Freshman

I have anxiety, will you buy this for me?

Mel's POV

"You will not believe what I found out when I got home Sunday night." says Jason. It's Monday, and we're waiting to go inside for class. It's December now, and winter in Canada sucks. I'm freezing.

"What?" I ask absentmindedly watching the snow flakes fall all around us.

"Someone egged my garage."

I blank. "Woah! That's crazy." I look over to Eileen, who's talking to Ryan by the basketball court. "Hey! Eileen, come here."

She gestures to him to wait, and jogs over. "What's up?" She looks at Ryan, then me."I'm a little busy." She runs her fingers through her hair.

"Yeah, I don't care. Listen to this." She blinks.

"Someone egged Jason's house." Jason nods. "Yeah it sucks, cause my Mom made me clean it up. Do you know how hard it is to clean up yoke and egg shells from a garage door? Really hard. All the liquid got stuck in the spaces between the panels. So we had to open it so it would stop at certain parts, and we could clean it out. It was disgusting."

Eileen doesn't even react. "How awful, when did this happen?" she asks, sounding sweet.

Lies.

"Friday before the party, I was already at Ryan's when it happened."

Eileen shakes her head. "How sad that the youth of today resort to this kind of vandalism. What hoodlums they can be."

Jason's lips curve into half a smile. I love when he does that. "Thanks for the cheering up Eileen."

She smiles. "It's what I'm here for."

"So where were you guys before the party?" asks Jason.

I start to fiddle with my hair. "Oh." I say, my voice higher then usual. I clear my throat. "We were at the mall, getting outfits for the party."

"Cool" Jason nods, and I do as well.

The bell rings, and saves me from further lying. "Hey!" I exclaim. "Look at that! It's time for class!"

I grab Eileen's hand, and drag her inside with me.

"Hey!" she protests. "Dragging my feet on the pavement isn't exactly good for these shoes!"

_________________________________

When you're avoiding someone, it's a hell of a lot easier if they're avoiding you also. Josie hasn't come near me since the fight, and I couldn't be more grateful.

I know lying to Jason was wrong, along with egging his house. But I feel like if I tell him I'll lose him again, and I don't know if I can handle that.

I love him, but he can't know the truth.

Wow, how cliche do I sound?

'I love him but he can't know the truth'

I sound like every sappy book character with a terrible past.

I was sitting on the couch, when the phone interrupts my corny thoughts.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Hey Mel, what's up?" Dani was on the other line.

"Not much, I'm just chilling. What's up with you?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go Christmas shopping? I can't really go with any of my immediate family members, and none of my friends are getting their family's anything for Christmas."

Oh yes, Dani's wonderful friends. I've heard so much about them. Of course I've heard about them from her Mom, to my Mom to me.

"Okay sure, but what about that Jeremy guy?" I ask and Dani laughs.