Page 4 of The Pucking Kiss

“I only opened your drawer to find a charger for my phone, but what the hell is this? Since when do you have a crush on Bryan?”

Chapter 2

Romai

“Give that back!” I said, lunging forward towards Kathy. She ducked, keeping the journal at arm’s length from me as she began reading out loud from it.

“Dear diary, today Bryan came and talked to me at lunch. Of course, he didn’t have anything nice to say, but I hope one day he does. I just wish we could be together.”

“Stop it,” my voice was panicked, and horror flashed through my features. “That’s a violation of privacy.”

“Oh, privacy?” Kathy shot back, narrowing her blue eyes at me. “So, you were going to keep the fact that you have liked Bryan all this time from me because of privacy?”

“It’s not any of your business,” I had turned red. Kathy had just discovered my biggest secret.

No one knew about my secret crush on Bryan. Not even my grandparents, who were the closest two people to me in the entire world. And now, Kathy had just found out.

“It’s my business,” Kathy snarled back. “How could you violate the Girl Code like that? I thought you were loyal to me, and now it turns out that you’re just out to stab me in the back.”

“Come on, Kathy,” I shook my head, “You’re being a little dramatic here.”

“Dramatic? I don’t think so. You knew I liked Bryan. So, how can you just have a crush on him now?”

I blinked at her, uncertain of what to say. “It’s not like you’re going out with him. So, what does it matter if I like him too?”

“It does,” Kathy was fuming now. Her nostrils were flaring, and she looked as though she could kill me with her bare hands. “How dare you?”

I pressed my lips together in a tight line. “Don’t you think you’re being just a little unfair? I didn’t want to admit it like this, but I’ve liked Bryan for years now. You only started to notice him a few weeks ago.”

“So what?” Kathy rolled her eyes at me. “At least I have a chance with him. He wouldn’t even look in your direction.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Kathy smirked. “Did you really think he’d give you the time of day? Be serious, girl. He literally calls you Raggedy Romai.”

“You don’t have to remind me of that.”

Kathy broke into a mirthless chuckle. “God, are you really so delusional that you thought that you stood a chance with Bryan? You should have let go of your dumb fantasy the moment you found out that I had a thing for him.”

I crossed my arms in front of me, trying to calm myself down. Kathy was being too rude, and it was hard for me not to have a defensive reaction.

“Why can’t we both like him?”

Kathy scoffed. “Because only one of us has a chance with him. God, Romai. You’re so annoying.”

“So, I should just give up on my crushes because the second you like them?” I countered.

I had always made myself small in front of Kathy, but now she had crossed all limits. Reading my private journal was a breach of privacy, but just how she was acting towards me was enough to warrant a strong response.

“If you’re smart, then yes,” Kathy shrugged. “Hasn’t that always been your thing anyway? Being the nerdy one. I mean, it’s not like you have anything else going on for you.”

My mouth hung open in shock. “You’re going too far.”

“Too far?” she laughed in my face. “Honey, I’m only showing you what’s been in front of you all along. You’ve always been uglier, less funny, and not as interesting.”

I felt as though I was seeing Kathy for the first time. She was revealing her true colors to me as she so confidently spewed venom in my bedroom.

“How could you have that opinion about me?” I asked, my voice coming out slightly hoarse. “Kathy, I’m your best friend.”

---