Confessions of a Third Wheel

Chapter 23: Goodbye Gorilla

Pep was sitting alone in a table for two near the corner of this Japanese restaurant we both loved. It was a little place a few blocks from our school. We used to come here a lot when we had our sushi and sashimi cravings, but lately we barely had any contact.

She was engrossed in a book she placed on top of the table beside a small tea cup. I came up to her and I don't think she noticed me coming.

"Uh...Hi!" I said nervously, but unsure why.

"Oh, I didn't see you coming." She closed her book which showed Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

"Romeo and Juliet! I love that book." I smiled trying to start small talk.

"Huh. I didn't know that."

"Well, I did really like it. I loved the passion they had for each other."

"Well, I like the dualities; the death and life or the love and hate in the book."

"Oh."

"You know when it's suppose to mean something, but it does something else. Like for an example, helping a friend. You try to help her, but you end up hurting her instead. It's sad isn't it?" She asked as if trying to tell me something.

"What are you talking about? If you're trying to tell me something just say it straight to my face than saying it to me indirectly." I said my tone getting a bit angry.

"Fine. I'll tell you. You said you were my friend and that you'll help me get Connor, but no. Instead, you got him to like you because you're so selfish and in content with your own boyfriend."

I could feel my eyes well up. The tears were on the verge of spilling out and my mouth was trembling. The beat of my heart was running faster than ever. This pain, betrayal, and selfishness from my supposed best friend was all swirling around the bottom of my stomach. I was gonna throw up.

"In content? I may be many things, but in content is not it." I replied.

I looked into Pep's eyes but I couldn't even recognize her anymore. This girl standing in front of me was not Pep, my bestfriend. It was just some blonde girl with blue eyes whom I've never even met.

I continued, "I never meant for Connor to like me. I never expected Peter to like me back. I never wanted Connor to kiss me and get caught by Peter. Do you think that I wanted all this to happen? No. I did things for you that I would never do for anyone so you can be happy."

I looked straight into her stormy eyes and just left. I left because I didn't want to say anything else I would sooner regret.

My mind right now is in knots! I don't know what to feel. I'm mad at her thinking of me as an in content brat. I'm trying to understand her at the same time because I bet being dumped by the guy you really like for your best friend sucks.

There was this feeling in my heart tugging me to go back to that restaurant and forgive her for what she said and properly explain what really went down. I wanted to go back so bad and yet there was this other feeling telling me to stand firm where I am and wait for Pep to say her apologies first. Was it my pride? I'm guessing it is, but whatever it is, it made me continue to walk straight to my car and leave her behind.

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My fingers were spread apart on top of my white study desk, since I just applied nail polish on them. I had a neon orange-pink one on. I blew a strand of hair of my face as I thought of things that would take my mind of what happened this morning and as of now, there's been zero activities. I was thinking of going shopping at Brooklyn Drive and spending all my money on clothes, shoes, and sunglasses, but it was an expensive activity so I decided against it. I also thought of going to the movie theater, but there weren't any nice films showing. I was thinking hard of what to do until I received a message from Ian.