Runaway Man

Chapter 21: Comforting

Chapter 21: Comforting

As our usual habit went, we were perched at our new table, laughing at inside jokes and what not. Everything between the others were a thing of the past and I was glad that they were. Well, I thought it went like that anyway. It made sense, after all. What’s the point of holding grudges for so long? What did it really achieve? There was more to life than to dwell on old mistakes so I let the burden aside between Linda and her trolls.

With a genuine smile, I examined the reformed group since the Linda incident. Rachel was showing Jenny some memes on her phone. Sophie was sharing her Haribos with Ginger Katie whist Jessica and Diana informed me on what was new revolving around our wonderful little world. It was amazing to see how happy everyone looked, we had finally found our true friends.

"So, how was that date with Mason anyway?” Jessica asked.

“Ever since Diana messaged him sexually on the day of the sleepover, he has been flirting with me constantly. And that date? It went better than I thought but I don’t think he appreciated Diana as the third wheeler,” I smirked cheekily before carelessly throwing a handful of Doritos into my mouth.

"Hey! That was Jessica who messaged!" Diana shrieked, obviously avoiding the rest of what I had just said. Oh yeah. It was Jessica. It was something that Diana would do though so I wouldn’t have been surprised if Diana set her up to do the task.

"You were part of it," I retorted back instantly. This caused her to crack a grin because she knew that I was right.

"We were doing you a favour," Jess said.  I nodded at her. Even though we were close, I could never treat her the same as Diana. Not in a lesbian way obviously but I'd never be able to insult, tease and complain to Jess the way I did to Diana. Diana had been there from the start and never left my side, not even once. That was what made her so amazing and irreplaceable as a best friend. I loved her for that. The different between her and Jessica was that I had known her for a lot longer and we had always been close.

Jessica still needed some time to build my trust up. It wasn’t that she wasn’t a trustworthy person… it was just that I was hard to trust someone. Like, I had always been like that. I had trusted the wrong people in the past and it led me down the wrong route so I was eager to correct my mistakes and prevent any future sins. I threw another lot of food into my mouth as I began to think more about important matters.

"Um... Flo. Can you pay attention?" Diana waved her hand in front of my face.

"What?" I hastily replied as I snapped out of my thoughts. Diana gestured with her glossy eyes to focus on a spot behind me. I glanced up, meeting eyes with some of the traitors. ie. Brunette Katie, Georgia and a girl called Tia. My eyes widened and I felt the crisps scratch the back of my throat. I didn't know what to do. How to react. That made it all the worst so I coughed to try force down the contents that were trapped on my windpipe.

"Look, we're sorry for ditching you for Linda. Hugs?" Brunette Katie opened her arms out with a hint of concern in her eyes but her guard quickly covered them. She seemed so insecure deep down but I would never even mention that to anyone else. It wasn’t mine to say about other’s behaviours.

"Why should we?" I asked without thinking. I should have really thought about what I said because I didn't want to appear to be cocky or full of myself. That wasn't me at all but there was part of me thinking that it was a set up and if it was… we were going to look so foolish.

"I knew you'd say that," Brunette Katie sighed. She turned to walk away when Ginger Katie grabbed her by the wrist. This took me by surprise.

"Don't go," Ginger Katie begged, "Don't go back to that bitch." I swallowed down a lump in my throat, more like forced but still. Carefully, I watched the two look at each other in despair.