Simplicity

Chapter 10

What was she doing here?  And with him of all people! The way he looked at me? Fucking asshole thinks he can just walk back into my life like that. And the look on Isla’s face too, the confusion when she saw me with Alyssa and Iago. Although I’m pretty sure she was more confused when Jasper got up. 

  “Alex, hold up!” Isla’s voice echoed through the empty, snow-covered street. I kept on walking. There was just no point in talking to her. Then again, I’d like to know what the fuck she was doing with Jasper. I heard a thud and small cry from behind me. Of course she fell. She can barely walk on carpet, let alone snow. I let out a sigh and turned around to see her brushing snow off her tights and sweater. “You alright?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. What about you?” She gave me a meaningful look. “Cause you looked like you wanted tokill Jasper just now, and then you looked like you saw a ghost when you saw that he was with me.” She was clasping her hands together. Whether it was because she was worried or because she was cold I don’t know, but her cheeks had gone pink and she was chewing on her bottom lip. 

I just stood there staring at her for a good few minutes. She was slightly breathless, so she had probably jogged after me. She’s never really had any stamina. Sport was never her thing but since she didn’t eat all that much she never gained weight. I let out a sigh. “Why were you with him?” Her eyes widened slightly. “Because he’s my friend, Alex.” She said it as if it was the most obvious, most natural thing to say. Because he’s my friend. “That’s usually why people hang out together.” She continued. Her tone was dry and factual, with a hint of irritation and confusion there as well. But I just looked at her, my mouth slightly ajar. She’s friends with Jasper…. No, she can’t possibly be friends with him. I told him to stay away from her, why didn’t he listen to me? I did tell her he was fucked up, I did warn her. Why, why would she go for coffee with him then? Just like that, like we would. “Isla, no.” She’s joking right…. She’s not friends with him…It’s not possible…He’s not going to steal her away from me, that’s not happening. He’ll hurt her. “You can’t be friends with him. You absolutely cannot do that.” I grabbed her shoulders but she shrugged me off.

  “Uh, sorry to burst your bubble there Alex, but I’ll be friends with whoever I want.” Her tone was blunt. Doesn’t she get it? Does she seriously not understand what she’s getting herself into? 

  “No.” I matched my tone with hers, taking in a deep breathe to calm my frantic thoughts. 

  “What do you mean ‘no’? You don’t have a say in this! I’m not a child Alex, I don’t need your permission to be friends with someone.” It was like she wasn’t really listening to me, like she didn’t understand what I was trying to say. All that she could hear was me saying that she wasn’t allowed to be his friend. She was waving her hands about now, trying to illustrate her point. She’d raised her voice too but there’s no way that I’m going to let Jasper steal her away. 

  “Isla, no. I don’t care what you say but-” 

  “And I don’t care what you say!”

  “Isla, listen to me dammit! Why are you being so stubborn? You have other friends; just go to coffee with them! But please stay away from Jasper, I’m just trying to tell you that he’s bad news.”

 “I have two friends Alex. Two! You being one and Jasper being the other. So if you have a problem with that then you can go fuck yourself cause I really don’t give a shit what you think of him! I’m not giving up my only other friend just because you say he’s bad news!” 

People passing by were awkwardly glancing towards us, probably assuming that this was a lover’s quarrel. Was it? I looked back at Isla. I saw the tears of frustration streaming down her face. Great, now look what you’ve done.