His Girl #Wattys2016

12. Why me?

"Sarah, why is our seat occupied?" Melanie hissed in my ear as soon as we entered the cafeteria.

I had just finished and handed in my Botany test when Melanie had come barging into the class and pulled me to the cafeteria. She pointed at our seat again, emphasising her point.

"Mel, relax. It's Adrian. He's-"

"Do I look like I care who he is? Why's is sitting in our place? Ask him to move!" She half shouted at me.

"My God, Melanie. Calm down." Drake laughed and handed me my chocolate milkshake. He always bought it for me. "Adrian's with Sarah-"

"Sarah? Please tell me this is a joke. Are you really going out with a... junior?"

The way she said junior, you'd think I was going out with her boyfriend. I took a seat beside Adrian, motioning for her to follow suit. As soon as she was seated in front of me, I explained everything to her. From how Aaron and I met to the cafeteria meet I had with Adrian. When I was finished, I expected her to be pissed at me for keeping it from her, but Melanie just stared at Adrian without uttering a single word.

"Mel, don't stare at him like he just sprouted an extra head," Drake nudged her elbow.

"I can't believe it. Aaron Mason's brother, Adrian Mason. In our school. Sitting with us for lunch. Wow."

As soon as she uttered those words, the whole cafeteria burst into activity. Everyone started murmuring to each other and the news spread like wildfire. In a matter of few seconds, people were storming at our table, taking out their phones to click pictures. As much as Melanie loved attention, this was not welcome even in her eyes. I stood up, glared at Melanie before gritting my teeth and shouting at the people surrounding us.

"Quit acting like wild animals, give us some space. Move!"

Melanie looked up at me, like she was wondering what was wrong with me. Tasha, as usual, was helping me and trying to herd them off. Adrian was looking up at me in awe, like I was putting up a show. And Drake, like it didn't faze him, was chewing on his food and looked amused. Great.

"Jesus, Bucky. Do you really think having a celebrity kid makes you cool?" I flinched on hearing his voice. I turned to face him, his million dollar grin making me want to punch him. "You should've just stayed with me."

Raemon James.

Before I could muster enough courage to speak, Drake stood up and blocked my view of Raemon's face.

"Rae," he said the name like it was a disease, "don't make me punch you again."

Again? Again?!

"Drake, look, this is between me and her," I flinched. His grammar had been my concern for so long, I should've stopped reacting to it by now.

"She doesn't want to have anything to do with you, Rae. Just leave," Drake was sounding irritated now, his hands were balled up into fists.

"Dude, you act like her puppet! Get a life." Raemon hissed before turning to face me, "walk with me?"

I rolled my eyes and sat down. If I had learnt anything by being with him, it was to ignore him. He stared at me for a moment before he realised I wasn't going budge, so he made his way back to his friends.

"Who was that?" Adrian asked, curious.

"Her ex."

I looked at Melanie with such disgust, she flinched. I sometimes doubt if she's secretly trying to bring me down, she sure acts like that at times.

"Adrian, whatever you do, don't ever talk to that guy. He's best avoided." I said, irritated.

Adrian quickly nodded and turned his attention back to his sandwich. It was hard not to notice how silent everyone had become. I had never thought I'd be able to get people to listen to me, but they did. They had backed off and even stopped clicking pictures, which was a relief. I finished my apple and chocolate milkshake as soon as I could and turned to Drake.

"Drake, I'm going to talk to Raemon now. I think it's time for us to solve our issues, or he'll keep irritating me. Meanwhile you take Adrian around the school and show him where the music room is, please."

Drake smiled a small smile and stood up with me, "you sure you can handle Rae?"

I shrugged. "Hopefully."

Whenever Raemon came up, it led to an awkward silence between us. Raemon and Drake had been friends for so long, they were practically like brothers, and it was impossible for either of them to forego their friendship for my sake. And I didn't blame them for it. Drake already did a lot for me and Raemon, as sick as he makes me, had always been good to me. At least when he was sober, which was thankfully a lot of the time.

I put my arms around Drake's neck and mumbled a thank you to him, said my goodbyes to the others before making my way out of the cafeteria.

Raemon was standing in front of his locker, which was adjacent to mine. As soon as he saw me, his face broke into a smile. As much as I wanted to roll my eyes at him, I didn't. Instead I smiled back at him.

"Sarah, how long will it take for you to forgive me?" He asked, his face showing no emotion.

"I have forgiven you, Rae. Buy I can't take you back."

"I understand that. But can't we be friends?" His voice wavered, but he continued, "because until we are even, Drake won't talk to me."

I heard the hurt behind his voice and it broke my heart. I had no idea this guy had the ability to break my heart again, but he did. I had been so selfish about my feelings, that I had never considered what Drake must've gone through because of me.

"I'm sorry, Rae. I know I'm a very selfish person, I should've never come in between you both." I sighed, "go talk to Drake. Tell him we're good. And that I'm sorry."

Raemon laughed. A sarcastic one. "He never told you, right? About the punch?"

I shook my head. "I was shocked when he mentioned that before."

"Yeah, well, it was because of you. I-I asked him why he let you come in between us and why you were so selfish. Before I could finish my sentence, his fist was in my face." He laughed again.

I had never laughed as much as I did at that moment. I staggered on my feet, unable to stand still and he grabbed my hand to help me. We were both still laughing, as if it was the funniest thing to have happened when I heard someone clear their throat from behind me and we both turned at once.