White Rose

Chapter 9: A New Friend

"Agreed?"

No answer.

"Jenna!"

"Huh what?!"

"I asked you something. Weren't you listening?"

"Uh, yeah!" obviously a lie.

"No you weren't. You've been scribbling in your book since class was over."

"I..." I had been doodling at the back of my book. I hadn't even noticed I was doing it at all.

"Something's up," she said, narrowed her eyes and tried peeking at my doodles.

"It's nothing," I slammed my book shut.

"Too late! I saw it!" she teased. "But I don't need your doodles to tell me what's up. Or the red on your face. It's that guy again huh?"

I froze up. Licking my braces from inside my mouth and toying with my hair. God I was easy to read.

"See, you're not even looking at me. And you're messing with your hair. Even if I wasn't your best friend, I'd still be able to see right through you!" she teased with a wide grin.

"No!" I answered the upcoming question without giving her time to ask the obvious.

"Tell me!" she was like an eager puppy trying to pry my secrets. I know she just wanted to help, bit I feel so embarrassed.

I hummed a no and shaking my head as if I was shaking the whole situation out of my mind.

"Okay." she chimed sarcastically. I could see her do that finger walking thing....OVER TO MY BOOK!

"No!" I reached for it, but I was much too late. I had my hands on my lap, letting my guard down. I should've known she'd do something like that!

"Yoink!" she held it up, standing on the table. "You just got murdered by my sneak attack!" She honestly sounded like a child when she'd say things like that. But little does she know that what she's gonna do will murder me on the inside!

"Give it back!" I was like an infant whining and grabbing at something out of reach.

"Nah. Let  me help you," she laid on her back on the table and rested her feet on my head, despite my attempts to get at her. "My methods  of stopping you is beyond effective!" yet again, in a childlike manner.

I sighed, defeated.

"Claire: about 10
Jenna: 0" she boasted.

"Please don't read it loud," I pleaded, biting on my hair out of nervousness.

"Relax. No one sits near us. Plus anyone who would care is probably off enjoying our early release already."

She flipped through the pages looking for more doodles. It was in my Art book, so I practically used it as a journal for my secrets.

***

Claire and I are like complete opposites, well not completely opposites. She wasn't popular or a stuck up. She and I were friends since preschool. Our families are crazy close and she's been my only friend since before I could speak properly. Even if she made new friends she'd always include me. Times when I felt I didn't fit in, I left her so she can move on with her new friends. She never left me though. If her friends didn't like me or said anything bad about me, she'd immediately stop being friends with them. I told her countless times I feel I hold her back, but she'd argue about, "Who's gonna handle this craziness!', "Who's gonna put up with my whiny ass?'', ''Who's gonna keep all my secrets?'', and 'Who's gonna feed me when hunger has crippled me???''. She always makes me laugh and I'm glad I have her.