Calling For Summer [GirlxGirl]

Chapter Four

| Winter Alexander |

My gaze shifted from my fiddling fingers to a familiar face a few seats away, and it lingered there. Jade was tapping on her desk with a pencil repeatedly, and I could tell she was struggling with the test. I wanted nothing more than to be able to help her, but we'd surely get in trouble, and I also struggled with calculus. Although it's true I had finished the test a few minutes ago, I'm sure most of the answers were complete bullshit, but really, what can you do? I'm not going to need much math if I'm going to pursue art forms as my career.

I watched Jade's face light up as she quickly started writing, but her face fell as she stopped, and she returned to tapping her pencil. I felt bad for her. When she entered the classroom she seemed so confident and ready for the test, but as soon as the papers were handed out, it all disappeared. It's a feeling I know all too well; everything you've worked and hoped for goes, just, down the drain.

"Okay class, time's up!" the teacher, Mrs. Luker, announced, followed by approximately twenty-three groans. "If you weren't able to finish, come back here during lunch today or what you have now will be your final grade." More groans followed this statement. Mrs. Luker just rolled her eyes and concluded, "Any other teacher would let you fail, so be thankful. Now, you may start packing up."

All I had to do was grab my bag, since I had packed it up during the first few remnants of my spare time. I leaned back against my chair, and patiently waiting for the bell to ring. A laugh escaped me because everyone, except for a select few, scrambled to collect their things before they could be late for their next class. My gaze, without my consent, drifted back over to Jade once again. She looked like she was about to cry, and I wanted to walk to her and tell her that everything will be okay, more than not only anything, but everything. More than a newborn baby needs human touch, more than California's water reserve needs rain, more than the earth needs the sun, and more than the amount of digits in pi. That much. But I can't, and that kills me, repeatedly. If I had one wish, I would wish that instead of declarations of hate, there would be declarations of love, but no matter how hard I tried, I feared that would never happen. The knowledge that someone as beautiful as Jade hated me sickened me. For a reason buried in my past, I couldn't stand this feeling of being treated with such a passionate disliking. Hatred was more of a dull sting nowadays, but with Jade, it wasn't just that. I would rather everyone in the world hate me if it meant that she didn't.

These darkening, swirling thoughts were interrupted by the ear-piercing sound of the bell. As soon as I stood up, I was nearly knocked over by the oversized crowd that tried to get through the undersized door all at the same time. Instead of joining in, I sighed and stood back, waiting for the over-eager crowd to pass. My eyes lazily scanned the multitude, and I saw someone, in their rush, run into Jade, causing her to fall. I flinched as I watched this, wanting to go over and help her, but something was preventing me from doing so. She quickly pulled herself up, looking around as if she were checking if anyone saw. We locked eyes almost immediately, and I tried to ask her if she was okay through my expression. She just turned away and walked through the doorway.

///\\\

Sighing, I sat down in the grass next to Kara, feeling slightly annoyed with her presence. Don't get me wrong, I like Kara, she's a great friend. But at this moment, I wished she was Jade. I was being selfish. Jade's presence was something I wanted all to myself and no one else, with only her and I. She walked past me with her group of friends. From her coterie, I recognized David and Finn, the two she had introduced to me days ago. I also remembered that David initiated Jade and I's conversation. The other two girls, however, were unfamiliar. One girl had short, green hair, while the other had long, light brown hair. It was a similar shade to the middle section of Jade's hair, and of course that was the first thing that came to mind. I noticed the two girls were holding hands, and they drifted slightly behind their three friends. It was pretty obvious they were together, and for a second, I imagined that it was Jade and I, walking around with our hands intertwined.

"Winter?" Kara asked. "You're friends with Jade, right?"
"I wish," I scoffed, "but no." I took a bite of my sandwich.

"I thought you were," she said, right after swallowing the last bit of her ham and cheese.

"We talked once and she said she hated me," I told her, "I don't think that really qualifies as friends."
"Well, could you put in a good word for me with David?" she pleaded, even though I'm sure she already knew what my answer was.

"No," I said, rolling my eyes at her.

"Please?" she begged. "I'll pay you."

"Really?"

She nodded, with her long, black hair bouncing.

"I'll be right back." I stood up and walked over to where Jade and her friends were seated, against the wall of the literature building. Once I stood in front of them, all I did was wave awkwardly.

"There's too much butter on these," I overheard David say. I decided it was best to just ignore that remark.

"Hello," I said.

"Hey!" David greeted. "Winter, right?"

"Yup," I replied quietly, wanting to get this over with. "Anyways, David. You see that girl over there?" I pointed over towards Kara, who was trying not to look like she was staring at us.

David nodded.

"Okay, well, her name is Kara, she's my best friend, and she's totally into you. She's paying me to come over here and put in a good word for her. So please ask her out, tell her she's pretty, I don't know, but she will not stop talking about how perfect your face is. Be kind enough to put me out of my misery and talk to her."

David raised his eyebrows. "She's into me?"

I sighed. "Way too much."
"Good to know, tell her you succeeded."

"I'm getting paid either way, but I will. See ya."

I started to walk away, but was stopped by the sound of my favorite voice.

"Hey Winter," Jade spoke softly, and I turned around.

"Salutations," I greeted.

"I'm sorry about not replying last night, I just had to study for my calculus test, which I should actually go finish right now. I just, uh, wanted you to know why I never texted back."

"Alright, thank you." I smiled. "Good luck with your test!"