Not a Best Friend Thing

Chapter 13: The Unexpected Ride

Hey guys, how are you? OK. I'm sorry. You have every right to shout at me. Go on, shout. It's been so long since I updated and Im really so sorryyyy?. I was busy at work. I'm not making any more promises. And here is chapter 13. You can shout at me on the comments thou, I wont mind. ?

Klay was standing outside the gate of Downlake. She looked up at the building in front of her that was full of students talking animatedly, in two's and three's. She took a deep breath, feeling the slight chill in the air as the wind swept past her and toward the oak tree beside the gate which rained its remaining crimson leaves down, that gave the view a somewhat romantic movie effect. She pulled her bag a little tighter and proceeded. She feels like joining a competition that she'd surely fail. And once again she asked herself, why had she joined that org again? Downlake wasn't her safe haven but at least it wasn't her battlefield either. Until now. And all because of that stupid publication, but if you narrow it down, it's because of that stupid person behind that. Whom she really thinks was a fake. A manipulator. She doesn't believe that he really liked her. Geeze, that is just so foolish to even consider. He just wanted to be friends with her so he could make it easy for himself once he'd do the interview with them on his father's case which would absolutely do him good in his internship. Because if not for that, how did he become so nice after being rude to her that day when they first met? She couldn't even believe for a second that he was really ECWard. The idea that he killed the man and pretend that he was him, was a far more convincing than that.

"Cool dad, Jules!" She was on the hallway when someone called out to her whom she doesn't even know the name but was certain was one of Jacey's people on the football team.

She merely smiled and continued walking. Oh yes, her father had starred the news over the weekend. It turned out that the psycho-pedophile who murdered and r***d three girls (one from this town), was long-running and terrifying, that cracking it up could bring her father up to the stars. It became the talk of the town and the name Detective Henry Jules soon popped off everyone's conversations.

When Klay reached the locker area, she caught a glimpse of flyers pasted on the wall outside the broadcast room.

The Iridescence - still recruiting. Visit Publication Office. Third floor--room 6.

She rolled her eyes. Just what she needed, a reminder of what she's been dreading for. Then she felt a heavy arm on her shoulder.

"Why the grumpy face?" Said Jacey who had just walked there.

"Nothing." Said Klay, trying not to think about the flyers.

"You didn't wait me up." Said Jacey, slightly pouting.

He was on a white t-shirt and something was different on his appearance. His hair was a bit shorter and then Klay's eyes land on the silver piercing on his left ear.

"What's that?" She asked, all aware of what it is. Jacey grinned showing a little of his perfectly aligned white teeth. "That, my friend, is a bad boy look."

Klay snorted, "psh, as if you aren't already bad." She said and slammed the door of her locker.

"You know, you're right, I'm kind of really full of that vibe that girls seemed to die when they see me with this new look. I think that's what made that red-haired-girl out there, faint when I came in."

"Jesus, couldn't that head get any bigger?" Klay laughed.

"No, Klay I'm serious. The girl fainted when she saw me walk in."

"I'd bet my life it's your mouth. It stinks you know?"

Jacey glared at her. "And they're probably killing you now on their minds just for talking to me, don't you think?"

Klay looked around and sure enough, she caught sharp looks from girls around.

"In case you forget, you were the one who actually came to talk to me." She said and started to march away. Jacey jumped to catch up with her.

"So...why didn't you wait me up, again?" He asked bringing his arm to Klay shoulders.

"I rode with dad, he's resumed work."

"He was home?!" Jacey exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me? He was so cool on TV. I thought he'd be busy after that case?"

"Are you kidding me? You are literally a window away from my house Jace. You know everything that's happening inside. You weren't even home the entire weekend, where have you been?" Snapped Klay.

"I-I was out of town." He said passively and added, "how was your weekend?"

Klay frowned, "what were you doing out of town?" She asked.

"Helping Sloane move out."

Klay's heart sank. Of course, why didn't she even asked him that?

"Why? What happened?" She asked trying to sound concerned.

"Her father is a real psycho, goes on visiting her and beating her."

"Oh, gosh. That's awful." She said truthfully. She may not like this girl but she's not that cold hearted. They reached room eight, and Klay spoke, "this is me." And starts departing toward the room. She wants to ask whether they'd go home together later today, but she held her mouth, afraid any more of Jacey's answers.

"See ya at lunch." He shouted and Klay whispered to herself, "maybe not."

Feeling a little down, Klay entered the room quitely and settled on the chair beside the window. Luckily, her classmates didn't bother to watch the news so they didn't mind Klay walking in, which she was glad about. They were engaged in incomprehensible chit-chats. Klay stared through the window unto the busy street of Downlake. Cars were passing by and a few pedestrians parade the outside lane. The morning was bright and cold altogether, mirroring her feelings inside. A little sad but at the same time, contented. Little by little, she was accepting the fact that Jacey is going to be just her best friend forever. She accepted that he doesn't see her like she sees him. She's always going to be just a little sister to him no matter how old she gets. Nevertheless, she should be thankful for their wonderful friendship. Not everyone gets to have that. She heaved a deep sigh to the sound of cars and murmurs. Then the professor came in and greeted them.

