33) One Word At A Time

Rain drummed down onto the spires of the distant church, while Black smoke rose from chimneys of the ship and stained-

A pair of big feet interrupts my amazing over-dramatic reading voice. I was really getting into the chapter when someone decided that my legs are invisible and extremely fun to trip over. They're not the one who's going to have a weird purple bruise on their leg tomorrow.

The boy looks over his shoulder to find the mysterious object that came out of nowhere. His eyes slightly widen when he realises that it's a human being that he tripped over "Sorry. Didn't see you there"

I shrug. It's not like I can wear a giant flashing sign telling people my exact location on the floor.

"All good. I was just testing out an invisibility cloak that I bought off eBay. Works real well."

The guy quickly scatters away leaving me in peace so I can get back to my book.

..and stained the already dull-coloured sky. A crowd of people-

"Ah excuse me," I feel a tap on my shoulder "can you move? I need to reach behind you to get a book."

I turn to my right to see a petite girl standing beside me.

"NO, I'm not moving. I'm reading a book and I would like to finish my paragraph in peace. So go around to the other side and reach across to get your book."

She whispers sorry before walking around to the other side.

And here I go again. Attempt number three.

A crowd of people in dark clothes, holding umbrellas, stood on the docks. Tessa strained-

Why can I not get through this paragraph? A blind man could read the entire book faster than this.

"Honey, I need you to move. You're in the way of the trolley." The librarian emphasises her point by oh so subtlety ramming the trolley into the side of my foot.

Knowing that this particular librarian isn't my biggest fan I know I should move for my foot's sake. Sighing heavily I scoot back towards the shelf, trying to become as flat as possible. This may have been easier if I hadn't just eaten three cookies and a doughnut. Don't judge me; it's my cheat day on a very loose diet that I just made up this morning.

I settle my book in front of my face.

Tessa strained-

I don't even get three words in when a body is almost pushed on top of me. My head is slammed back onto the metal shelf.

"Ow. Seriously, I'm right here" rubbing my head I look up to see a couple standing side by side. Their fingertips are barely touching, the girl's hair is all over the place and the guy has a guilty looking expression written over his slightly flustered face.

Gasping I point between the couple before shaking my head "Shame on you. Have some decency for goodness sake. Anywhere but the library. Actually not at all, I want a good metre between you two" They stare at me in confusion than back at each other "Well what are you waiting for, chop chop" They jump apart when I hit their legs with a book.

"Much better" I nod in approval "Now scurry along I don't want to see you two canoodling in here anymore. And trust me when I say I will know. I'm always watching but not in a creepy stalker way I swear."

They both run in opposite directions. Look at me playing the anti-cupid.

I don't even get to open my book before someone decides to sit down right next to me. Do I really need to make a 'Do not disturb' sign to hang around my neck for when I'm reading?

I stop the person from talking by interrupting them first "Uhuh, no talking. Do you know how many times Tessa has gazed longingly out to the dock? Too many for a person who is impatient and gets seasick easily. I don't even know what she is looking for!"

"Then proceed with your reading I won't interrupt you," the familiar voice says calmly.

Tessa strained to see her brother among them, but the mist and spray from the ship were too thick for her to make out any individual in great detail.

I sigh in content. Finally.

"Satisfied?" Charlie asks placing his bag on top of his legs

I lean my head back on the shelf and close my eyes "You have no idea. That paragraph seemed to go on forever but I guess that's what happens when you read the same line six times," after placing the book in my bag I turn to Charlie who looks like he needs sleep. The bags under his eyes are darker and his cheeks are tinted pink. Obviously, someone's been falling asleep in class.

"So" He breaks the silence that has become unnaturally normal among us "how are you? It feels like forever since we've really talked one on one."

It's now that I realise that Charlie is sitting next to me and most chance wants to talk about everything. I'm not ready to talk. I haven't even finished the chapter "Yeah" is the only thing I can find to say.

He continues on "The new guy PJ seems to be pretty cool. Though I don't know if I trust you guys to be around food together. That'll probably end in an all-out food fight war. Zoe wouldn't appreciate the food in her hair."

With no response from me he continues.

"Josie's back," he pauses waiting for a reaction. Well using that name is usually a trigger for me I either start yelling or just walk away from the conversation. It takes a lot of restraint to do neither.

