Prematurely Adults

Chapter six

Stacey Jensen

I hate Mondays, especially today. Tonight I'm having dinner with Steven and his family. It was not a request but a demand that I have to be in Clear Springs or Steven will come looking for me. I've avoided him for six months and always had an excuse for why I couldn't attend some kind of gala, ball, and party. But he has made it abundantly clear that he wants me at his house or else. Nothing else just the veiled threat. It could be anything from cutting me off financially or disowning me. I have no choice but to attend and watch as the people who work for him bow down at his imported Italian handmade shoes.

I had lied and told Ryan I am behind on school projects and decided to stay in tonight to catch up. He took my word for it but I don't know if he believe me. I've been tuning Mel out for the last ten minutes. She's been complaining about Kurt's parents who are complete assholes. And how Mrs. Langley clutched the pearls around her neck as if Mel was going to rip them off of her body. Both Kurt's parents treated the staff at the restaurant like shit and lorded their money over them. It's typical of rich people. They tend to think that the world revolves around them. "Are you even listening to me!" Mel snaps. It's a free period and I wanted to take a nap. And not listen to her bullshit drama. I shake my head "Not really" I say in a bitch tone. Her eyes turn cruel. "What crawled up your ass and died?" She glowers and looks like she wants to spit in my face.

"You did" I snarl letting my anger show. "What the fuck!" She says in outrage. "Did you forget about Saturday morning?" I sneer and she instantly loses the self-righteous attitude. "Look I'm sorry I was a bitch to you but can we move on. It's what best friends do" I shake my head laughing bitterly. "What's so funny?" She says seeming hurt by my volatile behavior. "You" I point a finger at her. "Wow! Mel, you do think that you're all that huh?" Her anger comes back in full force. "What's that supposed to mean?" She spats her hands on her bony hips and stands too close to me. I swear if she tries anything I'm going to bitch slap her. "Saturday morning I could forgive but telling Kurt that I was the one in the kinky rooms at the Blue Jay club and blaming me for the huge mosquito bite in your neck," I say tutting shaking my head, headd letting my disapproval show. She blanched her eyes wide and pulls me into an empty stairwell. At this rate, I'm never going to make it to my custodian.

Mel scan our surroundings checking for eavesdroppers who could use our conversation against her. She returns her gaze to me when satisfied with knowing there are no students in the immediate area. "Look ..." Pause "I had to lie or Kurt was going to leave me" a scared look on her face. She should be scared, I'm her true scare tactic, and not in a fun way like on TV. When everyone shares a great laugh at the end of the episode. I could bring her little fairytale of living happily ever after with that douchebag she has planned in her head down. That is if he is going to believe me. Kurt believes everything Mel says no matter how farfetched it sounds. "And your boyfriend is cool and..." "Shut up!" I yell cutting her off. "How dare you bring up Ryan" I snarl in a shaking tone of voice.

Mel's eyes are clouded in fear. She has never seen me so angry. Her mouth opens and closes like a gaping fish on dry land. "I'm s sorry" she stutters. "Sorry doesn't even begin to explain the damage you have caused in our friendship. I would've liked to believe that our relationship came before dicks ..." Pause and I watch as she shakes her head in denial. "I didn't choose Kurt over you. I had to think fast and ..." "And you decided to throw me under the bus making me look like a slut" I once again cut her off. "It was not my intention," she says pleadingly. "Then what did you do?" She is quiet and has no response. "You took the coward way out but luckily Ryan knows I'm not a slut and had believed me when I told him I wasn't in that kinky room" I gloat cruelly. "Stacey I am truly sorry please forgive me" her hands are folded like someone who is about to pray. It would be easy to sever our friendship. Both our guys would be pleased if it happens. Which is why I'm not giving them satisfaction. Especially dickwad Kurt. "It's going to take some time for me to forgive and trust you. But we can still hang go dress shopping for the school dance. And I'm taking a break from our annual weekend and school holidays sleepovers. Maybe it's because of my permanent presence at your house that you started treating me like shit but no more" I say. Mel looks dejected like someone told her fashion just went out of fashion. "I'll take your friendship anyway I can get it. I can't stand the idea of you not talking to me. I know I was a bitch and blaming you and for that, I am truly sorry" she sounds sincere and remorseful even. I just don't know how long this meek Mel is going to last. I don't reply and make a show of checking the time on my phone. Ugh, more messages from Ryan. Wanting to know my whereabouts. He is truly possessive in every way. I type out a response feeling Mel's heavy stare on my face. "It's two minutes to lunch shall we walk to the cafeteria?" I say and Mel nods her head like a mute. We silently walk to the lunch room.