More Than Best Friends

"I'm going to tell Jeremy how I feel about him tonight," Elena announced to her best friend, Matthews as they got down from his car, which he had parked a few blocks away from their school. 

He frowned immediately. "So, what are you saying? You're finally going to reveal your feelings for—Are you even listening to me Elena?" 

"I am, I am." She said avoiding his eyes. "I'm just going to pretend like I'm not because I know you are going to disagree with me. But listen, I think he really likes me. I just feel like we have this connection-"

Matthews scoffed. "Really? Connection?" She shot him a look, rolling her eyes. He quickly raised his arms in defeat. "Sorry, sorry. But you...I just don't want to see you get hurt okay? What if he doesn't share the same feelings and you just end up embarrassing yourself?"

Elena smiled, shaking her head. "I know he shares my feelings, don't worry about me."

Matthews chose not to say anything else concerning that topic. It was pointless. He has known Elena since childhood, and one thing everyone knew was once she had made her mind, that was final—unless a miracle happened. He watched her type away on her phone as they headed up the school gates, he tried to see what exactly she was going through, but the bright light of the sun against the phone-screen prevented that. "Aren't you hurting your eyes?"

"No," she said, then looked up. "Hey, why don't you head to class, I have to stop by the principal's office."

"The principal's office? What did you do now?"

"I didn't do anything. You know how we had those teachers—parents meeting months ago?" Matthews nodded. "Well, my mum saw the principal and...they kinda hit it off."

"No."

"I'm not joking, I just found out today. She hasn't told me yet, but she went on a date with some guy last Saturday and I did catch the familiar scent of Mr Oscar's perfume, I just didn't know he was the one—till now." She squeezed her face in irritation, letting out an 'urrgh'. "I can't believe my mum is fucking the principal. What if they begin to really like each other and then get married, Mr Oscar would become my stepdad, my social life would be ruined."

Matthews rolled his eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Elena. That only happens in the movies, besides Mr Oscar is amazing and what should matter more? Shouldn't it be your mum's happiness?"

"She could have found her happiness somewhere else, why does it have to be the principal dick? Anyways I have to go, she wants me to drop something for him. I guess this is their way of leaving hints for me, cowards, they should come out and tell me straight."

Matthews chuckled. "If they did, you would only freak out more." He pinched the bridge of her nose. "Wipe that pout off your face. Go drop your mum's package at the principal's office, you'll meet me at your locker."

She smiled. "Okay, see you." She proceeded to walk away. Matthews stood, watching her for a while. Elena was his best friend. They've known each other for years, but even with how well they got along, the two had almost nothing in common. He was an introvert, and likes to keep to himself. This has earned him some sort of mysterious reputation in the school, which for reasons he didn't understand made many girls attracted to him. What would forever remain a mystery to him was his true feelings for Elena, one he wouldn't even dare admit to himself. 

~~~

Unlike other schools the principal's office wasn't in the same building as the school. It previously was, but six months ago when Mr Oscar was appointed as the new principal, lots of things changed. A new building was set up at the back of the school which became the principal's office. 

She sighed as she stood facing the door, looking down at the wrapped box. She brought it close to her ear to shake and try and guess what it contained, but then the principal's voice stopped her. 

"Are you going to come in, or do you just find great pleasure staring at my door?" Elena frowned looking up, and that's when she saw the CCTV camera staring down at her. Her cheeks flushed immediately, she bit her lips in embarrassment and proceeded in. 

He was behind his desk as expected. Elena would admit, she once had a crush on him. But then she found out he was vegetarian, it was a major turn off for her. She had nothing against vegetarians, but she once went on a date with one, and he spent the entire evening staring at her like she was some cannibal. Mr Oscar was your definition of what a gentleman should look like, the type that would open doors for women, bring them flowers and make them moan with certain skills in bed. She wasn't surprised her mother fell for him.

"Good afternoon, Mr Oscar," she greeted. "My mother wants me to deliver this to you."

"Calm down, what's with the rush?" He chuckled. Elena hated that, she didn't want him laughing. She knew exactly what he was trying to do, trying to get closer to her so things wouldn't be so awkward when the cat came out of the bag. 

"Nothing. Here's the package." She walked over to his desk, placing it on his table. "I'll be going back now."

"Wait-"

"You'll never become my dad!" She snapped, surprising herself. 

Oscar looked taken aback by this. "Ok... Where's this coming from?"

She took a step back and crossed her arms below her chest. "I'm not stupid and you two aren't exactly great at hiding stuff. I know you've been seeing my mother."

He was silent for a while, watching her. Then he sighed and relaxed back in his chair. "I guess teens of this century are smarter than we give them credit for. Elena, listen your mum and I, we...we have genuine feelings for each other-"

Elena scoffed, interrupting him. "Not true, she doesn't know what she's feeling. Whatever you think are genuine feelings she has for you is because she just misses the absence of a man in her life."

"It's more than that and-"

"No, I won't listen to this." She interrupted again. "In fact, why am I having this conversation with you, you're just my principal. When I get home, I'm going to speak to my mum. I can't believe this," she muttered the last part to herself as she walked back to the door.

"Elena, wait-" But she quickly rushed out, slamming the door behind her.

"Fuck, they aren't even married yet and he's already calling me like I'm his daughter," she said as she walked away, well aware that he might have heard her. "I suspected, but God was praying that he would deny it. Arrgh!" She let out a frustrated scream, which turned to a real one as she had hit her leg on a stone. "Why?" She cried out, nearly falling to the ground, but managing to catch her balance quickly.

"Are you okay?" Elena froze when she heard that voice. "Elena, did you hurt yourself?" Jeremy asked, jugging up to her. 

Jeremy. He was her knight in shining armor, just after Matthews who always stuck to her like a glue. She's had a crush on him ever since he moved into town back in middle school, but he had never paid interest in her, not in the way that she wanted at least. Elena believed they were meant to be, so much that she connected the little details they both shared as a sign that they were meant to be. His blue eyes, the blonde hairs and even when they shared the same type of pen in class, it was destiny. 

"Elena? Are you okay?"

"Oh yes," She lied. "I'm fine. Uh...w-what are you doing here?" She brushed her blonde locks back, trying her best to do it in a cool manner, but the wind was against her as they came back to slap her in the face. She cringed internally, almost biting her lips off. 

"The principal sent for me," he said. "Since you're okay, I have to go now." He moved to walk away, but stopped and faced her again. "You'll be coming for the party on Friday right?"

She nodded her head quickly. "Of course, will Elena ever miss a party?" She winked at him.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright then, I've to go now."

"Ok, bye bye." She waved at him, but he already had his back to her. Elena sighed as she went over the conversation they just had. "I hope I didn't say anything stupid." She jumped a little as she remembered that Matthews was waiting for her and hurried back to the school's building.

