Girls

"Nicki-bro," my best friend Shannon says, her eyes glued to the paper she's sketching on. "You gotta break up with him."

"But that's so haarrrdd," I protest weakly. "I don't want to hurt him..."

She looks up from her masterpiece, her black eyes squinting at me in a way that's half humorous, half serious. "You wanna stick with a guy you're not even remotely attracted to?"

"No..."

"Then dump the D for the V already, man." She goes back to drawing. While she does have a point, there is not a bone in my body that is willing to admit that.

"Go." She shoos. "Go be a man and do it, bro."

"I think you're overestimating my bravery."

We're wasting our lunch in an air conditioned room, which, as a matter of fact, I'd rather stay in than go out into the sweltering heat and end a 7th month relationship I was never entirely into.

Suddenly I'm overcome with major anxiety. Oh god this is so uncomfortable. Maybe I shouldn't do this. God, what if he asks why I want to break up? Shit, what if I have to actually tell him? Screw it. I consider running for the hills if he asks me why. Worst case scenario is me face planting while attempting to bolt.

"Are you gonna go or what?" Shannon's voice makes me jump. I haven't even left the classroom yet. I'm just standing in front of the door like a moron.

I inhale, like holding my breath is gonna spike up my courage and make this all end a lot faster.

"Shit's about to get serious," I tell her before I push open the door and step out into the scorching August heat. I'm half surprised my shoes haven't melted me in place.

Unfortunatly, I spot him right away. He's sitting with some people, laughing and flipping his bangs out of his face. The weird thing is, he doesn't even go to this school. He's just here for no reason at all and honestly I wish he'd fall off the face of the planet.

Despite my instense need for him to go away, I'm half paranoid that I'll look like a melting popsicle in front of him. I run a hand through my hair, hoping to smooth out whatever horrors are sticking up, but end up getting my fingers tangled in a knot and making everything look worse.

I need to get my shit together. Holy shit anxiety.

Oh god I think I'm going to puke.

No I got this. I. Got. This.

I GOT THIS.

He looks at me.

I DON'T GOT THIS.

I turn around, ready to walk away, when I hear, "Nicki!"

OH MY GOD ABORT MISSION.

"Hey." He's next to me now and I have no choice but to look at him. I give him a big, pained smile and it stays there even as he kisses me with the world's driest lips.

"Where've you been?" Andy asks. Avoiding you, I think to myself, but of course I don't say that.

"Oh you know...around..." I force out a laugh that's too loud. Truth is, I've been avoiding him for the past three days, and of those three days he's been at my school. How does the security just let him slip by like that?? What if he was a terrorist??

Sweat beads around my forehead but I can't tell if it's from the heat or my own nerves.

"Can we talk?" I say suddenly.

"I thought we were?" He looks confused.

"Yeah but can we talk about...us?" I am on the verge of running back to the classroom, not even kidding.

"Yeah sure." The dude smiles. He actually smiles at me. I can't believe he's smiling right when I'm about to break up with him. Guilt is roaring within me.

"I think we should break up." I hold my breath. I have got to be the most insensitive person person on the face of this planet.

"Oh..." Andy blinks for a minute. "Okay."

"Okay?" Why isn't he looking sad? Why isn't he asking why I'm breaking up with him. Why...? What??

"Yeah, no, okay. :)" You see that smiley face? That's his face right now. He's smiling at me just like that smiley face. Who smiles at someone who just broke their heart??

"I mean, you don't even go to school here." I say, because I feel like this shit isn't as dramatic as I expected it to be. "You should leave. Please leave."

Andrew shrugs. "Yeah. Sure. Thanks for the break up. See you around, Nicki:)"

He leaves with that stupid smiley on his stupid face and I almost scream out that I wish his stupid, sagging pants would fall down. They're practically at his knees as he wobbles away.

Well at least I can breathe now.

"Hey," A boy with black hair and blonde tips comes up to me. "You good?"

"Sort of?" How do you answer that honestly?

"I haven't seen you before. I'm Joseph." He grins, exposing a big chip in one of his front teeth.

"Nicki..." he takes my hand that was hanging at my side and shakes it enthusiastically. Please let go of my hand. Pleaaasssee.

"Oh cool. Are you in a relationship with that guy? The one who just left? He was pretty cool. I liked him. How long have you guys been together?" Joseph blabs. Finally he lets go and I'm grateful to have blood circulating back into my fingers.

"We just broke up. He doesn't even go here, to be honest." I tell the hyper, chipped toothed, black haired guy, who nods like a bobble head.

"Well it's nice to meet you--"

"JoSePh!??" a short, curvy girl stomps over to us. For her height, she's extremely intimidating. And beautiful. Extremely beautiful. "Who's this pretty girl?" She looks at me in a way that makes me squirm.

"Her names Nicole. Er, Nicki? Nicki." Joseph beams. Her face warms up when she smiles at me. I swear, my heart does a flip flop. Damn good thing I ended it with Andy.

"I'm Elizabeth," she holds out her hand, which I willingly shake. Her eyes are the colour of milk chocolate and I can't help but admire them.

Behind her, two girls walk up. One has a scary look on her face, the other looks like she's uncomfortable. Elizabeth grins at them. "Guys, this is Nicki."

Both mutter a hello.

"This is Jade," Elizabeth motions to the scary looking girl. "And this is Sabrina." The uncomfortable girl shifts the weight on her feet. She can't even look at me.

There's a moment of awkward silence. Or maybe it's just me being awkward. Or maybe this situation is making me awkward and it's radiating offa me like...like...radiation. So I say I gotta go, it was nice to meet y'all, catch ya later, then I turn around and speed walk back to the safety and cool air of the classroom. Elizabeth's says something about seeing me later and by god I hope she does.

Phew. Is it hot in here or is it me?

~end of chapter one~

>Song: FU by Miley Cyrus