Bottle Of Coke

New girl friend

Jay had a new girlfriend, as confirmed by the

rumors. Yeah, she was the new girl, the goody-

two-shoes, Danielle Smithers. She had just

joined but had already mingled with the

popular clique, the girls with 5 inches of

makeup on their faces, the walking and talking

Barbie dolls. From what I knew, Jay already

hero-worshiped her.

She was all nice and pretty, volunteering

and helping people. I was pretty sure she was

a two-faced person; but again, I doubted most

people. She had rich brown hair which fell in

curls past her shoulder, full lips which looked

even plumper because of the trillion lip glosses

she put on and large, piercing blue eyes.

Naturally, Pauline had to talk to her because

Jay threatened her that he would release her

video of ''confessing her undying love for

Chris'', a popular guy in our school. She was

so in love with him in 9th grade, I was

surprised she didn't perform Satanic rituals or

sacrifice animals to get make him fall in love

with her.

Jay wouldn't release the video, of course, he

was too good to do that, but Pauline had to

make Danielle feel at home and be all cookies

and rainbows to her. Pauline grudgingly

agreed, but not before spilling ice cold water

on him from a bucket sneakily.

''Hey guys,'' Danielle beamed, walking to

where Pauline, Ethan and I sat. Sometimes,

Jay would join us too, but now Danielle was an

unwanted addition. How fake could a person

be? Or maybe she wasn't really fake, I was

just overreacting.

But she was the kind of the reason I

consumed a million calories every day, eating

out tubs of chocolate chip ice-cream and

watching Stranger Things on Netflix.

Was Jay so ignorant that he couldn't notice

that I liked him? ''Hey, so I have to go

shopping today, would you guys like to join

me?'' Danielle asked, gingerly tucking into her

small helping of salad. Did she live on air? No

wonder she had a tiny waist, the perfect

hourglass body.

''Oh, I don't think I can-'' I began but was

rudely interrupted by Pauline who kicked me

under the table.

''Of course, it would be fun!'' Pauline smiled,

which was obviously a forced one. I had to

resist rolling my eyes. I would release the

video if Pauline was going to act like this.

''Yeah sure, we can go,'' I sighed, admitting

defeat.

''Hey guys, mind if I join?'' Jay was back

and pulled up a chair beside Danielle, sitting

down and kissing her. Thank God it wasn't a

full minute make out with the groping and

noises. Ethan and Pauline worriedly glanced at

me, checking if I was okay.

I nodded though I felt as if something nasty

was choking my throat. I had to contain in

those sob noises. Jay was probably an

immature crush--well, a crush I had been

crushing since I could remember.

I didn't really understand those the romance

books with the happy endings. All of the

crushes I had apart from Jay, always seemed

to like some other girl.

Did I have a repel stuck to me somewhere?

I would ask Pauline later. ''Bri, thanks for

helping me finish the book report,'' Jay smiled

that dazzling smile, that normally would have

been enough to make faint, but I was currently

too bitter, drowning in oceans of self-

sympathy.

''Yeah, whatever,'' I said and I realized it

too late that it come out all rude. Jay looked a

bit hurt and Danielle was looking at me with

raised eyebrows and I tried to mask it all with

a few coughs.

''Hey, are you guys coming to the

basketball match?'' Ethan suddenly changed

the subject and I gave him a, 'thank you very

much' look and the awkward moment thankfully

passed.

To be honest, Ethan was too good looking

and it was a pity he was gay. He had broad

shoulders, messy brown hair with forest green

eyes. It was a shame for the female

population as he was gay.

Suddenly, I felt a large, warm hand on my

shoulder. I was obviously startled and I

looked up, only to see Brad. ''Hey, I wanted to

talk to you for a second.''

''Come down at my place today after school.

I'll text you the details,'' he said, once we

were out of eyesight, his face devoid of

expression as ever. Was that a request or a

command? Since yesterday, after he had

frightened me so much, I hadn't talked to him.

Brushing off this guy was going to be an

enormous task.

I blankly looked at him, trying to process

what he said. No guy had ever invited me to

his place. The only guy's house I had been to

was Jay's, that too because Pauline was his

sister.

Brad looked at me weirdly, ''Down to earth,

nerd. Dreaming about me?'' Now I was

witnessing the cocky and arrogant side of

him.

''Oh,'' was all I could say and exchanged

numbers. ''But why?''

''Because, the stupid event, remember?'' he

said, now looking at me as if I was a Science

experiment gone horribly wrong. ''And we

could also work on our project.''

''Oh,'' I said again. Maybe I couldn't say

anything because I was terrified of him, to be

honest. What demon had possessed him

yesterday? No one could ever figure out this

guy.

I hope he wouldn't kill me when I went to his

place.

''Okay, whatever suits you,'' he sarcastically

said, noting my lack of response. ''Okay, look,

if it's about yesterday, I'm sorry.'' My eyes

widened slightly, he never apologized to

anyone.

I probably needed a breath of fresh air. ''It's

fine,'' I muttered and walked back to my table,

feeling some weird sort of feeling. Why was I

getting so involved in his life? Once the event

was over, I was never talking to him again.

Now I regretted not being one of those girls

who threw themselves at him. ''What were you

doing with Brad?'' Danielle suddenly asked.

Talk about nosy. Couldn't she be happy with

Jay?

''Why?'' I tiredly asked, irritated. My

emotions were messing me up.

