Girl Like me?
- Natalie -
The next few days go in a blur. I am too numb to process things or talk to Riley. Completely confused if I am supposed to warn her or If West is right and I was just expecting a relationship when he didn’t want anything from me.
Shit has hit fan in school too. I have been isolated. I am still avoiding West & Riley for the last three days. I understand Riley’s confusion. But I don’t understand why the hell West is still approaching me. I am giving him the fucking space he often asked for. Why doesn’t he just enjoy it?
As I sit in my room just blankly staring out the window, a chime from my phone breaks my trance. Both of them have been texting me a lot. I am reading her messages, but avoiding him. I will probably have to talk to them. Both of them. I need to make sure he doesn’t use Riley as he used me.
Riley: ‘You have no idea how much I am missing you. Can we please talk? West isn’t telling me anything.’
Riley: ‘I hate it when you guys fight.’
Me: ‘Come home. I want to talk.’
Me: ‘Alone.’
Me: ‘Don’t tell West.’
When she comes to my room. I am still confused about what I am supposed to say or ask her. She had a bad breakup a few months ago. I do not have the heart to tell her how West has tricked her, too. Then again, his words from that night echo my mind.
‘I like her, Nat. I have always liked her. I have been trying to tell you about it.’
“Will you please tell me what happened that night?” She breaks my train of thought.
It’s shameful. But I tell her anyway. I tell her I got drunk and almost slept with someone I didn’t know. The more I think about it, the angrier I become at myself. For being so hasty. I feel even more pathetic about belittling Norris. I could have apologized to him, but I have no words. When I feel better and find words, I will apologize.
Riley is kind. She tells me I should be careful next time but not beat myself about it. She doesn’t realize I was being impulsive on purpose and hugs me.
“How was your summer break?” I ask her after a while.
I can see her cheeks redden. I cannot help but smile.
“Is there something I need to know?”
She tries to avoid my gaze, but nods. A realization hit me. I was so self-absorbed with West and his troubles. I didn’t notice she was finally being herself again. This is why she was so chirpy that night. My chest tightens again. We made numerous efforts to make her feel better after her breakup. Now she is finally her cheerful self again.
West did this.
Probably he is happier too.
“Care to share?” I try to coax out of her.
“I am not supposed to tell anyone yet, but West and I are kinda seeing each other.” I scoff internally. He is trying to keep it a secret too. So fucking original.
“We started getting closer after that picnic we had before the summer break.”
As soon as I hear it, tears shimmer in my eyes without my permission. After shedding so many tears, I thought it won’t happen again. It’s like I am watching them getting into the car backseat all over again. I shared so many moments with West during that time. Was he sleeping with both of us?
Riley looks at me mortified, “I know we should have told you. But West was reluctant about it. He said he wanted to be sure.”
She can be really dumb sometimes. She thinks I am hurt because they didn’t tell me.
“I didn’t realize it would hurt you,” she adds. It’s a relief that she doesn’t ask me why I am crying. But relief itself is short-lived.
She looks at me warily for a while and asks, “It’s something else. Tell me what it is?”
I don’t have the strength to tell her. But I don’t have the strength to hide my tears either. So I stay quiet and hug her.
“You like West, don’t you?” She asks in a meek voice. “I always thought you guys might hit it off, that’s why I always gave you two space.”
I nod and laugh while wiping my tears. I swallow and tell her, “It wasn’t meant to be.”
I want to tell her West was in a relationship with me when he started pursuing her. But his words from that night still linger in my head.
‘We never were in a relationship, Nat. Wasn’t it clear?’
I have been questioning myself constantly If I really mistook this fling between us to be a relationship. I am not sure anymore if I was delusional before or I am delusional now.
“We were kinda close... I mistook it for something else.” I tell her instead. Apart from his attempt to kiss me that night, we didn’t sleep during or after the break. I guess I shouldn’t make a fuss about it.
Her expression is indecipherable.
“I need some time, Riley. Will you guys give me some space?”
Her expression turns frantic. “Please…” I tell her before she can say anything.
As she leaves, I wonder if I should tell her not to keep it a secret. Part of me is so jealous that not a word of warning spits out of my mouth. It’s petty, but it doesn’t stop me from being envious of her beauty. Giving all of me all my attention and love to West wasn’t enough. All she had to do was bring her flawless face in distress in front of him and he is gone.
I don’t tell her it’s probably my goodbye. They can be happily ever after, but I cannot sit around to watch it. It would be enough torture to see them in school.
… …
“What did you tell her?” West corners me at school the next day and asks me in a hardened expression I have never seen before.
I shrug. “She is your girlfriend. Didn’t she tell you?”
