Just A Kiss

6 | Regina George

 Picture---Beth--Sophia Bush.

Chapter six: Regina George

My heart clenched at the sight of a tear-stained face of Beth. Just as I realised how stupid I was by being selfish today, not caring that my actions would hurt Beth and Jake more than I thought they would, tears pooled in my eyes blurring my vision momentarily.

“I’m s-sorry,” I whispered as a sob escaped my lips and I buried my face in my hands. A warm hug engulfed me and soon I heard Beth shushing me.

“No. I’m sorry Ann. I got you all upset in the morning knowing how you feel talking about them... it’s my fault. I’m sorry but ...please don’t ever, ever do this again to me.” Beth pulled back slightly making me look in her red puffy eyes, the tears still rolling down her cheeks freely. “We didn’t see you since our fight in the morning and-and you were just... gone. What would do without you? What if something had happened to you Annabel? I would have never forgiven myself.”

I bit my lip to stop myself from crying at the damage I had done. Behind Beth stood Jake looking relieved but I could still make out the worry and concern his eyes held as he looked me. “I’m sorry,” I mouthed.

Jake shook his head slightly and asked, “But where were you Ann? We tried calling Danni and Jess but even their phones were switched off. So we thought you were with them but you were never gone this late. Thank God I ran into Josh on my way to Danni’s—“  my eyes flickered to Josh’s figure, whose presence I had forgotten— “he offered help to search you... but we couldn’t find you... where were you?”

My eyes surveyed the three people looking at me expectantly.

“I was... on a date.”

There. Now I sounded stupider to even myself. Three different expressions were on display. Beth’s eyebrow’s shot up, mouth hanging open, the lines between Jakes eyebrows multiplied as he glared at me. Josh was a different picture- he just stood there with a blank look on his face though his eyes bore holes and I shuddered inwardly at the intensity of their look.

“With?” Beth asked.

“You were on a date while we were having a cardiac arrest here?!” I shut my mouth at Jake’s question. Beth turned around giving a pointed look to her husband and nodded at me to continue.

I wiped my cheeks and looked down at the ground. “Aaron. I was with Aaron.” I felt a tight squeeze, peeking at Beth nervously I saw a small smile on her lips as she said, “I am happy for you but Ann why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m sorry! I was so angry and I didn’t want to talk to you or Jake so I had lunch in the park and –and then Aaron called, I told him about the fight and... he asked me out.” I finished in a small voice.

I jumped at the sound of a loud clap from Josh. “It’s getting late, I think I should leave. It’s a school night.”

Jake nodded at him and clapped on him on his back. “Thank you kid... for today.”

“Don’t mention it,” Josh smiled, waved at Beth and walked past me out the door without even looking at me. I glared at the door Josh closed. What’s his problem? Couldn’t he say goodbye to me?

“You should go to bed too. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.” Beth walked to the stairs. Before she could turn around I hugged her. “I don’t h-hate you I swear. I love you Beth.”

“Love you too.” Beth smiled.

I pulled away and walked to Jake putting my hands around his torso, because he was too tall for me. He hugged me back a second later. “Come on now, time for bed,” he said patting my back.