''Well, I didn't know in a million years he

would talk to girls,'' she commented. ''I know

him, his family is friends with mine. Our

families are kind of close but Brad and I never

talked. He's always been secretive and from

what I know, he likes to keep himself and his

friends. I don't think he has ever spoken to a

girl or even dated one.''

''Really?'' I enquired, my interest piqued

now.

''I don't really know, but he's very silent and

rude at times. I haven't really talked to him

nor he has ever acknowledged me,'' Danielle

said eagerly, loving the gossip. Typical.

''Strange,'' I said. This guy was really hard

to figure out.

''Well, he's certainly hot,'' Ethan mumbled and

we all rolled our eyes, laughing.

***

As soon as school ended, I heard Jay calling

my name. The hallway was deserted, everyone

had left. I had declined Pauline's offer for a

ride home because I needed a little time to

think.

''Hey, wait up! Brielle!'' I knew at once he

wanted to talk about something when he called

me, '''Brielle''.

I internally groaned and forcing a sweet

smile on my face turned to face him. ''Yes?

Need any help?''

''Look, what was up with you at lunch today?

You were acting...weird,'' he finished

hesitantly, quizzically looking at me for an

answer. This guy knew me way too well for my

own liking.

''Uh no, I was not. I'm wasn't acting weird.

It's maybe because I'm on my periods,'' I

grinned, knowing I would win now. Talking

about periods generally freaked guys out.

I turned to leave but he grabbed my wrist

gently, which sent a thousand butterflies

erupting in the pit of my stomach. I blushed

but he couldn't see, which I was thankful for.

''Something is up with you. What is it?''

Suddenly, I became very furious. I was

suddenly triggered. ''Okay, if you really want

to be so nosy, then listen. I like you, fine? And

maybe I'm jealous. There you go, can you

leave me alone now?''

The shock on his face was proof that I had

done a stupid move. I shouldn't have told

him--oh my god, he was really going to hate

me. But his actions told me otherwise.

''I'm really sorry, Bri. I didn't know...you

felt that way about me,'' he quietly said, not

maintaining eye contact with me.

''Yeah, it's fine. It's all my fault for not

telling you,'' I bitterly said. ''You're too

caught up in Danielle world anyway. It's not

your fault that I always acted so weird

whenever you had girlfriends,'' I snapped,

emotions pouring out of me like torrents of

waterfalls.

''Look, I didn't really know....''

''Save it. It's fine, really. I'm sorry, I

probably shouldn't interfere now. You're happy

with Danielle,'' I said, suddenly feeling very

empty. It wasn't his fault that he didn't like

me. I shouldn't blame him.

''Are you okay, Bri?'' he worriedly asked and

then I realized; I had tears flowing down my

face. I was so embarrassed. I wasn't this

weak! How could I let myself cry in front of a

guy?

Suddenly, I was engulfed in his strong arms

and felt him stroking my hair. I sobbed freely

now, not caring about the world. I couldn't

believe it--the only person I had liked was with

someone else. He had girlfriends in the past,

but it was just childish stuff. He broke up with

them after a week.

But we were grown up. I knew he liked

Danielle very much, judging by the way he

looked at her.

I quickly rubbed my eyes, wishing I could

forget everything and stay with him forever.

But this wasn't the reality. ''Sorry,'' I sniffed.

''I should really go. And maybe we shouldn't

talk anymore. It would be good for the both of

us. Not everyone is meant to be with someone.

I should just suck it up.''

With that, I left, walking as fast as my legs

could carry me, ignoring his calls. I realized I

wasn't too fetch after all.

***

What kind of neighbourhood would he Brad

be living in? What would his family be like? Did

he have any siblings? Would his family like me?

The thoughts and questions were freakishly

roaming in my mind.

I had learnt his address by heart and studied

a little; unable to calm down myself. I was

weird, I knew, I studied to calm myself down.

I had pushed my feelings away for Jay on

the back of mind, convincing myself that I

would find someone better.

His house soon came into view--and my jaw

dropped. It would be a huge understatement

to not it was simply massive.

A huge mansion sprawled before me, with a

fountain with an angel perched on top of it

stood on the lawn. The entire building was

painted a neat cream with trimmed hedges

surrounding it. I couldn't imagine Brad living

here.

I trudged up the walkway, which was lined

with pebbles. The huge oak door had the head

of a lion, made of brass, as the knocker. I

preferred to ring the doorbell.

A lady, wearing a white apron over her

dress, ushered me in. ''You must be Brielle?

That's a pretty name. Master informed me that

you would be coming.''

''Yes, I am and thank you,'' I smiled

skittishly. ''Where is--um--Brad?'' I asked,

afraid if I was wrong and had to refer Brad

as ''master'' too. It would have been quite

funny if someone else was in my place.

''Oh, yes, he will down soon,'' she assured

and led me to the living room and told me to

sit down on the couch and wait.

I tapped my feet against the wooden

flooring, really jumpy. I hadn't imagined in a

million years, that Brad would be living here.

His father must be filthy rich--thus the charity

event, maybe for publicity.

I heard footsteps and someone coming down

the staircase. And there was Brad--half n***d,

only a towel wrapped around his waist. This

was truly a sight to feed on--but I wanted to

scream. I had never seen a guy with such a

minimal amount of clothes (well except Dylan

O'Brien and once when I had walked in upon

Jay).

''Well, hey,'' he nodded as if this was the

most normal thing ever.

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