Hattie isn't anorexic... at least she thinks she isn't. That is until Cole comes along and points out the error in her ways. Can Cole save Hattie before her time runs out or will she just become a skinny love lost right before this bad boy's eyes?
"Why are you so smiley today?" Lola asks as she plants herself down into the seat next to me.
"It's physics. No one should be happy." she laughs. I contemplate whether or not to tell her. I mean, she's my best friend I should tell her... but its her brother.
"I always smile. What are you talking about?" I question, not giving anything away.
"Mmmm, not like this. No, this is real, not like the fake shit you give everyone. Something happened... Did you get some action?"
"What? No, of course not!" I whisper loudly, embarrassed if anyone heard the question.
"Well then, what happened? I'm your best friend, I have the right to know." she crosses her arms and in that moment I know I have to tell her, she does have the right to know.
"Yesterday..." I take a deep breath and look down before saying the next part, afraid of her reaction "Cole kissed me."
I look up to see her reaction. Her face is completely neutral, showing no emotion. For a second, I think she's mad at me for betraying her but then her face breaks out into a huge smile and she reaches towards me and grabs me in a hug.
"Oh my God. Finally!!" she shouts right in my ear.
"Be quiet, someone will hear you. What do you mean 'finally'?" I reply as she takes her arms off of me.
"I mean..." she rolls her eyes as if it's the most obvious thing in the world "that you and Cole have always had this weird chemistry since the beginning. He's always liked you and I could tell you liked him. It was about time one of you acted on it." I blush as I think about Cole liking me. Nobody's ever liked me before because of my weight and, to be honest, I highly doubt Cole does either. I don't know what that kiss was or why he did it but I do know that thinking about it makes me happy.
"Hey, Lola. I have to ask. Are you ok with it? Us kissing, I mean." I'll probably regret asking but I do anyways.
"Are you serious? Of course I'm ok with it!" I take a breath of relief, thankful to have a friend like Lola.
*****
Most of the day quickly passes after my conversation with Lola, a weight being lifted off my shoulders. I've been alone for most of it, not sharing any lessons with Cole, Lola or Harry and skillfully avoiding Cole all lunch. I don't know what to say to him after the kiss. Do we acknowledge it or pretend like it never happened? I was so quick to run away after it happened that I didn't get his reaction. Now I think back, I regret not staying. At least we could've talked about it then, instead of me standing outside of my English classroom, waiting to go in and face Cole. Why was the only seat left in class that first day next to him?
I smooth out my denim skirt and white jumper and walk into class, already prepared for Mrs Ling to yell at me for being a second after the bell.
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