The Girl Next Door

Friends?

As I woke up the next morning, I turned in the bed and managed to land on Harry’s bare chest.

“Please don’t wake up,” I whispered as quietly as I can.

He groaned and shook his head. “Good morning, babe,” he said in a gravely morning voice.

I moved my head from his chest and tried to get out of bed, but he took me by the calf and pulled me back so I landed with my rear on his stomach. He gasped for air and I chuckled.

“That’s what you get when you mess with me, Styles.”

“Styles,” he repeated, “Carter Styles. Yeah, that would work.”

“As if,” I said and sat up, my legs crossed.

“How about this.” He sat up and pulled in closer to me so our legs were now only a couple of inches apart. “In, let’s say, 20 years, if we’re both single, we’ll get married.” He ended the sentence with a smile, like he was proud of the nonsense he’d just said.

“No,” I said coldly. He frowned and pursed his lips. He tackled me and the next thing I knew, he was lying on top of me.

“Yes!”

“No!”

“Fine! You want a real proposal?” He took a step back and kneeled on the bed. “Carter Rebecca Arch, would you do me the honour of being my possible back-up wife in 20 years?”

I had to admit what he was doing would probably make a normal girl go weak in the knees.

“Tempting, but no—” as I said that, he threw himself at me and we both fell on the bed. He started tickling me, which he knew would get him higher on my Kill List.

“Fine!” I yelled when my stomach already hurt. “I’ll marry you in 20 years if you really want me. Just stop torturing me!”

He backed off slightly and put his arms on the bed on the sides of my head, looking at me. Just then I realised how hard my heart was beating in that moment.

“I have to go,” I said and got up. “You really are annoying.”

I was ready to face school. I was even ready to face Ariana and everything she threw at me.

I got out of the car confidently and locked it behind me.

I felt so confident, yet completely froze when I saw Ariana. I took a deep breath and sat a few rows below her.

She didn’t notice me at first but then she waived at me with that obnoxious smile and the only thing left for me to do is cover my eyes.

The rest of the school day was more bearable since she was in none of my classes.

Sociology

English literature

Psychology

Lunch  

Business

Algebra

Science

Freedom.

I went to my car but someone’s hand tapped me on the shoulder. Of course it was Ariana.

“Can we talk?” she asked. I had no other choice but to follow her.

We sat on a low wall on the sidewalk. She took out her iPad which had a pink case- figures. I don’t know why she needs it, but I feel it’s not for anything good.

“About that internship at BBCR1… I want it.” Her tone of voice suddenly got colder, more determined. Like an annoying little rich girl who gets every toy she wants. Ariana wasn’t far from that.