Chapter 13: The best way to forget

Nevaeh:

Jez and I are hanging out in my room, doing a couple of cheer jumps and getting ready for tonight’s game. Adjusting my hair, I pick up my cheer bag, tuck my phone into the front pocket, and turn to Jez. “You ready, Jez?” Jez ties her shoelace and smiles. “Yep, let’s go.”

Walking out the door, I try not to look at the house across the street. I’m just glad that tomorrow’s Friday. I don’t think I can face Mikhail yet. Thankfully, we’ve managed to get most of the work done for Lit. We just need to finish the scene. I try to play it cool, but it’s hard to act out a romantic scene with someone who told you that kissing you was a mistake. I just hope we can get it done so we can go our separate ways.

Jez is driving this time. She has a blue mini cooper with a black stripe in the middle. It’s so cute. I set up my music list as soon as she turns on the engine. One of my favorites songs instantly comes on, making me feel relaxed. I lean back, letting the words flow through me as Jez maneuvers the car through the streets.

Unfortunately, my calm mood is interrupted when Jez lowers the volume and mutters. “My hands feel dry. Can you reach into my glove and hand me my hand lotion?”

Nodding, I reach forward and open the glove, but instead of lotion inside, there’s a little-wrapped box. I look back to Jez, who is smiling at me with encouragement. “I know that it’s not until tomorrow, but I was too excited to wait. Happy Birthday, Nev.”

Smiling, I give her a sideways hug. “Aww, thanks, Jez.”

The box is beautifully wrapped in pink and silver. Excited, I open the box and find a white gold silver charm bracelet. I inspect the bracelet and smile with delight when I see that the charms are of things I love. There is a song note, a cheerleader horn, a cupcake, and the words love and BFF. Placing the bracelet around my wrist, I turn back to Jez. “I love it.”

Jez smiles and glides her fingers across the charms. “I’m glad. Cause you deserve it. You know, it really sucks that my dad is making me work for that stupid catering party tomorrow.”

Waving her words away, I give her an understanding look. “Don’t worry about it, Jez. I have some college applications to fill out anyway. I understand your responsibilities.”

Frowning, Jez tightens her hands on the steering wheel. “It just sucks, Nev. It’s your birthday tomorrow, and I’m leaving you alone. I suck!”

She sounds so downtrodden. I know that she really feels bad, and I don’t blame her for not being able to hand it out. I mean, it’s not her fault. Shrugging my shoulders, I give her an encouraging smile. “Look, Jez, I’m a big girl, and I can handle being alone tomorrow. Promise me you won’t worry. Anyway, I think my parents might be coming home.” Jez gives me an incredulous look but remains silent. She knows not to bring up my parents, so she changes the subject. “Fine, but my Saturday is wide open for you. I talked to the girls, and they’re ready to party. That’s why I was thinking. There’s this cool club that just opened. All of us are going to dress to the nines, go to the club and find some hot older guys dance with.”

Revived by the thought of a free Saturday, Jez shakes my shoulders excitedly. “We’re going to get drunk and dance until we’re falling from our chairs.” I chuckle at her antics. It will be good to get out. And who knows, I might meet someone who might help me forget my feelings for Mikhail.

I woke up this morning feeling a little depressed but decided I was going to shake it off. The team won last night’s game, and we rocked our cheers. Since it’s my birthday, I decided to go all out. I put on a cute outfit, did up my hair, and put my charm bracelet on. Somehow looking at the bracelet lifts my spirits because I know that my best friend thought about me when she bought it.

When I was little, my mom and dad used to surprise me with a breakfast birthday cake. I’d blow out the candles, and we’d eat the cake as a family. Now…well… I’m lucky if they even remember to call. My phone dings with a few texts. It’s Jez, Brit and a few other friends wishing me a happy birthday. My mood lightens instantly.

Jez meets me by my locker. “Hey, birthday…” I cover Jez’s mouth, giving her a reproachful look. “Don’t do it. You know I hate making a big deal of my B-day.”

Jez rolls her eyes and removes my hand from her mouth. “Fine, but at least let me buy you lunch today?”

Pretending to think it through, I place my finger under my chin as I pause for a few seconds. “Fine. I will even let you buy me a cupcake.” We laugh heartily as we walk towards the gym arm in arm. The whole cheer squad is there looking giddy with excitement.

The girls jump up as soon as they see me and wrap their arms around me. “Happy birthday, Nev!”

Brit hands me a gift bag. “This is from all of us.”

