Love Lies

Lunch & Lust

        The next period goes by in a flash. All I can think about is the news I’ve just learned. Gia’s not pregnant. I’ve finally got what I need,  but the thing is, how am I going to use it? When am I going to use it? I have to be wise about with this information. If I don’t plan this out properly, I could mess everything up. I have to be smart.

        At lunch, Chris and I begin to discuss what happened in the bathroom with him.

        “She just told Cara like they were friends for as long as we were. And the fact that she did it to get back at me hurts even more,” I say angrily.

        Yes, I’m also upset about what happened in the bathroom. Gia lied to me to hurt me. Chris too, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t hurt him as much as it hurts me. What makes it worse is that she acts like Cara is her best friend. Like, our whole relationship never even existed.

        “Well, can you really blame her? We did stab her in the back. If it were me I would probably do the same,” Chris says, taking me out of my train of thought.

        I guess he’s right. I haven’t been a really good “best friend” either. As I begin to think back on my friendship with Gia, I see her walk into the café. She looks around the room until she spots Chris and I in the back. She walks over to us hiding blue flyer with snowflakes all over it.

        “Who’s ready for the Winter Formal?” she asks with excitement.

        “We still have these?” Chris asks while taking the paper out of her hand.

        “Yes! And I was thinking we could go together, as a group. Like old times,” shes says in a hopeful tone.

        I look at Chris and he has the same expression on his face, astonishment. First, she tries to break us up and when that doesn’t work she tries to go to the Winter Formal with us! What is she planning?

        “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. I mean, I don’t even know if I wanna go this year,” Chris says.

        Gia’s facial expression turns from excitement to shattered. Trying to mend things I say, “We’ll think about it.”

        Chris looks at me with his brows furrowed. Gia jumps up and down and says, “Awesome! Well, can we at least go dress shopping together shopping together? I saw this dress at our favorite boutique that I think would look great on you!”

        “Sure, why not,” I say with fake smile.

        Gia claps and walks to her table with Cara and her friends.

        “What was that? Why did tell her we’ll think about it?” asks Chris.

        Only one answer comes to mind when I say, “ Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right?”

                                                                                *Next Period*

        While I’m taking my Chemistry book from out of my bag, I see Theo at the front of the room talking to Ms. Green. I begin to think about what Chris said about him. He just gives me a weird vibe, I think. All the bad things Chris said about Theo float in my head until he turns around and smiles at me. I can’t help but smile back him. He has that smile that makes me forget about everything. Plus, he makes me go weak at the knees when he does his famous wink.

        Theo takes his seat next to me and says, “Hey. You look exceptionally fit today.”

        “Fit?” I ask.

        “It means pretty, hot, sexy..”

        “Oh, well, uh, thanks.”

        He gives me his traditional smile and pull out his book along with that blue paper that’s been floating around today.

        “I see you heard about the Winter Formal. Do you know if you’re going with anyone yet?”

        “No. I don’t think anyone wants to go with me anyway,” he says under his breath.

        “What are you talking about? It’s not like you’re bad looking. Plus, you’re British which is always a bonus here,” I say with a giggle. “Any girl in here would be lucky to go to the dance with you.”

        “Then, would you like to go with me? As friends of course. I know how you are about the whole ‘boyfriend’ thing.”

        I smile a little, flattered by his offer. I would love to go to the Winter Formal with Theo but there’s one problem: Chris. If he knew I went to the dance with Theo, even as friends, he would flip out.

        I look Theo in the eyes and say, “ I would love to go with you, but I’m not sure I’m going. Chris doesn’t really plan on going so, I think we’ll just stay in that night.”

        He shakes his head and looks away. He sits there quietly for what feels like ten minutes and then says, “ That sucks. He shouldn’t take away your opportunity to have fun.”

        I feel bad for about a minute and then think about Gia’s offer. I would hate to go to the dance with Gia and Chris together. But, if I threw Theo into the mix maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Plus, Gia will be able to distract Theo long enough for Chris to see that there’s nothing going on between us.

        “What if you go with Chris, Gia and me? We were thinking about going as a group like we used to. If you go, it could be like a double date. You would be on the date with Gia, of course,” I say with a hopeful grin.

        He thinks about it for a while before saying, “ That sounds alright. Although, I would rather go with you. Alone.”

        When he says that final word, he reaches for my hand. He slips his fingers between mine. My first instinct is to pull away but I don’t move. I just look at our hands intertwined. The juxtaposition of  his tan skin against my olive. Then something hits me. A feeling. A feeling that I’ve felt before. The same one that I felt a year ago when I spotted Chris in Shake Shack. The one that makes you smile at the thought of it. One that makes your stomach feel like it’s aching when it’s really just butterflies.

        That feeling when your mouth goes dry because you start to get nervous. That feeling when all you hear is the boom of your heart block out all your surroundings.

        It’s like. An undeniable, strong like.