We go to IHOP to eat breakfast. I get chocolate chip pancakes with extra whipped cream and blueberry syrup. And before anyone says anything, yes, I am aware that much sugar will eventually rot out all my teeth and give diabetes. Let me enjoy my pancakes okay.
"You're such a slob. Clean your face," Oli snarks.
I glare at her before moving to clean the cream off my face.
"I got it," Darleen grabs my hand and stops me.
I turn to her in confusion before she lightly kisses me on the lips, licking the cream from them. I can feel myself turn beet red.
"So, what should I wear to the wedding?" Oli asks.
Darleen laughs.
This so isn't fair! They are ganging up on me. Oli ruins everything! She's making Darleen think that I'm interested in her when I'm not! Right? Gah! I'm confused. I pout to myself and quickly finish my food.
Darleen takes us home and before the car comes to a complete stop Oli runs out and into the house. Slamming the front door before I can get in. Trapping me outside with Darleen.
"You are so dead!" I shout through the door.
Darleen chuckles.
I turn to face her and nervously laugh.
"Well, now it's just me and you." she gently pushes me against the door. "Hmm, does this feel familiar?" she teases.
"D-Darleen, I should—" she cuts me off with a kiss.
A quick kiss, before pulling back and locking eyes with me.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," she says softly against my lips.
"You already said that," I whisper with equal intensity.
"I just feel so torn up about it. I don't want that to be what you see when you think of me. I don't want you to feel obligated to do anything for me. If you don't want to go out with me, you don't have to. I just... I really like you."
I gulp.
My heart can't decide if it wants to stop or go into overdrive. It keeps flipping back and forth. I feel all tingly in my guts, in a good way this time. I've never felt like this before. Like I am in constant suspense to the climax of the movie.
I glance down at her lips before closing my eyes and leaning in and kissing her. She sighs into the kiss and pushes herself deeper into me. Her knee wedges between my legs and I let out an involuntary moan.
"You're lips taste so sweet," she says breathlessly before kissing me again.
We kiss, kiss, kiss... Her hands move up the back of my shirt, I can feel her fingers graze the small of my back. It makes me arch my back and lean heavier into her. I feel so hot like I'm boiling over. My hips start grinding into her of their own volition. I run my hands down her back and even lower before I hook my thumbs into the belt loops of her shorts.
Darleen moans into me.
We are completely lost in each other.
Well, were completely lost, until someone clears their throat.
My eyes snap open and lock onto Jade. She stands with her arms crossed, waiting expectantly for us to stop. I quickly unlatch from Darleen and the embarrassment is so strong that my entire face and neck make me look like I have a bad sunburn.
We struggle to catch our breath and Darleen is all smiles. I can't tell if she's happy because I kissed her or because Jade saw us. Maybe both. She just looks so proud of herself, like she's on top of the world.
"H-Hey!" I say too enthusiastically and cringe internally.
"Hello to you too. You do realize anyone passing by can see you two sucking face, right?" Jade raises an eyebrow.
"It was just a goodbye kiss," Darleen wraps her arms around me from behind.
"That's some goodbye," Jade snarks. "Anyway, I need my best friend back now," she yanks me from Darleen's grasp.
Is Jade jealous? Why does that make me happy? Bad, bad Skylar. You shouldn't be happy about something like that. Still...
Darleen rolls her eyes at Jade before ignoring her and turning to me.
"See you tomorrow after school, for our date. I'll pick you up," she winks at me.
"Okgreat," I cringe.
I started to say okay but ended up saying great.
Darleen chuckles before kissing me one last time, softly on the lips. Right in front of Jade. I can't help but glance at Jade, she's glaring at us. Definitely not happy.
Darleen pulls away before walking backward to her car,
"Bye Skylar." She says.
"B-bye," I stutter out.
Jade rolls her eyes and grabs me and drags me inside my house before Darleen is even in her car. She slams the door behind her. Oli is on the couch munching on some chips and watching Tv. She turns to us and frowns when she sees Jade.
"What happened to your girlfriend?" Oil asks.
"She's not my girlfriend!" I shout and at the same time Jade says,
"They're not official yet."
We look at each other and I can't help but smile.
Jade smiles back.
"Ugh!" Oli looks back to the tv and turns it up.
"Come on, I have to tell you something," Jade drags me upstairs to my room.
"Where have you been?" I ask Jade as she shuts my room door.
"It's a surprise. For you, now you. Where have you been and that didn't look like practice to me." She throws back.
"Surprise?"
"Skylar, you're deflecting," she plops down on the bed right next to me.
"Darleen was just helping me with something today. She asked me out and one thing led to another," I shrug.
"Oh. Well, I'm happy for you," she forces out. "Speaking of asking out, Archer asked me out!" she squeals.
"What!?"
"I know! Once I told him Darleen was a total lesbian and that you two were hooking up. He warmed up to me! We've been spending a lot of time together these past few days and things just clicked. You know?"
"That's awesome..." I force out.
"he's soooo romantic! We went on a date yesterday after practicing and preparing for something. I'm not his girlfriend yet, but it's only a matter of time," she jumps up and down on my bed.
You know the sound a heart monitor machine makes when your heart stops, the flatline sound. That's my life. That sound. I feel all cold inside. Like, the tiny flicker of hope candle I kept on a shelf in my brain, finally blew out.
No way she'll pay attention to me now.
"Why aren't you more excited! Come on," She tried to make me jump with her.
"I am excited." I lie, and it sounds off too.
"Skylar," She pouts.
"I am! Come on tell me about the date," I force.
"Okay, well he took me too..." I immediately drown out her story.
It's over. Jade Tate is officially taken. My grave will read here lies Skylar Lane Clifton, she died in the friend zone, never being able to admit her feelings to her best friend. May she rest in peace with all the other friend zone victims. They will play sad violin music at my funeral.
I thought... I thought Jade was feeling what I was. I was so sure. I almost confessed to her. Good thing I didn't. I should have known. That's probably who she was texting at the meet yesterday. To think she ditched me to paint the wall on my own just to hang out with Archer. Some friend.
"Stop it!" she shouts.
I flinch and am drawn from my thoughts.
"What?" I eye her in confusion.
"Stop making that face! I hate that face! You always make it when you're feeling down. You may not talk a lot, but I can read you like an open book. I know when you're not happy Skylar," She declares.
"I don't always make this face. I was just thinking," I get defensive.
"Do too! What is it? Aren't you happy for me?"
"I am."
"Then what?"
"My dogs sick in the hospital. I was thinking about that, sue me," I lie.
"Oh."
"That's why Darleen was here, she helped me and my sister take him to the hospital, and then she offered to pay for the bill so long as I agreed to go on a date with her. How could I say no? Anyways my dog has to get surgery and will be in recovery for a whole week. So sorry if I'm a bit distracted," I snap at her.
"I didn't know."
I think about telling her off, saying maybe if she didn't ghost me all weekend she would know. But I take a deep breath and let it go like I always do.
"I know, I'm sorry. Continue your story."
She frowns at me.
Please someone put me out of my misery. Why doesn't she just find some other friend to tell all her "exciting" stories too? I don't think I want to hear it anymore. My heart can't take it.
"No, it's okay, I got to go home and uh practice for the auditions tomorrow," She makes something up.
"Okay," I don't fight her on it.
Please just go away.
Leave me alone to rot and die.
She gets up and then walks out. I wait till I hear the front door shut, then I run and slam my door before jumping on my bed and screaming into my pillow.
If only she could look at me the way she looks at him.
Comments (0)
See all