Girlfriend

 

                It was three days since I’d caught Victoria and Ben fighting. Life went on in the normal way it did before that weekend. Three days passed. Finally it was Friday, today I had math, English, science, gym, history, then art again. You see I didn’t have the same elective everyday: Mondays and Fridays were art, Tuesdays and Thursdays were French, and then Wednesdays I had a literature class.

                I was excited to go home to Ben because every Friday we’d stay up and watch movies all night and shove pop corn in each other’s mouth. It was so much fun; it was something my dad used to do with my mother and then us. Art, however fun, took so long. Not even talking about picking your image could keep my mind off of what might happen tonight. I wished Viki didn’t have to be there, she never understood. That’s why I decided to paint the old movie theater for my painting project. When the bell rang I busted out of there but as always Sadie and Morgan managed to find me before I ran away totally. Together we walked off home. On the way there we ran into the strangest thing. There was a small basketball court not far from the school where local children would play. There on the court were Ben, Alex, and Dex, all shirtless playing a game of b-ball with the local kids. There were a group of plastics I recognized from our school staring at them through the chain link fence with their faces pressed into the metal. Before I could think to admire the boys perfect build Sadie ran straight through the gate, luckily it was a time out else those other guys’d probably run into her. She jumped on Alex who caught her graciously, they made out passionately, several of the guys whistled and cat called from the sidelines. Dex gave Morgan a sidelong glance but all she did was read even when the plastics gasped and started whispering furiously. Ben looked around at everything besides the embraced couple and me; he even gave Dex a small glance. I was sick of watching other people make out with their loved ones I wanted a bit of that myself! I grabbed Morgan’s arm and stomped off.

                “What’s her problem?” I heard Ben ask, slightly annoyed.

                “I don’t know,” I could hear the smile in her voice. She pranced up to meet us.

                “Hey Izz, why don’t you chill?” she was walking backwards now and was struggling to keep up with my already fast pace.

                “Why don’t you quit snogging?” I asked her impatiently.

                “Oh relax, I just wanted to teach those Barbies a lesson.”

                “Oy, I don’t really care, it was vicious and embracing for poor innocent Alex!” This whole not being with Ben was getting on my nerves and invading the rest of my life. I could no longer have a peaceful chat with my best friends for God’s sake!

                “Hey Sadie, do you wana come to the bookstore with me?” Morgan suddenly looked up from her book. Me and Sadie looked around with surprise.

                “Um sure... come on Izz,” she started to drag me of in the direction of the bookstore but Morgan stopped her.

                “Just you and me,” she looked her square in the eye. Sadie had no choice but to follow Morgan of toward the store. She wore a hard face but she still managed to give me a wink without Sadie noticing. Although Sadie could read our minds in a snap she more often than not got caught up in her own plans and forgot that the rest of us needed to come up for every now and then.

                I was glad that I no longer had to keep up a good face for my friends. Here on the streets where no one knew my name I could let it all out and no one would even think to care. I walked along the street calmly looking into each of the shop windows. Before I knew it there was a hand in my hand and he was walking with me no matter what. I turned to complain to Wolfey, to tell him that this wasn’t normal goy girl friend behavior, but he insisted on walking with me this way.

                “So how are the New Years Eve party plans going?” he asked.

                “Ah, I really left that up to Alice this year, I don’t really have that much time anymore,” I looked away.

                “Oh so you’ve dedicated all your time to Whatshisface?” he questioned looking straight ahead.

                “No!” I laughed and smiled at him. It was so nice to get attention from one of the guys in my life. His arm wrapped around my arms. At first I objected but then I figured it didn’t really matter. We walked together for a long time just kind of wondering around. Why did he not. Want. Me. I was beginning to cry after a half hour or so, feeling frustration beginning to suffocate me.

                “You shouldn’t want men who make you cry,” Wolfey stopped and looked at me tenderly.

                “I guess that rules them all out.” I looked him in the eye with a serious face.

                “I said I was sorry, he doesn’t even know what he’s doing wrong,” he pleaded.

                “Yeah you did, and now we’re just friends,” I reminded him.

                “Yes, well, there’s nothing stopping us from becoming something more,” he said hopefully. I gave him a smile but that was as much as I could muster.

