Heather

I lay in bed texting Oliver all day until he asks me to go out with him. I don't know if he is asking me out on a date, but I think he is. He also tells me that he didn't go to school today because he wasn't feeling it, which confuses me because he wasn't active in any of his social media accounts. I decide that I will ask him when I see him. 

My phone rings after I finish getting ready. I take my phone and expect it to be Oliver, but to my surprise, it's Parker. It's not a surprise that he is calling, texting and hanging out with him his normal to me at this point, so I pick up. 

"Hey." Says Parker from the other side of the phone. His voice full of joy and for some reason I feel guilty. 

"Hey." I reply back trying to match his energy. 

"Why didn't you come to school today?" He asks. 

"Oh," I try to think of something to say and quickly. I can't tell him about the kiss with Oliver. Well, I'll tell him later face to face. "I was just tired." I lie.. 

"Wait really? Are you better?" His tone changes as he panics. 

"Yeah I'm better." 

"Oh well, I just want to ask you, do you wanna go out on a walk with me?" He asks and I suddenly feel sorry for him. 

I try to think of an excuse since, obliviously, I am going out with Oliver. So I say: "Well can we go out later? I have some chores to do." I lie again. 

He seems to buy it as we say goodbye and he hangs up and I hear a car honk outside. 

Parker

Chores? Well that's understandable to me. Or maybe not. I wonder if she found out how toxic my father is and decided that I am just like him. 

Or maybe I just need to clear my mind.

Key word: Maybe.

I need to clear my head so I take my notebook and go out for a walk.

 The weather is calm after the storm yesterday. So calm that I have to stop walkinginhe middle of the park and listen to everything around me. The birds chirping, the sound of the cars from a mile away. A sound of the  leaves being moved by the wind, the smell of nature. That never fails to make me feel better. 

It's magical until I hear laughing not too far away from me. I wonder if they are laughing at me. I look around, my eyes scanning the landscape around me for the source of the laughter. Until they land on the usual bench I always sit on. 

Two heads I recognize. Short brown hair and messy blonde hair. Although I can't see their faces, I can tell they are enjoying themselves.

 Then suddenly it hits me. Messy blonde hair, short brown hair. Oliver and Heather hanging out after Heather told me she couldn't go for a walk with me. Heather lied. She lied to me to hang out with Oliver without me.

And before I process the heaviness in my chest and the feeling of betrayal, they kiss right in front of my eyes and the feeling gets even worse in my chest. 

I tear my eyes away from the view in front of me and I walk back home with the feeling of betrayal in my chest. 

The next day

Heather

Its official. Oliver and I are official. I enjoy talking to him. I lose myself when I am talking to him. I feel safe around him, like he understands me. I can't wait to see him at school tomorrow. 

I try to look my best. I straighten my hair and put on extra makeup and put on my best outfit, a yellow dress with sun flowers all around it. I wonder if Oliver will like my look. 

First period doesn't start until 20 minutes. I've been too distracted by Oliver to notice that I have an history test today and that I haven't studied and that I am going to fail and I need help.

 My first thought is Parker. He talks a lot about history and seems so interested in it. So I take out my history book and head to Parkers locker. And  as soon as I arrive I seem him standing there, too invested in his phone. Not paying any attention to anything surrounding him. 

I startle him when I call out his name. He faces me, disgust written all over his face. "What do you want?" He asks me, his tone hard as he eyes me up and down. 

 I have never seen him like this, so mad and angry. "I just need help with my-" I start to say but he interrupts me. 

"No Heather. I am not helping you."

"Why? What's wrong? What did I do to make you mad at me?"

"Oh so you don't know?" He says, this time his voice is a bit louder, attracting students. 

"No parker I don't-"

"Get the hell away from me."

"What?"

"I said get away from me."

"Parker don't scream just tell me I'm sorry-"

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME YOU LIAR!" 

He yells at me this time as he throws all my books away from my hand.  everyone in the hallway stops and looks at us and everything is quiet you can hear a pin drop.

Parker

I am aware of what I have done. I lost it in front of everyone and Heather looks so confused and looks like she is about to cry. 

I want to apologize and say I'm sorry but nothing comes out. I'm tongue tied, I can't speak. I can hear the whispers around me. Then Oliver comes out of nowhere and hugs Heather as she falls into him and starts crying in his arms. He gives me one last look before shifting  his attention all back to Heather. 

I feel bad for Heather and partly for myself. I make a mental note for apologizing later.  But I give up. I can't attend school, I'm going home.