The Accident Called Love [HIATUS]

I. The Fake Confession

Love is very relative.

For example, let’s say that you’re stuck in a dark room for ten days with your worst enemy and no other means of entertainment. Are you sure you won’t end up falling for him? At the very least, you probably won’t have spent the entire ten days arguing your butt off. In fact, at the end of those ten long days, the two of you may be the closest of friends if not lovers.

And if you were to ask me if that’s ever happened, I’d reply with “Wow, gross, of course not.” However, if your name was Jayce Johnson, my reply would be a lot different – in fact, my reply would be the complete opposite.

See, this all started when that dumb player broke up with Eliza, my best friend. Of course I told her to get over it; Jayce Johnson’s a jerk, plain and simple. She was only one of the many girls with their hearts trampled on by the player. Frankly, I find him dumb. However, many of the girls fawn over him despite his flaws.

Back to Eliza. So she fell in love with him, he dumped her as soon as the month ended, and she decided she wanted to have revenge. She was going to find someone to go out with him, make him fall in love with the new girl, only to have the girl dump him – right before the month ends, for that extra oomph. Even for me it’s obvious how outrageous that is, but Eliza obviously doesn’t see it.

And who’s better for her pawn than me, who’s the only friend she has that’s single and not madly in love with the guy? Nobody. Most of our female friends are dating, and the few who aren’t are desperate to get in Jayce’s favor.

Then again, I can’t complain; I’m not doing this for free. Eliza isn’t dumb, and she knows I won’t actually help her without something benefiting me. She bribed me with not a thing, or multiple things, but a person.

I knew I should never have told her that I thought I liked her younger brother, Thomas: ever since the day I told her, he was never in the house when I was invited over. When I invited myself over, he was “sleeping”. Eliza says that she’ll stop doing that if I help her – and she’ll finally hook me up with him.

I think it’s worth it. Her younger brother is pretty hot despite being a year younger than us. He’s also very funny and so optimistic that he puts a smile on everyone’s faces.

That’s exactly why I’m waiting right now, blocking Jayce’s locker and waiting for him to get his butt over here. After what seems like forever, I finally see him coming over, surrounded by a bunch of girls. Fun.

“Jayce,” I call out, using the flirtiest voice I can muster. It makes me gag that I could be using it against said player, but I suppose I can’t help it. He looks at me, right into the eyes, suspecting something. Time to cue in Spanish. I don’t exactly know Spanish, but I do remember a single phrase from last year’s Valentine event. “Jayce, mi amor, could I ask your something?”

The girls look perplexed for a second, then immediately scowl at me, clearly annoyed. I give her a flitting glance at them staring at Jayce possessively. “Mi amor, pretty please? You wouldn't mind a simple question, would you?”

It's the first of January tomorrow, so I’ll have to stick with him for about thirty-one days. Darn. It would have been my best bet if tomorrow were the thirty-first, but I suppose Eliza would have made me go for February if that had been the case.

Jayce smirks and says, “Clara Lane. What’s up? How surprising that the pig is initiating a conversation. You've always been such a self-centered suck-up since third grade.”

Third grade. So that’s when we split. Jayce and I have been enemies since third grade – but before that, we’d been the best of friends. Not that it’s worth dawdling over; the past is the past, which is totally over.

“I-I’m so sorry,” I say while changing my expression into the most apologetic face he’s probably ever seen. I don’t pucker, though, since that just makes you look like a duck. “It’s just, since we’re in the same crowd and all, we get to see each other often. Slowly, I’ve found myself falling in… love… with you… Will you go out with... me?”

I purposely let my voice die at the end. Wow, I’m such a great actress. Everyone who knows about the hate-relationship we have whistles. In fact, I hear a group of people whistling finally to themselves. If only they know how quickly our relationship – or lack thereof – is going to crumble as soon as the month ends. Or earlier, if I manage to bug the guy enough.

Jayce looks impressed, and of course he is. Then he sighs and states, “Alright. Tomorrow it is for you. Just remember, I’m not a shallow fool. You sound fake and you know it.”

Immediately, I blush in embarrassment. Then I reconsider and realize that he probably wouldn’t have accepted the offer if I’d really gotten on his doubts. I almost snort, but I manage to keep that in by a hair. Instead, I smile and say, “Yay! That’s fantastic!” Then I give him a tight embrace and skip away.

My grin dissipates as soon as he can no longer see me. This is going to be annoying, but I guess it won’t be that hard. It’s going to be awkward, but not hard.

[Sara Says]: Comments are very welcome. Thanks so much for reading.