L is for Love

Chapter 12

I walked back into the living room with Aria who still had her arm around my shoulders. Everyone looked at me sympathetically. Did they all know? I sat down, landing on the sofa with a depressing thud.  I sighed resting my head on my hand. Aria sat down next to me. I looked across the room at the television but didn’t really focus on anything. I could vaguely see everyone still looking at me but then caught my eye. She leant over to me offering me the remote. I looked at it for a minute before looking up at her. My frown started to crinkle and it eventually formed a smile. I chuckled to myself before accepting the remote and hugging Anna.

That was what I loved about my mates; they knew what I was thinking and knew how to cheer me up when I was feeling upset. I flicked through the channels. There wasn’t anything on. I giggled before finally choosing American Dad.

I looked up still laughing “There’s nothing on. Typical of my luck. The one chance I get to watch something other than American Dad and there’s nothing to watch. The girls all got up from the sitting positions, well I suppose sleeping positions and ran over to me and fell into me hugging me from all angles. We all laughed. My mates are most definitely mad but the thing is I wouldn’t have them any other way. I had often wondered how we were all friends; we were all so different and most of us didn’t really have anything in common with each other. Anna always used to say that we were friends because we were a mixed up bunch of misfits that seemed to gel together. To be honest I had to agree with her. We weren’t exactly the most popular people but we weren’t the least by far.

For most of the day we watched television. I later changed into jogging bottoms and a t-shirt which was without a doubt my favourite outfit for when I was feeling down or just wanted a duvet day. Anna, Carmen and Lily went into the kitchen and began cooking a roast chicken dinner whilst Aria, Amy and Jason laid the table. Normally I would have helped but I didn’t even think about it; I couldn’t stop thinking about Jake. I tried so hard to be angry at myself; it had only been a couple of hours since I was feeling the same way about Ben and another few before that, Liam. My mind was buzzing, everything I thought I knew was collapsing around me, and I was so confused.

Anna served up the vegetables and chicken, to everyone except herself; instead giving herself Quorn meat. Lee past me my plate and I took it from him and mumbled “Thanks!”. I began eating the mash potato, it was so creamy and it melted in my mouth. I smiled, relishing in the taste. I loved a roast dinner, it reminded me of home and it made me feel all fuzzy inside. I never thought it was possible for food to do that but it was. I played with the mash using my fork; raking through it and then making it into fluffy peaks. Jason who was sitting next to me nudged me “Becks...that’s potato...you eat it...” he said before smiling at me.

I nudged him hard “Shut up! I was deep in thought then!”

“I know, I could see!”

“You were thinking...didn’t know you could do that Becks!” said Lee jokingly.

 Aria hit him, “Will you stop winding her up! She’s had a tough day!”

I looked down disappointedly. She looked over at me realising she had reminded me of Jake. She mouthed “sorry” to me.

“It’s alright. It’s not your fault Aria.”

I finished eating my dinner, although somehow now it didn’t seem as inviting as it had before, in fact it seemed like a task to eat. I finished eating and Jason collected the plates and took them over to the sink.

“I’ll do the washing up ‘cause I didn’t do any cooking.” Aria called over to Jason.

“Oh alright, I don’t mind though...”

“No seriously its fine. I don’t mind washing up.”

“I’ll help you Aria” I said, not really wanting to although I did feel a little guilty everyone was being so nice to me, it was the least I could do.

The others went outside and I walked over to the sink and turned the hot tap on. The water spurted out and into the white plastic washing up bowl. I squirted some washing-up soap into the bowl and bubbles started to form. I tested the water to see what the temperature was like. I recoiled when the water burned at my skin. I turned the hot tap off before turning the cold on. Steam rose from the water and escaped into the air above. I felt the water again, this time it was right. I grabbed the brush and began wiping the dishes. I watched as the stains disappeared into the water. I wish everything could do that; it seemed so easy to wipe away the problems. I handed the plates to Aria who wiped them and put them into the cupboard. We were just on the last dish and all we could hear was Jason shouting “Follow me down here bitches!”.

Me and Aria looked at each other and just burst out laughing it was so funny and out of character for him. We looked around the corner to see him playing Grand Theft Auto on the PS3. He paused it when he saw us looking at him.

“What?” he asked.

Again me and Aria looked at each other and laughed, that had made my day; nothing could spoil it now.