Twinning

Chapter 3

I hop in the car with Harry and Marcel, Harry drives and Marcel lets me have shotgun, actually I called it. But anyway! We drive down to In-and-Out Burger and the whole way we blast the music, windows down. We pull into a parking spot and all pile out of the car, walking swiftly inside. This place is always crowded, but hey it's whatever, right? Harry insists on paying and we all sit down with our burgers and soda. I laugh and talk and just have a good time, but what Alyssa said has been bothering me. Almost everyone around school thinks that I like have sex with both of them but truth is... I've never done that with anyone at all. I honestly haven't even had my first kiss. I don't know it's just not right to assume things about people, it's stupid.

"I'll be back, guys." Marcel slides out of the bench and it's just Harry and I sitting across from each other as Marcel heads to the restroom.

"Everything okay, love? You've barely taken two bites." I stare down at my burger and just shake my head. I see the caring look in Harry's eyes and for some reason, tears begin filling in my eyes, making it blurry to look down. "Jen, what's wrong?" Harry leans in closer and takes my free hand in his.

"Nothing.." I set my burger down and wipe a tear from my eye before it has the chance to drip down my cheek. "Nothing, Harry. I'm fine." Harry scoffs,

"Don't even try to lie to me. I know you, you'd never turn down a good burger. What's up, love?" I press my lips into a thin line and stare down at Harry's hand on top of mine. I don't want to tell him. He'd be heartbroken if he knew that him and Marcel were the cause of all the pain right now. "Jen, look at me." He takes his other hand and rests it under my chin, forcing me to look into his sparkling green eyes.

"Harry, everything's fine, okay? Don't worry about it."

"Oh I will worry about it! If my best friends hurting, I should know about it." This makes me smile, even though I feel like shit, I can't help but smile every time he calls me his best friend.

"Just girls at school today, trying to cause issues with me, that's all." I pull my hand away from his, immediately regretting leaving the safety and warmth of him. I can see Harry shift in his seat and run his fingers through his hair, obviously unhappy. "Harry she called me a slut again."

"Who's she?" He demands, leaning in again.

"It doesn't matter I-"

"It does matter. I want to know who's saying what about me and my friends." This is when I realize it's giving him a bad rep too,

"She's not the only one, you know that. So why should it matter?" He sighs and runs his fingers over his bottom lip, he does this in any stressful moments.

"I just want them to shut up and mind their own business." He says, monotone. I nod in agreement, though I know he can't see me, he's staring off into space, deep in thought. "And ya know what? It pisses me off that I don't get any problems, but you? Because YOU'RE my friend, you get all of the blame. It's not okay." Harry has risen his voice a bit and I just stare down at my hands in my lap.

"It's not that big of a deal, I can handle it I-"

"But ya know what? It's a big deal to me. I don't want you to have to deal with it. You don't deserve this," he sighs, angrily and stares down at his fries.

"Hey guys!" Marcel then walks back and slides in right beside Harry who doesn't look up. I see the pain in his eyes and his furrowed eyebrows. I feel a knot in my stomach and force myself to look down, as well. "What happened..?" Marcel looks between Harry and I, confused. I glance up just enough to catch Harry's eye and he just shakes his head,

"Nothing, Marcel." I say, plainly.

"People are talking shit about Jen again." Harry blurts out, looking Marcel square in the eye. "Because of us." There's a long pause.

"Jen. When did this happen?" Marcel asks me, concerned.

"In the change room right before I left, she threw her jacket at me and called me a slut. That's all." I shrug it off like it's no big deal.

"Who's she?!" Harry asks once again.

"I said it doesn't matter." I answer, annoyed.

"Yes it does." To my surprise, both Harry and Marcel said that at the same time. I sigh in defeat,

"Alyssa." That's all I say and they immediately look at each other, annoyed.

"How does she have the guts to call YOU the slut? Look at her." I shrug again,

"I don't know and I don't care." We agreed to leave and they drive me home. Before I walk up to the house, Marcel kisses my head and tells me to stay strong. I smile and wave goodbye.