Scars

Chapter Three

"I'm so sorry about Lila." Cove apologises for the third time as we walk to my house eating ice creams. I roll my eyes.
"Cove, it's fine. I'm used to it. She just needs to get over herself." I lick my ice cream again and fix my backpack strap that's falling down my arm.
"It's not though. She's just so jealous that I have other girl friends that aren't her." He looks at me, his ice cream dripping down his hand. I shrug.
"Just don't hang out with her if she annoys you so much." He sighs.
"But I like her! Like really, really like her." I freeze. I don't know why, but this hurts. My heart seems to clench, sending shooting pain through my chest. I don't even have feelings for Cove.
"Oh." Is all I can manage, forgetting about my ice cream and looking at the floor.
"Yeah. She's amazing. She's so nice, and funny. And, oh my god, she's so pretty! The way her hair falls and the gleam in her eyes when she's happy. I could look at her forever." Cove sounds so happy, completely ignoring my comment. This sends another burst of pain through my chest. I think back to earlier, Lila draped across his side, her head on his shoulder, blinking those pretty brown eyes up at him. My hands begin to shake.
"Uh, yeah. She is quite the stunner." I mutter, growing over this conversation.
"Mhmm. I wanna ask her out. But I don't know how. Will you help me?" He asks, I feel his eyes on me so I quickly put on a fake smile.
"Oh, yeah. Of course." He smiles wider.
"Thanks, Stella. You really are my best friend!" Those words sting. Best friend. But that's all I am. And I'm ok with that. Right?

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After agreeing to help Cove, I quickly excuse myself since were only a few houses away from my own. Confusion flashes across his face for only a second before the goofy smile returns.
"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow. You can help me with Lila." I use all my strength and give him a wide smile.
"Absolutely. I'll see you then." I give him a short wave before turning and rushing up the path to my front door, not being able to get away from that situation fast enough. I shut the front door behind me and lean against it, my cheeks hot and my breathing heavy.

"Stella?" My mum calls from the kitchen.
"Y-Yeah?" I try to say it coolly, but it comes out strangled and high pitched.
"I'm in the kitchen, dear." She replies, a hint of confusion in her voice. I squeeze my eyes tight and pray I don't look too flustered and that she won't ask questions. I flick the lock on the door, straighten out my skirt, take a deep breath in and walk calmly into the kitchen.
"Hey mum. What's up?" I ask and fight the urge to cringe; I never say 'what's up'. Her brow creases as she looks at me.
"Are you ok?" She asks. I smile and nod.
"I feel a little ill but I'm ok." I reply. She crosses the counter and places the back of her hand on my forehead.
"Hmm. You seem a bit warm. I'll get you some Panadol." She walks over to a cabinet where she pulls out the tablet box. I pour myself a glass of water and swallow the tablet.
"Anyway, your school called." My mum says, wiping the counter with a cloth. I nearly choke on the water, the school never calls.
"Oh. Really? What'd they say?" I say, holding back coughs.
"Nothing bad. You're doing really well apparently. Your English teacher is especially impressed. Wants to enter some of your work into a competition." She smiles at me and a wave of relief washes over me. I instantly relax, my shoulders slumping slightly.
"Oh. That's great!" I smile back at her. She nods her auburn head.
"It is! So, what do you say? Will you enter something?" She asks hopefully. I think for a moment.
Yeah, submitting my poetry into a competition and possibly winning an award would be great! But it's something I put my heart and soul into and have only ever showed my Mum and Miss Parker. Not even Cove knows about it.
"I don't know, Mum. I don't like the idea of random people reading it." I frown at her. Her face falls.
"Oh. I know, honey. But imagine, if they like it, you could get somewhere! It's your dream!" She exclaims excitedly.
"I know, I know. I'll think about it." I compromise, brushing my hair from my eyes. My mum smiles and nods.
"You do that. I'll call you down for dinner, dear, go relax." I send her a small smile before walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs to my room.

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My room is amazing. It is the room on the left side at the very front of the house. It has a large bay window, supported by the one downstairs in the living room. It's covered in brightly coloured throw pillows and blankets. There are sheer fabric curtains falling from the ceiling, pulled to either side of the bay window. Up against the wall that is the outside of the house, I have a large, white wood desk, with my laptop and stationery.
Instead of a wardrobe, I have a tall white dresser and bookcase against the wall opposite my bay window. That wall is covered in posters of my favourite bands and singers. And on the last wall stands a gorgeous white four poster bed with matching bedside tables on either side holding lamps.

I drop my bag on the floor, pick my current book up of my desk and flip down on my bay window, trying to forget about everything that's happened today.