He sighs and looks away from me. “I had no idea you mistook this thing as a relationship. The way it happened...” He trails off and continues as he looks at me again, “It was supposed to be a secret, Nat. What did you tell her? She is being-“
I cut him in the middle. “Your dirty secret is safe with me. If that’s what you are concerned about.” He looks offended at my choice of words.
“You were sleeping with her even before summer break.” I take a shot and he doesn’t object.
I shake my head in disbelief at his mute confirmation and say, “All that time we spend West. I thought we were something.”
“Don’t start that again.” His expression hardens again. “Don’t tell me you expected that I would consider being with a girl like you.”
I raise my eyebrow. “Girl like me?”
“You were an easy fuck, Natalie. That’s all you were…”
He brushes past me, leaving me in shock. His comment feels like a slap on my face. I tell myself he is deliberately saying this to hurt me. To shut me up for good. To his credit, he has done it. My mind wanders to the night of the party.
‘Why do you care? It might serve you some purpose.’ I had told that guy.
Of course, I am an easy fuck.
I offered myself to that guy so easily. It was a miracle that Norris interrupted, and things didn’t go worse that night. I also wish I hadn't snapped at him and had gone to that park where those boys were looking for a chance to molest me.
Now everyone thinks I fucked them all.
… …
For the next few weeks, West and Riley leave me alone for good. So it shocks me when I see a notification from West on my phone.
West: ‘We could still be friends, Nat. I miss you. Riley misses you too… what’s point of ruining our friendship for a misunderstanding’
I chuckle humorlessly at his audacity. Sometimes I sincerely wonder if he is deranged or something. I was quite handy, you see. I am sure he misses the privileges, not me.
Me: ‘I guess you miss fucking me. Don’t misinterpret your feelings West’
He doesn’t reply for a while. I smirk thinking I caught him off guard.
West: ‘That could be true. Maybe we could meet for a quickie tonight.’
Me: ‘Sorry I have a long list to fuck and you are not on it West.’
If someone would have told me a few months ago that this is how we will treat each other, I wouldn’t have believed them.
Despite all the pain, heartbreak, and anger, I really regret not telling the truth to Riley when it was time. Now my repo is so terrible at school I doubt she will believe me.
I have been labeled The School’s Slut. Boys have been asking me if they could get a blow job very often. Some tried to corner me in groups. They said they can show me a good time if I let them cluster-fuck me. I should probably be worried. Because these offers don’t upset me as if I have lost the ability to feel emotions.
His first crush — A Year Later — - Jacob - . “It’s time Jacob!! I told you to get ready half-hour ago!” I grunt, trying to reach my shoes below the bed. I should listen to my mom often. It’s getting more and more difficult to find things in this messy room lately. And how the hell did my shoe go this far under the bed? Coco’s deed. I am sure. They say dogs don’t hold grudges, but I call it animal dung theory. She knows how to annoy me. I should have taken her for a walk last night. “Just Go!! I know their house, “I yelled at mom in annoyance and grimace immediately. “OK!! We will talk about your condescending tone later.” I wince, imagining the late-night lecture. Thanks, Coco. She sits next to me amused, watching me move the bed. It’s heavy… Wish I hadn’t thrown all my shit on bed earlier. Considering the level of enthusiasm, I should be the first one to reach there. But looks like, Thanks to Coco, we will exercise play-it-cool tonight. This girl has been on my mind ever since
Kisses - Jacob - . Just when we are about to head home, I ask for her number discreetly. With her father nearby, I don’t want to be open about it. I really behaved like an idiot at the dinner table. She must be thinking, I am some awkward dork or something. Technically, I am in many aspects. I just don’t want her to know about it. Not yet. I couldn’t be happier when she obliged and entered her number into my phone. My smile widens when I see the contact name she entered ‘Dull-Mean-Happening-Girl. Too long but works. She is a tease and I like that... Her dating life probably isn’t as clean as a slate like mine. I hope I can leave an impression good enough to convince her to date. After Mom’s lecture about my tone, my room, and my ungrateful attitude in general, I am ready for bed. My fingers are itching to text her. I give myself several excuses like ‘she doesn’t have my number yet’ or ‘ We need to figure out a weekend study session schedule‘. I ignore it’s only Tuesday, and we
15. Official girlfriend- Natalie -.I reach my locker and rub the obscenities scribbled over my locker. It’s chalk today. That’s a plus! I had to file a complaint when somebody used spray paint. Dumb people didn’t know about the camera nearby. Things are way better now. Whenever some new topic stirs in school, they usually forget me. Whenever they get back on me for whatever reason, it’s usually the same shit. Leaders of the bully associations will agree, they need to come up with better insults.“Hey”Riley!I turn my head towards the soft voice and nod my head, smiling. The past year was probably the hardest for her (apart from me). Because she doesn’t know what exactly happened to trigger all this mess. She created some distance first, but then tried to rekindle the friendship after a few months. Not sure if she approached me out of pity or if she just missed me? We were good friends, after all. Even before West was in the picture to ruin everything.Despite her efforts, we haven
