Strings [DISCONTINUED read description]

Chapter 10: Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh

August wasn't on the bus the next day, which made me hope that maybe he wouldn't be at school.

But as I've already established fate has it out for me. So as I'm closing my locker I turn to see the one and only person I wish would disappear.

"Hey," He says, smiling.

"Go away." I say, It's harsh, I know, but for some reason I don't care right then.

"So we aren't going to talk about what happened at the dance?" He asks, green eyes gleaming.

"What happened at the dance? Nothing happened at the dance therefore nothing to talk about." I say, half walking half running down the hall.

"Listen if you don't like me then I'm sorry, I shouldn't of kissed you. But can't we at least be friends? Because you seem like a cool person." August asks.

"Not right now." I say.

"Not right now? As in we can't be friends right now or no I can't talk right now, or something else?" August asks.

"No we can't be friends right now, I have a lot going on." I reply, irritation dripping from my voice. Whether he notices it or not, he doesn't take the hint.

"Like what? I could listen, I'm a very good listener." August says, at what I assume is an attempt to make me laugh, and a poor one at that.

"Like how my father is getting remarried and Im going to be a bridesmaid." I say, pushing my way into the classroom. I am so glad August and I dont have this class together.

"Fair enough." August says, finally getting my memo. he raises both hands in surrender and walks off, to his class, I presume.

I let out a sigh of relief. Thank. God. Now I just have to figure out how to avoid him for the rest of my life. Oh and not feel bad about it. I mean he couldnt be nicer, he is incredibly nice. He apologized for kissing me because he clearly understands that Im not interested. And he still wants to be friends. The universe is making me a horrible person. Or am I making me a horrible person?

I dont really know which is the correct answer. I mean Im making the choice to avoid him. But I didnt choose to fall in love with Leo. I dont think anyone chooses to fall in love. I think if we got to choose we would all choose not to fall in love, because this is torture.

I dont hear a word Ms. Davies says during the entire class. My mind is elsewhere. Honestly I wouldnt mind having my mind stuffed full of boring math, if it would mean that my mind isnt on Leo and August, even for only a little while, the I would welcome it. But unfortunately that seems impossible.

~~~~***~~~

I sit down at the lunch table and sigh. Leo's not there yet, it's just me and Ruby.

"Are you okay?" She asks me as I bury my head in my arms, my head is facing the gross cafeteria table but I dont care. I raise my head and shoot her a look.

"Okay, dumb question." she says.

"You think?" I ask.

"Hey, dont be like that, I didnt do anything." She says. I love Ruby, shes the type of person who knows when to shut up, when to speak, and will stick up for herself.

"You get to peacefully fall in love with your soulmate." I mumble.

"Its not like I made things this way, I didnt choose my soul mate, and give you the ability to tell whos your soul mate. I didnt make you love Leo." She says.

I sigh. "I know, I'm sorry Ruby."

"Anything I can do?" She asks.

I shake my head. "I don't think so."

"Hey guys." Leo says, sitting down, smiling.

"Hey Ruby and I say in unison.

"Are you okay?" Leo asks, giving me a concerned look.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Ruby asks.

"No reason, I'm fine." I reply.

Leo nods. "Okay." He says. Thats not like him, not at all. Leo is stubborn, to say the least. Ive always found it a little endearing if not a little annoying, but this was unusual.

Everything about now is unusual. Blame it on love I guess. Ruby and Leo are talking now, laughing too. I laugh along, but I dont think anything is funny. But sometimes life is so horrible that you just have to laugh at it.

My mother said that the day my father left. She started laughing and I didnt understand why. And thats what she told me. Sometimes life is just so horrible that you have to laugh. And it doesnt help, it doesnt fix it or make it better. But sometimes its all you can do.

Author note: I'm going to try and post two chapters a week.

Don't know what days but two a week, so yeah.