Always Awake

Chapter 6

"What" I said sharply. "You heard me" he scowled. "Who the hell told you that?!" I growled. He looked at me with some fake smile. "So?...who told you this, because it's absolute BS" I said. I felt so fiery, someone had been spreading FALSE rumours about me. I rolled my eyes.

"It's a rumour"

"Who started it?"

"Jack"

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL" I screamed. "Jheez, calm down...it's true though, don't try and deny it".

"Well it's not true actually...your so-called friend was lying". I was filled with anguish, I thought Jack would of respected me enough to not make up lies. I literally wanted to slap him. I guess he is like the other guys: stupid,immature, lying idiots. I should of known. I had been warned about him from Jas after their 7th breakup. It aggravates me so much that I actually believed that he had a heart of gold, innocent. It was especially low to make up lies, sick ones too. Also, the fact that my own brother believed him over me.

"Why would he lie though?" Cameron questioned, smirking - that cheeky smirk that ALL the girls fell for. Not me of course, it just annoys the living hell out of me.

"How am I meant to know?"

"You were with him when it happened so..."

"How many times do I have to tell you! It didn't happen okay...The bottom line is, Jack is a loser and I must of been dillusional for falling for him".

Cameron chuckled. "Sure - well we'll find out on Monday".

"Damn right you will, just you wait until I prove that Jack is a complete liar" I huffed.

I was left alone again. How could he?

Then another thought crossed my mind, Elouise. Why would he start a rumour if they were dating? It was a big mystery, but I learnt my lesson. Never trust Jack Reynolds. Or any boys for that matter- 'Sistas before Mistas'. Now I have no friends. I don't have Jack or Jas or Maddie. School is gonna be great fun! I got changed quickly, and slipped into bed. Every minute or so, my phone lit up. I could already tell what it said, without even reading it. Annoying people quizzing me about the rumour. About what it felt like, which I simply answered "it didn't happen, okay?". Truly annoying.

I woke up feeling very grim. Even though the Australian morning sky was ablaze with fiery, red-hot colours. I was really dreading school, but also intrigued to know why Jack said what he did.

I feel like I am beginning to know my purpose in the world, and I am realising what I need to do. Overnight my perspective on people's opinions on me, has changed. I don't care anymore. People can think what they like. I shouldn't live my life trying to impress other people because deep down they are only doing the same thing. Society has changed so much, everything is based on opinions. And that could kill a teenager. You know what they say, society killed the teenager.

It was probably bad idea, because it is an Australian summer. But I decided I wanted to wear jeans to school. Jack won't know what hit him. I was confident about going to school.

"Ellie! Oi Ellie!" shouted someone. I spun round - Cameron. He walked towards me.

"What are you doing? I have told you about walking on your own" he said tugging at my top. "Couldn't care less" I said cheekily, I patted his chest and left. "I was speaking to you!" He called. "Sorry mum !" I laughed.

"Fuck I am starting to sound like mum" I heard him mutter. I saw Elouise with her 'Gal Gang' , as they called it. But Jack was basically the furthest he could be from her. The sun was scorching hot, jeans was a bad choice. The school's pool was twinkling under the massive gold orb mingling in the sky. I approached Jack with confidence. As I got closer, that confidence was snatched away from me. My heart was rattling my rib cage, leaving me mildly injured. "I need to talk to you" I stammered. All of his friends were looking at each other, masking their laughter.

"What" he said in a blunt tone.

"Forgotten already?" I sneered sarcastically. "I don't know what you're talking about" he said shielding his eyes from the sun.

"A certain rumour that a certain someone started". He shrugged.

I pulled him round the corner of the building. "Jack, stop lying I know you started the rumour about me and you". He avoided my gaze. "What rumour?". "Look me in the eye and tell me you didn't start a rumour about me sleeping with you" I said. He looked at me, but not in eye. "I knew it!" I pushed him back. "It was for a reason though" he consoled, taking my hand. "Well thanks a lot, now the whole school is going to think I'm a slut!" I said tearfully. I pushed past him. "Ellie! Wait!". He grabbed my shoulder. I had my hands over my eyes. "I'm sorry" he said. "Sorry is not going to cut it". I turned to leave. "I know" I heard him whisper.

After school, I wasn't in the mood to go home. I couldn't deal with mum. I headed to the beach, where I used to hang out with Jas and Maddie. I sat on the beach. Playing with the sand. The next thing I knew Jack was beside me. I sighed in annoyance. "What do you want" I moaned, facing the other way. "I want to explain it you". I rolled my eyes and turned the face him.

"Go on then"

"It's a really long story, but here it goes. Well the other night, Elouise was at my house. And she told me, well I actually found out. She cheated on me-"

"Oh like you did on her, with me"

"Yes. Let me finish please. She cheated with Jordan. I didn't want to come across as weak so I made up a story that I had been seeing you".

I was lost for words. "Why did you say I slept with you though? That's sick no offence".

"I'm not sure, it was just in the moment, it just rolled off my tongue without thinking"

"Well you should of thought" I said crossing my arms. He didn't say anything. "Can I ask you something?" I said. He nodded. "Why would Elouise cheat on you, you are literally perfect?". I didn't realise what I just said. I JUST CALLED JACK PERFECT.

"So I'm perfect now am I?" he laughed. "Shut up...it just rolled off my tounge" I said lying back on the pillowy sand. "Seriously why though?". "I don't know she probably thinks it's cool to have more than one boyfriend".

I propped myself up on one elbow. "Doesn't that make you even though?...oh I get it-" I said. He looked at me. "You don't want to be even, you want to be better" I said. "Ah you finally caught on!" He said sarcastically, nudging me. He was now half over me, looking down at me. I knew I had told him the truth, he was perfect. He pressed his lips on mine gently. I smiled.

Once I was home, Cameron bombarded me with questions about the Jack situation. Well, it was a first for him actually being in the house. "Doesn't matter" I said grabbing a chocolate chip cookie from the jar. "It was a lie" I said. I sat down at the table. "He made it up because Elouise cheated on him" I said through rather large bites of cookie. "Oh, bye then" he left the house without another word. "Bye then" I grumbled.

The evening was the usual. Mum went through yet another jar of marmite along with nutella. Harry moaned about his food. Mum yelled. I scowled. Just a typical night in the Wilkie household.

In bed that night, I gave a lot of thought about me and Jack. I am actually so two-faced, normally behind his back I'm annoyed at him but when I'm actually with him - I can't help myself but be in love. Everything is perfect when I'm around him. I don't have any worries, all my anxiety is stored far away. I wish I didn't like him, things would be way simpler. But he makes me feel a certain way, a great feeling. I can be myself around him. He makes me feel special and like I matter to him. However, he annoys me so much. Jack Reynolds isn't the type of boy I should like. We are the complete opposites. But you see the thing about love...by being so unexplainable that makes it love. By looking and feeling wrong, it's also incredibly right. You are completely clueless about what you're getting into, it just works.