Delicate Hearts

Nine: Close To Truce?

Throughout the entire day, who 'she' was had been my only subject.

Perhaps I've been a little very dramatic judging my reaction, but I really needed nothing else but stop being a magnet of attraction of further trouble. However might I lengthily speak of the effect this little fight had over me, I decided to keep it at bay, just a series of thoughts never expressing their concepts out loud. And the last few words I heard? They were driving me nuts. Jane snapped out of existence after the English class, and the looks of reassurance she flashed me before dismissing were eerie. Although I scanned the area in search of her, I wasn't able to focus a minute with Mark beside me constantly questioning me about what I did back there, but I showed no signs of willingness of explaining my reactions to someone else. I needed to know myself firstly so I would have an acceptable excuse to convince others and subside my feelings.

Nevertheless, I decided snapping out for a while when I was attacking my cinnamon bun and gulping down my hot chocolate Mark had bought for me from the school's cafeteria (a special meal they've added due to the cold season). Mark was silent as he sat across me from one of the many tables we had scattered around the cafeteria, probably sick of talking to a dumb person. "Aw c'mon Markie!! Forget what happened and let's talk about something more serious, don't you agree?" I said, trying to boost up my tone with thrill, and motioning with my hands towards Stephanie, who'd just exited the cafeteria, her hands busy carrying the same food almost everyone took. Mark widened his eyes and slightly flushed, his dark hazel-green eyes sparkling in confusion. "Zoey! For God's sake stop it! Am a very independent man-well teen, and I don't crush on friends okay? Stop laughing like a retard!" Mark exclaimed loudly amidst my shower of laughter and tearing. When I calmed down, not yet totally recovering, I reached out and patted Mark on his left shoulder and said, "Oh, I think you confused on aiming the word retard to me rather than to you. I didn't even mention anyone and you just blurted out the story all on your own! I don't think Ste-"

"Those people at the cafeteria should really stop acting like they've never tasted food since eternity!" Stephanie ranted as she pushed me a little bit to the side for space to sit on the bench, and at the same time, startling Mark, who after that gave me a glare of warning of how dangerous the situation was. "Speak of the devil and it comes..." I murmured under my breath, only to be hit in the ribs by Stephanie, who quickly replied, "HEY!" and we all burst into a chaos of insane giggles. Instantly, the three of us had begun gulping down our delicious desserts and as soon as Stephanie picked up her chocolate mocha, the silence broke free. "You aren't going to speak about what happened today? No thoughts or feelings regarding it?" No feelings regarding it? I wish I didn't have any, I wish I just dropped it and didn't care, but it did. It made my aimlessly lose my temper.

"Hmm? Your face expression being dumfounded gives an answer," Mark remarked, low-toned. I immediately shook my head and defended, "I am not, shut up." Genius eh? Mark cocked an eyebrow at me, and Stephanie just went further.

"Then explain!"

"Alright," I sighed and decided to fill in with truths, regardless of the bad outcomes and turns it took the last time I tried being truthful and honest about my ideas. "So this retard really had me on my nerves. Guys I really couldn't handle someone full of loath like him in this school or to be accurate in almost every class."

"I can't agree further, I admit, but he didn't bully you or acted like he intended to harass you," Stephanie noted, but Mark snapped swiftly, "You can say that if you hadn't attended the Physics class and met his beloved ol'Aunt."

"Dammit!" she replied, and I slapped her shoulder playfully, and waved my hand randomly at the crowds of teachers developing around the area, which apparently indicated the start of their break. "Curse once more, and you'll earn a nice date with Mr. Omar in the detention class." An evident smirk tugged at the corner of Mark's lips, and it was almost hard to thwart yourself from smiling at my little friend's developing feelings for Stephanie. At any rate, Stephanie was content with replying with a roll of eyes, and continued sipping her hot drink. For a moment, I felt grateful to have these two at my side. For one thing, Mark was the most exemplary best friend anyone could wish for. His hazelnut-brown hair, fair skin, and dark green eyes were a suitable mixture to express his adorableness and tender personality, making him the cute buddy amongst us, even though he is a year elder than me.(Quick note: Everyone is elder than me, I stand odd in my grade's age level).