Navigating Cute Boys and Frogs

Million Miles Away (Lindsey’s POV)

     Thirty seconds left, the crowd screaming, pom poms waving everywhere, and one last play to win the game. My world is chaos around me, but I feel a million miles away. Every time I see Jonas’ number 14 jersey on the field, I digress a little more. All I can see is his hands planted against the wall around Amber’s head, with his own head pressed close to her ear. Just thinking about the smile on Amber’s face when she saw me come around the corner, has my stomach turning. All I can think is that maybe I wasn’t the only secret Jonas was hiding, and that just makes me want to crawl into my bed and never come out again. 

        Aria has been shooting me looks the entire game, that I have just ignored. I’m not ready to tell her what I saw. I still don’t understand it myself, let alone having to explain it to her. And I love her, but I know as soon as I tell her, all hell will break loose. Amber has also been sending smirks my way the entire game. I would love to punch the smirk right off her face, but I know I’m all talk, and never would. 

       I’m frozen in my thoughts, when screaming erupts around me. I look up in time to see Jake throw a long pass that lands right in Jonas’ hands, touchdown. The buzzer signaling the end of the game goes off, and everyone in the crowd is on their feet, screaming. Aria runs over to me, jumping up and down.

      “Your man just won the game! Let’s go find them babe!” She screams and tries to drag me on to the field. 

      I dig my heels in, knowing I would rather go hide in my bed, then fake niceties to Jonas right now. I know Jonas isn’t my boyfriend, and we never talked about being exclusive. But, I just never thought he was actually messing around with other people, especially Amber. He knows that I loathe her. Maybe that’s why they were hiding in the alcove of the school, she’s meant to be his little secret. What did that make me? All I felt like was a fool. Seeing them, made me realize how good they looked together. I was never going to be like Amber, and for the most part I didn’t want to ever be like her, but she was beautiful, super popular, and all the boys wanted to go out with her. She had the attention of guys, and I had been craving that for the last year. I could never compete with Amber, she would beat me every time. 

      “Aria, I think I’m coming down with something, my head is pounding. I think I’m going to head home.” I say,pulling my hand out of hers.

      “What? No! The party tonight is going to be awesome Linds!” She pouts at me, looking confused.

      I shrug my shoulders at her and grab my gym bag. I honestly don’t have the mental capacity to be strong right now, and I just want to go home. I look up at my best friend, imploring her to understand. Behind her across the field, I see the football team gathered around Jake and Jonas. Amber is squeezing her way into the middle, beside them. I look away quickly, scared of what my face is betraying to my best friend, who’s staring at me.

       Aria looks across the field, eyes downcast into a glare, and back at me. 

      “Okay, I don’t know what happened, but you will be telling me. Tonight. Let’s go before Jason comes looking for me.” She says grabbing her gym bag and walking toward the gate to the parking lot. 

      “Aria, no it’s okay. You can go to the party. I just don’t feel good. I don’t want to ruin your night with Jason too.” I say feeling guilty.

      “Oh look here comes Jonas!” Aria shouts back at me.

      As soon as those words leave her lips, I pick up speed running around her to open the gate and head to my car. I hear Aria laugh behind me.

      “That’s what I thought. Sick my ass Linds!” She yells at me. 

     I turn back around once I hit the parking lot and realize Jonas is still in the center of the crowd. The center of attention just like where he belongs. And I’m where I belong, on the side line watching the two popular kids, Jonas and Amber, hold court over their public.

      We leave Aria’s car in the lot, opting to just take mine, and head to my house. Aria  realizes I’m not ready to be honest or talk right now, so the car ride is quiet. It’s unusual to be in the car with her, without music blaring through the speakers, but I’m too wrapped up in my own emotions to care right now. We pull into my driveway, just as my phone starts vibrating in my cup holder. We both look down, and see that it’s Jonas calling. Aria gives me a look  as I pick my phone up and silence the call.

       “Come on girl, your mama always has the best ice cream selection and I think we are going to need the whole half gallon tonight.” Aria says grabbing our bags and closing her car door. 

        My mom’s car is parked in the driveway, but I know she’s already passed out in her bed. She sent me a text message half way through the game, letting me know she would have to leave before I got up tomorrow and it would be late until she got home. Sunday, she has the day off, so we will catch up then.

       We head to my room, and take turns showering. I mostly just stood in the shower, feeling numb and disappointed, before finally getting out. As I’m throwing on my pajamas, my phone lights up with a text message alert and another missed call. This time the call is from Jake. Throwing my phone back onto my bed, I head downstairs. Aria is rummaging through the silverware drawer, with her phone pressed to her ear.

       “I’m sorry we just left, Jason. I don’t know what else you want me to say. Maybe we are PMSing and needed ice cream and Stefan Salvatore in our lives right now!” Aria whisper shouts into the phone and hangs up.

     “Aria you don’t have to lie to Jason for me, and you didn’t have to come with me. Don’t fight with him because of me!” I pout at her.

      “Girl he’s fine. Now let’s go eat some ice cream and watch three episodes of Vampire Diaries, before you finally tell me what happened.” She says giving me a look. Aria was wrong, it only took two and a half episodes.