My Best Friend, The Sex God

07

Things were back to normal.

Or at least, that's what I want to say.

Things definitely weren't back to normal yet. Usually, after crying it out for a while, Nate would be fine again and everything would be the way it was. But this time, it's different.

He's avoiding me like the plague. I think I've spent more time with Jake today more than I've spent with him. That's saying a lot since Jake annoys the hell out of me. A while ago in lunch he filled half of his plate of fries with ketchup. I mean, who does that? Why does he need so much ketchup? What, does he have some ketchup deficiency? Is that even a thing? Anyway, I might be overreacting a bit but I swear it was a lot of ke-

"Allison!" Jake snapped his fingers in front of my face.

"What?" I said.

"Did you even hear what I've been saying?" he asked, rolling his eyes at me.

"Um... yes?"

"Oh my god." Jake pinched the bridge of his nose in what seemed to be utter despair. "You're a nightmare to work with."

"Hey, you're no picnic either," I said, "with your ketchup addiction and all..."

"Ketchup?" Jake said, confused. "What does that have to do with our English class? Seriously, Allison. Where's your head at?"

"I'm worried about Nate."

I didn't even have to think about saying it. It came out of my mouth like a disease I just wanted to get rid of.

"And there it is," Jake said. "You know, I should be mad at Nate for breaking my sister's heart, but right now, I'm just relieved that they're not together anymore. Look, whatever happened between you two, I'm sure you'll work it out. You guys are best friends, aren't you?"

"Inseparable since we were, like, two years old," I said with a slight hint of a smile. "But that doesn't matter now. We're in totally different spectrums. He's popular, attractive and smart. And I'm..."

"Popular, attractive and smart," Jake said before tapping my head in a calming motion. "You seriously aren't thinking you're not good enough for him, are you? Because you are. Even better. Stop doubting yourself."

"Since when did you know how to talk like that?" I asked.

"Since sixteen years ago, a certain sister of mine was born," Jake said, chuckling and I laughed a bit as well. "I've been through all of them. The heartbreakers, backstabbing best friends, everything. Jenny is a real drama queen."

"I don't know, I just wish things would stay okay all the time." I buried my face into my hands.

"If things stayed okay all the time then you wouldn't even know what being okay feels like." Jake stood up. "I have to go now. Plus, I think we've made enough noise at the library. Text you later about the props and stuff."

As soon as Jake turned around, I stood up, ran to him and hugged him. "Thanks," I said.

He returned the hug, patting my back in a comforting motion. "Whatever it is, it'll be fixed soon."

*****

It all happened so fast.

I was walking down the hallway, enjoying my third coffee of the day, trying not to think about Nate too much and remembering what Jake said when all of a sudden, this girl is yelling at me.

"You almost spilled coffee on my shoe!" she kept screaming into my face.

"You're the one who bumped into me," I argued. She seemed really pissed.

"Oh so it's my fault you can't carry your stuff right," she said in the most annoying tone.

I was so over high school.