Secret obsession

CHAPTER 15

It’s so weird for me to receive a text message from Wendy. I mean, I do know who she is, but we are not exactly close friends, we are more like acquaintances. Even so, the message says she knows something important about Henry. I am thinking if I should call her, but I’m still angry about what is going on with Henry that I don’t want to take that on her, so I just text her back.

Me: “Hi Wendy, of course I remember you, we were both helping with the so-called ‘museum’ at school lol”

“Yes! I’m glad you remember me… I know I may be out of place, but there are some things I want you to know about Henry” – Wendy.

Me: “Really? Like what?” I thought she might want to text me first about random stuff just to be polite, but I guess she doesn’t have time for formalities. There must be something really important that I should know.

“Well, since the day we met I liked you a lot, and I have a lot of friends worrying about you, so I thought that maybe you need to know some stuff” – Wendy.

Me: “OK… what kind of stuff?”

“Henry is not the kind of guy you think he is… there is no other way to tell you this but, before he approached you, he and I were having something” – Wendy.

Me: “By something you mean you were his girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend?... No, Henry doesn’t have girlfriends, just girls that he likes to mess with… he only called me whenever he wanted to have fun, and I was a fool that fell for his lies every time. Believe me, I’m not proud of it. Besides, I never knew where he lived. I never met any of his friends and he never took me seriously” – Wendy.

As I read her last message, I get a weird feeling. I feel bad for Wendy, but I know where Henry lives, I know who his best friends are, they are my friends now, and he introduced me as his girlfriend. I don’t think we are talking about the same Henry.

“He will make you believe that he is interested in you, but the truth is that you’ll be another one on his list… I know he is charming, believe me, that’s why I fell for him, but now that I know who he really is, I thought that you might want to know so you can be careful” – Wendy.

Me: “Thank you, Wendy, I wasn’t expecting all this information, but I promise you I will be more careful with him, and I will save your number if you don't mind.” I avoid explaining to her my relationship with Henry. Especially because her confession looks a little bit suspicious to me.

“Sure, I got yours from Jake. I hope you don’t mind either. lol I know you and Jake are best friends, so once I explained to him why I was looking for you, he offered to give me your number” – Wendy.

So Jake was behind all of this weird conversation? I was right, there was something suspicious about this, he is really getting worse!

Me: “No problem, I know Jake is always worrying about me. Did he mention something special about this?” I will try to get more info about his plans.

“Not really, he asked me first if I knew Henry and I told him my story, then he told me that he was worried the same thing happen to you, so I offer to let you know, and believe me Erin, I’m glad to let you know, like I said, I like you and I don’t want you to suffer” – Wendy.

Me: “Thanks Wendy, we should hang out some more. It will be fun.”

“Sure, I will see you at school” – Wendy.

So it was planned by Jake. I was mad because of Henry, and now I cannot believe Jake used Wendy to scare me, but… now that I think about it, the whole time, it sounded to me like if she was talking about someone else. The guy that she described is different from the one I know. Sure, he is acting weird now, but I don’t think it will end like how it ended with Wendy and him. I guess Jake’s plan failed, because he makes me realize that maybe I am someone special to Henry… I just hope he stops being weird and calls me or texts me back.

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Today at school I see that Jake is back. He is at the front door with Kim, apparently waiting for me. When I get near them, I say hi to both, but avoid Jake’s eyes.

“What’s up Luciferin? Aren’t you gonna ask me how I feel?” he looks happier somehow.

“Well, I see you came to school and your scratches look better now as well as those punches, so I guess you feel better” I answered indifferently, trying to cut the conversation with him.

“Hu! Looks like someone woke up from the wrong side of the bed” he says, giving me a wide smile. It is obvious that he is laughing at his own plan.

“Maybe because SOMEONE sent a messenger to tell me bad stuff about Henry!” I claim, waiting for an explanation.

