Chapter Five: ❝ Get in loser, we're going shopping ❞

SO MANY UNUSUAL THINGS happened today. 

First, I had unusual attention from everyone in school, then my Calculus teacher brought her unusual dogfish to school and had me watch it throughout recess, I also got an unusual number of assignments and it was just my luck that they were all due tomorrow.

It felt like the universe was conspiring against me. And I just couldn't wait for this day to be over.

As soon as the final bell rang, I practically sprinted out of the classroom. I was ready to put the day behind me and head home to relax.

I was halfway down the hallway when I heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Jason walking towards me with a grin on his face.

"Hey, I've been looking for you all day," he said. "I wanted to be in all your classes but you... ran off."

I felt my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. "Sorry about that," I said, trying to play it off. "I just... I was really pressed."

Jason nodded, and we fell into step together, making our way out of the school.

There I was, doing the exact thing I said I wasn't going to do again; walking with Jason.

As we reached the gate, Jason turned to me and said, "Hey, do you want to come over to my place? My parents aren't home and I was thinking we could order some pizza and watch a movie or something."

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. Was this a date? Was I ready for that?

Definitely not. I nearly died this morning just walking with him. How much more dating him!?

Was I overthinking this? It's just two friends hanging out, right?

"Scar?" Jason gave me a quizzical look, clearly sensing my inner panic. "It's just pizza and movies, you know." he said with a playful grin.

I blushed, embarrassed that my internal turmoil was so obvious. "Sorry about that," I stammered. "I was just thinking about how much homework I have to do and they're all due tomorrow."

Jason's eyes suddenly widened."Oh shit, I just remembered a classmate will be coming over for our group project today."

He perked his lips. "I guess we'll have to hang out another time but for now, we could walk back home and take the subway together yeah?"

Okay. Again, It's just two friends that live close to each other walking home together, it's not a date. He's not hitting on me. I was not about to make a baby with the hottest thing to hit Ivy League High since the cafeteria started serving pizza pockets and become the talk of the school till I graduate. Just two friends, hanging out, right.

"Maybe another day." I blurted, even after convincing myself that walking with him wasn't such a bad thing.

"I actually need to go, um, to see my dentist. Yeah, dentist. I have an appointment, and I already postponed three times." I lied with a laugh, hoping it would sound convincing.

Jason just nodded understandingly, but I could tell he was a bit disappointed. "Okay then, see you around."

I let out a sigh as I watched him walk away.

Now I had to find a place to stay for about 2 hours before returning home so Jason wouldn't find out I lied.

I knew just the place. My therapist's place.

You're probably wondering why I had a therapist. Well, have you ever wondered why I didn't turn out like my dad even though he was the only family I had? Well, Sally, my therapist was the reason. She basically brought me up as her child and taught me all the good things my dad didn't have in him.

Without any hesitation, I headed towards Sally's therapy place, hoping to unload some emotional baggage. As I exited the first street, a pinkish silver Mercedes pulled up beside me and honked.

In the driver's seat, I saw the same girl from the bathroom earlier, her car blasting some unknown indie rock music. I racked my brain, trying to remember her name but it was a lost cause.

As the window rolled down, she grinned, "Get in loser, we're going shopping... I mean, getting curly fries."

I chuckled, impressed with her Mean Girls reference but I couldn't go with her, I had tons of assignments and I already told Sally I was coming over. "I'm so sorry I can't, I-"

"Pleeeeease, don't say no. You can change the music to whatever you want and we can talk about how weird the Calculus teacher's dogfish is, plus we're getting curly fries, everybody loves greasy potatoes,"

I laughed at her desperation and finally gave in, "Alright, alright, twist my arm."

"YES!" she shouted, fist-pumping the air. "I'm so sick of hanging out with people who only talk about their summer home in the Hamptons."

"I hear ya," I replied, there was this satisfying feeling that came with sitting beside a Top Drawer without being alienated for not owning a yacht. It was like finding a unicorn in a sea of horses. But hey, if it meant getting curly fries and a potential friend, I was all in. 

She drove for a while before we stopped at Arby's for some fries. It was cute that she was trying to do regular stuff like getting fast food instead of going shopping. There was still a hint of 'Top-Drawerness' in her, but she was way better than every other Top Drawer I had ever encountered. 

"Okay, now, we've got the fries, it's time to drop you off at your house."

I checked the time and saw that I hadn't spent enough time away from home. If I returned home now, Jason would know I lied about my 'dentist appointment'.

"No, let's go to your place instead." I quickly suggested. 

"Uh, no thank you. My mom returned from Paris today and I'm really not in the mood to be my mom's daughter right now." She shook her head, holding in laughter.

She revved up the engine and set off towards my street, following directions from her car's navigation system.

"Please we can't go to my place. My home is," I hesitated, thinking of the perfect excuse, "My home is broken. And I really could use some air right now."

She stopped for a while, and took some time to take in what I just said. "That's really sad, I'm so sorry about that." 

I looked down, trying to feign a sad look. 

Just then, she beamed, "I have an idea." She started the engine again.

A wave of relief washed over me as I waited to hear her idea.  

She began, "We're already at your street and I don't want to have to come back here to drop you off later,"

I nodded slowly, still waiting to hear the idea.

"So, we could go to your neighbor's house then. You both live on the same street and you're friends right?" 

Oh no, even worse!

"No, no, not really, we just started talking. I don't even know the guy," I protested. 

"Well, too late, because we're already there." She pressed the honk loudly as she stopped in front of Jason's yard. 

Fuck my life.

A/N

Thanks a lot for reading this far, it means so much OMG.

Oh, and what do you think of Nora? 

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Loads of love from me

𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢: 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙨

𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩: 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠_𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙨