I don't usually get "The feelings" for people. I like to keep to myself. To put this into perspective I've only had a crush on one other person in my entire life. Her name is Astrid, we were best friends back in Texas. Before I moved anyway. She was basically my only friend before I met Jade.
I was still young, only in the fifth grade to be exact, but anytime Astrid tried to hang out with other people I would always get really jealous and upset. Looking back on it now I realize I probably had a crush on her. A cute little childish crush. Back before I really even knew what a crush was and that it was possible to get "The feelings" for friends.
I guess you could say that's one of my faults. I tend to get super jealous when my friend hangs out with someone else. I like to imagine that this is a universal problem. That best friends everywhere have struggled with this issue before. Even if they won't admit it.
My horrible communication skills do me no favors either. I can't really articulate why it bothers me so much. I feel like because I like Jade more than a friend the problem is ten times worse. I just really hate it when it's obvious she is having a lot more fun with whoever she has chosen to hang out with. It makes me feel less than in some way.
Every time she hangs out with someone else she always goes on about how much fun she had, or how she can't wait to do it again. I just feel like her being around me is lame and can't compare to her being around everyone else. Like I'll never be as cool or as fun as everyone else.
Is that stupid?
I don't even think Jade realizes the effect she has on me when she blows me off to hang out with other people. Once, for her birthday Jade went to an amusement park. She invited like half of our class. All of her friends. All of her friends, except me.
I wasn't invited. Why? And I quote,
"Well I figured it wasn't your thing. You're always shy and I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. I'm sorry. Hey, we can do something later, just the two of us." She must have forgotten about that last part because we never got around to it.
I swear I thought she actually stabbed me in the back it hurt so much. I was so betrayed and jealous. Still, like a good friend, I sat and listened to her recount everything in great detail. I heard all about her cool presents and how much fun she had.
Till this day, Jade doesn't understand the effect she has on me. The pain I have to endure all the time around her. She really hurt me that day. Of course, Jade is Jade and I could never stay mad or hold a grudge against her. I just let it go and went on as if nothing happened.
To Jade, there was never a problem to begin with.
Why am I bringing all of this up? Well, I guess I have that feeling now. She's done it again. Purposely left me out of something. Today school went on as it usually did, nothing unusual. After school is when it happened. I was expecting everyone to show up and help me finish painting the reading hall, of course that didn't happen.
For a better part of an hour I was alone.
I texted Jade and she told me that she couldn't make it, that something "came up". Which I call total B.S. on because Jade always, ALWAYS, tells me when something comes up. She tells me everything. I would have known if she had something planned or if something was going to "come up".
Luckily I didn't have to sit and paint the walls alone festering with my thoughts because I still have one more good friend.
Darleen.
She showed up and I knew by how early it was, she was skipping out on practice.
"Aren't you supposed to be at practice?" I eye her.
"I think you're more important than practice," She smirks before grabbing a paint brush.
"I'm not sure painting the reading hall qualifies as more important."
"Yeah but helping you not get expelled does. If we make it look pretty Shoppe will go easy on you."
"Thanks, but I think Howard has made up his mind."
"We'll see." She playfully bumps my shoulder as we paint the wall.
I roll my eyes and smile at her.
"So, where's Jade?" she asked after about a half hour of us painting in silence.
"Who knows," it came off snappier than I meant it.
"I can give you a ride home if you want," she offered.
"I was just going to make my mom come get me. I'm grounded anyway," I shrug.
"Let me drive you, come on, please. We never get a chance to hang out. You are always with Jade."
"I mean if you really want to, I won't stop you."
"Awesome, we can get ice cream when we are done," she starts painting faster.
Darleen's easy to be around and get along with. Even though she's super rich, she isn't snobby or pretentious. She never shows off or acts entitled. She's a very laid back and easy-going person. She's someone who could be comfortable no matter what situation they are in. As you can imagine, lots of people fall over themselves for her. Not only is she really rich, she's also very pretty.
She has alabaster white skin, sandy blond hair, ocean blue eyes. She's on the taller side, but not gigantic or anything, just tall. Her style matches her attitude, she doesn't try to hard to be pretty, she just is. I actually think because she doesn't try so hard, it makes her even prettier. Her natural beauty shines through.
I'm not as tall as her, not short either, just on the average side. Maybe a tiny bit shorter than average. Which can be a struggle. I was trying to paint the upper corner of the wall but couldn't quite reach it. So while standing on a step ladder, I also pushed up on to my toes. The ladder wobbled and I lost my balance.