"Really, nothing? You can't ignore me forever Mace. And don't you dare say that you haven't been because right now you're hiding away in the back corner of the library by yourself. People probably think you're up to no good back here. The only people who come to the corner are drug dealers and people who want to make out. Anyway...We were all worried that something happened to you. Well not all of us, mainly Zoe but she always wonders if you've fallen into a ditch or fallen down an elevator."

I stay silent and find a cobweb in the shelf to fixate on instead of talking. But Charlie has other ideas. He quickly leans over me and snatches my book out of my bag. When I go to take it back he holds it over his head out of my reach. He raises an eyebrow to taunt me.

I won't be getting my book back until I start to talk. Evil genius... I've taught him well.

Huffing in defeat I cave in "I'm not hiding, it's called strategic retreat. Why would I hide from my best friend when he knows where I live? Plus the library has air con which means no more unnecessary wind that blows hair into my mouth."

Charlie grimaces "I really hope that we're only talking about your hair because I don't think it'll be sanitary to have dog hair in your mouth."

We fall into another awkward silence which is driving me insane. I'm really not in the right mindset to talk to him right now.

"Oh," he exclaims a little too loudly for it to be normal "I totally forgot I have a physics paper due. I should probably go hand it in now. It was great to-"

I grab his wrist before he can stand up "You're not allowed to leave," the firmness in my voice startles me a bit. Even though I don't really want to talk, it doesn't mean that I want him to leave. His company is comforting and I really do miss him.

I regain my composition quickly to make sure he doesn't get the upper hand "Really" He tries to raise an eyebrow but ends up squinting instead "why's that?"

"Because you're my best friend and you will put up with me even when you're angry. You can't just get up and leave when you're the one who sat next to me in the first place. Now sit down and stay silent."

He abruptly stands up "Make me. Convince me to stay."

He's really being a challenge today.

I do the only thing that comes to mind.

I tackle him by the legs. This results in him falling to the side with a thump.

"See normal people don't do things like this" He groans in pain. I don't blame him; he's practically got a baby hippo on top of him.

We re-adjust ourselves so we're sitting opposite each other "So how is Jess? You know, you're really sweet girlfriend" this is my fantastic attempt at small talk.

"She's good I guess."

"Are you guessing because you haven't seen her lately?" He looks at me in confusion "I think you should talk to her as she is your girlfriend for one and she's worried about you. I had to lie and say that you were feeling off because of something that happened at work. I'm surprised I didn't say anything super stupid like you got bitten by a racoon."

"Thanks for that I guess." By now Charlie has found a loose thread he can look at instead of me "I need to explain what happened that day."

I lean back against the bookcase with a bemused smile. "Please do," this is going to be entertaining.

"You see I've been thinking a lot lately."

"That's something I don't want to hear," I say under my breath.

"And I want to apologize for doing what I did."

"What exactly did you do?" I lean forward and put my chin on my fist.

"Well" he scratches the back head awkwardly "I had a lot on my mind that day and I was very confused."

"So was I when you put your lips smack bang on mine."

"Mackenzie," he groans "So you had been hanging around with Sam a lot lately, you guys had started to get closer and it was starting to get on my nerves. Then you came into work that day all flustered and a bit on edge, I'm guessing because of what happened with Troy and Cameron," I nod "I wanted to be the one to make you feel better, to make you feel calm that day. I didn't do a very good job, I'm aware. Then you said you couldn't breathe and being the cool guy I am, I totally panicked." A pained looked crossed his face as he stops.

"One word at a time Charlie," I say softly, giving a reassuring smile.

Charlie rubs his sweaty palms together "Everything I had learnt in first aid flew out of my head instantly. All I could seem to think about was teen wolf because I decided to stay up the night before and binge watch it. Now looking back, it wasn't the best decision as I ended up kissing you which I realise was a very big mistake. Then you ran away and I freaked out even more. I called around to see if anyone knew where you were. It was only later on when I got a message from Sam saying you were fine. Funny how I didn't think to message him but he knew to message me."

He rubs a hand over his tired face "I'm sorry about all the trouble I've caused."

The regret in his eyes tugs at my heart, why didn't I talk to him sooner? It's been eating him up from the inside as well. Now I feel bad. I don't like this feeling.

"Nono. I get it now. I think I just needed to hear everything coming from you to understand what happened, we're cool. I kind of understand why you did it just don't do it again okay," I joke but don't get much of a reaction.

I twist myself around and sit next to him "And you don't have to worry about Sam. We just dislike each other a little less than before that's all. Nobody can replace you. Like ever. You can't get rid of me that easy."

