Too Young to Care

Chapter three

I always liked to think I was a problem solver. That I could make quick decisions and come up with effective solutions. This would definitely be something I'd use to sell myself in job interviews when I was older, but what I had conjured up over the weekend wasn't for a professional project. It was still sheer perfection.

"Why are you so interested in walking around here?" Gemma asked me curiously.

"Dunno. Just sick of hearing about our friend's stupid shit." I shrugged, dominating our direction and making sure Gemma followed exactly where I was headed.

I knew the spot where Mike and his friends hung out at lunch. I had seen them before. They hung out in a secluded area where they could smoke both cigarettes and other more questionable things. I didn't know what else they got up to as I had never spent time here, but it was rumoured some of them sold drugs in this spot.

This was the only way to get Gemma and Mike to talk. Gemma was refusing as she said he had to make the first move, and in math's class Mike said he didn't feel ready. Therefore I was going to intervene and force them to talk. I felt a bit bad for forcing them upon this, but it would be nice for Gemma to have a boyfriend. I knew this could make senior year interesting too.

"Uh, isn't this where that Mike guy hangs out?" Gemma asked me as we got fairly close to the shed, as she started to catch on to what I was attempting to do.

I raised my eyebrows and smiled before continuing striding over. Gemma only took a few more steps but then stopped in her tracks.

"Why?" She asked curiously as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Aw, come on. None of this wishy, washy shit. Does he like me, does he not like me? This ends today. You talk. You either get along, or you don't." I whined desperately as I was watching my plan burn up in front of my eyes.

Gemma squeezed her face as she was deep in thought.

"I could walk away and your plan would fall to pieces." Gemma stated.

I whined. I was hoping self-confessing my genius plan would make Gemma even more excited to approach her now less-than-secret admirer, and might even make her like him more. But instead she was now holding the power over me.

"Aw come on! Let's get this over and done with. Why are you torturing me?" I whined loudly towards Gemma.

"Because it's fun. Ignoring the fact you feel this cat and mouse routine is torture for you and not poor dear Michael, I have a plan that may benefit us both." Gemma smirked.

I stayed silent, not even wanting to bother with a response. I just wanted to know what Gemma was going to propose.

"I really don't want to go to trig next class...so I'm going to skip it. But I really don't want to spend time with Mike alone because that would be awkward as fuck. So I think we're going to need a chaperone." Gemma stated matter-of-factly.

"Sure. That's fine." I responded, trying to appear calm and collected on the outside but feeling excited on the inside. I'm not sure why I felt so excited. Maybe I was excited for my friend to finally have a boyfriend. Maybe I thought that her and Mike were nice people, and a good match. Maybe I was going to live vicariously through her. Either way, this was happening!

"Okay. I'll lead, you follow." Gemma smiled brightly at me, as she began to briskly walk towards the secluded area. When Mike and his friends came into view she broke out in a run, and I struggled to catch up.

Gemma's running bought the attention of the group, who all began to laugh and cat call her. This caused me to stop like a deer in headlights as I felt shy about the attention from a mostly unknown group of people. I nervously tucked my hair behind my ears and tried not to feel self-conscious. This was Gemma's event and not mine.