I smile as he leads the way to a brick ruin. It's gorgeous, really. I mean, they look like ruins, but they aren'tt, the architects just tried to give that type of effect. I sit on the prickly grass underneath my dress, and the smell of grass, maple, somehow, and jut fresh air around me. I lean against the honey colored brick, and look up to the full, vibrant, blue sky. There is a street lamp right beside the little brick dome.
"It's wonderful, Alex." I face his gorgeous, blue grey colored eyes which are shining brightly. He smiles back,leaning in for a kiss. I plant one right on his lips, and soon we are breathless as our lips fight together in sync, tongues dancing.
A voice interrupts us immediately. "When will you stop making out?" I recognize this as Ben, from the other day. I blush and turn towards him. His arms are around a beautiful girl. She has caramel skin, and her hair is in waves down her back. There is makeup smack on her face, but not too much. Her clothes are actually decent. A crop top, shorts, and high tops. No cleavage showing, well that's a relief.
"Will you stop stalking me?" Alex throws an arm in the air in mock frustration, and I see more people, a girl with a pixie cut, a girl with a bit cleavage showing and spiky boots, and more boys. "Evelyn, this is Jenna," Alex points to Tyler's girlfriend, I believe. "HI!" She enthusiastically greets me, her smile stretching across her dark pink lips.
As the boys huddle up and walk on, I notice the others once more. "Hey," I nod back at Evelyn. "Well, uh, this is Alice." she points to the pixie cut girl who gives me an elevator look. "And this is Marla, over here." she points to the other girl. They all have something in common; they are gorgeous. I feel like dirt beside Evelyn's vibrant smile, Alice's sleek and glossy hair, Marla's fit body.
"Uh, nice to meet you." I stammer and motion them to sit. Evelyn sits right on the grass patch beside me, while Alice leans against the bricks, and Marla's emerald eyes pierce into mine as she stands right where she is, beside Alice. They both seem bored like they don't want me here. "I love your dress!" Evelyn tries to break the tension. I nod and give her a tight smile.
"Where did you get it from?" She asks. By this time, Alice is on her phone and Marla is skimming through a glossy magazine in the brick ruin beside us, with Alice at her side. I turn my attention to Evelyn and forget the stares of them. "Oh, Canada. From Urban Outfitters." I admit, smiling.
"ooh, you're from Canada? Beautiful, right? I've been there once. So when did you come?"
"Almost three days ago."
"Nice! spending the summer? California is the best place to spend your summer, yes." She agrees, biting her lip in thought, her eyes at her fellow friends. I nod again, looking there too. Alice's ice cold blue eyes stare at me for a second, before turning down into her phone. "I'll be right back," Evelyn murmurs and takes her vibrant self up to the girls. Even though the domes are way far apart, my ears take in bits of conversation.
"....... I don't care, Eve." i hear someone say. It's Alice, her hands at her hips in anger. I look away.
"But, Alice..." Evelyn.
" Come on, Eve. catch up. We came here to have fun. " Marla complains.
" I know. But just talk to her, she's nice, guys."
"i don't care. I am so not here to watch Alex's new sleeping buddy talk to me about dresses and My Little Pony." As soon as i hear these words from Alice's up curled pout, my hands run cold and tears spring into my eyes. Sleeping buddy? My Little Pony? She thought of me as a baby? A CHILD? And is Alex hiding something from me? Does he actually have a dozen friends with benefits?
"SHH! Alice, please." Evelyn mutters while Marla darkly laughs. "Alice is right. We aren't taking in his new little f-ck buddy, because Alex needs to control his damn self and desires. Keep his little 'friends' away from us. Carmen was enough, after her, I've lost my patience. No more nicey." Marla folds her arms across her chest. I feel my tears slipping. I quickly turn away from the murmur of voices, and wipe my tears. Fixing my mascara, I prepare myself and huddle against the wall.
How could Alex do such a thing? Suddenly, i hate myself for being so stupid. So stupid to trust him. Just then, a tired looking Evelyn walks up to me. Her smile is so fake i can see right through it. Then, without further due, I excuse myself to that building near the park. it's labelled washrooms. Evelyn rushes behind me, and i swing open the women's, and cannot help the sobs escaping my mouth. Evelyn comes in and i quiet down.
