Chapter 13: Girl Division
My exclusion week finally went by like the blink of an eye and it consisted of loads of texting with Joey. Despite his efforts to tease me, he was quite interesting to talk to and he was amazing at keeping the conversation going unlike most people I knew but I’d rather not give examples there.
The night before I came back to school, I found it hard to sleep because that's what always happens when I haven't been at school for what feels like forever. But either way, I somehow got like no sleep but woke up early because that makes sense.
When I came into school, I felt like everyone was watching me and judging for some reason. I supposed that everyone knew about what happened between me and Linda's separation considering that it was in the canteen. Gossip and rumours spread easily, especially at Birch High.
Luckily, I didn't see Linda for the majority of the day until lunchtime hit. I rolled up my hoody sleeves as I met with Diana and the others in the canteen. Just because of what had happened, that didn't mean I was going to change my ways. However, Linda's crew had already occupied the usual table and they were rolling red lipstick over their lips, puffing up their hair, and messaging on their mobiles.
With a sigh, we sat at a table on the other side of the canteen. I didn't mind but it was weird being separated like this. It's like dating or talking to someone every day for months then the habit ends and you become strangers. Within a click. It hurts.
"Don't mind them," Diana whispered into my ear (in a non-perverted way), "We have all of our true friends here." I nodded with a mouthful of crisps in my mouth. I was glad that I wasn't completely deserted; I still had the friends (that Linda insulted) with me as good company. Pretty much everything was the same but I had the feeling we were being watched by the other squad. I probably was to be honest.
"They seem to be trying to befriend everyone, which I'm not keen on," Jenny added in a hushed tone, "I mean, I swear we all fell out with Georgie last year and now they're back together when Linda mostly provoked it." After that, Jenny ran one of her chubby fingers down a bar of chocolate and unravelled it carefully. People had always judged her for her weight but she's always been an honest person, well to me, anyway. To be cringy, the inside counted more.
"Why wouldn't you want a big group? That's what we've always aimed to do in ours, haven't we? The bigger you are, the more supporters you have, the stronger you are, right?" Rachel piped up. She adjusted her glasses as she analysed the subject. I smiled at her.
"I'm going to get a slice of pizza," Diana explained, "Flo, come with me please." I obeyed her and we walked to the dinner queue. It wasn't really that long however, it was meant that we had to go near Linda and her minions.
As we lined up, I felt Linda's stare stab me in the back as it were an actual dagger. I felt like choking and I had a sick feeling in my stomach even though I just stood up for myself. I'd made a division between everyone and it would probably never be the same again.
Diana ordered her pizza and started chewing it from its tissue. The steam from its heat floated up into her face and even I could feel it a bit.
"How's Joey, by the way?" She asked casually. I gulped, feeling as if the entire world could hear what I was saying. But they couldn't, obviously. I better have told her now.
"We hung out last week actually. He's pretty funny, we've been taking since and-" I started to ramble. I knew that I was but I had so much to say about him that my mind was basically leaking with thoughts. Usually, it was her who was the one who was hard to follow but for once, it was me.
"Slow down," She stuck out her tongue.
"Basically, he's amazing," I said loudly. I quickly looked around us to see if anyone had obviously heard it when I saw Linda's icy blue eyes... I turned away.
"Do you like him then?" Diana smirked. We walked back to the table, where the others were sitting, and she was opposite me. She took a bite out of her pizza before coughing. I gulped, knowing that Jessica was there and that she knew him.
"Not yet," I teased. I hadn't thought of it like this before. You see, I didn't know whether or not I did. I mean, I might have like a small crush on him but I barely like him. He's attractive looks-wise, wait what?! Slow down.
"Are you talking about Joey?" Jessica butted in.
"Who's Joey?" Jenny screeched.
"Isn't Joey that mystery man?" Rachel asked for confirmation. My eyes shifted to Diana and I wanted to kill her, just like how I did when she was drunk at the house party. Right now, I felt complete and utter embarrassment. Talking about someone you like has never been that easy because you don't know whether or not they feel the same and some people you can't trust with it so you touch around the subject occasionally. Diana had been my best friend since forever so I could trust her with almost anything: vice versa.
"I saw him yesterday," Jessica giggled, "He was really happy because he's got a new girlfriend." My jaw dropped at the word 'girlfriend'. I thought he was starting to like me? WHAT DID HE THINK HE WAS DOING?! My heart felt like it sunk like the Titanic.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I don't know who she is yet though," Jessica explained with her hands raised up like I was going to start interrogating her about the matter. I shrugged my shoulders and brushed it off. Well, I tried to act as if I did when I was upset about it for some reason.
"Is he a big player then?" Diana raised an eyebrow. The others leaned closer to Jessica as they tried to get as much information as they could from her about him. I bit my lip, hoping for both answers. Yes so I knew he wasn't serious with this girl but no so if I dated him, I had a chance.
"From what I've seen: he is."
_________________________
I wanted this chapter to have a bit of a twist so Joey's a bit of a mystery. One for the plot eh!
Why has he got a girlfriend? Why is he talking to Florence? Keep reading and you'll find out. :p
Also, big thanks to.... @Carrieangel99 for the banner. It looks amazing, maybe if you check out her story, she'll do you one?
YOU ARE READING
Runaway Man
HumorI was fully aware that what I was doing went against what my brain was screaming at me to do, but it was human instinct. When your heart takes over, you forget that you even have a brain and it makes you do stupid things that you'll only regret late...
