Colour My Shadow

Chapter Nine - Argument

I’m beginning to hate this story. It always happens at chapter nine. But if I ever finish it, and get onto the editing/rewriting bit, I’m definitely taking out the Steven/Rosa fake girlfriend bit.

So it’s going in this chapter.

“Um…” I was still lost for words. I hadn’t actually thought he would ask it. 

Steven blundered on, his nonchalant grin rather forced now. “I mean, I would understand if you didn’t want to and all, but-”

The idiocy of it all hit me, hard. He was asking me if I’d pretend to be his girlfriend, so that one, persistent girl would leave him alone. All the desire I’d had for him moments ago slipped away, leaving me with a slightly good-looking boy and an awkward situation to deal with. “Steven, can’t you see how stupid this is? You don’t like the attention of one girl, so you make up this massive plot to avoid her attention by getting your friend to pretend to be your girlfriend?” I scowled as anger began to drip into me. “If you want a girlfriend, let her be yours. God knows, most boys you know would love the attention of Natasha! She’s good-looking, cool, rich, whatever you want. And if you don’t like her, just tell her to leave you alone. That’s what people normally do. I’m sure she’ll live through rejection.” 

He didn’t speak, and I worried that I’d upset him. But then I remembered all the upset he’d given me, albeit unknowingly, and that he had been stupid enough to consider Hazel’s random piece of teasing, and I didn’t care. We spent the rest of the walk in silence, not looking at each other. 

When we arrived at school, we went straight to form, as usual, but also went straight to our places, on the opposite sides of the room. 

Hazel was waiting for me, as she normally did, but her pleased-to-see-you grin faltered slightly as she watched us come in. “What’s up with you two?” She murmured, glancing askance at the Steven who was very determinedly looking away from me. 

I huffed, still annoyed, and partly at her. She’d begun this madness. “Steven fake asked me out, to see whether I’d be his fake girlfriend. I snapped at him, because it’s stupid. I told him to either enjoy Natasha’s company or to reject her.” I sighed. “I wish I didn’t fancy him.”

“Whoops.” She said, shaking her head. “You do know I only meant that as a tease? It’s not my fault he’s gone and taken it seriously.” 

I smiled half-heartedly at her. “I know.” 

“Just leave him. He might have been joking, and you mistakenly took it seriously, but whether he was or wasn’t, you’ll both calm down.” I focussed on her, rather than Steven, and felt myself beginning to quiet. Hazel really did know what she was talking about. “When he apologises - and you know Steven, he will - just accept it and forget it. And don’t stress about fancying him either. He’s a decent guy, just a bit… misguided.”

I snorted. “I wasn’t stressed about fancying him. I’m just annoyed at him, and when I’m annoyed at people I like, I get annoyed at myself for still liking them beneath the annoyance. It’s a really messed up way to think.” She frowned at me. “Mixed up, then, not messed up.”

“Maybe it’s just that time when you realise that, for all your crush-driven ideals, the person you like isn’t perfect.” She told me, ever the love guru. “But the best thing to do, in my experience, is just to try to forget them for a bit. Either you’ll get over your annoyance, or you won’t, but it’s no use stressing.”

She shrugged, making it seem as easy as that. 

I sighed, once more. “’Kay.” 

Maths again, first again, boring again.