FIVE
1912 Words
Amanda had just finished her 7’o clock class. It lasted for 45 minutes and she hated every second of it. The school had brought in a new teacher and she was not used to her yet. She was waiting for Jennifer who had a class that wasn’t far away from hers.
“Hi Amanda, you are looking nice.”
“Thanks Emily, you look great too.”
“As always. Are you still on for Friday’s party?”
“Of course, she is on. Those pretty earrings of hers can’t go to waste, I mean, where else will she wear them to? Except for classes where nobody sees it.”
“You know, Amelia, you can just compliment someone without making it sound like an insult.”
“Well, when I know how to do that, you’ll be the first to know.”
Emily laughed, “Rendezvous at Jen’s room? She is the one with the high fashion sense.”
“Yes, she is.”
“And will that new friend of yours be attending the party too?” asked Amelia.
“Oh, that’s true, what’s her name?”
“Victoria. And yes, she will be coming. I will make sure of it.”
“Okay then, I have to catch the bus, see you when I see you,” said Emily as she went.
“That girl is a real sweetheart,” sighed Amelia.
“And you are the complete opposite,” Amanda murmured under her breath. “I do hope you know that she is as straight as they come.”
Amelia looked up and eyed her, “I am as straight as they come too,” and walked off.
Amelia smiled and waved to Jen who was a couple of minutes away from her.
“Sorry,” she said she finally caught up. “The professor had some things to share.”
“It’s alright, come on, let’s go. Irene must be waiting for us.”
“Trouble in Amelia’s paradise?” Jen asked as they walked to the school mess hall.
“What? Why?”
“She snorted at me as we passed each other earlier.”
“Oh. Well, I might have a comment about her sexuality.”
“Phew, that’s horrible. Why would you?”
“She was leering after Emily. I couldn’t help myself.”
Jennifer started laughing heartily which drew some stares from the people they were passing by, “Come on, Mands. I was being sarcastic. Everyone knows Amelia is either bisexual or lesbian. I mean she’s had some boyfriends over the years but that doesn't prove anything.”
“You are right. I wonder why she is intent on keeping it a secret though. It’s not like they are going to kick her out of the school.”
“Everyone has a reason for doing things. But I must say, those earrings look great.”
“I don’t know why everyone says that, they are just little golden hoops.”
“That looks great on you,” Jen argued.
They entered the mess hall and made their way to where Irene was seated at the end. The hall wasn’t full since it was morning and sixty percent of students are still in their beds, no one likes to wake early on a winter morning.
“Hi girls. Amanda, thank me again for those earrings,” said Irene as they reached her.
Jen laughed.
“Thank you, Irene,” Amanda said with a sigh.
“She doesn’t see how good she looks,” Jen said to Irene.
“I am telling you. I think the way she packed her hair is also a factor.”
“My fashion sense is finally rubbing off on her.”
“I am right here, you know.”
“We do, love. How was class? Any newfound love for your teacher?”
“Nope. Can we not talk about her? I am hungry.”
“So am I.”
“Well, while you guys are away slaving in class, I put my cooking skills to use again,” Irene carried a bag that was on the floor, put it on the table and brought out small food containers. “Ta-da. I made pasta.”
“I love you Irene.”
“More than Robert?”
“Don’t push it.”
Jen laughed, “Thanks love.”
“Oh, right Jen. The Friday’s pre-party is going to be in your room.”
“Have you told Vic? Is she going to be okay with that?” Irene asked.
“No, I haven’t seen her all morning.”
“Neither have I. I went to the room but she wasn’t there.”
“She wasn’t feeling good so she said she was going to take a walk round the college then meet us at the 10’o clock class.”
“She is sick? She was fine yesterday.”
“Not that sick,” Jennifer sighed and dropped her fork. “She had a Jason dream, she was crying from her sleep.”
Amelia and Irene exchanged glances that Jennifer caught.
“What was that?” Jennifer asked, suspicious of the two.
“What was what?” replied Irene as she innocently opened her food and started eating.
“Amanda?”
“It’s nothing, Jen.”
