Masks

Masks - Chp 13

“Boo!”

I squealed as someone came up behind me squeezing me by the waist, I jumped startled with a hammering heart. “Jesus Christ Kate you almost gave me a heart attack!” I gasped breathlessly as I clutched my chest.

Kate looked around at all the other people walking around and we had earned them our attention, boldly she winked at some of them cheekily whereas I as usual blushed and let my hair fall in front of my face looking down.

Kate eagerly looped her arms through mine practically bouncing on her feet with excitement which I wish I could borrow “So, where did you get to last night?” she sang brightly turning to look down at me with a wiggle of her brows.

I blushed scarlet “Kate!” I hissed embarrassed.

Kate laughed “What? We were supposed to leave together and the next second I’m getting a text message off Gav telling me he took you home.”

My eyes bugged in realization “Oh my god! I’m so sorry Kate; I totally forgot to let you know! Oh I feel so bad!” I moaned the taste of guilt so strong it left me queasy.

Kate waved me off “It doesn’t matter, well it did at first but Gav was looking out for you as usual.” She smiled at me making me blush.

I smiled chewing on my lower lip as I mulled her words over, she was right; Gav really was always looking out for me, before we even started talking he caught me leaving the girls toilet these days he was even looking out for me! The thought of it had my smile growing larger and my heart feeling so light and buoyant, the thought of Gav alone had me feeling like it let alone how absolutely sweet that boy was.

“Seriously Steph that boy utterly adores you, and looks out for you. I don’t know why you don’t just give him a shot.” Kate mentioned as we waited outside our roll call room waiting for the bell.

I smiled glumly “I don’t think he thinks of me that way.” I murmured honestly.

Kate gave me a look of utter disbelief; she looked at me as if I was deranged “Are you kidding me? What on earth would even make you think that?” she demanded and I hoped with everything within me that she was right.

“He used the friend word last night.” I muttered glumly, slumping against the wall as we watched people walk by us and people socializing about, many talking about the party and memorial yesterday.

“Ouch.”

I nodded “Tell me about it.” I muttered glumly, the thought alone of it like a stab in the heart.

“How did he say it?” she asked as we watched a bunch of girls in our year frolic about with some boys that instantly had me green of jealousy.

“I said thank you for the drive home last night and he say said something like ‘no problem, what are friends for?’” I muttered bitterly using a manly voice.

Kate threw me a sympathetic glance “That sucks.” She sighed “Don’t worry about it, I mean he’s a guy he probably didn’t even realize how he worded it.”

I sighed “I know, guys are so freaking confusing but it doesn’t matter I mean this weekend I had been walking around flirting and acting like we were dating what with him being at my house, inviting me to the festival, the party and other things I was acting like this- this other person.” I ranted growing frustrated with myself to not find words to explain myself, thinking back to the party and how I had acted like such a slut. Well, as slutty as I could act which wasn’t much at all but for me the invisible nun my actions was like you were in slutsville.

“Wait what! Festival?” Kate demanded looking at me sharply with wide eager eyes.

I shrugged having the decency to blush despite still feeling miserable and hopeless “Yeah, Gav asked me to go to the Seniors Festival or whatever the theme is this year with him.”