Apples Don't Just Mean School [in process of rewriting]

No Regrets

Some legends are told/Some turn to dust or to gold/But you will remember me/Remember me for centuries ~ Fall Out Boy, Centuries

Emily's POV

I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

I had agreed to go out with Jared. Only for the free food, mind, but I still had to endure three hours of brainless chatter. And low voices oozing with flirtation. It turned my stomach, how he talked. "So Emily, what was it like, being a teacher?" he asked. "Well, it was nice teaching kids... They were naughty sometimes but it was all fun," I replied distractedly. What is he getting at... Oh, look at that fountain! Interesting... It looks like it's spewing colours! I drummed my fingers on the table irritably, as he babbled incessantly.

The food was deposited in front of us with a clatter. Politely listening - okay, more like pretending to listen - to Jared's weak attempts at conversation, I delicately picked at the meal in front of me. Bored... Is he done? He could rival Steinfield in nonsensical talk. Well, you could always ditch him. But that's mean and unethical. Go to the toilet and text someone. Matthew, maybe... Good idea. I interrupted him. "Oh, I'm going to the washroom for a bit..."

I tried not to run away in bliss as I managed to escape from the boring date - even if it was temporary. I leaned against the wall outside the toilet and pulled out my phone from my purse. Hmm... No, Amelia isn't online. Jeremy isn't either, and so is Arthur... Which leaves Matthew... And he IS online. What a cliché coincidence. I started typing rapidly on the keyboard.

Matthew's POV

I was STILL in hospital, checking out previous messages and scrolling through contacts, when my phone vibrated. 

Emily Fox: I ditched my date. Now I don't know what to do.

I blinked. Date? But... She's on a DATE? Ooh, jealous, aren't ya? I'm not! I'm NOT! Okay maybe a bit. But a DATE? 

You: I'm not exactly a field in that expertise.

Emily Fox: Then I'm dead. I'm stuck outside the toilet...

You: You could run home or something?

Emily Fox: This mall is like thirty minutes away from my house. I can't simply RUN HOME.

You: Uhh... You can try a cab? Or the Tube...

Emily Fox: Okay, fine... Haha, it'd be hilarious to see his face when he realises he's been ditched.

You: Is he that bad?

Emily Fox: How about this: I'd rather go on a date with you than HIM.

You: That's not saying a lot ;)

Emily Fox: Shut up, Harper.

You: Aww, I'm hurt! Anyway, hope you have a great evening...

Emily Fox: It'll be better with you and the gang over. I'm pretty much lonely...

You: Oh dear. Maybe I'll visit over the hols?

Emily Fox: Yes, please...

I clicked my phone's power button and let it fall onto the bedsheets from my hand. The drugs that I had tried to kill myself with were probably still swimming around somewhere in my bloodstream, but the doctors had promised a hundred percent chance of survival, to my chagrin. Damn. I wonder how I'll die? Would I kill myself? Would I die from an illness? Or even worse, old age? Hmm... Hope it'll be fast, at least.

Emily's POV

I followed Mattie's advice and took a cab home, leaving a confused and rejected Jared at the mall. No regrets? Why would I regret leaving that proud, useless, mindless idiot? I dropped my handbag onto the polished floor and changed out of the tight, floral-print knee-length dress and into comfortable, loose shorts and a baggy t-shirt, throwing all sense of fashion out of the window. I can finally BREATHE. Well, you liked looking pretty. Shut up.

I grabbed my phone again, and opened up the chat with Matthew. 

You: Now what do I do, after I'm ditched him? There's work tomorrow, and it'll be awkward!

He wasn't online, and I plugged in my handphone to charge. Okay, it was kinda mean to abandon Jared at the restaurant. He IS kind of cute and he CAN be marginally intelligent when he actually thinks. Now you realise. Apologise tomorrow, and then agree to go on another date. I sighed in resignation, then heated up, you guessed it, MORE leftovers in the wheezing fridge. 

It was Chinese takeaway - again. But beggars can't be choosers, huh? Out came the steaming container from the microwave, and bang went the door. I grabbed a fork and spoon from the container beside the sink, and brought my food to the table. Well, better than nothing...

Matthew's POV

I was busy editing a bunch of biology worksheets to be printed - well, at least I was TRYING to. I kept getting distracted by lots of things: from people walking around and snippets of conversation to random ants crawling around my pile of chocolates and candy. I couldn't help but keep glancing over to my phone with longing, hoping for a message from Emily. You're getting off tangent again... But it's fun talking to Em! Yeah, well, you're infatuated with her. No, I'm NOT!I focused on the worksheets again, crossing out some unneeded information and adding in those that was needed, mind all the while spinning. 

AM I 'infatuated' with her? No, that's not possible, we're just friends, right? You've been thinking of her much more than a 'friend' lately. Have I? Yes... Yes, I have. No way can I... I can't fall back into the childhood, teenage, love-struck, mushy clichés! I HATE being a cliché. I scowled and pressed the pencil harder against the paper, so hard that it made a faint dent in the cardboard I was using as a makeshift table. 

Focus on the task at hand... I tapped the end of the pencil on the worksheet thoughtfully, before underlining a particular sentence and scrawling a question mark above it. In my other hand, I was flexing my fingers, impatient to get out of the hospital. I hate being stuck in such a confined position! I need to get out and MOVE. Uhh, you DO know that hospitals and doctors are trying to HELP you? I don't NEED help. I'm independent... And I can solve my pain by myself. But you're doing that with death! It's a solution.

A/N: I'm super sorry, I can only update shorter chapters and less frequently! I'm super busy and blocked off from Wattpad, except when my parents are okay with my hogging the computer. Sorry again...