I smile and take the box while the girls back up, excitedly waiting for me to open it. Reaching into the bag, I pull out the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It’s a Nasty Gatsby girl dress. The dress looks like a vintage-inspired 1940’s dress. It has a drop waist with a box pleated hem, a wrapped neckline, and a strappy back. Kayla Mathews, the flyer of our group, steps forward with another box. “You can’t wear this dress without a fresh pair of shoes.”

I swallow deeply as my emotions choke me. Taking the bag, I peer inside and reach in for a shoebox. The box says Christian Louboutin. The shoes are beautiful peep-toed pumps with multicolored rhinestones. Tears gleaming in my eyes. I look up at their expectant faces. “Oh my god, guys. I love them.” I hug the dress and shoes to my chest. Showing them how appreciative I am of their gift. The girls give me a wide smile and encircle me in their arms. We all laugh and hug happily. It was the perfect beginning to what I felt would have been a crappy day.

Feeling better, I make my way to my first-period class. After practice ended, I tucked my bags into my Jeep. As I’m about to walk into class, Aaron “Ponyboy,” stops in front of me and pulls me to the side.

I quirk a brown when he leans close and whispers. “Hey, a little bird told me that today is my special girl’s birthday.”

I chuckle in amusement. “Really? And what little bird would that be?” I say, playing along.

He smiles, biting his lower lip and hugs me close. “You know I can’t reveal my sources.”

Snorting, I push him back and smack his shoulder playfully. “Okay, then, so where’s my gift?”

Aaron’s smile grows bigger before he leans forward and kisses me. I’m stunned. After a few seconds, I push him back. “What was that, Ponyboy?”

He gives me a devilish look as he licks his lips. “That was your present. You’re welcome.” He says before turning around and walking away.

Bemused, I shake my head and walk back into the room. Mikhail is sitting stiffly in his chair, his hands gripping the corners of the desk tightly. He looks seriously angry.

Laying my bag down, I’m taken by surprise when Jez grasps my elbow and mutters. “Girl. What was that?”

I shrug my shoulders. “What was what?”

She slaps my shoulders playfully. “What was that with Aaron and the make-out session? That’s what’s what?”

I groan, not realizing that everyone saw. “I don’t know, girl. I’m as surprised as you are. He just said happy birthday, kissed me, then told me that I was welcome.”

Jez laughs loudly, making everyone stop and look in our direction.

Mortified, I bite my lip and shush her. “Not so loud, Jez.”

Jez nods.

“I swear that boy is crazy,” I mutter with a bewildered shake of my head.

“Yeah, no kidding,” Jez replies.

Sitting straight, I look at Mikhail, who is staring angrily at the board. His jaw pops with untold rage. What’s his problem?

Our second-period class is just as bad. My mood quickly fades in the face of Mikhail’s indifference. I might as well not exist with the way he’s treating me, and it sucks because it was never this bad between us.

He sits down and works quietly without saying a word. Hurt by his coldness, I raise my hand and ask Mrs. C for a nurse’s pass. Before I walk out the door, I give Jez a reassuring smile. I just can’t stand sitting there any longer.

Stepping out of the room, I run to the bathroom and hide in one of the stalls. I take a couple of deep breaths and lean my forehead against the stall door and place my hand over my chest.

Why does he make me feel this way? It’s so hard to make sense of Mikhail and the emotions he evokes inside of me. I mean, he has made it clear that there’s nothing going on between us. Yet, his coldness makes me feel like I did something wrong.

I swallow down my grim thoughts as I try to compose myself. At that moment, my phone rings in my pants pocket. It’s my mom. Maybe she’s calling me to wish me a happy birthday. My heart beats excitedly. “Hey, mom—” before I can say more, my mom interrupts. “Nevaeh, I’m just calling to let you know that I’m not coming home tonight. I have a few meetings with some investors, and a new client asked me to join them for a weekend so I can meet a couple of business contacts. I stopped by the house earlier for a change of clothes, and I left you some money on the kitchen counter.”

My heart plummets with despair. She’s just calling to let me know that she’s ditching me again. The tears that I’m holding back choke me as I try to formulate a response. “Yeah, okay,” I mumble dejectedly.

My mom disconnects the call without a response. Swallowing deeply, I pull the toilet seat down and slump on it shakily onto the seat. Tears flow down my face as my despair overtakes me. Covering my face with my hands, I let loose a couple of heart-wrenching sobs. My body shakes as I try to retain my tears, but it’s as if my body refuses to stop. I don’t know how long I sit in the stall, but eventually, my tears dry out. I guess I spoke too soon when I said my day was going to be fine.