As I went to homeroom Monday morning, I couldn’t help thinking about what happened yesterday afternoon.
Josh kissing me (again), his bad boy attitude, lying, and scheming, and hidden secrets.
I was falling for him. Falling for all the wrong reasons.
Which was why I chose to tell Chaz today.
I made my way towards an empty desk near his in the back of class.
“Hey,” I told him, smiling.
He looked at me a bit confused. “Hey.”
“So, I have some…things to tell you.”
“Is it about that new kid, Josh?” he asked me.
“Well, he’s been here a few weeks. So, he’s not that new anymore.” I laughed a bit at that to ease the mood. I don’t think it helped.
“Yeah, whatever. So what do you want to ask.” he said, more of a statement than question.
“Ok. So, we know this person. He is tangled in a whole lot of bull because the new girl had kissed him the minute they met each other in a mall. She promises that she’ll go to prom with his friend if he promises to never tell anyone about what happened. So, his friend is happy and now he thinks that he might be falling for her for all the wrong reasons.” I explained to him, in a way.
“This isn’t the full version, is it? Seems too short.” Chaz said.
“No. It isn’t. Why?”
“Sounds like the story of a friend of mine. You know, Nell, its ok to share your problem filled life with me.”
“You already knew didn’t you.”
“The whole time. I think its obvious, now, that you like him. And he likes you back.”
I’m actually hearing all this from my best guy friend.
“Unless you want to lose a friend, then I recommend stop seeing him.”
“Whatever Chaz. I can do what I want. Besides, something else is obvious, too.”
Then I went to my seat, in the front row, leaving him wondering and confused.
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As I made my way to the lunch line, Chaz had pulled me back.
How did I know it was him? I know his firm grip on me.
“Ok, what do you know?” he asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I tell him. Honestly, no idea.
He grips a bit harder now.
“Quit playing games. What you said in homeroom this morning. What is so obvious?” he says, a bit angrier.
“Oh, that. I don’t know. I said it in the spur of the moment. Why? Is it something that I should know?”
His grip goes from loose to tight in that quick second. Before I know, he’s death gripping my arm.
“Chaz, can you please let go of my arm. You’re squeezing it to hard.”
He doesn’t reply and grips harder.
“I’m serious! Please, Chazzy, get off my arm!” I practically yelled.
He must’ve been daydreaming, cause he finally released his grip on me.
“Oh, sorry Nell. I was…just…uh…you know.”
“It’s ok. Just, don’t scare me like that.”
I playfully hit him in the arm and manage a little laugh. He does the same.
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“I thought it was the most noticeable thing, Chanel. Chaz likes you!” she said.
I came home from school and called the only person who knew everything. My best friend Gina.
“Are you serious? He death gripped my arm. Last time I checked, that doesn’t show likeness.” I told her.
“C’mon. He was just mad. He is almost always blushing and flirty around you at other times. Don’t you notice that?”
“I don’t notice a whole lot around me anymore.” I told her, sounding a bit depressed.
“Let me guess. He knows that you and Josh like each other?”
“How did you come up with that conclusion?”
“Chaz told me and your body language is easy to read.”
I guess I’m predictable, obvious, and noticeable now.
“Plus, I can’t wait until Taylor starts noticing, too. She is gonna bitch at you for the rest of your high school life!”
Taylor. Josh’s prom ‘date’. My best friend.
“Tay would never do such a thing. I know her better than any of you will.”
“Are you sure? You seemed pretty surprised when she got mad that day at the mall.”
“Gina, that was a month ago. Let it go, for our sake.”
“Whatever Nell. Just wait. All those secrets you and your boyfriend are hiding will come to the light. You are nothing but a lie now.” And she hung up.
I just sat there with a dial tone to my ear. Prom is in less than a month.
And Taylor. If she does find out, it’ll be by the person I love-hate most. If she doesn’t, then she just lives on life not knowing that the only person she trusted, lied to her the whole time.
So, I made the call.
“Hey Taylor, I got some things to tell you.”
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