I turn to find Charlie giving me a small smile. I really did miss not having him around as much. I feel so bad for walking the other direction when I saw him the past week.

"Can you help me up? My but's gotten numb from sitting on it for too long."

He laughs while slowly standing up. When he extends a familiar hand I happily take it, a soft squeeze on my hand tells me we're going to be okay.

It's starting to feel like everything is falling back into place.

***

"I thought we didn't have to do any more forced physical activity when we became seniors. That's one of the only good perks besides the senior microwave." I exclaim in utter outrage

My evil teacher doesn't take her eyes off the clipboard."You have no choice Miss StClair. This is a class assessment that you will be marked on."

Throwing my hands in the air I look around at my other classmates that are as confused as me "I still don't understand what hockey has to do with biology."

"Have you heard of survival of the fittest? It's like that but we're seeing if the asthmatic and lazy kids can beat the athletes at hockey," she points at the two groups she has separated us into. I bet you can guess which group I'm in.

"One I think we all already know the results of the so-called 'experiment' *cough cough* torture. Also, I don't think it's appropriate for me to wear a skirt while playing sport as-"

"Don't care."

"I've got a life-threatening disease which makes me allergic to plastic balls and sweat. I could di-"

"Too bad."

"I broke my phalange. Sir I mean Miss. You should know I can go on like this forever," I cross my arms standing my ground.

"And I can give you a lunchtime detention. With no food."

On second thought "Where do I get my nylon shorts?" I put my hands on my hips and look around hopelessly (I haven't been in the Gym for a while. I like to avoid places that give me nightmares and left a permanent scar on me for life. What can I say? Gym and I had a Hate-Hate relationship.)

"I think using the shin pads is a wise decision" somebody rams their shoulder into mine. I turn around to see none other than Josie.

Great hockey and psycho girl from the past, what can be better?

"Is that a threat?"

She keeps walking but yells over her shoulder "Just a suggestion as you never know when the stick might just... slip. You should know to stay away from things that aren't yours."

Oh, it is on.

I gather my teammates and give them the most inspiring speech the world has ever heard "KICK THEM IN THE SHINS!"

Short and sweet just like me.

Well minus the sweet and replace it with brilliant evil mastermind.

As soon the whistle is blown the two sides charge towards each other. Is it too late to run in the opposite direction and hide in the disabled bathroom?

Before I can tell what's happening I'm falling face first into a patch of weeds that most definitely have been strategically placed here by Josie who looks like she is having the time of her life watching me in pain.

A girl leans down to give me a hand, after our 5th attempt I'm back on my feet. What can I say? We're both moderately unfit people, there's a reason we got put on this team.

"Are you alright? Nothing was broken, bruised, fractured, cut-"

I brush the grass off my shirt "None of the above. I'm still in one piece" but Josie won't be for long.

"Don't give me that look. Whatever you're planning, it's a stupid idea and it will most definitely backfire on you."

"You don't know me and for your information, I've decided to be the bigger mature person and stay calm."

"Well technically speaking you're smaller by a lot and are we talking about the same person who-"

"Okay, I get it I shouldn't play sport. I agree. Oh no" I clutch my leg gaining the attention of the whole class "I've been injured. I should take myself to the nurse. Good game guys," I give them a thumbs up before hobbling away.

And that my friends is how you get out of compulsory physical activity.

When I'm out of their sight of vision I get out my phone and press speed dial.

They pick up almost immediately "Zoe, 'Plan Josie' revenge is a go. We really need to come up with a better name."

"Sorry this isn't Zoe," a croaky voice says.

"Oh" if I didn't ring Zoe who did I call?

"This is Pizza Hut."

"Well while I've got you on the line I might as well order something. We're going to need a lot of pizza to help us plot revenge."

"Um okay, would you like garlic bread with that?"

The pizza man always knows what to say.

Cupcake Theory #33
It's good to talk things out and forgive people (most of the time)

:):):)

I am sunburnt but all is good in the world. Well I hope so at least.

I'm tired and super hungry but it's okay because I've got wattpad. Woooohhhh

3 cool things that happened this week:
- a cool wind came which is a nice change as it's been so humid
- I went book/Christmas shopping with a friend.
-the comments on this book have been making me smile non stop

I seriously love you guys.
Your support means everything.
I know I say it a lot but thank you
You're amazing
You're special
You mean everything to me
You are worth so much more than you believe

Lots of uninterrupted love

Theforgottonone