The Boy Next Door

Chapter 8 - Secret Plan

Zoe's POV

My hands began to clam up. The sweat formed on my brow, and I full feel my face turn red. The spotlight was on me, and with regards to telling Alfie how I felt, was now or never situation.

I looked around the room. Our friends looked down, trying to cover their heads. I bet they could feel the awkward surround the room. Even Joe hid away now, probably regretting starting this whole mumbo-jumbo. I could see Jade staring at me, waiting for words to escape my lips. She didn't look angry, or upset.. She was just.. Tired.

"Zoe?" Alfie asked again. "What are they talking about?"

I swallowed my pride. And looked at Jade again. She picked up her bag, and began to walk out. "Nothing." I said. "I don't know what Joe's talking about. He's always thinking I have a massive crush on you." I tried to laugh, but it came out hesitantly, and staged. "It's kind of awkward to talk about this, noting that everyone's here. Now if you would excuse me.." I walked past Jade, who paused to listen to my conversation with Alfie.

"Zoe--" She called out to me.

"Take this opportunity, and take it now. You have a really really really nice bloke waiting for you. He's kind of confused about everything, so just take him. None of this Zalfie business. It's not real, okay? Now. I'm done conversing this topic." I smiled at her, and walked out the door.

Jade's POV

Joe followed Zoe out, and everyone's eyes were once again on me and Alfie.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Alfie asked. "I arranged this, and i'm more confused than anyone here."

I walked up to Alfie, and exhaled loudly, releasing the balled up stress that built up inside me over the past couple of minutes. "Nothing. It's nothing to worry about."

"I just wanted to ask you out. Maybe for a date. But--"

"Yes."

"What?" Alfie questioned.

"Yes." I repeated.

"So you'll go out with me." He smirked.

"Do I have a choice?" I smiled.

"Yes. And by yes, I mean that your choices are either yes or yes." Alfie cackled.

"I'll take the first answer." I agreed as Alfie pulled me in for a hug, our friends cheering.

Zoe's POV

"Zoe!" I turned to find Joe chasing after me. "Wait." He panted, standing before me.

"I couldn't do it. And I never will do it. And let's just leave it that way." I argued. I wanted Alfie to know more than anything. But with telling him, I knew I would be risking our friendship. It would be on the line.

"But--"

"We're just going to leave it at that Joseph." Deep down I was gutted. But I knew Alfie wasn't the one for me. He wasn't necessarily mine to begin with. So who am I to pile this burden of a secret onto his shoulders?

Jade's POV

Everyone left. And congratulated Alfie on his quote on quote, "win."

"So are we really watching This Is Us? Or did you unexpectedly change the movie too?" I laughed as I sat down next to him, placing the bucket of freshly popped and buttered kernels on my lap.

"We can if you want to, this whole place is ours for the day. Rented it out." He smiled at me. "Any film the cinema's playing right now, we've got it." He smirked at me.

Author's POV

THIS IS A REALLY SHORT AND HORRIBLE CHAPTER (in fact, all my chapters have been absolute crap lately) BUT I CAN EXPLAIN.

As I said that I will be updating on Tuesdays, I've revised my writing plan.. Just a little.

I will be posting Tuesdays (hopefully). But right now i'm just so bombarded with homework and scholarship applications and college applications and studying for the SAT, and my job, and the school's musical.. That I just haven't had time to write, and it's difficult for me to find the time.

So this is what I'm going to do.

As I mentioned before, I will make a notice on Saturdays if I will not be able to post.. But I found that quite hard to do, because all my stuff comes crashing down on me on Monday, and on a Saturday, I think I'll be able to finish a chapter and post it Tuesday, but Monday comes around, and my schedule for the week gets fully booked.

So what about the story? That's what you're wondering.

If you come to check on Tuesdays, and not a single new chapter is posted, then check Sunday evening. That's what i'm going to do.

It would be simpler to just change my update day to somewhere along the weekend, but I also need time to just relax and hang out with my friends.

So if you hate me, i'm sorry that I'm not as committed as I wish I could be. I just haven't got the time.