𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐀 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝

chapter 6- Nadia Turner

kenzie's p.o.v

The next day I woke up in a surprisingly good mood.

I was even patient enough to straighten my hair for school.
I changed into a purple halter top with jean shorts and my purple converse high tops.

Today's going to be a good day.

-

"Bye Mads." I said getting out of the car. She waved goodbye and then drove off.

I walked up to my locker where I saw Annie, Lauren, Ruby and Brynn talking to each other in hushed whispers.

"Hey girls." I greeted them happily.

"Oh..uh hi." They all said hurriedly with the same concerned look on their faces.

I raised my eyebrows,"Everything okay? Why do you all look so stressed out?"

"Homework!" Lauren exclaimed at the same time Annie uttered,"pop quiz!"
followed by Ruby dramatically "Jack Dawson in The Titanic died!"

"Oh come on!" Brynn huffed loudly, rolling her eyes.

I blinked,"um..what?"

"Lolo we should tell kenzie." Annie said flustered.

"Tell me what?"

Lauren shook her head,"we should wait for her to hear it from him."
"But that'll just make her more upset." Ruby argued.

I hate that feeling when people talk about you when you're standing right there!

"GUYS! CAN YOU JUST TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON??!" I waved my hands, exasperatedly.

They all share worried looks.

Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder and I tuned to see the boys and Johnny.

But there was something wrong.

He had his arm wrapped around Nadia Turner.
Ruby's sister.
the new girl.

I felt a crushing sense of despair, a feeling I could only compare to that of the when a delivery man shakes my package and breaks what was inside.

My eyes were glued to the spot his hands met her waist.

I looked towards the girls a little helplessly and all they could do was stare back with pitiful expressions.

"Hey Kenz." Johnny greeted me, almost nervously. As if he was gauging my reaction.

What does he want me to say?

What am I supposed to say?

How am I supposed to feel?

All that came out of my mouth at that moment was, "Hi?"

I looked between the two of them and the question hung in the air.

His cheeks tinged slightly, and he pressed his face against hers embarrassedly. The gesture made Nadia beam and made my insides churn.

No.
This cannot be happening right now.

"We um, met at Brandon's party. She was the one I was telling you about. The girl I really liked." His eyes were big, begging me to like her.
To be happy for him.

He looked so hopeful my heart sank.

I felt a lump make its way up to my throat.

Brynn's theory was wrong.
Johnny never liked me
of course not!

He likes Nadia.
I feel so stupid right now.
Nadia's the girl he hasn't been able to stop thinking about.
I feel like the air's just been punched out of me.

I gulped,"Oh wow. Um that's great I-"

"Kenz why don't you come with me to class." Brynn interrupted me loudly.

"We'll be too early. it's only 7:35 and class starts at 8." I muttered.

What's happening?
I mean this is Johnny. Johnny's never been serious about a girl.

"Kenz, I really think you should though." Brynn repeated and I tuned her out.

When has he ever introduced me to a girl he's talking to? This must be serious. This isn't just...

Suddenly I felt a sharp jab.
"Brynn!"
She shot me a look.
let's talk She mouths.

"Fine I'm coming." I muttered following her.

"See you in class Kenz." Johnny said eagerly and I gave him some semblance of a smile.

I can't make my discomfort obvious.
I just can't.

"Are you okay?" Brynn asks urgently once we're a bit farther away from them.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be?" I said walking fast and Brynn tries to keep pace with me.
She raised her eyebrows, pulling my elbow and making me come to a stop.

"I have to be okay with it." I gulped.
"You don't have to be anything kenz." Brynn said soothingly.

When I didn't say anything she sighed loudly.

"Kenz I'm really sorry. This is my fault. I was the one who got your hopes up."

I shook my head.
"No it's not that. I just don't know how to react to this. I..."

I don't know what I'm supposed to say.
I don't know how to convey how I feel because it sounds stupid.

I can't be with him, but the thought of anyone else having him makes me nauseous. I knew someday I'd have to see his attention diverted towards some girl, but I wasn't expecting it to be so soon and for it to materialize in the form of strawberry blonde, perky Nadia turner. Especially now when I was stupid enough to entertain the fact that I might have been the girl he was talking about.

Stupid stupid me.

It's lucky that Brynn knows me so well, because although I couldn't voice these conflicting thoughts aloud she already knew.

"Listen kenz, Johnny's the type of guy who's really fickle when it comes to women. I really doubt this is going to last anyways. I doubt this is more than a week's fling to him." Brynn said determinedly.

I've never seen him like this with just any girl. Johnny doesn't beat around the bush.
Something about Nadia has made him sit up and take notice.

Brynn pulled me towards her giving me a hug.
"It's going to be fine. You'll be fine."

Hmm somehow I always am aren't I?

-

Even though I keep getting concerned looks from the girls the whole day
I tried to avoid the whole "Johnny and Nadia" conversation entirely.
I tried to spend the day with a smile.

Johnny's my best friend and I need to be happy for him.

Brynn's whole theory was ridiculous.
He's only ever seen me as his friend.
I'm being selfish.
I know I can't have him so I shouldn't  be feeling like this at all.

Besides, even if Johnny did reciprocate the feelings it wouldn't end well. These things usually don't.

We're so close, it couldn't get better than this. I don't ever want to lose him, I can't.

We hadn't really got the chance to hang out much today so I couldn't tell him that I was happy for him but I wanted him to know I was.

I wanted him to know I was happy for him, even though I had never in my life felt sadder.

thank u guys for reading.
love u

~annie