Our Own World

Chapter Ten - Wrong Signals

My mum came into my room in the morning and got me up for school. I had to get up at 5:45 for swimming but swimming didn't start until 6:30 so I decided to just lie there. I picked up the book Dakota gave me and started to read. I got my swimming bag ready and my clothes pick out.

But I was so attached to the book I couldn't put it down. I grabbed a bagel again and toasted it. It's my favourite breakfast. I ran out the door, still attached to the book, and got in the passenger seat of the car.

After swimming, I change into my uniform and comb my hair. I neatly, put my long golden hair into a loose French braid and let it dangle long down my back. The bus picks me up from the pool at 8:05. I sat beside Ace. I pulled out my book and read for most of the ride.

"How's it going?" Ace asked when we were close to the school.

"Good I guess. Where were you yesterday?" I asked. "I was looking for you everywhere."

"Well... It's time to get off the bus. I have to go. Bye." He sounded hesitant.

"Strange. He usually never keeps secrets from me." I thought to myself.

When I got inside the school, I found my friend, Ben and told him how sorry I was that I couldn't make it last night to the soccer game I had promised to go to. He said he would forgive me. Then we got into chatting for a little bit.

He brought me to behind the staircase. I was actually afraid what was coming next.

Like, terrified, afraid.

I didn't want to show it, so I played a long. He kissed me for a long time, like 10 seconds. And I hated every second of it.

"Ben, why are you doing this?" I said running down the hallway almost crying.

"Camilla! Wait!" He ran down the hall after me.

"What do you want Ben? I was just going to apologize and you kiss me? I don't get it. Is that what you do when you're into a girl? Take them to underneath a sketchy staircase and make out with them? If that's the case, then I completely understand why you said girls don't like to be your friends." I turned around to walk to class and he grabbed my shoulder. I silently prayed for God to forgive me.

"Look, Camilla. I'm sorry okay. I thought we could be friends but yesterday when we were talking about the game you were-"

"What was I doing?"

"Y-you seemed to be flirting with me." He sighed. "But I guess you weren't."

"You know I have a-" I stopped myself from saying "boyfriend".

"It's Ace isn't it?" He put his face in his hands as he sat on the floor in the hall.

"Ben I'm sorry," I sighed sitting beside him.

"Is it Ace?"

"Yes, but I don't know where we stand or anything and I'm sorry if you thought I was flirting with you but I wasn't. I'm in love with Ace. I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault." He chuckled. "Who was I to think that I would ever get a chance with you?"

"Ben," I took his hand in mine.

"Camilla you're the prettiest, nicest, most honest girl in this school. I can't believe I'm asking this but, how do you treat people so amazing? Even when they're jerks like me-"

"Ben, please. I don't deserve this. Forgive me. I said some mean things that I shouldn't have. Why do you think I'm so nice?"

"Because you could've slapped me in the face like all the other girls do. You could've yelled at me. You could've done so many other things, but instead you were honest with me. You told me straight up that you didn't like the fact that I presumed you were flirting with me. And I'm okay with that."