FAKE

21

"i'm so sorry avery," audrey said. "how come you didn't text me back? or call?"

"i really just wanted to be alone," i told her and she nodded.

"i'm really sorry again avery," she repeated.

"thanks auds," i said and sighed.

school has been rough. i'm not even paying attention in class, because i'm thinking about my mom, then the teacher decides to call on me and i don't know the answer. they always have to call on the people that don't pay attention. what is the point? everyone knows you're not listening. so why bother?

"so what about you and joey?" she asked and raised her eyebrows a small bit.

"nothing," i lied. why am i lying to her? i tell her everything.

"i was walking with charles this morning, and joey came over to us and started flipping about. i heard your name a couple of times in there," he's probably telling him that i like him. now the entire schools probably going to know, fantastic. "avery hart, tell me right now or else i'll never talk to you again."

"audrey i'm not in the mood."

"i'm your best fucking friend, we tell each other everything," she's right. "you can't be not in the mood to tell me something, you have to tell me even in your in the worst of moods" she said.

i sighed. "fine, fine... i told joey i like him," i said, quietly. her eyebrows raised so high, i swear they almost touched the top of her forehead.

"you what?!" she whisper yelled. "why? what happened?"

"he kept bothering me about why i wasn't his friend, and i told him that i don't like tori, and don't want them together but he wanted another reason. so i told him," i explained.

audrey shook her head. "i could never do that; tell the boy i like him. you've got guts kid," she patted the back of my shoulder. that made me smile. "i knew i could get a smile out of you," she laughed and nudged me. "did anything else happen?" she asked.

"well, first he said there was a guy out there but it just wasn't him, and he called me beautiful, and whoever ends up with me is lucky, and i don't really know," i shrugged. "to be honest i feel like he says that to every girl he breaks up with," audrey didn't answer, so i knew i was right. "did he say that to you?" i asked.

"no, well, he told me i was pretty, not beautiful," she said.

"what were his exact words?" i asked.

"you're pretty, but i can't be with you anymore," she said. ouch. "he's such a dick. he'd be lucky to have you. and he chooses her over you? what a jerk," she rolled her eyes. "speaking of the jerk," she said and i picked my head up. i saw joey walking over to us.

"hey," he said and his lips tugged into a soft smile.

"hi," i said.

"you're here, i wasn't sure if you were coming to school," he said.

"yea... i'm here," sort of, i'm physically here, but my mind is somewhere else.

"i'm glad," he said. audrey scoffed and joey looked at her. "can i help you with something, audrey?" he asked, his tone note so happy.

"you have some nerve to pass up a girl as amazing as avery," audrey snapped.

"audrey don't," i said lowly.

"no it's okay, go ahead, scream at me. i don't know why i chose her, it just happened."

"so you're saying you didn't even think about dating avery?" audrey questioned.