One Of the Boys [An All Time Low Fic]

My Best Friend's Girlfriend

Chapter 2,

Summer before senior year was just like any other. Alex and I were attached at the hip as usual, Adrianna was attached to his other hip, and we spent days at our usual spots. The skate park, the basketball court, the mall; wherever we could go that would give our parents a break from us. Yes, it was just like all the other summers I’ve spent with Alex, but now, I had this stupid lingering feeling in my chest.

Whenever Adrianna was around, I felt the green-eyed monster poking me on my left shoulder. I hated that stupid beast, but I couldn’t really shun it like I used to. Just seeing Alex being all cutesy with Adrianna made my heart feel like it was going to jump out of my chest and start doing karate moves on her. I really didn’t show any signs of jealousy, but I couldn’t keep my mind away from the monster this time.

So, we go to the mall one day with his best friend, Jack Barakat, and my only female friend, Claudia Johnston, and Adrianna is, like, hanging off of Alex’s neck like a gold medallion and he’s just smiling that smile at her. I start feeling a little sick and wishing that I had gone skating instead of malling today.

We ducked into Wet Seal at one point. I really hated Wet Seal. It was so girly and preppy. Sure, I wasn’t a beauty queen, but these clothes were so revealing, I started to wonder who would wear them. Then I took a look at Adrianna and realized exactly why we were in there. As I walked through the aisles of skinny jeans, baby doll tees, and high-heeled shoes, I just felt myself analyzing my own sense of style. I took a look down at my baggy shorts that I was sure belonged to Alex at a point, and my oversized Pink Floyd tee, and for the first time in my life; I realized how hideous I looked compared to her and Claudia.

Claude ran up to me with a top and held it up to her chest. “OK, be completely honest, Liz. Do you think that this top will go good with my red skinny jeans or my black skirt?” she asked excitedly.

I made a face and said, “Claude, you know I suck at fashion advice.”

Claudia wasn’t going to back down so easily. If there’s one thing that girl has is some serious ambition, and no matter how many times you reject her, she never backs away from the subject until she gets her answer. “Elizabeth, all I need is a color opinion. You know colors. Just tell me if it’ll look better with black or red!”

I was about to answer again when Adrianna, sans Alex, waltzed up to the two of us and said enthusiastically, “Everything matches with black, but it depends on the design of the skirt. If it’s a plain skirt, the shirt will match with it, but if you’d like some color, the red skinny jeans should look perfect with it.”

Claudia smiled at Adrianna as if she were the messiah. “Thank you so much, Addie! You are a life-saver!” Addie? Now my best friend has nicknames for her? Wow…

“No problem, Claude. In fact, that top looks awesome; do they have it in extra small?” Adrianna asked.

Claudia nodded and said excitedly, “Here, come on. I’ll show you where it’s at!” She grabbed Adrianna’s hand and dragged her over to a rack of identical shirts like the one she was carrying in her hand. I shuffled my feet and pretended to look at some graphic tees.

Alex walked over to me and said, “What was that about?”

I shrugged. “Girl talk. You know me, I’m not into that.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s very obvious.” He sighed for a moment while I continued to pretend to be interested in the graphic tees in front of me. “Shopping?” He asked curiously.

I laughed rather obnoxiously and said, “Yeah, right. How long have you known me, Alex? I would think that by now you would know that I don’t even shop for the first day of school!”

He nodded. “That is definitely true.”

Adrianna walked over carrying a top that looked just like the one Claudia had in her hand earlier. She wrapped one arm around Alex’s waist and smiled at him. “What do you think of this shirt?”

He looked at it, and I could instantly tell that he hated it. You know, we had that whole twin-ESP thing that only twins get, but he and I have been blessed with it. He smiled, though, and said, “I bet it’ll look much better when it’s on you.”

She blushed like she always does when he compliments her and kissed him on the cheek. “I thought I’d wear it to your birthday party and it’s in your favorite color, too.” I don’t know what he had told her was his favorite color, because the shirt she was carrying was red, and I know for a fact that that’s not his favorite color, but he still smiled a bashful smile and kissed her. I turned and walked away, ignoring Alex’s cries, and sat outside of the store.

Claudia and Jack came out of Wet Seal, holding hands, and giggling. Just the sight of people in love made me think of Alex and Adrianna and sent me reeling into sadness. I threw my empty soda can at Claudia. She looked up and glared at me, but then she realized I was upset and rushed over to me. “Dude, what the fuck is up with you? You’ve been acting weird all day.”

“Why would you automatically assume there’s something wrong with me?” I said, angrily.

She held up the crumpled can and said, “Trust me. I know. So what’s up? You know you can tell me anything.”

I sighed and ran my fingers through my messy black hair. “Claude… Remember a couple of years ago? That conversation we had when you told me that the best couples are always best friends first?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I do remember that. Why?”

“Your premonition has come true. I think I’m in love with Alex.” I said, embarrassed.

Her jaw just hung there for a good minute or so, then her smile grew the size of her face, and she started to laugh. “Are you serious?”

I nodded. “I mean, have you seen him? He’s no longer that dorky kid from middle school. He’s a gorgeous man. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about a guy, but it’s just stupid, ‘cause he sees me like a little sister.”

She nodded again. “Well, I understand that, but are you going to tell him?”

I laughed at her. “Are you kidding me?! He’s already in love, so what kind of best friend would I be if I tried to ruin that?”

“Yeah… That is true. Well, maybe it’s just a faze.” She said hopefully.

I nodded. “I honestly hope so. I don’t know if I could fall for Alex.”

Just then, Alex and Adrianna came out of Wet Seal and walked up to me and Claudia with Jack. The second Alex got to me, he asked, “Everything OK?”

I smiled and nodded. “Uh… duh! Why wouldn’t it be?”

Adrianna smiled at me and said, “Well, I’m glad that you’re OK. We were worried about you!”

Inside, anger festered and wanted to burst out of my chest, but I faked a smile. Then Jack said, “Hey, let’s go to Macy’s. I still gotta pick out something for my Mom and Dad’s anniversary.” Everyone agreed and we walked off.