                “Look, I love you Wolfey I do!” I sighed and squiggled out of his arms, he gave me the biggest smile, his whole face lifted before he realized where I was going, “but Wolfey I’m not in love with you. You’re more of a brother to me,” I lied.

                “Oh Ray, I… I don’t want to hurt you. Please, let’s try this friend thing. Please,” he asked. I couldn’t help myself, I gave him a big hug.

                “Sure, why don’t we catch a movie?” I asked him. That’s when we went off to the old theater. When we got there I remembered my project. Instead of going in I asked Wolfey if he wouldn’t mind if we just hung around outside. We sat down on a bench; I sat and sketched the front but there was something about it that just didn’t seem right.

                “Maybe it’s just a little too much, why don’t we go around back, get a more tranquil look,” suggested Wolfey. I knew what he was trying to get at but I really didn’t care so we went around back. I got back there and started looking for something that would make a good picture. There were only the huge brick walls and some trash cans; still there was something about that place that I just couldn’t pass up. After an hour of thinking I was beginning to give up. All along Wolfey just stood behind me watching. Then I got an ideal. I dragged Wolfey up to a wall and told him to stand like he normally would on this kind of wall. He crossed his legs, folded his arms, and leaned his back against the wall. He hid his eyes behind his old fashion hat, all I could see was the tip of his nose and his twisted nose. I started to draw him. I couldn’t believe how easily it came.

                “We could go back to my place and do this with a little less clothing,” he joked. I lowered my pencil and looked up at him. My hands rubbed together and I gave him a dirty stare.

                “This is why I didn’t want to be with you anymore you know. You’re always trying to get into some girls pants.” I wanted to go home at this point.

                “Don’t I was just joking! Come back finish the drawing, then maybe we can go get something to eat.” He was so desperate for me to stay. I sighed and picked my pencil back up and drew a little more but the cold had frozen my hand so I stopped. Just then my phone rang, Wolfey walked over to me as I answered and got up and started to walk.

                “Hey Ben,” I said cheerfully, glad for an excuse not to listen to Wolfey plead.

                “Hey sweetheart, where are you, I don’t want to do movie night by myself?” he was getting worried, he was right to worry, it was getting to be nine o’clock and I’d not even talked to anyone besides Wolfey after Morgan and Sadie had left.

                “Don’t worry I’ll be home in a little while, just let me dump Wolfey,” I knew this was going to upset him but I wanted to know exactly how bad he would react.

                “What? What do you mean dump Wolfey? What is he doing there? I swear if he’s bothering you I’ll knock his brains out.” he was yelling now.

                “I love you to, see you in a bit. Bye!”

                “What wait, Izz…!” he started to shout but I snapped the phone shut before he could finish.

                “I’ve got to go,” I told Wolfey as I started to run away from his stunned figure. I ran back to my apartment. I unlocked the door as fast as I could and then ran up the stairs and dropped my jacket and school stuff on the couch.

                “Ben, Hey Ben! Where are you.” I heaved my night cloths on as fast as I could and ran down the stairs and flopped on the couch.

                “What do you think you’re doing?” I looked back and there was Victoria in a long fancy plain black dress. I wasn’t sure how to respond, to her question or how she was dressed.

                “Um… movie night?” I said questioningly raising the remote in my hand.

                “Oh. Well then you have fun with that,” she gave me a sarcastic smirk and looked up the stairs, “Ben sweetheart come on we’re going to be late!” she shouted. I couldn’t believe my ears, how could he ditch me like this, for her! He stepped out of his room and looked sadly down at the two of us glaring at each other.

                “What’s going on!?” I shouted, “This is our night!” What was he doing?

                “He’s going to dinner with me,” she sassed, “it’s our three year anniversary!” I looked at Ben who had eyes only for the floor.

                “Don’t stay up to late Izz, I don’t want you to get sick,” he mumbled as he went down the stairs and headed toward the door with Viki.

                “Wait we can’t even talk about this?” I pleaded.

