Playing The Player

:Chapter Twenty-Three:

"So everything you said... was it all just a lie?"

I bit the edge of my lip as I half focused on what Blake was saying on the phone, half focusing on my Maths homework. "Sorry, what did you say?"

I heard him let out a breath, and it was too easy to imagine him dragging a hand through his messy brown hair. "I said, what it all just a lie?"

What was the formula for this equation again? I struggled to think as I tried to multi-task. Normally, it would be no problem but for some reason random things kept getting stuck in my head, such as wondering what Nina was doing right now, or whether I had included the bit about the adding evidence in my History essay. I couldn't concentrate, and as usual, it was because of Blake. "I'm sorry," I sighed, "Was what just all a lie?"

"What you said to me yesterday, after school. About Dylan," He pressed, when I didn't respond immediately.

I suddenly remembered. "Oh, that," I let out a laugh, thinking about how stupid I was. On the line, I heard Blake mutter out a 'finally!', and I smiled at the mental image. I quickly scribbled some numbers down. "If you add this to that, times y by x, then divide it by two," I muttered, "Then you'll get the answer!"

"Hayleigh - "

"Shush," I muttered as I jotted some numbers down. Absentmindedly, I closed the call; it was distracting me. I didn't need to be distracted anymore than I wasn't already; by some disgusting miracle, I had gotten results that were definitely not up to my usual standards this week, and I had to be extra diligent in order to receive the maximum results possible.

Well that sounded fancy.

As I worked on the second question, the doorbell rang, and for a second, I considered just letting it ring. I had so much homework to do; not only did I have to complete this maths revision, but I needed to revise for the major Science exam I had next semester, not to mention completing the Shakespeare essay I had been presented on my online course.

Seriously, it sounded really boring, but it was actually pretty fun.

I pushed myself away from my table, and wiping my hands on my pyjama shorts, I plodded downstairs. I would just be polite and ask whoever it was to leave so I could continue with my homework. Thank you for coming, but I'm afraid I'm terribly busy, I thought in my head as I opened the door.

"Courtney?" She was the last person I expected to see standing in front of me. The surprise must've showed in my face, because she looked at me expectantly.

"That's my name, although I'm surprised you even remember me as we haven't talked in ages," Courtney barged into the room, looking around before navigating her way into the kitchen.

I shook my head, everything going a little too fast for my taste as I closed the door and followed her into the kitchen. "Thanks for coming Courts, but I'm afraid - "

"Yeah, don't give me that bullshit," Courtney said lazily as she looked through my fridge, before pulling out a bag of carrot sticks. She turned to me, one hand on her hip while the other carried the carrot sticks, "You're my best friend Hails, and I really don't appreciate you blowing all our best friend time for Blake."

Well, that was awkward. I scratched my nose. "I didn't realise, I'm really - "

"Yeah, whatever," Courtney waved her hand around dismissively, "What I really want to know is, are you really pregnant?"

If I had been drinking water at that moment, I would've done one of those dramatic things we always see on TV where they spit the water out and it goes everywhere, and it looks super cool. "What?" I choked, "Pregnant? No!"