Breaking Through

Chapter 8

Monday came around too quickly and I got ready and did all the other boring but necessary tasks. I told my mum I didn't want to go to school but she had said it would make Sam feel good about himself, that he had impacted me and made me upset and not want to see him. I couldn't believe how quickly your life can change. One minute you have everything, then it all gets taken away. You just have to learn to break through it all. Move on and not let it get to you. So that's what I did. I soldiered on and pretended I was ok. I went to school on the bus with Em, per usual. She looked at me, sympathetic, like I was about to burst into tears. I hated being treated like this! I wasn't a kid anymore, I'd been hurt but I will survive. It was not as if I had been with Sam for ages.

The bus slowed in town and let us off. We wandered into Hudson's and queued to get drinks and a croissant. Emily saw the male cashier and looked intrigued. She smirked and leant on the register. I can't believe she flirted with sexy-college-cashier guy when I was this depressed! After a while I cleared my throat and she sighed and rolled her eyes at me.

"Two hazelnut lat-"Emily started to order.

"Actually I think I will have a hot chocolate with marshmallows today." I told the cashier.

Emily shot me a look of complete surprise. "What! We've had hazelnut lattes every day for four years! You can't break tradition!"

I shrugged. "Just fancy a change."

She looked at me, flabbergasted but shrugged and turned back to the cashier.

"Wow you've come here every morning for four years?" the Cashier asked.

We nodded.

"Maybe I might have to give you a discount! Better yet, my treat," he winked. "By the way my name is Paul.

Emily giggled flirtatiously and introduced herself and me. After a quick exchange he gave her his number, me hanging back feeling excluded. He passed us our drinks and waved shyly at Emily and raised his eyebrows at me as we left.

As we walked out I slapped Emily, "What the hell was that!"

She looked at me dumbfounded, playing innocent. "What?"

I frowned. "You have a perfectly lovely boyfriend, remember! You can't go getting hot cashier guy's number! God, if I had a guy as perfect as Josh I wouldn't be hitting on another guy, you little flirt!" I lectured.

She raised her eyebrows at me again. "It was just a little innocent flirting! Anyway it's just in case things turn out badly with Josh, no biggy."

I told her it was a big deal but she ignored me saying it's not as if she was going to marry Josh. I started to wonder if they were having problems in their relationship, but I didn't want to ask now when Emily was in a bad mood. We got to school ten minutes before the class bell. I went to my locker and grabbed my stuff ready for class and re-locked my locker. Tim, my best guy friend came up and leant against the next locker.

"Hey Tim Tam."

"Hey baby!" He smirked, lightly smacking my butt.

I whipped around. "Excuse me! Baby? And what's with the smacking?"

He simply shrugged casually. "Knock knock!"

"Tim I'm really not in the mood, sorry. I had a really rough weekend Sa-"I replied quietly.

"Uh uh uh! I know exactly what happened! I'm one of your best friends remember! He ain't good enough for you sweetie, if he treats you like that. I on the other hand would treat you with kindness and respect!"