                “There’s nothing to talk about he sighed and with that he led Victoria away and closed the door behind him. I was so mad I started to cry. After at least an hour I got up and plugged in Star Wars and started watching. I imagine I fell asleep around 12:00 and the kids weren’t back yet. At around 2:00 I awoke to the door slamming. I didn’t open my eyes or move because I was just so comfy. That was before I heard the heavy breathing. Victoria let out a long moan as I imagine Ben was kissing up her neck. They slammed against a wall and all of the sudden I felt something soft drop onto my back. I had to look up at that point but when I did I only caught a glance of Ben carrying Victoria up the stairs and to his room. On my back was his white dress shirt and over on the empty floor around the stairs was that awful black dress. With a groan I sank back on the couch and went back to sleep.

                The next morning I got up at about 8:00 and started making breakfast. There was bacon and eggs and then toast to be made. I was halfway started when I remembered what had happened last night. I felt a tear role down my cheek but only one.

                “Hey Izzy,” called Ben as he hopped down the stairs. He looked happy, really happy, as he popped up beside me in his pajamas

                “Hey,” I sighed not even looking at him.

                “What’s wrong?” he asked. When I didn’t answer he put his bare arms around me. I felt like melting in his arms but I kept my head.

                “Have fun last night?” I asked coldly. He dropped his arms and backed to lean on a wall.

                “Sure, we had fun,” he answered calmly.

                “Really, how much fun,” I asked frustratedly as I jiggled the frying pan.

                “Just fun, dinner and movies,” he rattled off peacefully.

                “Where is she,” I asked.

                “Oh, I dropped her off back at her place,” he didn’t even flinch. I wondered how often he lied to me.

                “Did y’all do it?” I asked him.

                “Um… it? What… what do you…” he started.

                “What do you think I mean? What else do you refer to as it?” I half screamed.

                “NO! WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! Ok we just made out a little.” He was really worried now.

                “Ah what do I care? I’m not your girl. Why are you so uptight?” I started laughing I guess because I was glad he didn’t do anything with her. I grabbed two plates and loaded them.

                “Come on, get us something to drink and we’ll watch a movie to make up for yesterday,” I walked on off toward the living room, scooted a stack of books off the coffee table to put down the plates and I plugged in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. He grabbed a glass and filled it with orange juice and grabbed me a Dr. Pepper.

                “So are you ok, I mean about when… last night… you know… um.” He was rambling, I thought I’d let him off the hook.

                “Yeah, s’cool, just tell me next time you try and ditch me instead of just walking out the door,” I snuggled up to him and buried my face in his chest.

                “I’m really, really sorry,” he ran his hand through my hair.

                “Don’t worry, please,” I smiled after her. He nodded, and together we sat and watched movies for a good 4 hours.

                “Hey Izz, wana go do something?” he suddenly looked down at me in his arms. For a minute I really wanted to be sexy and woo him into my bedroom but I was sure he wouldn’t go for that. Anyways I decided that he should suffer here alone for what he’d done to me last night.

                “Oh… well you see… I’ve kind of already made plans,” I smiled sweetly back up at him. He gave me a frown for a fraction of a second then looked away.

                “Oh ok, I just thought… never mind,” he thought it would work that it’d drag me back in but I was bigger than that and I’d really promised Alice.

                “I promised Alice I’d go help Alice plan our party,” I looked back at the screen.

                “But that’s not for what…,” he started counting his fingertips, “seven weeks away.” He sounded so disappointed, I guess he wanted to make up for yesterday.

                “It’s a big party, there’s so much to be done, Alice reserved our place at the Regis hotel three months ago and now we have to plan it all out so it’s just perfect,” I twisted to face him and turned his face around to look at me. He looked down at the floor. I gave him a small smile again and then got up to go put my clothes on.

                “You have to go right now?” he looked at me pitifully.

                “Yeah it’s about time I got leaving,” I started up the stairs slowly to see if he would object but he just nodded his head and put it in his hands. I walked into my room and went over to my chest of drawers. I put on a plain navy blue shirt, my dark blue jeans, and my worn out sneakers. I walked down the stairs again to find Ben staring at the TV screen. I walked out the door and gave him a soft goodbye to which he softly said goodbye back to me. After a moment of watching him I grabbed my purse and jacket and went off out of the apartment building.

Reviews

[Dylan I. Cree]

This is sad and it seems to me he's a liar. Dress and no shirt implies sex. She really should move on.