The Girl

chapter 10

The next day was strange. I didn't feel normal. I didn't want to talk to anyone and Chipo was not to be found. I needed to see him because I'd finally decided it was time to break up with him. 

He was sweet, he'd understand my reasoning.

The day was a haze, the only thing I actually noticed was my phone having constant spasms. People requesting to follow me on Instagram and friend requests on FaceBook and people trying to call me and everything was irregular.

After school, I spoke to his younger sister before she left to go to gymnastics. She claimed he had 'caught a terrible cough that would take years to get better'.

That's just plain sus. 

~~~

I walked to his house to see what was up.

When I got to his driveway, there was a car that I recognised. It was red. I only knew one person with a red car with a matching number plate.

When I knocked the door, Chipo's mother answered, "Violet, what are you doing here?"

"I was just wondering if I could see Chipo. He wasn't at school and I'm a bit worried. Is he okay?"

"Oh, he's absolutely fine! He had interviews today so he missed school."

"Interviews? Last night when he was at my house he didn't mention interviews."

"Oh, yes, it's very last minute. It was organised very early this morning."

"Ahh, okay. Do you mind if I come in and see him?"

"Well, I think he's a bit busy right now. He has an English assignment and his partner is here, so I'd be quick if I were you," she answered as she opened the door for me.

Chipo's mother retreated back into the front room, where she resumed her online bingo game.

I walked up the stairs, and then up another flight of stairs. Chipo's room was up in the attic, so it was a pretty intense workout to get there.

When I was halfway up the last set of stairs, I could hear something coming from Chipo's room, and it wasn't something I liked. Chipo and his English partner definitely weren't studying and doing their assignment.

Should I go away and break up with him later? It'd save me the mental scarring. But I have to do it. I have to get it over and done with.

Running up the last couple of steps, I burst Chipo's door open to the sight of him in bed with an all too familiar redhead, who screamed at the sight of me.

"What are you doing here?" the Daysha screamed at me/

"What are you doing in bed with Chipo?"

"It's not what it looks like," Chipo butted in,

"Yeah, I can see that it's definitely not an English assignment. I didn't know you were so interested in biology! I don't recall you picking it. And so seriously, too! I mean, you're obviously putting your knowledge to good use, examining anatomy. Oh! I know! Is this  PDHPE too? Because I do remember covering contraceptives... are you guys trying each one out?"

By this stage, Daysha had shrunk back down under the covers. I couldn't even make eye contact with her. Even though I had no feelings left for Chipo, it was gut wrenching to see one of my oldest friends doing this behind my back.

"Look, I can expl-" Daysha began

"Explain what? That you've been fucking my boyfriend behind my back? That my best friend has betrayed me, in the worst way? Tell me, tell me one thing. How long has this been going on for?"

"This is the fir-" 

"No Chipo, we should come clean," Daysha took a deep breath in before whispering the truth, "Four months."

"So for almost our entire relationship, you two have been up to shenanigans?" tears started to brim in my eyes.

"Vi, I'm so sorry, I am s-" Daysha started to apologise

"No, you're not sorry. If you really valued our relationship, you wouldn't have done this to me, for so long. I can't believe this. I'm done with you. I'm done with both of you. Don't talk to me again. Don't even come near me. He had better be worth it."

~~~

I sprinted from that house, tears streaming down my face. I kept running until my legs were sore and achy, then, I sat on the curb, knees, tucked in, a hot, blubbering mess.

"Oh, honey," I peeked through my fingers to find Sam, my guardian angel, picking me up into his arms and bringing me inside his house.