Bellman Tower

Chapter 13

After having a shower, I make a plan to go down into the main room and watch some mind-numbing television. Tying my hair into a scruffy bun, I step down the stairs and into the main room. Jay is sitting on the sofa, fiddling nervously with imaginary fluff on his jeans. He looks up as I enter and a cheesy grin spreads across his face, "Hey. I came around in the morning but no one was home."

"Oh. Did you come home after you went out with your friends?" I ask him as I pop a mint into my mouth.

Jay looks at me, puzzled, "I didn't go out with my friends this morning. I was at home."

"No, you weren't." I counter, "I went swimming with Shaun and I asked him if you could come and he said he knocked on your door but you were out with your friends."

"He lied." Jay states.

"Why would he lie, Jay?" I ask, my stomach rolling in bewilderment. I recall how angry he got when he found out I had been hanging out with Jay. You leave my company to be in Jay's company... You work fast, Flint... I really liked you, Nikki... I just wasted my time.... My company... Jay's company... Flint... Nikki... Flint... Nikki.... Liked you...

I banish all thoughts from my mind and repeat, "Why would he lie?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jay looks at me like I'm stupid, "He likes you. As in, like likes you."

"No, he doesn't." I wave a dismissive hand at him, "That's rubbish, Jay. He doesn't think about me that way."

"Do you know that for certain?" He raises a skeptic eyebrow at me. I open my mouth to retort but nothing comes out. The truth is, I don't know for certain that he doesn't like me in that way. I'm not even sure how I feel about him.

"Look, whatever. But that doesn't answer my question. Why did he lie?"

"Because he's jealous that you hang around with me. He thinks he might have competition." Jay states. I roll my eyes passively, running a hand through my hair. If it is true... No! I don't need to think of all that right now.

"You guys and your egos." I unhook my jacket from the hanger, "I'm going to find Shan and I'm going to ask him why he lied. And I'm going to get a straight answer and then we'll see just how wrong you are about all this. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation, like a misunderstanding or something."

"Wait, I'm coming with you. I know where he's going to be."

"Yeah, the art shop, duh!!"

I stride into the art shop with Jay hot on my heels. Shaun is leaning on the counter, conversing with Mrs Rolleston-Jones. "Hello, Nikki, dear." She smiles awkwardly at me.

"Hi, Mrs Jones. Shaun, can I talk to you outside?" I say. Shaun nods and then leaves the shop with Jay and I trailing after him.

"Why did you lie to her?" Jay questions calmly.

"That's none of your business.If she wants to know, she'll ask me herself."

"Fine, I will." I say, "Why did you do it? Why did you lie to me about something so small? All I wanted was for him to come with us."

"I just wanted to spend some time with you as a friend without him invading our space. Is that so wrong?"

"No, but you didn't have to lie to achieve that." I look up at him, "Shaun, what was the need? You could have just told me, it's not like I would have forced to go to his house and ask him to come."

"Well... Look, I did what I thought was right. If you think I was wrong, then I apologise to you. But not to him." Shaun lopes away, leaving me even more confused than I was in the first place. I sigh and turn to look at Jay.