Not a Best Friend Thing

Chapter 8: Publication

Klay looked far to the crimson-colored sky. She closed her eyes and feel the tranquility of her senses, the gentle waves sizzling against the golden sand, her feet buried warm. She could just be right here now, not wanting time to go over and steal this beautiful moment.

"We must make a fire," then it wasn't time who stole the beautiful moment but the annoying voice of Jacey Gray.

"Oh wonderful, that was really a nice suggestion."

She said with all sarcasm. She has been telling Jacey to make a fire for two hours but he didn't even bother getting up on his sun lounger until she finally shut up and began enjoying the beautiful sunset.

"Oh, I love that adorable look on your face," he said chuckling that made her even more annoyed.

She didn't say a word for the whole hour while Jacey put up the fire which is now crackling tiny embers, sparkling against the cold night. She's on her lounger, laid with her eyes on the stars and her mind on the distant past. Jacey now climbing to his own lounger noisily.

"I'm sorry Klay," he said breaking the cold silence that covered them for the whole dreadful hour.

"For what?"

She replied with a tone he knew, wasn't a good sign.

"For keeping you annoyed and for every single thing that's happened before today."

He used her tone and suddenly they were both having the most sincere conversation they ever had.

"You are such a drama king, you know?"

A smile crept on her lips while she said this.

"And I'm not good at it, aren't I?"

They exploded in laughters and Klay forgot everything apart from how she always felt happy spending time with her best friend.

"You know, I could not imagine how I would spend my life without you in it, Klay. My childhood was amazing and it was ninety- nine percent, you."

"Agreed on that drama King, I wouldn't have seen a boy lost his tooth without you with mine, either."

"Or wouldn't be close with the hottest jock in high school if I wasn't your best friend."

"What? Did you mean Warren? How'd that affects you being my best friend?"

"Come on Klay, you really think Warren was the hottest jock in high school?"

She saw him turn his face toward her and it makes her want to tease him more.

"Is that even a question, Jace?"

She grinned looking at him.

"What did you even see him for? He's bony and dull and-- "

"Tall and smart, if you mean" she corrected all the adjectives.

And Jacey continued, "while I myself, sinewy hot and just handsome-looking."

"My God, you did not just mean yourself the hottest jock in highschool, Jace?"

"Well--"

He stood, lift his chin and tried to pose like a stupid model.

Klay burst laughing, "Jesus Christ."

Klay and Jacey rummage the beach all with their heart's content. After spending the last night on it they tried all the rides in the next morning.

Zipline, banana boat, stand-up paddling, kayaking--they tried all of those of which Klay complained then and now. They arrived home one on sunday afternoon and both of them slept the afternoon dead-like.

Bang---

Bang---

"Klay, it's monday, wake up you're going to be late."

Mrs. Jules did several attempts to wake her daughter, knowing that she was exhausted by their rendezvous on the weekend. She didn't even eat dinner last night so she reckoned her daughter's a beat.

"Klay, I'm telling you--" then she heard an alarm tone followed by grunts of frustrated rebels so she decided to head back downstairs.

After several minutes, Klay was downstairs lazily taking a seat to one of the stool of the kitchen counter looking at his mom bustling over for breakfast.

"All my body parts hurt mom."

Mrs. Jules poured Klay's favorite oat to a bowl and push it toward her.

"I figured." She said.

"And it's not even from the ride mom, it hurts because I overslept."

"Figured that too. Eat, you'll feel better honey."

"Sonny baby, don't be such a lazy monkey, it's monday."

Mrs Jules rants after seeing his son plopped on the couch in the living room, zombie-like.

"Your brother was out last night."

"Where?" Klay asked, suddenly aware that she merely had time for her younger brother now.

Her mother gave her a familiar stare, "next door at your best friend's."

"What were they up to, mom?"

She shrugged. "Jace just went here looking for you last night and when you didn't wake up he took Sonny instead."

"Sonny come here, now!"

Klay stared at his brother walking toward her on the counter. And when he finally took his seat, she greeted him.

"Good morning, baby"

"Mornin' Klay, heard you had a good time at the beach?"

"Mom I want corn dog," Sonny pouted after seeing Mrs. Jules preparing a pancake.

"--and eggs, mom."

"Yep, we had a thrilling experience." Said Klay after a spoonful of oats.

"Heard you mumbled a prayer on the zipline," her brother chuckled.

"Ah, I see, you've been badmouthing me last night, were you, with that green-eyed monster?"

"All the good ones Klay."

And her brother gave her the grin she was so sick of looking at.

"You are transforming to be him, you know."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Enough chit-chats both of you, time for school."

Their mother interrupted.

Xxx

"Tan~tan~tan~tantanan~" *clears throat, Klay Harren Davies Jules, Class Valedictorian"

Jace mimicked a graduation music, and stared at Klay as she walked cat-like with her long legs, toward his bike.

"Very funny, Jace."

"Now that I wondered, you'd be fit for pageant you know Klay, enough of those academic whatnots, it's time to live a life."

"Do I look like a dead to you?"

She mounted on the bike and ride next to him.

"Very funny Klay."

"Let's go, we're going to be late."

Like typical colleges, Downlake State was just as horrible as any other during breaks, Klay thought as she marched the hallway toward the library. Not mentioning couples who are probably only inches from having s*x, first thing she witnessed arriving here was, of all things, the one called "Sloane" and it was really a person and not a thing. A tall-blonde girl who's had that length of skirt most girls like to wear, and that annoying aura of whatever she's made of, oozing out from her. Well, she's definitely Jace's type. She was waiting for him at the gate and what's surprising is that she knew who Klay was. She wouldn't have been so thankful, if she wasn't made out of sarcasm of course.

"Here goes my knight and shining armour,"

"Sloane..." Jacey said as she clung to him sensually. She motioned to kiss him on the lips and Klay looked away.

"And you must be Klay?"

She said after several moans of pleasure. Klay smiled awkwardly and very difficulty.

"That's me, the best friend."

It was impossible to hide the emotion but Klay was very good at it. It pained her saying that, but Sloane made it more painful.

"Well, I'm the girlfriend."

"I'll see you later Klay." Jacey said and grabbed Sloane away.

"Bye, Klay. Nice to meet you."

And now seeing how girls and boys kissed around her made her even more depressed of her feelings and her stupidity. She should have started dating already when she was in high school. And she's in College now but hadn't really kissed anyone. Oh, she's a hopeless case. Maybe Jace was right, she's not living her life. She should just move on. Get over it.

"Good morning Downlake, I'm Zia and just a little reminders, acquaintance party is approaching, are all of you, ready? Already had something to wear? And of course the auditions for the various clubs is still going on so join any of them now..."

The broadcast sounded and shortly after, the bell rang.

After Science and Mathematics, Klay decided it would be a start for her living a life if she'd join a club that interests her so she could find other people to be friends with and maybe make a life outside the zone of being a best friend. So she went to the library and reached for Tara. She couldn't imagine the girl's reaction after she'd tell her. She finds her seated on her usual seat and fortunately, there's hardly any student in the library because classes are still going on and it was Klay's vacant. So Tara was available.

"Hey."

Taken aback with Klay's enthusiasm, Tara replied, "Oh, hey."

"Uhm can I talk to you about your offer?" Klay began.

"Yes, of course, what about it?"

"Well--I want to join..."

"You're kidding," Tara said obviously not believing. Klay smiled, "you're serious?" Tara gasped.