Chapter 9: Chapter 9

With a determined look I took my box of a yummy peperoni pizza, a bag of chips and two subway medium balanced on my hands I walk into the hallway. Everyone kept giving me the eye look, well these days I’ve gotten use to their stares that it doesn’t affect me no more like it does before that makes me want to shrink or hide or do something remotely stupid making them laugh at me. So with my head held high I walk through their midst straight to my locker and there she stood. My best friend.

“Hey Bestie!” I mimic her enthusiasm making her yelp in fright.

“Well that’s a nice way to welcome your best friend who just got out of the hospital.” She rolls her eyes which are now focused on what’s on my hand. Propping a hand on her hips she laughs.

“Ok what’s that?”

“Uhm, its food. I think it's obvious” I smile cheekily.

“Of course I know its food. What is it doing in your hands? You seem like you need help carrying all that.” I chuckle nervously.

“Well it’s a peace offering because I miss my Bestie and couldn’t wait to see you. Also it’s because I snapped at you the last time we were together and I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” I did my puppy dog eyes, this time she folds her hands over her chest.

“You know you could do that home.” She says with fact.

“Come on, where’s the fun in that?” I laugh watching a smile draw on her lips.

“It’s almost time for class and we can’t eat that.”

“I forgot to say this. We’re going to have to skip today.”

“Wait what?!” She exclaim attracting stares from students. Whispering softly now. “What do you mean we’re going to have to skip today?” She draws close to me with a worried look.

“You told me to leave a little, skipping class seem like a great start.”

“You can’t skip your classes. You are going to ruin your good girl record. And thanks to me you’ve ruined it before. Remember.” she says emphasizing Austin and that night I got caught and now this.

“They say third time is the charm.” I muse sheepishly.

“No, no, no, no, no, no. We are not skipping classes.”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. We are so skipping classes.” Laughing I pull her along and dragging her stubborn self with me.

***

“Mm this pizza is so good.” She moans loudly taking another bite, her hand reach out to grab her subway taking a huge sip.

“Ugh tell me about it. God bless the Italians. For real.” I moan clearly enjoying the rich savory taste from just a bite.

“Just had an idea.” She grin wiping her hands with napkins.

“Okay shoot.” Facing her wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“Why don’t we go on a holiday after high school graduation to Italy?” definitely did not see that coming.

“What? No?” I refuse. Like where did that come from? I think she’s pizza high.

“Think of this, while we are waiting from response from the different college application we send, let’s have a nice vacation. Just us two. Best friends having the best of fun.” She plea hopefully.

“That will be nice.” I give it a two thought.

“You see. Going halfway across the seas. It's Europe babe.” She throw her hands at me. I smile.

“I wish…”

“Positive thinking babe.” She cuts me off. “No negative vibe here okay.” I roll my eyes starting again while giving her a look.

“I would love us to go after high school graduation to Italy for a summer vacation and spend more Bestie time together eating pizzas and whatever Italy offers us.”

“Yeah!” She squeals standing up and jumping around “Italy! Italy! Italy!” She cries out in happiness still jumping. I try to tell her to calm down that someone may hear us and report

us but she screams louder. This time pulling me up with her, jumping and chanting the name Italy over and over again. We are both laughing hard and I must confess, I have not had such a good laugh in forever. Our hair blowing with the wind, goofy smiles on our faces, jumping and dancing to the rhythm of our hearts chanting the name Italy. This is happiness. I knew it, she knew it. We both know it.

“I love you Bailey Morgan.” I scream aloud.

“I love you more Mary-Vienne Whyte.” She smiles before whooping. We fall back on the ground laughing hysterically.

“And I’m sorry that I snapped at you the other day, I’m sorry I got riled up facing it on you.” I tear for the umpteenth time in the past 24 hours.

“Hey! This is not time for those tears, those pretty tears better stay back in okay or mine will start flowing like a leaking dam. Now who’s is going to comfort us when that happens?”

“I will.” Our both heads snap to, yeah you got it right.

“Austin?”

We cry out different meaning with one name. I’m quite sure Bailey’s own held that of surprise, very sure you can guess what mine is. Irritation. Red hot boiling irritation. I’m this close to smacking the stupid smirk off his face whenever he opens his mouth to speak near me which he knows taunting me more.

“Damn you girls are so loud. You could get caught you know.”

“What do you want Austin? You’re not invited here. Or do you see your boys around here or your favorite fan girls.” I grit venomous words at him.

“Ouch.” He feigns hurt coming closer to us as I glared at him.

