When I'm with you

Chapter 14

Winter had arrived. The ground, roofs, and cars were all now covered with snow. Since the weather was cold, the swim team wouldn't have practice for the whole season.

It had been a week since my humiliating loss at the swimming competition. I had somewhat recovered from it, though there was still a tinge of bitterness. I promised myself that I'd win my next race, as long as Gab wouldn't bring Cindy along. Well, I hoped so, since Gab had been informed of the history between the swim team and the cheerleading squad by the ever dependable Jane. But he was still pestering me about being friends with Cindy, and that made me even more irritated, to the point where the mere mention of her name made me want to jump off a cliff and fall face first into the mouth of a volcano overflowing with lava. (Morbid, but true. No exaggeration whatsoever.)

I knew that it was impossible in the first place, like, me greeting her every morning with my biggest smile and saying 'Hi Cindy! What's up!'... just imagining it made me want to puke. I had no intention of striking up a friendship with Cindy, of all people.

I didn't imagine that the two of them were so close. I was still wondering what Cindy made him eat, since I knew for a fact that Gab hated those type of girls (gossiping, worrying about their looks, feeling superior etc.). Maybe he was just blind. Or maybe he liked Cindy. Nah, that was impossible. I mean, this was Cindy we were talking about, the bitchy captain of the cheerleading squad. But Gab had no reason to hang with her.. unless he really had feelings for her.

ARGH! Why was I even thinking about it? It wasn't like I had the right to choose the people Gab should hang out with. But lately my chest hurt everytime I saw them together. Was it.. jealousy? But Gab wasn't more than a friend to me. He was kind of special, I guess, being my childhood friend and all.. but that was it. Maybe I was just bothered that he was giving her attention that she didn't deserve. Stupid Gab.

The four of us were gathered at our usual table in the cafeteria. Chad was talking about his dream last night: he had gone to fish at a lake; he had just cast his fishing pole when suddenly he found himself by the seashore; then the fishing pole got so heavy he thought he had caught a huge fish, but when he lifted the pole it was a talking piranha and it said 'It's time to eat!' while grinning and laughing like crazy. Then Chad woke up, sweating like he had just run a thousand miles. Jane was listening to him and laughing like he had just told the funniest joke in the world, though I didn't find anything particularly funny about his dream. If I had a dream like that, I would probably consider it a nighmare. All the while Gab was silently eating his sandwhich, completely ignoring his brother. After Chad finished talking about his weird dream, I told Jane that she didn't need to bring me home.

"I'll take a cab later so you can just go home without me. Just enjoy yourself later."

"I'm sorry... but what are you talking about?" Jane asked with a confused look.

"Don't you have a date with Paul later? I mean, it's your 8th monthsary, so I thought you'd go somewhere and celebrate."

I didn't know if it was just me or there was suddenly tension in the air. Jane was strangely quiet, but stranger still was the way Chad was looking at her: worry creased every inch of his face.

"A-Anne, um, I think we have to talk?" Jane stuttered, looking nervous.

"Talk? But we're already talking." I said.

"No, I mean just the two of us."

I felt my eyebrows furrow, having no idea what was going on. Jane was making me nervous.

"Can't we just talk about it here? Besides, lunch break is about to end."

Jane hesitated, then she looked at Chad who gave her an encouraging look.