“I am not dumb, it’s not nothing.”
“Can’t you let it go?”
“Not if concerns Victoria, no.”
Amanda sighed and looked at Irene who nodded yes.
“You can’t tell Victoria.”
“Why can’t I?”
“Because you can’t, Jen. You can’t,” said Irene.
“Okay, fine. What is it?”
“Well, Jason made contact. With Robert.”
“What? That’s great news. When is he coming home? Oh my goodness, I am so happy. He is alive?” she was positively radiant and beaming at the news. “Wait a minute, why can’t we tell Vic though?”
“Charles and Shelia said not to,” answered Amanda.
“Why? That makes no sense, should she not be the first to know that her brother is alive?”
“Look, they are wiser. I am pretty sure they have their reasons.”
“You do not sleep in the same room with her, Irene. She has nightmares almost every night.”
“I don’t know what to say to that but I am not saying anything to her if her parents tell me not to.”
“Did they talk to you directly?”
“They don’t even know that any one of us knows.”
“That’s saying something. How did you extract it from Robert, Mands? What s****l sin did you commit? Because the Robert I know is straighter than a steel rod.”
“Heard of trust?”
“Wow, when I am ever going to get that kind of trust?”
“When you stop pining over a lost and unrequited love and see the guys that are right in front of you.”
“s**t, Irene.”
“Why are you being so blunt?”
“I thought we all agreed that since I was a redhead, I could be blunt.”
“To your friends? That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“Just apologize, Irene,” Amanda pleaded.
“What for? I thought you said honesty is the best policy.”
“Says someone who two minutes ago was saying we should lie to Victoria,” spat Jennifer. They were so angry with themselves to see that they were causing a scene. The conversations in the hall had stopped and everyone had their eyes on them.
“You know what,” said Irene standing up. “I didn’t realize you are so dumb that you do not know the difference between not telling and lying.”
Jennifer stood up too and put her face near Irene’s, “If your attitude was as half as good as your cooking is then maybe Finn would have stayed.”
“Are you being serious right now? You would go that low?”
“I thought you were a redhead, if you can dish it why can’t you take it?”
“Jennifer, it’s enough.”
“Of course, you would side with her, Amanda. She is your lifeline, isn’t she?”
Amanda stood up, angry at the two of them for behaving like children and angry at herself for not being able to stop the fight in it's tracks. “I am not taking sides, Jen and if you are calm enough, you’d see that. You would also see that you both are causing an unnecessary scene so I would advise you pack up your stuff and let’s go hash this out somewhere that is not here,” she said and she walked out without looking anyone in the eye.
They carried their bags and followed leaving their half-finished meals on the table. The conversations in the hall resumed but no one remembered what they were talking about before the fight. They all started talking and like vultures to carcass, they ate away at the fight until each person had their own theory.
They went back to Amanda’s room in the dormitory.
“Okay. You guys want to settle it?”
“Yes. As soon as Irene apologizes for what she said and also promises not to use her hair color as an umbrella for bad behavior.”
“I am a redhead.”
“And I have curly black hair, doesn’t make me a bitch.”
“That’s why we are different.”
“Jesus, Irene, just apologize.”
Irene sighed, “I am sorry, I was out of line and yes, I am blunt not only because I am a redhead but also because I am Irene. Jen, I am sorry. I am sorry too, Mands.”
Jennifer sighed and plopped down on Amanda’s bed, “I am sorry too. About Finn.”
“It’s alright. We all wanted the college boys then.”
“Do you guys know he is getting married in the next couple of months?”
“Amanda! How did you know?” asked Jennifer.
“Some of us has that ability to know everything. In this case though, I heard from Victoria.”
“Well, seems like a certain brown skinned girl with curly black hair and her redhead friend has some party to crash,” Jennifer said and winked at Irene.
“Can’t be that much trouble, right? I’ll put it on my calendar.”
Amanda laughed, “So we are cool, right?”
“Yeah but what are we going to do about Victoria?”
“That,” said Irene as she laid on the bed beside Jennifer, “is what I can’t figure out.”
- Writer
