Guilty Pleasure

4

"Pass me the fucking burger." Stuart says as he chews on a lettuce leaf and smacks me on my back.
"Getting it. Have some patience hogger." I say, my own mouth full with the lollipop I'm sucking on.

I slyly wheedle up front in the line and grab a burger. The guy in front of me gives me a what-the-fuck look. I wink at him and come back to where Stuart is standing.

"Can't you guys wait for your turn?" A girl in the queue ahead of me asks me with annoyance. However when her eyes meet Stuart's, she turns red and gives him a tiny smile.

I open my mouth to give her an answer when Stuart holds my shoulder.
"No." That's all he says and we burst out in laughter, giving high fives to each other.

The girl says nothing and turns ahead once again, getting even redder. People around us in the cafeteria roll their eyes and grumble as they shuffle about. Causing nuisance in the canteen everyday is just one of the things Stuart and I do everyday. We cut lines, fool around with people and cause trouble. Worst part? We don't have any regrets about it.

"Are you sure you don't want to come sit with us?" Stuart asks me, opening the packing of his burger as we walk back to the sitting area.

"Are you going to ask this to me everyday?" I ask him, smiling at his confusion as he figures how to wipe the sauce that's leaked on to his fingers.

"Formalities." He says and bites on to his burger. I'll have to admit, that hurt. Just a tiny bit. He cares a lot, but then he says things like that, bringing me back to reality. Making me realize, that maybe it doesn't mean as much.

"Whatever fucker." I say and zip my hoodie up.
"Yuck this tastes like shit." He says and makes a dirty face.
I smirk. "That's because you didn't give me any of it."

He looks at me with relief. "Here take it. Eat the entire thing. I don't want it back. No wonder these people have no chill. Who the fuck eats food like that?" He mumbles within his breath and starts moving ahead.

I stand there, watching his back, holding the burger he just thrusted in my hand. I smile as I realize that at this moment, at this exact moment, life feels perfect. I may not have all that I want, but I do have all that I need. And as I relish that moment, I take bite into the burger, from the exact place where he was eating. And the most surprising part, it didn't taste like shit anymore.

•••

I don't remember the exact moment I fell for Stuart. We've been best friends for a year now. He's never even tried on me or flirted with me. Truth is, he is just so easy to fall in love with.

He is gorgeous. Nice. Funny. Just like those bad boys in books. Exactly like those. He makes me swoon and annoys me at the same time. He plays football and comes from a fucked up family. He sleeps around with girls and has the hottest best friends. Seems straight out of a teen flick right?

That's the best part. Stuart York is is made up of stuff dreams are made of. And he is my dream. The wish I made upon a shooting star, the one that fell magnificently into my world.

You know, there's this theory. One person. One person is all you need to survive. That person may be a boyfriend, a friend, a family member- but they can keep you breathing, alive.

I doodle around the edges of the page as I sit in the library, studying. Ever since Jase got admitted, I spend time with him everyday, time I would've otherwise spent studying. So I skip lunch time and catch up with the syllabus. People might think I'm cool but what I don't let slip out is that I'm a big time nerd within. They think I get good marks because I am smart. Nope. I revise everything.

After I've wasted my thirty minutes in the library, I get up and start moving out. That was when someone places their hands on my eyes.

"Who is this dumbfuck?" I ask, bored, chewing gum as the person, who smells of cherry, taps their feet.

"It's your future wife." He says and I roll my eyes, even if they're basically covered by his hands.
"Wow Ray, you've such high expectations from life, no wonder you're always disappointed." I say, bored as I start walking again.

He catches up with me. "Come on Ivy, I've been asking you out since forever. When do you plan to say yes?" He says, his black eyes fixated on me as he holds my hand and gives me a sorry look.

"Ray, for the last time, you're gay. And wow, that rhymed." I laugh and he rolls his eyes before dropping my hand.

"It's time you come out now. Not everyone believes that I'm the love of your life and the only one you'd ever date." I say, my eyes soft as he lets out a humourless chuckle.

"It's not like they'll believe that I'm gay too. After all, hot footballers are only supposed to like sexy cheerleaders right?" He smirks and I say nothing.

"Who said you're hot?" I say after a bit of silence and he gives me a smug look, the bitterness dropping off his face.
"Tell me, Ivy, are you able to resist this?" He raises the bottom of his shirt and shows me his six pack abs.

"Uh Ray, I have those too." I say and he gives me a cocky half smile.
"Is it? Show me then."
"You're still a guy, okay? Now leave me alone." I say and push him towards the side when I see Stuart looking at us from the side. And he doesn't look pleased.

"Bye Ray." I say absent mindedly as I run towards Stuart.
"Bye sweetheart." He says and Stuart's scowl deepens. I swear, that guy takes his acting part a bit too far.

"What were you doing with him?" Stuart asks me, frowning.
"How does it matter to you?" I poke my tongue out at him and start walking away from him when he holds my hand and pulls me closer.

I think I'm having heart problems.