“So, you are gonna say that after all the things Wendy told you, you are still gonna believe that jerk?!” his eyes gets darker somehow after he finished his question.

“Is not opt to you, Jake!... and it is rude to use other people for your own purpose… I can’t believe you convinced Wendy to tell me about all those things between Henry and her… did you know about this?” I ask Kim, who just shrugs without speaking “…I have classes to go!” I sigh frustrated at her response and I walk inside leaving both of them at the door, I can’t believe this, they both are acting really mean, and Kim well, I guess she decided to be only on Jake’s side.

When I enter my classroom, I see everyone chatting happily. Since my day started bad I have just turn on my iPod and start to listen to some music. I don’t want anybody to bother me when Wendy enters and grabs me from my hand and pulls me suddenly to take me somewhere. I remember I told her to hang out at school, but this is so sudden and weird.

“What happened? Where are you taking me?” I ask taking my headphones off.

“Shh!” she shushes me. “You need to listen to this” she says with a quiet voice, walking slowly to the door of the audiovisual room. I follow her quietly waiting for something to happen when I hear some people talking on the other side of the door. I listen carefully, and I recognize both voices, Henry and Jake. I can’t believe they are gonna fight again. I try to walk inside, but Wendy pulls me again and tells me with a sign that I should just listen.

“This better be fast, Jerky boy, I have things to do and, honestly, I don’t want to punch you anymore for your own good”, Henry says, faking a tired voice.

“Oh don’t worry! That won’t happen anymore, believe me, plus I promise that what I want to say will be interesting to you." Jake answers with his mocking tone, I recognize that tone of his. He does that every time he plans something in advance.

“OK, speak up!” Henry rushes him.

“I got the opportunity to speak with a friend who told me in detail what kind of jerk you are… and that friend is also Erin’s friend, and I am sure that they both talked about you. It will be no surprise if Erin opens her eyes and realizes you are not good to her.”

“Is that so?... for what I know, Jerky boy, is that Erin knows a lot of people in this school, and it is not a surprise if some of them talked to her about me… so what exactly is your point?”

“My point is that you should stay away from my friend. I don’t want you to hurt her, and after everything she heard she might ask you to leave her alone… I’m just telling you in advance, you’ll pay if you hurt her.” Jake’s voice sounds angry.

“You don’t want me to hurt her, or you don’t want me to have her the way you can’t?” Henry asks, pushing Jake into a corner as if he wants to make him lose control.

“I’m happy being her friend… but now that you mentioned it, how exactly are you gonna have her?... She is not like the other girls you like to mess with or are you saying that that’s your only purpose with her?... that all the prince-charming face is just to sleep with her?” While I listen to Jake saying that I am getting scared and anxious about their conversation.

“What if I say that is true? What are you gonna do about it?... you know she has a great body” Henry chuckles before he says “…you only know about the kiss, but there are other funny things that I know she will be willing to do with me.”

“You better be careful of what you are saying asshole!” Jake’s voice gets louder.

“Or what?... are you gonna fight with me again, Jerky boy?... I told you I’m tired of it, and if you want to know, I thought trying with a ‘good girl’ could make this game funnier, but the truth, my Jerk friend, is that she will be as easy as the other ones…”

After I hear that I cannot take it anymore, I release myself from Wendy’s hand and go in there angry and with tears in my eyes.

“Erin! Wait!” Wendy shouts, trying to catch me again, but I am too far from her to reach me.

Inside the room they are both face to face and the tension between them is tangible. Jake’s fists are shaking. I know he wants to punch him so much for what he said. Actually, I don’t know what is holding him. He never held back before. Henry’s expression is calm, but I notice his tensed muscles. Once I got in, they both turned to look at me. I see the worry look in Henry’s eyes as I walk towards them really fast and mad. When I am close enough, I slap Henry and try to avoid crying before I start talking.

“So, I am a toy after all! Right?” I ask, shaking, containing the tears. Henry swallows hard and looks at me.