Lamia's Dream

Chapter 38

When my aunt arrived to the car, she found my sitting beside the passenger side door waiting for her.  She didn’t ask.  She could probably tell by the dried tear trails and the sheer misery written on my face what had happened.  She didn’t ask probing questions like the day I had seen Valerie making out with Tyler in the parking lot. 

Our car ride home was silent.  When we got there, she told me three words:

“I’m sorry, nephew.”

I shrugged.  I mumbled something, perhaps that it was ok. 

Did anyone ever believe me when I lied? 

My cell phone vibrated as I made my way to my room.  I saw that it was from Malik and ignored it. 

***

A vibration from my cell phone woke me up later.  A second text from Malik.

“Lynn’s so eager lately!”

“Cuzzo, my girlfriend is so freakin weird.” 

My annoyance hit its climax and I was ready to put a stop to this.  Malik rarely texted me before.  I didn’t want to be his go to guy for relationship advice.

“I broke up with Valerie, jerk-face.  I don’t want to hear how good or bad your relationship with Lynn is.  At least you have one.”

I received a text a minute later, but didn’t bother looking at it.  My cell phone vibrated more frequently to indicate a phone call.  After it went to voicemail, I snatched my phone off my nightstand and turned it off. 

***

I went to school the next day.  If anything, I wanted to show everyone my break up with Valerie hadn’t fazed me.  Everyone knew about it.  Apparently, Malik had called Lynn to ask her, who called Valerie to confirm.  Then, Lynn promoted the newly single Valerie to everyone on Facebook.  Malik called her out on it and she deleted the status.  Malik wrote on my wall:  “Call me ASAP.”  All of this I learned from Charlie.  I didn’t even know we were Facebook friends. 

First period before that was even weirder.  Melissa Hart had offered her condolences during first period and even hugged me.  A few other students, a mixture of guys and girls, said they had always thought Valerie and I made a good couple and they were sad to see us over.  I hadn’t expected that type of response at all, but gave everyone a polite thank you.

The guys and I had avoided talking about Valerie all week at lunch.  That made Thursday’s lunch no different than the others.  Jack and Phil proved once again that they were my best friends.  They offered no such condolences.  Instead, it was back to business.  There was a tournament for several big title games at the mall at the end of the month and they needed me ready.  No relationship meant I could focus. 

I faked a convenient sickness for fourth period, so I could go to the nurse’s office.  I wasn’t ready to see Samantha just yet.  The nurse kicked me out three quarters of the way through the period.  I spent the rest of the time wandering through the hall way until the period was over.

Fifth and sixth ended as usual.  I did homework in the library and then went home.  Just like that, my life was back to normal. 

***

Apparently, I missed more drama on Facebook that night.  Lynn posted a status about doing a boyfriend search for Valerie that weekend.  One of Tyler’s henchmen replied that there was no need for a search.  Samantha came on to tell Lynn to take the status down.  Tyler commented on his henchmen’s post that he wasn’t interested in Valerie any more.  Lynn replied that he’d probably already tried and she’d shot him down yet again.  Malik posted a passive-aggressive message about people needing to stay out of other people’s relationships.  Lynn deleted her old status and posted a new one about having the greatest boyfriend ever.