That's just life

8.

After school, I walked over to Trish who was standing near the end of the hallway, waiting for me.

I'd promised her we'd go for yogurt after school, where I'd tell her everything.

And then we'd go to Ava's for the sleepover.

When I reached her, she gave me a small smile and squeezed my hand.

"How was your day, Ms. Conrad?" she asks me in an exaggerated Brit accent.

I laugh a bit.

Thank GOD for Trish.

"Well, it was.......good, if you count being heartbroken all over again and getting 18 out of 20 in a test," I mumble.

She raises her eyebrows in question.

I sigh.

"Can we just go, please? Lord knows I need that yogurt", I say.

5 minutes later, we walk to a small pastel themed shop whose board reads 'Creams and Gurts'.

As we walk in, the small bell tinkles.

I wave to the plump woman behind the cashier.

"Hi, Mrs. Leroy"

She waves back and smiles at us.

We walk past, taking in the small cosy place, with a feel so close to home.

We take the farthest booth, our favourite spot.

"Okay, so tell me what's really going on, Sasha," Trish says.

I wanted so bad to just get it all out to her, but for some reason, I was.......hesitating.

"Oh, come on Sash." She makes puppy eyes at me. "Won't you tell your favourite best friend?", she whines at me.

I fall for it.

"I think I'm ........... I think I'm in love."

Her already round eyes go big as saucers.

"I don't think I heard you right - THE SASHA CONRAD is in LOVE? WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BEST FRIEND?" she whisper-shouts.

When she sees that I'm not smiling, her eyes soften.

"Who is it?"

I look away. His face when he told me about Audrey floated in my mind.

"Tell me, Sasha"

I look her dead in the face.

Her face shows clear confusion, but after some time, it grew sharp as she began realising.

"Oh NO. Nononono......."

She sighed and buried her face in her palms.

"You girls will be having your usual?" Mr's. Leroy came over at that exact moment.

Thank goodness.

I smile and nod, and so does Trish.

No one says anything for a long time.

All I can think about is Alex. How I was the one who had been there for him. Always. But I didn't want to be the one who destroyed what we already had just because I had a wish of what could be.

"Oh, god you know what? Just forget I said anything."

I was now starting to get panicked seeing her utter silence.

"What about Rey?" she asks, breaking the silence.

"Why do you think I told no one else?" I mumble.

Our orders arrive.

"Honey caramel for you," Mrs. Leroy handed me a yellow cup "and berry punch for you," she handed a pink cup to Trish.

We nodded our thanks.

The silence was now killing me.

"Trish, please, just say something," I plead. 

All these days, I felt like everything was just.........breaking me.

Trish's eyes widen. I don't know why. Then I feel the tears. Hot and burning on my cheeks.

I brush them away.

"Sasha, I am so SORRY, I didn't wanna hurt you, I promise, I just-"

I smiled. She thought that I was upset because of her.

I shook my head, grinning a bit.

"Typical Trish. Such a baaaaaabbyyyyy," I drawl.

She scowls, but I see the ghost of a smile on her face.

Then she frowns, and I realise that she was intent on having this conversation, even when I wasn't.

Then she put on her best professional face, and said, "Ms. Conrad, I'd like to ask you some questions, and you may exercise your right to remain silent."

"Knock yourself out."

She cleared her throat, and then began.

She asked loads of questions.

I answered some, and didn't answer others like, 'Why do you think you're in love?' and 'What exactly had made my feelings finally burst?'

It was her last question that hit me hard.

"Since when have you been in love with him?"

I looked away, not exactly excited to answer that.

But it seems that dear little Trish NEEDED me to answer that question.

When I didn't answer, she asked more sharply, "SASHA, SINCE WHEN?"

I look anywhere else but at her.

"Since forever," I whisper.

                                                     *  *  *