The Metamorphosis Diaries

Chapter 28 - Just Like RayBans

Chapter 28

Mackenzie and I sat and watched Clueless. We tried to watch Ten Things I Hate About You, but Patrick Verona reminded me too much of Argus. We also tried to watch She's All That, but Zach Siler reminded me of Darren when naïve me had taken over and he had put the charm on me. Everything made me sick.

Clueless consisted only of two-dimensional characters, that way I couldn't become too invested into the story. The cheesy shots were a good distraction. It allowed me to laugh at the exaggerated interpretation of life that art can provide.

I should write some more.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I had thought maybe it was Zander coming to pick up Mackie.

With my comforter wrapped around me and my glasses sliding off my face, I opened my door. I had no time to react and see who was at my door, because whoever was tackled me for a hug. Five, maybe six people.

One by one, they let go and I saw who each person was. Zander (who was holding a bag of Chinese food), Selena (who brought some new boo with her who was suspiciously attractive), Ivan (who I realized I hadn't seen in what felt like weeks), Will (who looked odd standing in my door frame), Melissa and Elora (who I had been dying to hang out with for months), and lastly there was Nikki. I looked at her with shock on my face and she mouthed what's going on with wide eyes.

"Mackie told me to bring Chinese!" Zander exclaimed. "But can I call dibs on the chicken balls?" he said lowly for me to hear.

I nodded and laughed at him. The anxiety in my chest became excitement in my stomach.

Everyone began making their way towards my kitchen except for Nikki.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"He's not here is he?" I placed my hands on her shoulders and paced my tongue within my mouth, worried if he was about to walk out of her black car with a million questions.

"No, it's just me. I told him girls day."

I brought her in for a tight hug. The tightest hug. "I'm glad you are. I'm glad you're here."

"What happened?" Nikki's voice spoke faster as her worry grew. I felt bad to worry her so much; I am the only one who should be carrying this anxiety.

"I made a really bad mistake. I knew it was a mistake before I did it, and I knew I would regret it. But now... I regret more than I thought I would... and I—"

Nikki stopped me before I could cry and she hugged me the way I had hugged her.

"Let's eat some Chinese food, then we can talk about Darren."

I pulled away. "How did you—how did you know it had anything to do with Darren?"

"Argus told me your history."

"But he barely knows it himself... I haven't really talked to him about it."

She sighed at me. "He says people talk. People told him stuff when they saw that you guys were hanging out. He told me what they said about you guys being together. Said they said things about you too, but he wouldn't tell me what they were."

My heart began to race again. "He-he can't know. Fuck! Not now, not now..."

Nikki put an arm over my shoulder. "You need to eat, it will lessen the severity of your anxiety attacks. Let's go."

She led me away and into the Kitchen, where people had already made themselves comfortable with their Chinese food using my bowls.

Once Melissa and Elora saw me they ditched their wonton soup to embrace me.