Me and my Yapa (on hold)

Chapter 5 - Charlie

I waited for Jasmine at the school gate. Whoever got to school first would wait at the gate until the other arrived, then we would walk into class together. I kept looking down the street for her, worried that we would be late. Finally she appeared at the end of the street. When I could reach her I grabbed her arm and pulled her into class just as the bell rang.
All day Jasmine was quiet. At recess and lunch she only gave one word answers to my questions. In class she wouldn't write back to the notes I gave her. At the end of the day I pulled her aside, into the shade of our tree.
"What's wrong Jasmine? And don't say nothing because I know it's not true." I said staring at her. She gave a small smile.
"My mother doesn't want me to be friends with you anymore." Jasmine looked at me then, with tears in her eyes. I was speechless. Jasmine quickly went on.
"She said that you are a bad influence on me because I had a big argument with her when she said you couldn't come over. She is coming to talk to the teacher today." I just stared at the ground. This is what you get get for being friendly, i told myself, for letting down your guard. I never should have made friends. I couldn't stop the tears from coming. She tried to reach out to me but I pushed her away.
I walked home quickly, not looking at anyone. When I got inside a cheerful Mrs Lee greeted me. I ignored her and the afternoon tea she had set out. I walked to my room and sat on my bed. I felt numb, sure I had been teased and left out before but none of those times felt like this. For the first time that week I felt sad, lonely and homesick.
I didn't wait at the gate the next morning. I walked straight into class and sat in my usual seat. When Jasmine walked in I looked at her hopefully, before scowling down at my desk when she didn't look back. According to the school rules, because she hadn't sat with me for a week, she was still free to chose another group. A small part of me felt happy for her. The rest of me felt sorry for myself.
At recess I didn't go to my tree. I couldn't stand to see Jasmine sitting, laughing with another group. So I spent the whole recess in the toilets. I did the same thing at lunch. When I heard the bell go at the end of lunch I quickly walked out without looking at anyone. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jasmine looking all around and then, when she saw me I saw relief in her eyes.
As I walked home I heard footsteps behind me.
"Charlie, are you ok?" Her voice was quiet, not wanting to scare me and not wanting to be heard by anyone else. I quickly brushed the tears that formed in my eyes and ignored her. She ran in front of me and pulled me to a stop.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong! You're asking me what's wrong when you're the one who ditched me. Who didn't even look at me. Just when I thought I could fit in, you left." Tears were pouring down my face now. Jasmine pulled me into a hug and held me. She murmured comforting things. When I had calmed down looked into my eyes and spoke in a serious tone.
" I'm sorry Charlie, I shouldn't have done that. I don't care what my mother says though, I am going to be your friend!" She wiped my cheek and hugged me again. I sighed and just let myself be comforted.
True to her word, Jasmine sat next to me the next day. When the teacher came in she tried to make her move but Jasmine wouldn't. She stayed by me the whole day and made me forget about ever feeling lonely. I walked home that afternoon thinking about what I good friend I had in Jasmine.