The Answer Lies in the Truth

Chapter 16

At lunch Chloe and Brooke proudly announced that they were going to the party together.

Honestly they were really cute. Brooke was going around looking for Chloe because she wasn't at their usual table. Then Chloe walked in with a stylish get up and a tub of Pink Berry frozen yogurt and a designer purse and a board that read, 'You are the Pink to my Berry' She got on one knee and asked Brooke if she'd like to go with her and Brooke screamed and said yes. After everyone regained their hearing (Brooke screams LOUD) we all cheered.

Michael gave a big cheer and I gave him a high five. We were happy that our friends were so happy. Once we sat back down, Michael started eating and  I cleared my throat. He looked up at me and gave me a smile with his mouth full. I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Alright, so far I have a plan on how we can go to the party." I said, Michael swallowed and nodded, he looked nervous, "Last night I think I figured out who Red is, but you have to promise me something."

Michael blushed and nodded, "Anything Jer, you know that."

I glanced around, "Alright, you can't tell anyone who it is."

"Why?" Michael asked worriedly.

"I don't want people getting the wrong idea before the party." I said blushing.

"The wrong idea?" Michael asked looking at me strangely and blushing too.

"Yah, I don't want anyone to think, you know, that we're dating."

"Oh..." He looked like someone had punched him.

"You okay Mike?" I asked worried that I had said something to upset him.

"Yah, I'm fine Jer, what's the plan." He said a little hurriedly. Maybe telling him my plan will cheer him up.

I smiled, "Okay, we should go with Jenna and Christine!" I shouted, "I think Jenna is Red." I whispered.

"Yah," Michael said turning back to his food. He looked worse than before. "Why's that?" He asked with his mouth full. He wasn't looking at me.

Did I do something wrong?

"Well, uh, her phone case is red and she seems like a person who could pull it off. She even visited me in the hospital through visiting hours." I said. "Besides I asked her to go to the party with me this morning, and she said yes! Actually she said, 'Fine, it's not like I have anything better to do.' But I think she's just shy. Then I asked Christine to go with you, and she said that it would be fine." Michael nodded slowly as I spoke. He looked dazed. "You sure you're okay man?"

"Yah, I'm fine, stop asking me that, give up already." He picked up his trash and stood. "I'm going to go get some fresh air, don't wait up." He sounded cold.

I was hurt and confused, so I expressed it the only way I knew how; Anger. "Fine, go be by yourself. Ignore the best friend who got you a fucking date to the fucking party and just wallow in self fucking pity. What's wrong with you?" I spat.

"Fuck off Jeremy, like you know anything." Michael practically growled at me. His hands were fists at his sides and the looked like he was going to cry and kill at the same time. "You don't know me!"

"We've known each other for twelve years! What do you mean I don't know you?" I said exasperated and annoyed. We were gaining the attention of our peers.

"No Jeremy, you really don't." Michael said tossing his trash on the table and walking away.

"I fucking hate you Michael." I hissed and hugged myself. He paused for a second. I couldn't see his face. He shook his head and walked away from me. Eventually people went back to their conversations. I hugged myself and threw away my food. I felt sick. What had I just done?

I didn't see Michael after school. He busted out of our English class and went on the bus before I could say anything to him. His eyes were red and puffy. It really didn't matter, so were mine.

I went to rehearsal. "Oh my Gosh Jeremy! Are you alright?" Christine asked as I slumped over to her for a routine check in. "You look like you opened your eyes in the ocean." She gasped.

"I'm fine Christine." I said looking down.

"Dude got into a bad fight with Michael at lunch." Rich butted in. He wasn't even suppose to be here.

"Go the fuck away Rich, it's none of your business." I hissed and glared at him.

"Wha- calm down buddy, I didn't mean it like that." Rich said holding his hands up in a surrender, "It's okay, me and Jake get into some pretty heated arguments sometimes. It always turns out, specially since Michael likes you."

I sighed and thought about what I had said. "Not any more." Rich looked at me sadly, and Christine hugged me.

"It's okay Jer everything will turn out in the end." Christine said softly.

"I hope so..." I said giving her a weak smile. "Christine, I think that he's hiding something from me. I overreacted, but I don't know what to do. He's never seemed more distant. He probably won't forgive me for this. I called him a loser before, and now I said I hate him." I rubbed my eyes as the director came in.

"Chop chop everyone, Dillinger get me a hot pocket and let's start at Act two everyone, places! Places!"

Christine gave me a pity-look, and walked over to her spot. Jake jogged across the stage to the microwave and heated a hot pocket. Rich dashed down and sat in the audience. I walked to my spot. "Story of my life, always doomed to fail." I sang.

The director cut me off. "No no Jerry, what happened to that spunk you had a couple days ago, the play will not be rehearsal for long. Get your act together. Be more hmmmm...chill."

I clenched my fists tight and glared.

When I went home, there were no messages from Red. I felt like a loser.