Temptations

|| S I L L A G E ||

The next day Jackson had been kind enough to let us jump in for ride to school. Usually we walked, or sometimes there were times where we had been organised and early enough to catch a ride with mum on her way to the primary school. Though today meant free rein on arrival times and hauling our heavy back packs, as Jackson took us to the local bakery to pick up lunches for school.

I immediately averted myself to the sushi bar, Georgia to the salads. She was a vegetarian by heart, completely invested in the detrimental affects the meat industry had on our environment and was an advocate for social justice. She may have been obsessed with Mark, but that didn't discredit her for how much of an intelligent and passionate person she was.

I was still deciding between tuna or teriyaki before Mark and Sean had walked in, howling at Jackson in greeting. I was surprised Georgia's attention wasn't diverted from her conversation with the barista making her chai latte when Mark clapped Jackson on the back and started talking in a voice so low that none of us could hear. I watched Jackson's expression as he was reacting to whatever was being spoken to him, before looking up and smiling at Georgia who was still distracted. I made a point in my head to later ask him what mark had whispered, as his smile slowly disappeared.

Finally, mark left the group of boys to steadily make his way to Georgia, confidently grabbing her around the waist from behind and pulling her away from the counter. She gave a fake annoyed laugh, beaming into his eyes as he did with her. It was almost so cute that I thought I would look away, but I somehow didn't trust Mark and watched on to make sure everything was okay.

"Thanks for helping me with my English last night," Mark had jeered, loud enough for the three of us to hear.

I rolled me eyes, watching Georgia giggle loudly. I felt a jab at my side, breaking me out of my fascination.

"Hey, hey," Sean smiled, holding a breakfast wrap identical to the one in Jackson's hands'.

"Hey." I muttered, still watching Mark and Georgia.

"They won't last long," Sean said suddenly, as if answering to my thoughts.

My head snapped back at him, "You mean he's playing her?" I asked.

Sean sighed, taking the nearest seat and gesturing for me to the same. I followed, waiting for a reply. "No, I mean that they're not right for each other," he replied.

"How so?" I asked slightly cocking my head to the side.

Sean let out another sigh, this one deeper than the last. "Mark is," he looked over to the couple, trying to the words, "complicated".

I let out a snicker, raising my eyebrows mockingly. "What? 'Complicated' as in 'likes to fuck girls around'?".

He rolled his eyes slightly, turning uncomfortably in this chair to face me.

"Look, I can tell Georgia really likes him, but she doesn't like him."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means she likes him for who lets on to be, rather than who he actually is."

"Well that's not Georgia's fault is Mark had insecurities," I said defensively.

"And that's my point," Sean replied quickly. "They won't last because Mark isn't going to show her who he is, and to be honest I think it's the same with Georgia."

"Again, explain yourself," I said, hearing my stomach churn at the smells wafting through the bakery.

Sean shrugged, preparing to get up. "I'm just saying, relationships don't work out if they aren't genuine. I think they're just together because it looks good." He got up then, cringing at the sound of my stomach. "Here, have the rest of this." And with that he got up, leaving me with his breakfast wrap before joining Jackson who was still waiting for his order.

I took a final look back at mark and Georgia. Mark's gorgeous smile and Georgia's whimsical laugh, who couldn't deny that the two didn't look beautiful together

We were all fashionably late to school, Sean joining us in the car whilst Georgia had ditched and taken the front seat of Mark's. When we walked in together I couldn't help but notice the look on Shelley's face, and the daggers she was shooting at Georgia. Nether less she greeted us with bright smiles and pretended to not care as Mark hugged Georgia good bye to go with his friends.

"Morning ladies, how are we?" she asked, more a opening statement rather than a genuine question. Before giving time for us to answer, she spoke quickly, "So, do you two have dates to the ball yet?"

This time she asked with obvious waiting for an answer, particularly looking at Georgia.

I raised my eyebrows, "Isn't it like, half a year away?"

Shelley gave me a strained looked with her squinted eyes.

"I'm thinking of going with a red satin dress this year, a red tie would look good on Mark."

I wanted to scream but give Georgia a high five at the same time, I guessed that before it go to recess there would be a team Shelley and team Georgia, all of us debating who was being a more bitchy than the other.

"Oh. Funny you say red, last time I checked it doesn't look good with albinism," Shelley replied in a matter of fact voice.

"Ugh whatever Shelley, hate me, I'm with Mark."

Shelley gave her a judging look, her lips slightly pouted. "Honey, Mark is old news, haven't you seen the new English teacher?"