“Babe.” Bailey caution nudging at my side me. I frown.

“Can I sit?” He ask innocently.

“No.”

“Yes.” Bailey and I spoke.

“Bailey it is.” He sits in front of me.

“Why are you taking his side?” I frown at her clearly annoyed.

“Whoa calm down babe. You know it’s me and you forever.” My frown soften.

“But I don’t want him sitting with us. I don’t like him.” I blurt out not hiding the fact he is annoying.

“Feeling is mutual Snoopy.” my head snap to him giving him a mean glare.

“I don’t know how your friends get to put up with your rude, annoying, cocky self, Mr. popular.”

“Time for petty names now huh. Just know that if you can’t please me then don’t tease me.” he smirks. I glared hard at him hating his very presence here. I wish to take back that day in the boys’ locker room I thought, both of us in a lock gaze. He stared, I stared. He smirk, I glared harder.

“Isn’t she cute Bailey?” Not taking his eyes off me.

“Ha-ha jokes on you Austin.” I say in a bored tone seeming disinterested. An empty gulp sound distracts us.

“Oh sorry, I was just enjoying this pissing contest to realize my drink is finished.” She say amusedly and I glare at her which she clears her throat coughing a little.

“What are you doing here Mahone?” Good she’s finally getting a grip for my sake. He shrugs.

“I came looking for my tutor only to find her here skipping classes.” He says so innocent that if I told you he kept pissing me off at the hospital before my parent came to the rescue you must doubt me picking his side.

“Awe isn’t that sweet babe. He came looking for you.” I glared at her making her zip lock her lip having Austin smirk grow bigger. It’s so obvious in her eyes, he’s an angel but I know him, he’s the devil, cunning, annoying and arrogant devil.

“When do you want to start your wish list Snoopy?” He says out of the blue.

“I don’t know. It depends on you. And why call it a wish list?” He shrugs.

“Calling it a bucket list is bad enough as it is which I don’t like. And when I don’t like things I fix it into something better, hence, the wish list.” Bailey and I oohed in understanding.

“I have an idea for…” she looks at both of us using her index as emphasis “….Whatever it is you are doing.” Austin look at her interested to hear her idea. “How about you both do it this way. One day studying, the next doing something on her list.” She taps her chin thinking. “I think it’s fair on both sides. That way you get to do one thing for each other without it seeming to be cheating.”

I don’t know if she’s saying this for my benefit or our benefit. I look at Austin who seem to be thinking it through for a moment.

“I like it. Fair and thoughtful. What do you think Snoopy?” He finally says looking at me. I tried to hide my excitement.

“Fair enough” I said looking disinterested, Bailey rolls her eyes knowingly. “So we start today? I have my list of things to do here.” Handing him the piece of paper I pull out from my shorts.

“Oh no. I’ve got football practice today plus I have to tell coach the news.” He respond scanning through the list, one leg flat on the floor and the other hike up resting his arm on it looking like a picture out of a GQ MAGAZINE. Simple yet sexy, perfect even. The wind blowing against his face, his hair dancing with the wind. Bailey nudge me with a knowing grin, I blush fixing a stray strand behind my ear.

“I’m sure you have heard about the element of surprise.” Quizzically I raise a brow at him.

“Uh huh.” I look at Bailey who shrugs grinning.

“No offense your list seems pretty boring and I have the best idea, something perfect for you.” His eyes on me. “Will you trust me on this?” He smiles tapping the paper in his knee. What do I have to lose? Nothing, just nothing. Aside putting up with his cocky attitude.

I smile softly responding. “I trust you Austin.” Taking my eyes away from him.

It got quiet, each of us buried deep in our own thoughts. Mine filled with images of Austin and the idea of us together every day after school.

“That’s true, what’s with the name Snoopy?” Bailey suddenly ask.

Slowly he turns to me, a devious smirk back on his face and I just want to disappear.

“Now, now, Snoopy. Why didn’t you tell our friend the actual truth?” I gulp knowing I skipped some vital details when I told Bailey how he caught me and skipped the locker room session entirely I might add. I look at him with pleading eyes begging him not to say anything. He just

stares at me now smiling to his hearts contempt. “Don’t worry I’ll do the honors.”

That’s how I sat there with a permanent scowl on my face getting the worst version of humiliation from the captain of the quarterback and my best friend who kept laughing like a maniac.

I hate Austin. I wish he chokes in his sleep and dies this night hearing their both laughter as we sat on the floor under a shade where flowers scattered randomly in flower pots scenting the air we breathe to the roof of our school building.