Between Love and Friendship (Completed)

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Thank God it’s Friday.That was the only thought running through my head when I finally got out of ninth period Chem Lab. At last, I could go home, forget about the drama, the fights, and everything else associated with high school, and have a relaxing weekend.

The clock was ticking and I was running out of time before I had to give Trevor my answer. It had been a busy week, and I still hadn’t got the chance to tell Annabelle about the whole mess. I really wondered what she’d say.

My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed Jessica Ginochio and her little posse charging through the hall like they owned it. Most of the kids at Greenwood High probably believed that they did.

Since there were three bitches in total, Annabelle and I nicknamed them The Trio. First, of course, was Jessica, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed chick that any guy would give his right testicle to date. That probably explains why she was hated by majority of the female population at Greenwood.

Then there was Danielle Mace, AKA: the gossip queen. If you wanted dirt on anyone, you could get it from her. She knew everyone’s secrets, every rumor, every hook-up, and every breakup. If talking shit took skill, I’d say she had a lot of talent.

Ashley Myers was my least favorite of the three. I had known her since elementary school, and up until eighth grade, she was my right hand girl. But, before we were even out of middle school, she decided that being “popular” totally beat sticking around with a tomboy like me. She started talking about me behind my back, we got into a huge fight, and after that we stopped talking completely. I nearly had a panic attack when I found out she’d be attending the same high school.

Luckily for me, I didn’t share any classes with her.

Across the hall, a sudden outburst form Danielle caught my attention.

“When I say move, you move!” She shouted while pushing a small red-headed girl to the ground. The girl’s countless notebooks and sheets of loose leaf paper spiraled out of her hands, making a huge mess all over the floor. “Serves you right, geek.”

The Trio laughed for a second and then kept walking, as though nothing even happened.

The people walking by didn’t help the situation. Some laughed, while others gave her sympathetic looks, but none of them stopped to give her a hand.

I made my way over to her, deciding that if no one else would do it, I would.

When I got a clear view of the girl, I recognized her from art class, although I didn’t catch her name.

Her pleading grey eyes seemed to be searching for something, and her hair was naturally a bright shade of auburn. I thought she was pretty.

I bent down and picked up a few scattered sheets of paper that looked like math homework. “Don’t bother with them. They’re just a bunch of jerks,” I said, although I was sure that my words weren’t comforting at all.

She just nodded, while shuffling some books into her bag. “What’s your name again?” I didn’t know why exactly, but I was determined to make her talk.

“Promise,” She answered quietly. “I know, it’s…weird.”       

“I think it’s original. In a good way,” I said, giving her a friendly smile. Promise. It was a unique name, but it suited her.

“Your name’s Aria, right?”

“Yeah. I think we have art class together.”

“You’re really good at sketching portraits,” I added, remembering that she was one of the best artists in the class.

“Thanks. You’re good with paints.” She smiled awkwardly. I figured she wasn’t use to having conversations with new people.

“Hardly,” I laughed a little, remembering a paint fight I had with Gabriel a few months back. We both ended up getting detention.

After I handed Promise the rest of her papers, we got off the floor and began to walk towards the front door. It was dismissal, after all. “So… I guess I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah. Thanks for your help.” She smiled, before walking off to join a group of friends.

“Don’t mention it.”

I left the building, along with everyone else. Shoving my headphones into my ears, I began walking to the Q10 bus stop. I always took the bus home because I was just too lazy to walk, even though I only lived a few blocks from school. Plus, it was a little chilly, and I had forgotten to bring a jacket.

When I was halfway down the block, someone ran up to me. I pulled one of the headphones out of my ear, leaving Demi Lovato blasting through the other.

“Hey.”

It was Trevor. I had been trying to avoid him for the past couple of days, hoping that he wouldn’t hate me for it. Every time he saw me, I was secretly scared that he was going to ask if I had made my decision. Because at that point, I still hadn’t.

It probably didn't help that I had been confused out of my mind as to where I stood with Gabriel. (You can blame Annabelle for putting ideas into my head.) I didn’t want to screw things up with him by saying yes to Trevor.

Problem is, I didn’t want to screw things up with Trevor either.

“Hey. What’s up?” I said in reply.

“Well … I was wondering if you wanted to hang out at the library again today. I mean, if you aren’t doing anything,”

The library? I felt like I could go home and take a nap. I was trying to think of an excuse when Gabriel wedged himself between Trevor and me. “I’m sure she would much rather go play some ball with me.”

Leave it to Gabriel to say something like that.

But no, I wasn’t in the mood for basketball either. I needed a quick excuse.

“Actually, I-uh…”

“She’s going to the mall with me,” Annabelle said, cutting me off. “We’re dress sopping so no guys allowed.” Thank God for her, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she thought I actually wanted to go.

I mean, me? Dress shopping?

Gabriel said something in reply but I didn’t hear what it was because Annabelle was already pulling me onto the bus that had just arrived. Was it safe to leave him and Trevor alone together? I wondered. But I let it slide, deciding that they’d probably just go home or something.

Annabelle and I scanned our Metro Cards, and took a seat in the back.

“Omigosh, I have so much to tell you!” She began, placing her shoulder bag on the floor in front of her. “I’m sure you do. But are we really going to the mall?” I asked.

“Of course! You need to let out your inner girl every once in a while. Plus, the spring dance is only a week away!”

“I know! But I just don’t wanna spend six hours dress shopping!” I said rolling my eyes.

“We’ll be there for three hours, tops.” She said smiling.

“Okay fine. Just this once.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She gave me a quick side-hug.

Damn, that girl was hyper.

“So, what was it that you wanted to tell me?” I asked.

“Well, it’s gonna sound crazy,” She giggled. “But the thing is ... someone asked me to the spring dance.”

“Of course you got asked!” I smiled, nudging her. “Who was it?”

She stared at her hands for a minute, as if she was hesitant to tell me. “Promise you won’t get mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” I asked, confused.

“It was Gabriel,” She began. “And I said yes.”