Masks

Masks - Chp 16

“So how’s this whole art project going?” I asked Kate pulling the hair out of my hair subconsciously as we walked down the halls.

Kate shrugged “It’s only for the festival, nothing drastic.” She brushed it off.

I frowned at her “A-are you sure you don’t want to come?” I asked “I’m sure Gavin won’t care, I mean we’re going as friends anyway.” I blanched before I could stop myself.

Kate laughed at me “Is someone admitting they don’t like being only friends?” she taunted me in a sing song voice.

“No.” I answered automatically, so quick that my cheeks blushed scarlet.

Kate’s grin grew more, a cheeky cherished cat smile “Sure.” She drew out practically skipping down the hall as we made our way to roll call.

I rolled my eyes despite the growing smile on my lips. It seemed silly to hide and lie, especially to Kate. I was done with the hiding and the lying, so I had a crush on Gav, a massive one. What was wrong with that? As long as Gav didn’t find out – since we were only friends – I was content with anybody else knowing.

“Golly gee,” Kate cried with mock excitement egging me on “is little miss smiling?”

I rolled my eyes as I gave her a shove so she connected with someone else in the hallway making me only laugh more as I watched her anxiously apologize and pass the blame to her “crazily deranged” best friend. I only laughed harder; I couldn’t deny I was happier than I think I’d ever been before. True to it I had come across a murder of a girl in my year, I also was getting sent threats and of course true it was only yesterday I decided I was going to stop running but my god I’d never felt more euphoric in my entire life. I guess that was just love.

Kate rolled her eyes dramatically sighing at me as she looped our arms together “Anyway, as I was saying,” she began again keeping to her dramatic form “I’m not really looking out to play the third wheel role, you know?”

I sighed just drastically back “You won’t be a third wheel!” I insisted, I was feeling awfully guilty, Kate and I always did everything together and the first time I was going to the Senior Festival with a date – not to mention one of the most popular and sweetest guys possible – and she wasn’t even going to be there! It just didn’t feel right for me…

Kate rolled her eyes “I’d rather stay home watching movies with a tub of chocolate than follow you two lover struck fools.”

I whacked her blushing scarlet “I’m not in love.” I hissed.

“Are you?” she asked pointedly only making my cheeks darken.

“Look,” I began taking a calming breath as my heart beat erratically and all I could think or rather ask myself was am I really in love with Gavin? “I can talk to Gav; see if any of his friends want to take you, I can ask Phil! You’ve met Phil, he’s a sweet boy!” I insisted pleading with her.

Kate gave me a droll look “A pity date? Please.” She snorted.

“Kate.” I insisted, giving her my puppy dog eyes.

“Look, I just….” She trailed off sighing in agitation and reluctance as she spoke the truth “after Aaron I’m just not quite ready to dive back in, you know?” she murmured, her voice lowering.

I pursed my lips at the mention of Aaron; he was a summer fling kind of guy. But minus the fling, well that’s what bull shit he fed Kate anyway. She had called me up the second night on her two week holiday gushing about this gorgeous boy that had eyes for her and wanted to take her out, she thought it was fate. I was…hesitant, maybe it was my simple lack of trust in everybody else or maybe it was my jealousy that she found guys as quick as counting to three. I held my tongue though only giving her one subtle warning not wanting to dampen her happiness and we didn’t talk for a while, I simply thought it was because she was holidaying and in love a phenomenal combination.