17. It’s barely step one - Jacob - . “I thought you were coming to our school today?” West sits next to me in the locker room wearing his shoes after our match practice. “No man... one more week. Next Monday, to be exact.” I frown, “I thought I told you about that chemistry competition on Sunday..” West scoffs, “You indeed are a dork!” and walks out of the locker room. Nerd would be more appropriate. But Ok.. Whatever gets you off West. If someone from Maple High would have teased me, I might have taken offense. But I know West doesn’t mean it like that. He is crude to everyone. His default mode. I like him. He is fun to be around and surprisingly cool for things other boys have embarrassed me about. I am looking forward to attending school with him. I am sure we will have some of the classes together. With Natalie too. She and I can be good friends. Or maybe more. I am eager to meet her in the evening again. She told me she would like to take a walk with Coco. I wonder if s
19. Damn June - Jacob - . “No we don’t.” That's what I told her but she is still hovering around me ever since I came back home. It must be some Useless-School-Gossip. I am not interested... I try to ignore her, but eventually, give up when she enters my room and interrupts my priceless me-time in bed. “What is it?” I snap. It’s exhausting being around everyone all day long. I need a break for God's Sake! “I know you usually don’t like these things… so-called rumors, but...” “Let me stop you right there.” I sit up in my bed. “I am not interested.” “It’s about Natalie.. “she says in a pleading tone. “Jesus! Definitely not interested June!!” “It’s not good Jacob. She isn’t a good person...” “JUNE! What the Fuck.” I practically yell at her. “If she isn’t good, I would like to figure it out myself. You know, these things piss me off.” “Your hockey team isn’t on good terms with her either,” She yells back first, then calms down and adds, “I will shut my mouth now. But I know you
22. Potluck- Natalie -.“I am not going anywhere!” Amy yells and shuts her door so loud, my table trembles with shock. I peek towards my door to see what this drama is all about.“What happened?” I ask Mom as I see her in front of her door.“She is just being…” Mom shrugs and air quotes, “Amy.”I chuckle and Amy opens the door, “Oh really!! Only because I am young doesn’t mean I always have to run errands. Everyone just bosses around me.”I choke at her words. She may or may not be right. I confess I often send her downstairs to bring a thing or two, twice or thrice every day. That doesn’t mean I boss her around. Noo... She is just.. too polite to say no.Amy is either too quiet and shy or angry and yelling. There is no in-between. I understand her meltdown, so I ask mom, ”What is it? Do you need something done?”Mom sighs. ”Yeah, I baked some cake. Just wanted to send it to Rachel’s house while it’s still warm.”“Rachel?”“Jacob’s Mom.”I frown. ”But you sent her cookies yesterday.
23. Not my problem- Jacob -.June scurries around the living room as I throw a few cushions on her way. I chase her behind as she goes upstairs to her room.“Behave like your age, Jacob!” Mom yells from behind.God everyone pampers June so much! I gotta kill her. I don’t think I have ever felt this much embarrassment in my life before!!!I try to push through June’s door as she tries to stop me from entering her room.“I did you a freaking favor!” She glances at me from the door crack.“Let me inside! Or I will push hard… Don’t cry mommy when you fall on your bum.”“Promise we will talk like civilized people.”“Ok..” I stop pushing the door and June locks it.I scoff. ”I knew it. Coward.”“Go pick someone your own size!”“How long are you planning to stay there? You gotta come out sometime.” I warn her and walk away from her door.Wait, what?I go back to her door and knock.“I am not stupid, Jacob!”“What do you mean, you did me a favor?”There is a pause, then she opens her door.
26. Injustice - Natalie - . After an uneventful and surprisingly peaceful day at school, I spend my time watching tv and hearing mom rumble about my college choices. She doesn’t want me to go away. I, on the other hand, want to put as much distance between this town and myself. I glance at my watch, expecting Jacob to turn up anytime. Half an hour passes, then almost an hour. I sigh, thinking about texting him, but remember that boy barely uses his phone. I change my clothes and walk over to his house. If he can come unannounced, it’s only fair if I surprise him too. I am eager to visit him. I want to see Coco, not him… I needlessly correct myself. After all, I didn’t meet her during my morning jog today, or him for that matter. I give myself more excuses. I walk towards his house, cursing myself inwardly. I am probably getting too involved with him. As I knock on his door and patiently wait for it to open. I suck in a breath as I see, Not Jacob, Not his mother, nor any other