e n d t a p e s

T H I R T E E N

“I'll leave my window open cause I'm too tired tonight to call your name, just know I'm right here hoping that you'll come in with the rain”

- Come in With the Rain; Taylor Swift.  

°°°

It has been two days I woke up with red eyes, eyebags, hair like haystack and completely disaster face. I brushed my teeth and took a quick shower. I tried to run a comb for my hair but it doesn’t work. So, I decided to wear a beanie and changed into a black shirt and skinny jeans. I walked downstairs and bolted to school. It is almost half a day I didn’t see Luke in school.

I have a Chemistry class with Chloe and she must be dying to know since I switched off my phone and shut people out after the dance. Mr. Downey was teaching at the front about electrochemistry when Chloe nudged me on my arm and wiggling her eyebrows.

“So?” she started.

“It didn’t work.”

“How?” she asked, gasped and almost shouted but then I placed my palm on her mouth. I told her everything and she sighed. I don’t know what to do so I started to cry.

“Oh my, Ellie. Don’t cry,” she soothed.

“I’m such a mess, Clo,” I said.

“Shit,” she cursed.

“Mr. Downey,” Chloe called. I looked up at her, puzzled.

“Yes, Miss Quinn?”

“Can I take Ellie to the restroom because she feels dizzy,” she lied.

“Oh okay.”

“Come on,” she helped me stand and walked out from the lab. As we stepped inside the restroom, I cried out loud.

“I feel like a fucking stupid shitty hell ugh…”

“Ellie, I don’t blame you actually. I know that you’re thinking about what will happen later and you both are best friends since kids,” she said. I looked at her through the mirror in front of us.

“Please don’t cry,” she said. I nodded and washed my face. I looked a little fresh and Chloe hugged me.

“Please don’t be sad, you’re my friend too, Ellie. Always be and always will,” she said. I hugged her back and smiled.

“You owe me ten pound,” I said and we both laughed.

•••

It has been two days Luke wasn’t in school. I got the feeling that he doesn’t want to see me and I know that I’m the one who messed the shit out. The volleyball competition is nearly around the corner. I was having my practice when Miss White called me out for a help.

“Can you please take my whistle and stopwatch in my room?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure,” I said and walked out from the gym. When I was walking I saw Arthur and Zach, one of the football members were waiting outside of the gym. I walked past them and Arthur grabbed my wrist.

“What do you want?” I asked, irritated.

“I want to see you,” he said. I glanced at Zach and he turned his face away from me and Arthur—pretending that he didn’t hear anything.

“For what?” I asked.

“Why did you refuse for a dance with me that night?” he asked.

Fuck that question.

“It is none of your business,” I sneered.

“I think it is.”

“Please, I have things to do, let me go,” I said, struggled to pull my wrist but he held it tighter.

“Do you have prom partner?” he asked.

“Ugh… I won’t tell you,” I said.

“Really?” he smirked and I rolled my eyes.

“Even if I kiss you?” he asked.

What?

“You wouldn’t dare,” I said.

“Don’t try me, Ellie.”

“Even if you kiss me, Arthur…I still won’t tell you,” I said, smirked. He moved a step towards me and I stepped back. Holy fuck. He smirked and shooked his head in amusement. He let go of my wrist and walked away with Zach. One of my team members, Sarah walked out from the gym and looked at me, puzzled.

“Did you get the whistle and stopwatch?” she asked.

“Fuck! I’ll be right back,” I said and run into the hallway to Miss White’s room. Arthur Daniels really gets me into trouble.

•••

I reached home and I saw Rosie’s car was pulled out on the driveway. She’s home! I killed my engine and ran inside the house.

“Rosie! You’re back!” I said and hugged her. After a moment, she pulled out from me. I looked at her, confused and she pointed at her belly. I gasped.

“How? When? Aren’t you and Chris...?” I asked.

“Of course we are. Just this baby is eight months old,” she said, smiled.

Yeah, they both divorced late December last year. We had dinner together and it feels like complete when Rosie is here because I used to share almost everything to her when she was still single—unmarried and carefree. After dinner, I took a shower and changed into my PJs. I walked to Rosie’s room and knocked the door.

“Come in,” the voice from inside called in. I opened up the door and walked inside the room. Rosie’s room is simple and classy—everything is in black, white and grey. Even she didn’t use her room for almost two years but then our maid always clean her room so it doesn’t look like an abandon room. Rosie looked up from her magazine to me and smiled. She gestured me to lie beside her and I obeyed. I slide myself on her bed and grinned.

“I miss this,” I said.

“Yeah, me too. It feels great to be back home,” she said.

“I miss you, Rosie.”

“I miss you too, Beth. Well, tell me what happened when I wasn’t around… don’t tell me summary,” she said, excited. I told her everything since the first day of school until what happened this evening with Arthur.

“So, Luke was nowhere to be seen for three days and this new hot guy came and wanted to kiss you?” she summarised and I nodded.

“You both are in denials,” she said.

“Who?” I asked.

“You and Lucas.”

“Oh, please don’t start it again,” I groaned.

“That’s just true,” she said, shrugged.

“I feel bad about that night okay? But then what makes me feel worse is when he disappeared for three days, which sucks!” I said.

“Oh, Beth… love is sucks but you should know that love has many edges, you just have to find the right edge,” she said.

“Or maybe I just have to stay to myself,” I whispered.