James Bay – Best Fake Smile 

https://youtu.be/FUGlhbt1Pas

As soon the class came to its end, I quickly began to gather up my things and headed over the exit. I must hurry up and sneak past Ted and Harry, until they will stick to me again.

"Bye Emily! Till Friday!" Ted shouted back to me.

After these words, I froze straight away and turned around. The guys were smiling blissfully, as if we were old friends.

"What?" I asked, frowning even more. Ted and Harry started lazily collecting their stuff.

"Jess invited us. You two live together, don't you?" Harry inquired, without hiding his sneering smile.

Ted also started to smile; it seems they were pleased by my reaction. I was standing next to them and couldn't understand what is going on.

"And?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. They looked at each other and came even closer to me.

"You'd better talk with your friend; we don't give out someone else's secrets..." Ted answered, and walked past me.

They went around me and left the classroom, whilst I was still standing in shock. What were they talking about? What secrets? With these thoughts, I left the classroom in total confusion. Ted and Harry were walking down the hall. I wanted to know what they meant by saying all those things, so I picked up the pace. They walked slowly and were in the middle of discussing something. Of course, it was uneasy to barge in their conversation, but I must know what they meant by the word "secrets".

"Did you notice that when she's quiet she doesn't seem to be such a bitch?" I heard, as I was coming closer.

Harry burst into laughter and Ted along with him. Very funny! They are talking about me?! You know, I can hear everything! I clenched my bag and continued listening to their conversation.

"Did you see her face when you told her about Friday? I really thought she was going to punch you!" Harry grinned, adjusting his shirt.

That's it, I had enough! I drew ahead of them and shoved one of the guys' shoulders. What idiots! I squeezed my bag in anger and headed home. Why do they talk about me this way? I didn't even do anything bad towards them. I was quickly walking and talking to myself. No, I am not crying and I am not going to cry. Of course, I am hurt, but they don't deserve my tears. They haven't seen the true bitches yet.

I can be bad; I will chew them out on the next lecture. I was going down the street. People passing by are already looking at me with suspicion. It looks like I said some of the words or phrases from my monologue at loud. But I don't care. "Emily, you are strong. Calm down, it's just two idiots, they don't even know you," I was telling myself. Today Jess is going to face a serious conversation. I didn't even notice how I got up the stairs. Our apartment is on the third floor. I don't use an elevator; I think that it is better to walk by myself. Besides, I should get limbered up after sitting for so long. I took so sharply what those guys had said that I left and didn't stay for the next class. Okay, today I caved in, but tomorrow I will sit through all the lectures.

As I quickly opened the door, I got inside the apartment. Jess wasn't home yet. I headed over my room. I went to the shower, as I got my T-shirt and favorite shots from the dresser. Perfect, just the thing I need. I must cool down, to think properly. After taking shower I went to the kitchen, but Jess still wasn't there. Strange, she should be home by now. She didn't have many classes today, so where could she be?

Actually, it's not the first time that she is being late, recently she always lingers somewhere. I couldn't wait for her any longer, so I started to warm up the dinner. As I placed yesterday's lasagna in the microwave, I heard how the front door got opened. Could it be she finally came? "Well, now you're going to get some!" I thought to myself.

"Emily, are you home?" Jess asked with her sweet voice. I sat at the table and began to eat, without even saying a word.

"Emily?" Jess has already entered the kitchen and saw my gloomy face.

Her blissful smile disappeared at once; I started chewing the first piece of lasagna.

"Seems like somebody couldn't keep their mouth shut and said something, huh?" my friend inquired, casting her eyes down. I nodded silently and continued eating.

"Listen, how should I put it... Just don't be mad at me, okay?" the girl sat at the table in front of me.

"I'm listening," I said shortly, chewing another piece of lasagna.

She started touching her hair. Jess always does it when she is nervous. What made her so nervous?

"Me and Brian...um...well, we are together, Emily," Jess said somehow, still touching her curls.

I choked on food. What? I didn't expect this at all! I became all red because of coughing.

"What?" I shouted, as I made a sip of water.

In response, she just looked at me waiting for my further reaction. I jumped up from the table and started to walk around the kitchen, not knowing what to say. So that's what Harry and Ted were talking about. Why did they know about the fact that Jess and Brian are dating, and me – her best friend, learned about this only know?

"And for how long?" I asked, still coughing.

"Just after that party..." Jess replied quietly.

She lowered her head and looked at the tabletop. Her response just threw me off the balance.

"What? And you kept silent? Jess, we're friends after all. When I started dating Michael, you were the first one to know about it!" I couldn't calm down.

We knew each other's secrets and she hid such news from me. Here you go, my childhood friend, how could she hide something like this from me?

"So, everyone knew about it, except me! Emily is a loser who is the last one to find out about everything!" I shouted taking a glass of water from the table.

I don't know why, but I started to talk about myself in third person. Jess shifted her gaze away from the tabletop and looked at me. I stopped going around the kitchen. As I fixed my gaze on her, I waited to hear her answer.

"I know you're not too keen on this kind of guys and you don't like their company. But not everybody is as good as Michael..." she began.

I started to get even angrier after hearing this.

"Don't get Michael involved, he has nothing to do with this," I interrupted my friend, crossing my arms over my chest.

"I like him, Emily. I really do like Brian..." looking in her eyes, I realized that she is serious.

Of course, Jess has already dated some other guys, but now her words sounded convincing. It looks like she really has fallen in love with that Brian. Today his friends made fun of me again and even called me a bitch. I felt myself crappy.

"I'm not against Brian, it's just a shame that I'm the last one who found out about that," I finally said, trying to sound softer and more convincing.

Certainly, I don't like such guys as Brian, but I decided to keep silent. I don't want to lose such friend like Jess. To be honest, she is my only friend. Who knows, maybe she will break up with this Brian after few weeks, so I better stay silent.

"Really? Tell me that you aren't mad at me anymore," Jess murmured in response, I nodded and smiled.

"I promise, I will never hide anything else from you," Jess couldn't calm down and kept talking.

Then she hugged me tight. I hugged my friend back and tapped on her shoulder.

"And yes, sometimes their company will appear here. Tell me that you don't mind?" my friend asked me, not letting me go.

Just thinking about the fact that these guys will visit us, even though rarely, it made me squirm. My face went askew; it's good that Jess doesn't see me right now. I wanted to tell that I don't mind it, but I couldn't do it.

"Jess, you'll hug me to death," I began.

Of course, I'm against it, I can't even imagine it. They can't stand me, although that's a mutual feeling.

"Say it," she continued, hugging me tighter.

"Fine, I don't mind," I already started to cough and gasp because of her grip. It's just impossible to refuse Jess.

"Great! I'm so hungry, let's eat," the girl smiled.

We had a dinner. Jess told me how was her first day of studies. I didn't tell her about what I heard down the hallway. We talked for a long time and in my mind, I tried to imagine this company in our living room. How should I behave myself? Should I try to be nice to them because of Jess or is it better to avoid them and go to Michael?