The Pretend Boyfriend

Chapter 2

The school gates loomed up ahead, as I hurriedly tied my shoelaces and adjusted my collar. The mornings were always a mad rush. The car pulled into the drop off zone, just as I pushed my school bag onto my back. 'Bye dad!' I yelled, stumbling out the door. There was a palpable festive spirit in the atmosphere, as if Christmas had come early. I watched my dad rev off, with a sinking feeling growing in the pit of my stomach. I turned around, and that's when I saw him.

I gawked at Aaron's lean, but muscular body. He had obviously gotten a good work out from that football camp! His hazel eyes sparkled in the morning sun, reminding me of my favourite topaz necklace. I also noticed that he had dyed his hair black. His skin, which appeared to be slightly more tanned, was glowing. Without warning, I found myself drawn to his lips. My mind spontaneously reeled back to all the kisses we shared; me sitting in his lap, lounging on his front porch, snuggled on the couch, under the weeping willow tree in the park. I stood there staring for a while, before noticing that he was walking with his friends. They strode up the pathway in unison, laughing and conversing. When Aaron laughed, his head tilted all the way back, his hair flipping dreamily over his eyes. I let out a small-scale yelp, fearing that he had spotted me. I automatically ducked down, till I was crouched in the flowerbed. Phew! That was a close call. Then Aaron and his pack disappeared over the knoll.

'Sienna!' I heard voices shout. I spun around to face my best friends, Maddy, Indigo and Cynthia. 'Hey girlies!' I squawked. It was rare that all four of us arrived at school at the same time. Today was one of those golden days. We all shared a massive hug, where I was squashed in the middle, struggling to breathe. 'What were you staring at?' Indigo immediately questioned. 'Wh-what?' I stammered, remembering what I had witnessed moments ago. 'Not what, but who,' Cynthia said knowingly, her eyebrows shooting up. Maddy looked chagrined. 'Ok fine,' I cowed. 'I was staring at Aaron.' 
There was a brief moment of silence, before Cynthia crowed, 'I knew it!' Maddy looped one arm around my right arm, Cynthia looped an arm around my left arm. Indigo joined onto Cynthia's spare arm, and the four of us strut briskly up the pathway. 'I know what you guys are going to say, so don't bother,' I said, hoping I didn't sound rude. 'I guess I'll just have to wait for time to patch things up,' I added. My friends nodded, understandingly. We continued walking in a chain, until we reached the year eleven corridor.

We wound up to our lockers, which were all nearby. I dumped my heavy bag on the ground, as I unlocked my lock. 'Can I tell you about Michael?' Maddy asked gingerly. Ever since Aaron broke up with me, she had been cautious about discussing her boyfriend, Michael. I knew it was because she didn't want me to get upset or nostalgic. In that moment, Maddy looked like she was about to burst with happiness. She was evidently working hard to subdue a brimming grin. I managed to exude a laugh. 'Ok Maddy, spill.' Maddy's eyes lit up like glow-worms, reflecting incredulity. 'Well,' she began. 'Last night, he took me out to that new restaurant in town, Le Fleur-ter. Turned out it was really fancy and expensive, and neither of us could afford it. So instead we went to my house, and he cooked up this amazing meal of Risotto and grilled vegetables. I set the table with candles and roses, and we had the most romantic dinner ever! The best part was when he gave me this,' she exclaimed pulling the glove off her right hand. On her ring finger was a shimmering deep, ruby red ring! 'OMG, Maddy, did he propose to you?' I shrilled. 'No!' she giggled. 'It's one of those promise rings, you know, like he's promising me we'll be together, forever.' 
'Oh yeah, I know those! Maddy, that's really great, I knew you two were meant to be.' 
'Thanks, and don't worry, you will soon meet your destiny too,' she said, with genuine sympathy. I smiled and turned back to my locker, taking out books, and unpacking my bag.

My form group was soon assembled in our form room, ready for form assembly. Tiffany, our form captain, read out the daily bulletin; which contained important messages and reminders. 'The 2015 senior prom, for years eleven and twelve will be held on the 20th of November. More information will be provided closer to the date,' Tiffany read. Following this, the bell for period one rang. I hurriedly gathered my books and rushed towards room X. I had a maths test awaiting me.

It was recess time, and I was sitting in a circle with Maddy, Indigo and Cynthia. I nibbled on my muesli bar, and gulped down my yogurt. 'So how was your maths test?' Indigo asked, breaking the ice. 'Alright I guess,' I mumbled in response. 'You're worrying about the prom, aren't you?' Maddy said. I thought to myself, trying to pinpoint the exact source of my anxieties. My answer: The Prom. The truth was, I had dreamt about the senior prom since year seven. Not just about dressing up and feeling pretty and mature, but also about sharing one magical night with a special date. For two years, until one week ago, I believed that person would be Aaron. It only then dawned on me that my first, and second last prom, would be spent alone. If I even went, that was. Of course there would be my friends, but I meant alone in the sense of a date, a boy. 'Yes,' I finally admitted. My friends simply patted my back compassionately. I suddenly realised what a drama queen I was being, and probably a real nuisance to my friends. I made to mental note to myself; to give up the grumpy, helpless girl-depressed-after-breakup act.

The rest of the day was a blur of last day procedures. There was cleaning, meetings, whole school assembly, and class parties. The end of the day finally rolled around, and I was at the school gates with my friends. 'I'm going to miss you guys so much, but of course we'll catch up during the holidays,' Cynthia cried. We all repeated a similar thing back to her, and then to each other. Hugging and squeezing, then waving while waking backwards, we all parted ways. My mum's car swiftly turned up, and I hopped in. While watching the school disappearing from sight, for another two weeks, I immediately became aware of a lucid desire. I wanted Aaron back. It was funny that the thought hadn't occurred to me before, but I guessed I was too caught up in the initial trauma to think straight. However, I wasn't going to be all, girl-depressed-after-breakup about it. No, I was going to come up with a solid plan, and that plan was going to yield success.