After I woke up the next day, I couldn’t help but to think about what happened. Did it really happen? I didn’t feel like thinking about it anymore. I got up out of bed and slipped on my slippers. What was today? Thursday? Friday?
I go downstairs to see my dad with a coffee and newspaper in his hands. I wonder if he even sees me. I try an attempt to sneak by him. All I want is the calendar dad. If only he read my thoughts.
“Hold up miss.”
Oh snap. Caught right-handed.
“No ‘Good Morning Dad’ or ‘I Love You Daddy’?” he asks.
“Good morning dad. I love you,” I tell him.
“Something wrong Chanel? You seem to be in a rush?”
“I’m just going to check out the calendar. I forgot what day it is.” I tell him.
“It’s Friday. Why?”
“No reason.”
I rush towards the staircase and rush to the bathroom.
I take a quick glance in the mirror. I look and feel groggy. Yes, that is very gross, especially in the morning.
I brush my hair, put on a pair of capris with a t-shirt and go back downstairs.
“Ready for school?” dad teased.
“Never better. Ready for work?” I ask him.
He smiles before taking a big sip of his coffee. I grab a piece of toast, kiss him on the cheek, and get in my car.
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It’s really great being a junior. I am one year away from senior and juniors get their own parking space. As I get out of my car, I see Chaz come off from the bus. Yes, the big yellow school bus.
I point him out and wave to him. Surprisingly, he waved back and started walking quicker in my direction.
“Hey, how’s it going?” he asked, panting a bit for some breath.
“Are you ok? And so far, it’s going pretty good.”
“I’m great, if you should know Peters. I heard about what happened yesterday. You made Taylor cry because of that new boy.” he explained.
How the heck he find out?
“Who told you? About, you know, what happened yesterday.” I felt pretty peeved right now.
“They told me. Gina, Taylor, Beth. The only people who would not keep a secret. Thought you knew that Nell.”
Of course. The only friends I have that will tell everyone my secret. Maybe I should just tell someone, to know I’m not betraying anyone. Well, it’s now or never.
“Chaz, mind if I tell you something?”
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“Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND? Seriously Chanel, I thought you was taught better than that!”
For the fiftieth time it seems like, ever since we got into homeroom, all he can talk about is what I told him.
“Chaz, it’s not what it sounds like. None of it is my fault!” I try to make him, and me, believe.
“So, you expect me to believe that it wasn’t your fault you opened the door? Or that it wasn’t your fault you didn’t break the kiss fast enough? Or that--”
“You can be so annoying sometimes. You aren’t my mom C.”
“I know I’m not, C, but I am your best friend.”
“Well, stop blaming all of this on me! I’m not the only guilty one!”
“I understand that Chanel, but if the others find out, you surely are going to be the only one accused.” Why is he making feel worse than I already am?
“Chazzy, listen. I apologize. What I did was low. Lower than anything else I use to do. Can you please stop blaming me for all of this?”
I feel on the verge of tears, until he holds me in his arms. He has very strong and muscular arms. And he’s soft to lay on.
“Nelly, I am not just blaming you. I’m not blaming you at all. I‘m just, shocked that you would do something like this. I thought this was Gina’s thing to do.”
I laugh a little and feel a little awkward as I realize we are in our homeroom class. Luckily, no one is paying any attention to us.
“But, you know I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.” he adds on.
It’s true. He didn’t do anything but help me feel better. I raise out of his arms and hug him.
“Thanks for being the greatest friend in the world.”
We say our goodbyes and I go back to my seat.
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“Chanel. Wait. Hold up!”
I make my legs move faster and faster until that voice inside of my head disappears.
“Can we just talk about it?” Josh said.
I stop at my locker, dump my books in, and shut it close.
“There is nothing I want to talk to you about.” I say with some more attitude than intended.
“I know you are pissed off at me because of what happened. Why can’t you be happy that I covered for us?” Is he for real?
I stop in my tracks and turn around to face him.
“I only got one thing to say to you. I am not happy that you covered for us. You are lying to my best friends, blackmailing me for standing Taylor up on prom night, and you continuing to live life as if it never happened is making me more mad.”
“So, you don’t want an apology then, huh?” he asks.
“No. I want you to apologize to my friends. Just tell them the truth and we’ll be ok.” I reason with him.
“What if I don’t? What are you gonna do about it?”
I can feel that sly smile forming on my lips.
“What are you smiling about? The wonderful past? Fantastic future?” Josh said.
“No. I just remembered that everything that happened between us is no longer a secret.” I tell him.
He’s standing there, scared look on his face, probably thinking about what to do.
“Heh, heh. You are hilarious Chanel.”
I keep a straight face and he realizes I’m telling the truth.
“Who did you tell? I will get my goons on that bastard.”
“That bastard happens to be one of my best friends. He can keep the secret a secret unless I tell him not too. And who the hell are your goons? You don’t know anybody, just so you know.”
“Just so you know, two can play this game. It’s personal now.”
He starts to walk off as I call to him, “Welcome to reality, Josh!”
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