Page 43 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
“My mom’s going to have a field day with this,” Alexander murmured in my heart. I laughed.
Since the other day we’d gone dress shopping, something had changed between us. There was a shift in energy. I know I always had a big crush on him, but it seemed different now like it was a deeper feeling or something more intense. I wished I could tell him how I felt. I wished I could tell him that I liked him. But I couldn't say anything because he wasn't my friend, and even if he was, I wouldn't have a chance with him. He would never like me the way I liked him. It was impossible, and it would hurt too much even to try. So instead, I would just have to smile when he said something nice to me and pretend like he was just a friend.
Besides, I’d had good reason to swear off boys. I needed to remember how devastated I was after Joseph did what he did. Even though I was sure Alexander would never do that to a girl he was dating, I couldn’t risk trying. I never wanted to have that feeling again.
“Are you ready?” Alexander asked as we stood in front of the open school doors. This was it, the moment we had been leading up to. This was our last chance to convince everyone that we were in love and that I was over Joseph.
Inside, the gym has been decorated with the school's finest Christmas decorations. The gym's walls are covered in red, silver, and green paint, the gym's basketball net is twirled with silver ribbons, and the gym's floor is covered in white carpeting. Chaperones monitored everyone and ensured no one spiked the drinks with alcohol. The principal was talking with some teachers and laughing. There was a photo booth station setup, A DJ playing bangers with his laptop and headphones on his ear. Many students were dancing.
Alexander grasped my hand and squeezed it gently as we made our way through the crowd of people. It felt like a dream, a beautiful, lucid dream in which I was floating on a cushion of air, borne along by his strong, sure steps.
I was in a euphoric mood. Everything felt so perfect. I felt like I was floating on a cushion of air, borne along by his strong, sure steps. It occurred to me then that I had never been this happy, never felt so free. Joseph had never made me feel this way before; he had always been distant and cold.
“I’m going to get a drink. Do you want anything?” Alexander asked me.
“A coke, please,” I said. He nodded and headed off into the crowd. I stayed where I was and looked around. At first glance, I didn't see any of my friends, but I was sure they were either hidden from view or were running a little late.
I spotted Nikki and Joseph together with his friend Jesse and his date. Before I could look away, Nikki noticed me watching them and smirked.
Nikki sauntered over to me and put her arm around my shoulder. “It's so great to see you, Penny.”
“It's nice to see you too,” I said, forcing a smile. It was clear she didn't actually want to be there. She just wanted to cause trouble.
“Where's your date?” she asked, looking around. She leaned in and whispered. “He didn't leave you, did he?”
I elbowed her off me. “No! He's just getting drinks.”
“Oh.” She looked a little disappointed. “Well, isn't that sweet? He's such a catch, isn't he?”
I could feel the anger boiling inside of me, but I didn't let it show on my face. I knew Nikki would only try to provoke me into responding. Joseph was watching us from across the room, his face unreadable.
“Yeah,” I said, trying to sound convincing.
“You know, I was really surprised when he asked you out,” Nikki continued. “He's such a great guy, but I didn't think he would be interested in girls like you.”
“Girls like me?” I repeated, giving her a cold stare.
“Girls who have no friends,” she said with a shrug.
“I know who you are,” I said, my voice low and furious. “You're just a little girl who's never been able to handle not being in control. You always have to be the centre of attention.”
She scowled at me. “And you're nothing but a copycat.”
“Says the girl dating my ex-boyfriend!”
“He only dated you to get to me, you know.” She held her hands out and studied her nails as if disinterested in the conversation. “Told me so himself.”
I felt a sudden anger well up inside of me. I wanted to lash out at her, to tell her that I wasn't like her at all and she was the worse of the two of us. But before I could say anything, Alexander reappeared, carrying my coke in one hand and a bag of M&M’s in the other. He gave me a small smile and handed me the coke. “Here you are.”
I took it gratefully and quickly downed it in one gulp. The cool liquid fizzed against my teeth and went down smoothly, cooling my overheated body.
“Nikki,” Alexander said coolly.
“Alex,” Nikki said. “We were just talking about you.”
“It's Alexander,” he corrected. “And I suggest you leave now.”
“But we're having so much fun,” Nikki said. Her eyes shifted to mine. “Right, Penny?”