Then I rush into her arms.
All i need is support as i sob harder into her chest. She wraps her arms back around me, and murmurs things that are supposed to comfort me. Then, after a few minutes of solid tears, i pull away.
"I'm sorry about them, sorry if you heard..." she mumbles.
"Why do they think so low of me and Alex?" i whisper. Her eyes shoot up and she clears her throat.
"what... what relationship is yours and Alex's?"
"He's.. my childhood friend,and he confessed to me yesterday." Her eyes change and her eyebrows furrow.
"did you... you know...Go farther than kissing?" She uneasily scratches her neck and I blush beet red. "like, I need to know. Because... it's for your own safety."
Just then, the door swings open and out comes Ben, he's dying of laughter, with Alex by his side. two other boys are laughing too. " I WAS DARED, OKAY?" Ben protests between laughter. I suddenly cover my face, pretending to laugh, but actually wiping my salty tears. I glance in the mirror at my eyes. ruined. I try to wipe off the blackness and luckily, succeed, as Evelyn was blocking me from the boys' view. She unblocks and i faintly fake smile, her intense words playing in my head.
•••
The afternoon drones on, and after a fit of acting, I finally reach home. Alex is in his room, but I stalk downstairs, trying to sneak some food into my room, without my mom running a Q&A show. I reach the kitchen, grab a box of pretzels, and turn to the stairs.
Just as I'm about to succeed, my mothers voice starts me. "Where are you sneaking with a pack of pretzels?"she asks, and I place the packet down in surrender and face her.
"Room." I mumble.
"Room. Right. Why so secretly? Don't need to say hi to your mother?" She presses on.
I stay silent.
"Anyway.. Have you been crying?" She squints at my face, and I quickly shake my head. Too fast, Jenna. Her face fills with worry. I sigh, moving closer to her as she urges me into a hug.
"No, mom, I just have a headache." I tell her, truthfully. She nods and pulls away.
Then, she picks up the brush on the side table of my room, and brushed out my waves. "Are you feeling down?" She asks.
"Yeah..."
"Feeling like you're worth nothing?"
"Yes." I admit.
"Well." She spins me around, and something passes through her eyes. It disappears as quickly as it was appearing. "I want you to know. You're f*cking perfect."
I'm a bit shocked. "When I was your age, I was a pure bad girl, yes, we're talking slut. Spiky boots, push up bra, shorts, clubs, boys, lost in the dance moves and the golden disco lights. I met your father, who happened to be in my class in college. It was one of those dorm colleges. I didn't even notice him for the first few months. Then, when I was at a club once, i was making out with a guy the whole time. And after, the next day, I realized it was your father! I didn't care about him, I was just using him, and your father was at the club for the first time, and he cared for one of his first kisses.
He fell in love. Day by day, it grew. Then, i noticed him at a concert, and we shared their love of music. That made us together, and after graduating from college, we got married. And two weeks later, I found out I was carrying you. So soon. I didn't even know it could happen so soon. I wasn't ready at all. They weren't careful. But I decided, I'm gonna keep you. And that's how you were born. Then, when you turned 7, we tried for more. I had two miscarriages. Then we stopped trying. And focused on you.
Anyway, I was a really bad kid in school, flunking tests, getting yelled at from my mom, and more. But I want you to know. That you're f*cking perfect. Okay? No one ever told that to me. But as I loved your father, we made each other realize that we're perfect the way we are. And I'm telling you know. Ignore the haters . You're perfect." She's crying. My moms crying. And she's telling me what I've yearned to know all this time. Her love story. And me being perfect.
She wipes her tears, pats my shoulder, and walks out of the room. Then I shut my door, and break down. All the events, passing by in my head, angry tears down my face. But then I tell myself to stand up and brush it off.
I'm perfect.
But, that's not the problem. It's.. My (possibly ) boyfriend is rumoured to be a player... By Alice and Marla. And Evelyn's words run into my head.
Is he still who I think he used to be?
•••
thank you for 3K reads! Oh my god. Love you💗hope his chapter wasn't too explicit for some of you
-xoxo Hamna