Just a Number / NR

007. you're better

unedited

monday ,
january 20

Jamie Benson

I walked into the large school, my siblings departing from me. I smiled to my friends as they approached me.

"How did it happen?" Alli questioned. I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Oh my God, you never get on the Internet, I swear," Lilly said, rolling her eyes. My level of confusion was increasing by the second. Suddenly, Alli's phone was shoved in my face. I focused my eyes on the close words sitting brightly in front of my eyes.

JURASSIC WORLD STAR NICK ROBINSON: NEW GIRLFRIEND?
- the two were seen together at a local restaurant, which was followed by a walk and a trip to the movies.

     I sighed. I scrolled to see many photos of us together. I looked up at my friends, who were staring back at me for some explanation.

"Look, he gave me his number secretly at the movie theatre on Friday night," I rambled, "then Blake found in before I did, and he broke up with me. On Saturday, I called Nick and he didn't answer. He called me back later and we went in a small date and then we ran into Blake and Vanessa, which Blake got in a fight with Nick and then Nick and I went to the movies and then he walked me home and kind of stayed the night."

"He stayed the night?" Lilly exclaimed, gaining people's attention. The bell echoed through the hallways. We all started walking towards our classes.

"He's four years older than you," Ali said.

"I know," I replied.

"That's not okay," Ali said harshly.

"Yeah," Lilly agreed.

"What're you saying?" I asked sassily, stopping in the middle of the hallway.

"I can't be friends with someone who is going to date a guy that is way to old for her and she's not even out of high school," Alli explained, pulling Lilly in the other direction. I sighed.

Great. I've lost two best friends and I doubt Nick will talk to me after this morning and the news.

     I walked into the classroom and sat in my usual seat. I placed my head in the crevasses of my elbows and waited for class to start.

-----

It was now lunch time, where I was thankful to have another group of casual friends. I knew most of them and talked to them in a daily basis, but they weren't my best friends.

"So why are you sitting here? Not to be rude," Jason asked.

"My friends left me," I said.

"Oh why? If you don't mind me asking," he replied.

"This guy and I went on a date, but he's four years older than me," I said, sighing quietly afterwards as the memory of their words replayed in my mind.

"I was listening to this small conversation, and you honestly are so better off without them. They don't need to tell you what's right or wrong. I think it's cool that you're different by liking a guy that's only four years older than you. Plus, it's not like y'all are ten years apart, that would be a little weird. But, like I was saying, ignore what they say. You're welcome to join us for lunch everyday from now on. We'll be you're new friends," said Taylor, another boy sitting at the table.

Suddenly, there was a slight tap in my shoulder. I turned in my chair and saw Nick. I stood quickly, hiding his figure from as many people as possible.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry for how I was earlier and take you to lunch," he said, handing me a small bouquet of white roses. I smiled at him.

Alli and Lilly stifled a laugh at me as the walked by. I sighed and looked down.

Nick moved my hair sweetly from my face and whispered in my ear, "don't pay attention to them, you're better." I smiled and we walked out of the cafeteria.