The time of the day that Klay dreaded so bad has come. It was five in the afternoon and she journeyed to the third floor of the building. On each step, she imagined Ed's rude remarks and formulates on her mind, words that would counter them. Once again, his chuckles filled her ears. It was like a devil's laugh! What if she'd quit? But that would mean him winning, won't it? Her thoughts gave her a little determination as she reached the floor. She walks until she sees a room that has a plaque on the door that reads, The Iridescence. She threw glances on the rooms beside room six. The one on the right says, Student Council Office and on the right was labeled, Science and Math Club."

She turned around and found a girl clutching a box full of books and papers. "Wednesday, 9AM, got it." The girl said to someone inside the room, Klay couldn't see. The girl then strode toward her and to the right room.

"Iridescence? Just get in. Someone's in there." She said before disappearing in the room. Klay took a deep breath before pushing the door. Apart from the sound of keys being pressed, the room was awkwardly silent. A head poked out from behind a computer monitor and it broke into a wide smile. "Oh hello, Klay." Tara said, standing up. It seems that she was the only one in the room--that is until Klay dragged her eyes to the separated cubicle that she found out Tara wasn't.

There was a silhouette of a man sitting on a desk behind the glass wall.

"The others will be her in a minute. Do you still have a class after this?" Asked Tara that is now on her side.

"No." Klay replied.

After five minutes, people started filling in the seats of the room. Klay nodded on familiar faces. There were about fifteen people in the room now and Klay watched as the man on the cubicle stood and make its way out of his office. The moment he came into view, his eyes immediately landed on hers and both of them held the gaze for a moment before Ed started marching toward the front, where a white board stood facing them. Every head turned to him and he paused when he reached the front. He stood rigid in front of them, nose in the air. His face was definitely humorless. He cleared his throat, "good day." He said in a straight voice. And immediately all eyes were on him.

"This is the last day of the recruitment for The Iridescence's writers and staff and I congratulate you on passing." He beamed, which was so surprising, everyone felt warmer all of a sudden. "And welcome you on the team." He continued. "We have eight months for the release of this term's issue until the start of another school year. It is quite enough for us if that is all we have to do this term, however, we have been chosen to compete for the National Press Conference and Writer's Summit, this January after the holiday break." There were gasps and excited murmurs in the room after he said this. When he cleared his throat and once again, it fell back to silence. "It will be held in the D.C. and we really need to prepare for it. So we have to divide our time. We must concentrate on the summit in the three-months-time starting this week, and then materialize our issue after the competition."

"Furthermore, I would like to recognize our new members in their designated positions. Patrick Summers-- Managing Editor for Operations. Kingsley Canaez--News Editor. Jimmy Colt--Managing Editor for Finance. Shane Henry--Head Lay-out Artist and Klay Harren Jules--Feature and Literary Editor and Editorial Specialist."

The room exploded in applause for the people being mentioned. Edward afterwards assigned the new members their desks and then they were dismissed. Klay examined her desk again. And realized that she slipped aside the idea the first time she was her, that her desk was the nearest from the EIC's office. If there's no glass wall separating it from the others, she'd be sitting side by side with Ed. She shivered with the idea and shook her head to drown her thoughts. She then starts pulling out the drawers under the hard-word desk. There was nothing in there. She sits on the swivel and comes face to face with her computer unit. She gazed through it and saw a piece of note sticking from the sidewall.

Remember, you can do anything, but not without a cup of coffee.

She smiled with the message. She wasn't a coffee girl, though. She should place a family picture or something in there, just to give it a homey-touch. Then someone stood from over the next cubicle, looking down at her with an impressed grin.

"So...y-you're Jules, right? I mean you know, the national awardee?"

She smiled thinly and gave him a nod.

"Wow! I thought you'd go Cambridge or something."

"I thought so too." She said with a little laugh suddenly feeling regretful of her decisions in life.

"I'm Kingsley, its a pleasure to meet you Jules." He offered his hand and Klay had to stand to shake it.

"Please call me Klay."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Klay. And your father, is he--?"

"The detective, oh yes."

Kingsley beamed more than ever. He looked like he's just won a prize. "So...are you going--"

"Klay, can you come over here?" Kingsley stopped midway when someone called for her. And realizing whose voice it was, she excused herself from him. The sound of her name caused a funny feeling to swell at the pit of her stomach. Nevertheless, she strode to Ed's office. She found him stacking papers up and packing them to his briefcase. When he was done he looked up at her and paused.

"I'm driving you home." He said.