seat besides mine. It was Ellen's.

"Ellen Courtney!"

"Present!" a boy from the first row spoke. I was startled. Ellen was my best friend, and I answered to her roll call whenever she wasn't there; and this was the first time ever that someone else did that.

Ellen entered the class. She asked the boy in the first row, if her attendance was answered. Perhaps, the same boy who'd did that. It was Tyler. And now that I perfectly hated him. They talked, and talked. I couldn't hear a lot, but what I heard was devastating.

Tyler just proposed to Ellen!

Holy shit!

I almost fainted at what I heard.

Ellen just said it right back!

What?

She said 'I love you too.'

To Tyler? I felt sick again.

That was impossible!

Now that it was possible.

She came and sat on her seat, she looked grim.

"Hi." She spoke quite mechanically.

"Hi...You okay?" I enquired.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"What's with you and Tyler?"

"Nothing."

"Well you don't say that until you're something." I blurted irritated, regretting it as soon as I said it.

"What'd I say? I told you there is nothing. Just nothing." She screamed.

"Look, I didn't mean to shout, you know...he's my boyfriend."

"Yeah, I guess I got that." I smirked "And what about that Justin? And those seven promises of eternal love?? Remember?" I poked.
I had to do it. I wanted to know.

"He was just not the right person." Her voice already breaking.

"Oh," I sighed

"It's just that you stopped sharing things with me." I responded and I don't know why.

"I thought you already knew." Ellen retarted.

She was furious. This was the first time in years that I saw my best friend act so weirdly. We had in-depth conversations, but none went so befuddling.

"How the hell would I know?"
I remembered that Justin and Michael had been buddies since long and that Ellen didn't know what happened between me and Michael. "Oh...hmm." I said shifting to the safer side.

The day wasn't quite good, that I had a bad time with my best friend; my only ray of hope in difficult times. And now that she herself was in trouble, I didn't like the idea of bothering her with my own pointless meeting with Michael.

Break time was much better. Thank god, that Tyler was quite busy with his own group of stupid people (as I find them) otherwise, Ellen would have been with him to have a 'sweet' conversation.

And I'd be left in the care of my aloneness.

Josh and Marilyn were gulped in by a crowd, out of which Marilyn came pushing and fussing and swearing directly towards us. She looked as if she would come and simply slap me, but happy to know that the world starts where my imagination ends.

"You both up for a party at Newland's?" She asked us, eagerly.

"Umm...I don't guess It'd be possible... you know we aren't having a good time..." I said defensively, on both of our behalves.

"Uh-huh, Come on! You'll have a nice time there... trust me. It'd be as fun as a reunion!" Marilyn burst in excitement.

"Done!" Ellen smiled.

"I like that, see you at evening eight then." Marilyn winked.

Sometimes I don't understand my own best-friend; and my own self too.

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