The Arabella Conundrum

Part Six- The Abbreviation Manifestation

Before I knew it I was panting, slumped down against a big oak tree at the far corner of the school field. I took a deep breath and swiped my eyes. Stupid tears. I shakily grabbed a hold of my necklace that was around my neck, tracing the metal with my fingers and closing my eyes as I did so. I raised my head towards the sky and took another shaky breath.

"I need you," I whispered, slowly opening my eyes and seeing the cloudy sky looking down at me. "I really need you."

I tried so hard not to break into a sob and curl up and cry. I sat and tried to calm down. So focused on that job I didn't notice a figure slide down against the tree until they were sat next to me.

"Hey," whispered that voice again.

I prayed silently that my face wasn't puffed up and that no tears were present.

"Did you get my note?" He continued. "I would get it if you don't forgive me. But just know that I'm really sorry."

We remained in silence as I just stared ahead. I ignored his presence due to the internal thoughts that were racing around my head.

He seemed to think about what to say for a while. Cautiously though he started to speak. "Why were you in such a hurry to leave a moment ago? You smashed me into the side of the door," he tried to joke. "My arm really hurts now!" he dramatically stated rubbing his arm in an exaggerated manner.

"Sorry," I muttered, it must have been him I barged into when I left.

"What's the matter?" He asked, his voice laced with what sounded like concern.

"None of your business," I coldly said.

"I suppose it's not," He shrugged and we once more plunged into silence. I was back to thinking about my previous topic and was startled when I felt a warm hand grab hold of my arm gently.

"You're fascinated by that aren't you?" I mused, noticing yet again him admiring the Henna ink that was on my hands and running up my arms. He hummed in reply.

"I," he stopped. I looked up at him to see him frowning.

"Huh?"

"This will sound a bit stupid," he looked at me. "It's religious right? But what religion is it though?"

"Hindu," I whispered.

"Oh," he nodded thoughtfully. "You know, I'm really am sorry about yesterday"

"You've really got no idea at what you caused," I muttered. "But you couldn't of know and I guess normally we wouldn't have got a detention but that teacher was crazy hormonal" I waved it off, my emotions coming back down to normal levels. I couldn't blame him really, nobody would normally have to get home for the reason that I had too and nobody, apart from my closest three friends and teachers, knew the reason why I had to get back.

"I know that's not really an "I'm forgiven" but I'll take it," he bumped my shoulder. "Want to tell me why you were leaving so fast earlier, considering we are like BFF's now." I muffled a laugh at that since he literally said BFF in its abbreviated form.

"We're not BFF's," I said deadpan.

"Yeah we are," he said in a duh tone and stared at me seriously.

"Uhmm.."

After a few moments of silence and me staring at him dumbfounded he spoke. "I know we're not BFF's Arabella, we barely know each other. I mean LOL."

Did he just say LOL? What is it with him and saying abbreviated text speak words in real conversations. It was just comical. I just smiled to myself and didn't comment on it. Maybe he didn't realise he was doing it but he must know right? How could anybody say those words and not notice. Was he doing it to wind me up? I made a mental reminder to make note of how often he did it in future and to try and work out whether he was doing it to piss me off or whether he liked to express himself in real life like a pre-teen who just had discovered the internet and facebook.