The Goldy Project

Chapter 24

After finally finishing off a rather long day at the Bakery , I start to wipe the tables, by myself, again. Obviously the bakers had gone off early, giving the excuse that the bakery was way too "over-populated" and their arms were "gnawed" by the amount of baking they had to do. You would've thought they would have know before taking the job that they had to do quite a lot of baking in a BAKERY!?! So here I am, furiously ranting to myself whilst simultaneously scrubbing the tables, pushing all my anger into it. As I finally finish off, I get to slip away just in time to see the sun set slowly into bluish-purple clouds. Suddenly, all my anger vanishes and I just sigh to myself, apart from the frustrating Bakers, today was a really good day. I take my Daisy out from the staff parking (which was really meant for cars, but since no-one actually owns a car, I thought I may as well make use of the private space). I start cycling down the lane, feeling the amazing usual tingling sensation from the tip of my head to the soles of my feet, peddling faster and faster, soaring through the breeze until it I felt the closest to flying. Mrs Potter's advice from last week never left my mind, and right now I am subconsciously cycling all the way to Hunter's home, like I have been for the last week. I dare myself to one day actually conjure up enough confidence to talk to him and work it out, my feelings for him never died, however many times I kid myself. Yet, I still always end up chickening out. I smile, perhaps today could be the day. Turning the corner, I reach Hunter's street. If only I could just cycle Daisy straight through into his home, and into his living room...

Just as soon as I think I'm one with the sky, I feel my self falling, and my Daisy grows to a instant halt. Palms now sweating, I walk Daisy behind a hedge and I peak out to see a picture which makes my eye's widen into bowling balls. For the first time, Hunter was outside in the crisp evening and not only that, it looked like he was hugging someone. I lean further, maybe I didn't see it right, maybe I wasn't looking clearly. But as I lean further, I confirm the image which was now throbbing my head, Hunter was hugging a girl. I couldn't see her face, but her silhouette stretched gloomily on the street as they were under a orange illuminating street light. After a moment, it was clear that they were not going to let go of each other any time soon, but their voices were getting increasingly louder, It was almost like they were having a argument. The girls' voice felt faintly familiar, it was nagging me. The voice was high pitched and shrilly, yet it had a monotone essence to it as well, so bleak and bland, and well- fake. It didn't upset me or hurt me that he obviously had a girlfriend, good on him. It wasn't like I was expecting for us to ever get together, or that he would wait for me to finally forgive him, or that he would still like me. God no. He needs to move on, and it's good he has or else it would be harder for me. I take one last look and my heart stops. I recognised that girl, I could recognise those glowing platinum blond locks of hair from a mile away. My blood boils in rage, that girl was Jennifer. And my heart gets stuck in my throat as she aggressively pulls Hunter near to smack her lips ever so brutally, cutting slowly every single one of my heart strings, painfully.

I take my Daisy and peddle rapidly, holding my head high so that the tears rolling down my cheeks would fly straight off and make it look like it was never there, because it shouldn't be. I should be happy for him. I am happy for him. WHO AM I KIDDING? How could he go this low, going out with the school slut. What is he trying to prove? But my anger fizzes as I reach my home, Mrs Potter was wrong. Hunter was never meant to be for me, and the sooner I realise this the better it will be for both us of us, but mainly me.

*****

Another week goes slowly past, and amidst all the chaos of the bakery my heart keeps racing over any waft of peppermint and my mind always recapping last weeks events as if it was something that breaking news should have broadcasted, I think of the headline bursting on every television "Devlish-looking boy Hunter goes out with Evil blonde witch- Jennifer". My head throbs and even daisy doesn't help me feel any better when I aimlessly ride around lanes, completely and utterly hear broken. I laugh at my self in pity, I believed  that once he had someone my crush would slowly but surely die away and I would be able to live happily again. But no, never could I ever have been more wrong. It was worse than when I knew he wasn't mine, at least there was a hope that we could be together one day, now I know there was nothing, no hope at all. He chose her over me, and I couldn't bear it.

I find myself in the park, moping around in the swings and wishing I had never met anyone. It seems any guy that comes to my life just leaves me with my heart in pain. Suddenly I am interrupted from my gloom and doom when I realise someone's sitting next to me on the other swing. I peer slowly, I use my golden locks as a curtain, but I find myself pleasantly suprised.

"Drake?" I say unsurely.

"Jade? Jade! Oh, come over here you!" He gets up and instantly I am wrapped with his arms around me. "You can't even comprehend to the extent to which I have missed you Miss Pond. You haven't been around in a while, trouble in paradise?" He says, his chirpy voice fills my body with overflowing happiness, and I find myself gleaming. Drake had not changed one bit.

"Oh you say it as if you don't already know, remember I know your secret." I tap my nose suggestively.

"Caught me red-handed Jade, but seems like you've been catching a lot of people red-handed lately." My heart hammers and I remember the night when it all went very wrong, and suddenly quick tears were streaming down my face. Drake looks at me alarmed and I remember his presence right next to me. He hugs me again and I sob a little over his shoulder, he lets me go after a minute.

"Sorry, I don't know what came over me just then." I wipe the remaining over the damage, hiding the evidence, something I've learned to do over this summer.

"No, it was my fault. Me and my stupid big mouth, You loved him, I understand-" I stop him, I couldn't take it anymore!

"No, I've thought over it, and I don't think I loved him the way I thought I did, or perhaps I should have. Someone wise once told me I was in love with the idea of being in love. Drake, I am not a saint in this whole mess, although everyone thinks I am, we were both almost as bad as each other." Finally I feel a heavy load lift off my chest, I didn't know it was there until now, I could finally breathe again.

"I don't think your a saint, Jade, I think you're human. I can't speak for Ryan,  but I know you and I know you went after love and so did he, but neither of you guys have it. He's still hiding behind closed doors, and here you are sitting here depressed whilst Hunter's canoodling with that Jenny bitch. Look, What's done is done, but what are you gonna do now to change things?"

"He likes her, I can't do anything to change that. Why should I stop his happiness for my stupidly selfish needs. I made him wait, I made him apologise and I also made him forget me. I was a bad friend and I am not going to become worse." I exasperate.

"You have to, you don't understand how much he misses you Jade. Oh and Jennifer, don't even get me started on her, Seriously she makes me want to strangle her and chop her into tiny pieces to be fed to killer sharks. That witch of a human is changing my brother, making him into someone not even I recognise. Making him work out more, making him smoke stuff, eat this eat that, give me a kissy honey blah blah blah, just gross. You have to tell him how you feel-" he suddenly rises, in excitement, "and I'm going to help you!"