I slipped and the paint bucket I was holding fell on me and I became covered in white paint. I just sighed and laid in the mess, catching my breath for a second. Darleen busted out laughing. At least we laid plastic on the floor so I wouldn't have to clean that mess too.
"You okay?" she said through bubbles of laughter.
"Yep," I forced myself to get up. I felt my cheeks turn red with embarrassment.
Why am I like this?
"You are totally soaked," she grabs a glob of paint from my shirt.
"I can see that."
Then she wipes the glop on my cheek. I frown at her. She laughs some more. Two can play at this game. So I grab my paint brush and paint a thick line right down the middle of her face. That shut her up quick. I couldn't help but giggle at her annoyed expression.
"I guess I deserved that," she says.
"A little," I playfully bump her.
She giggles before dipping her brush in the paint on my shirt and getting back to work.
We finish around five.
"There, all done," She says.
"Finally," I grumble as I pick up the plastic off the floor.
In her car I lay more plastic down on the seats. No way am I getting paint on her fancy leather seats. Who knows how much that would cost to get fixed? She takes me to her house to get washed up.
"You can borrow something of mine. The guest shower is on the left, can't miss it," she disappears into her huge house, going upstairs towards her room.
I turn left and start walking; it doesn't take me long to find what she was talking about. I see the double frosted doors and slide them open. It's huge! Like this thing is the size of a small indoor swimming pool. I feel my jaw drop at the sight of it.
"You like?" Darleen comes up behind me.
"Whoa," I say in amazement.
Like? This thing is massive! I can fit like a whole Orca whale in here. Who's taking a bath in here, the hulk? A herd of elephants? Who needs a shower this big? I mean I guess if I was as rich as her family, I'd waste money on a bath the size of a classroom too.
"How do you use it?" I follow her in.
She snags a remote off the wall and presses a button. The shower head turns on and it swear it's like rain. She presses a different button and a curtain of water falls on each side, which would hide whoever is taking a shower from on lookers.
I snatch the remote from her and start pressing all the buttons. Some lights turn on and make the room darker as well as turning the waterfall rainbow and changing different colors. A different button turns on soft nature sounds.
"Oh no, don't press—" she tries to stop me but it's too late.
A press the small red button at the bottom and the whole room lights up a warm pink color and the water lights up red. Some sexy sounding music starts to play, and the air freshener sprays out rose scent. I feel my face go beet red.
"How embarrassing," she takes back the remote and turns everything off.
Well that's one use for a big shower, I guess.
"Don't look at me like that, it came preinstalled. We don't even use it."
We look at each other before we laugh it off.
"Anyway, here's some clothes. The basket full of washing supplies is over there. Take your time. My parents aren't home."
"Thanks," I snag the clean clothes.
"Sure thing, I'll be upstairs taking a shower in my personal bath."
How many baths does this place need? Only like three people live here.
Once she's gone, I shut and lock the door, then I turn on the water and the nature music because why not? Then I step in wearing my clothes mostly because I want to try and wash as much paint off as possible before it is a lost cause. These are my favorite pants.
After I realize I am fighting a losing battle I strip and take a shower. I feel silly, like I am a spring goddess or something. Like I am a queen ruling an empire by day, taking long baths at night. If Jade were here, she'd be eating this up. She not so secretly thinks Darleen is way to posh and uptight. She's told me before. Seeing this over the top bath would definitely confirm her suspicions.
When I am done, I go to dry off. Their towels feel like a cloud, no joke. There is also this big wind thingy. Like one of those hand dryers you see sometimes in public bathrooms, but this was for the whole body. I nearly fell over by how strong the wind gust is. After that I got dressed. Her clothes are a little big on me, but I don't mind.
When I walk out she is waiting by the bar.
"I can have your clothes dry cleaned for you," she says when she sees me holding my soggy clothes.
"It's okay, it's just jeans and a shirt. Not worth the trouble."
"No seriously, my mom knows a guy. He can get any stain out, even paint."
"I mean, I don't want to intrude."
"Relax, it's fine. Really." She takes the clothes from me.
I squirm in discomfort. I feel so out of place here. Everything is so nice, elegant, and expensive looking. Then there is me.
"Let's go get some ice cream," she says when I just stand there silently.
So we get back into her car and drive to the ice cream shop.
To Be Continued...
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