~~~

"One more minute and I would think maybe it's you and the principal that has something going on," Matthews joked as she approached, in reply, she slapped his chest. "Ow, sorry sorry, I didn't mean that," he said, laughing lightly, brushing his long hair back.

"Keep laughing." She opened her locker and shoved her bag inside. "Anyways, he confirmed it, so I know what I'm saying."

"He did?" He asked, his green eyes widening in surprise. Matthews' eyes were one of the things that made Elena start talking to him when they were kids. She had read a story about a green eyed fairy, and when she saw Matthews days later, she had ran up to him and asked that he become her friend. "That's shocking..."

"Yeah...but on the bright side, I came across Jeremy." She beamed immediately after that. "You're coming with me to the party on Friday, right?"

"Do I have a choice? You're going to drag me there anyways."

"Yeah..." She leaned forward and laid a kiss on his cheeks, then went back to getting her books from the locker.

A smile was growing on Matthew's face, but it was quickly washed off when he saw Jeremy walking down the hall. Matthews didn't hate Jeremy, or dislike him, but he couldn't say he liked him either, he stood on that tiny line that separated the two and that was all because of Elena. But Jeremy wasn't who caught his attention this time around, but the girl who was walking beside him. "Who's that?" He whispered but Elena heard him clearly.

She wiped around to see what Matthews was referring to. A little gasp escaped her lips. "Who the hell is that chick, and why are they holding hands?"

"I don't know. Maybe his sister?"

"Sister? Matthews, Jeremy is an only child, that's not his sister." She let out a hiss. "Look at her smiling at him with her awfully-too-perfect teeth." As the last word left their lips, Jeremy looked over to their side and gave a small wave, but his attention went back to the girl beside him even before Elena could return it back. This really annoyed her. "We've been friends for years and he's never looked at me, or held me that way. Who's prettier?"

"Who's prettier?" Matthews asked in disbelief. "No Elena, we are not doing this now. Are you really going to compare yourself to another girl because of a boy?"

She sighed. "Let's just go to class, she's probably a friend...I hope so. Anyways, Jeremy and I have a connection. In fact, he asked if I would be coming to the party. Who knows? Maybe we'll even get together and after that go to his house?"

"Wonderful." Matthews increased his pace, walking faster and leaving her behind. She rolled her eyes, staying behind to grab her books.

~~~

Matthews chewed the end of his pen as he watched Elena pay to read a manga in class which she hid behind the history text book they were all supposed to be reading. He felt someone was watching him and looked around. He sighed when he saw who it was and went back to his textbooks. It was Tanya, his biggest admirer.