A life in the Dark

C h a p t e r F o r t y

J a d y n ' s P . O . V .
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"Don't be silly, Frankie," I scolded, my face scrunching up to convey my disgust. "He is so not fit. Look-his arms are too scrawny, and his fashion sense is simply dreadful."

"But look at his smile," she persisted. "And his jaw-"

"I said no, Frankie."

"Oh, okay..." Her face dropped and she looked down at the table, hunching her shoulders so she looked small and vulnerable. She's pathetic. Always agreeing with me becayse she looks up to me. No backbone.

"Jade! Jadyn!"

I turned to see India running towards me, waving.

When she got to me she doubled over, clasping her knees, panting, trying to regain her breath.

"Well?" I demanded, looking down at her. "What is it?"

"I-it's Finley."

"What about him?" I snapped, already assuming the worst from her tone.

"He... he's dating Lettice..."

I froze. This is worse than I imagined. It can't be.

Next thing I remember, its late afternoon. I sat alone at the park, gently swinging to and fro.

*****

8:15, and my father calls up to hurry me up whilst I sat at my vanity stall.

So Lettice thinks she's going to get in my way, huh? I thought as I scraped my hair onto the top of my head, wrapping a scrunchie round it before adjusting it by loosening it and edging it slightly higher each time, finally securing it in place with a few sprays of hairspray. As if he actually likes her. The can hissed as I added a few more sprays.

He's probably pretending, I told myself as I perred into the mirror, and, upon deciding I looked good tossed the can into my basket of beauty products. 

Yea, I nodded as I eyed myself in the mirror, gripping my table and digging my contraband acrylic nails into the wood as I leant forward on my arms. He's just pretending. 

He's definitely just pretending.

*****

At school, I was sat with my BFFs. 

"But c'mon, clearly he's much more handsome; his jawline is to die for, look! Dont you think do Jay?" Jessika looks at me earnestly awaiting an answer as if seeking my approval. 

"Um hm," I mumble in reply, not even looking at the picture on her phone. It's way too early to actually be listening to anyone, in my opinion, and the way I see it, school should be much later,  like start at midday or something so that I can go to bed later and get up later so I'd be less tired. Surely it should be obvious to everyone. 

But oh well, only another few weeks till the end of school. 

Then my focus was snagged by some laughter. His laughter.