One Touch

7: Broken Friendship

The kingdom in school was all everyone talked about and there were no conversations created without the words ‘Caspian’ and ‘Amber’. I had enough of Caspian’s superiority outside of school. I didn’t need more inside of it. If I heard another girl squeal over it, I’d have to get an ear surgery for temporary hearing loss. It was extreme, and a little over-board, but those were my exact feelings that morning as I walked through the hallways.

The rumours started a week ago and grew to a mind blowing stage of class-gossiping and countless questions being spewed from all angles. There should be a blog for it, and it would sure as hell be a very successful one.

In addition to the rest of school, my friends Luna and Haiti wouldn’t stop talking about it at lunch. It wasn’t a big deal, but everyone treated them as celebrities stepping out of an exclusive limo. Our Chemistry teacher waited a while for us to calm down and started the lesson with a brief overview of yesterday’s homework. The murmuring didn’t stop, but was quiet enough to bear.

I twisted my neck to sneak a peak at Caspian, and his eyes met mine within seconds. I opened my mouth to speak but closed it, realizing we were in a class. He raised an eyebrow in question and my eyes dropped to my paper.

Was it official? It couldn’t be—he’d never accept a girl like Amber. It was his decision and I knew he had a busy background with romantic relationships, but it still bothered me.

When it was the end of school, Atlanta met me right after class with a prepared purse and a bright smile. She sure couldn’t wait for today to come around. Finally. She waited while I packed my things, and she was aware of the entire class looking at her as she stood by my desk. She didn’t seem to care as her smile didn’t falter.

“Ready to go?” I asked her, wearing my backpack over my shoulders.

She nodded, but someone came towards her before she followed me out the class. It was Ronald, the dark haired football player who held the reputation of winning two gold medals for the team within four years. Ronald slipped a hand behind his neck, staring at the floor as he stopped in front of Atlanta. She greeted him and a small smile appeared on his face. They knew each other?

“Hi, Atlanta,” he said, and glanced around at the other students watching them. “Um, I forgot to return that pen you let me borrow the other day.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” Atlanta told him, fidgeting with her hands. “You can give it to me now.” I swore there was pin drop silence surrounding them.

Ronald pulled out her pen. “It might be out of ink,” he said. “Let me check.” He rummaged through his binder for a piece of lined paper, his back towards us as he wrote on the paper and straightened.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” she told him. Ronald turned around with the folded piece of paper. He held the paper and the pen out for her to take.

“It works,” he confirmed. Atlanta gave him a shy smile and his hands slipped into his jeans. “I’ll see you around.”

The second Ronald left our spot, a low murmur started across the frozen classroom. Goodness, I hated this school for its melodramatic student atmosphere. Please let a hurricane whip through and take all the annoying kids with it.

Atlanta was staring at the folded piece of paper the entire time as we crossed the hallway and towards the exit doors. Her eyes didn’t leave it and I stopped her at my car.

“If you want to read it, go ahead,” I said to her. “I’ll wait inside.” I turned on the car and watched her from the rear view mirror. I was just as nervous as her, for whatever reason.

Her hands shook a bit as she opened the paper, and she read Ronald’s note. She read it several times, for minutes, and I started to get impatient. I was about to honk for attention when a loud group of people entered the parking lot. I looked at the side mirror to see the kingdom walking towards us, and ducked my head to stay hidden.

I heard another series of voices behind my car and pulled my head to up to see who it was. Atlanta was surrounded by the entire group, and I rubbed my forehead.

“What did he write you?” This had to be Caspian, being the overprotective brother he was. Atlanta didn’t reply. “Tell me so I could put a stop to this before it escalates.”

“It’s nothing!” Atlanta told him, her hands going on her hips. “It’s none of your business. Can you stop following me around for one day?” Caspian snatched the note from her and she gasped, reaching out for it. He held it high above her and read the note. She cupped her face as a hard line came across Caspian’s face.

That was it. I stepped out and marched towards him. The rest of the group behind him followed my every step but I ignored them all. I wasn’t letting Caspian treat my friend like that.

I took the note from Caspian’s hand, and he was the last to realize I was there. Out of curiosity, I read the note. Do you want to go on a date with me? I folded it, my cheeks flushing.

“Stupid,” Caspian commented and I glared at him. “What? That’s my sister I’m dealing with, not a random girl I wanted to pick on.”

“Maybe you should give her some space,” I told him. “Because being a jerk won’t make her happy.” Caspian narrowed his eyes and I put an arm around Atlanta.

His eyes widened and he pulled Atlanta away from my hold as if my arm were molten rocks. That kind of hurt, the way he acted. To hide the fact I was offended, I observed the cracks in the ground.

“Sorry, Eve!” Atlanta apologized, separating from her brother and his group. “We’re still going to the mall. No one will be stopping us.”

Caspian scowled. “You’re going to the mall together? Atlanta, how many times should I go through this? You know we can’t—”

“She’s coming,” I said, putting out a hand to make him stop. “You can’t make decisions for her. And I’m not staying here any longer, suffering because of your awful attitude.”

Amber came out from the group and stopped right between Caspian and me. Her fresh green eyes pierced at me with the sharpness of a knife. Oh, so now everyone else was getting involved?

“Don’t you say a damn word about him, you hear me?” she said, her voice dripping with revulsion. This had to be the first time she had talked to me.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t care if he’s your boyfriend,” I said without fear. “He’s a human and that’s all the reason I need to say he’s a jerk. I can’t tolerate control-freaks.”

“You might want to take that back, hon,” Amber glowered. I crossed my arms and Caspian watched us as if we were a hockey match during the final round. “You’re dead.”

Ryu pushed through and pulled her back. “This is enough. We have to go,” he said, and I wish I could thank him for it. “Caspian, let Atlanta go. Her friend’s not going to let us take her away.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “It’d be much appreciated if you continue to go and rendezvous with the rest of your pack. Aka, leave us alone and stop pestering Atlanta. I'm not afraid to interfere.” Zavian put a fist to his mouth to stop an impending smile as Emerald tugged on the back of Caspian’s shirt.

“We should probably go before she creates a scene,” she told him, but Caspian’s gaze didn’t leave mine.

After a moment of pure silence, a smile flickered on his face. “You’re real sly,” he said, and turned around. “You won’t get your way all the time. This is your lucky day.”

Atlanta and I waited until they left with their own cars, and one thing kept running in my head: I was in an invisible war with Caspian, and we were fighting for the same object.

“Whoa.” That was the first word that left Atlanta’s lips. “Eve, I…I don’t know what to say. Thank you. Really.” Her feet remained rooted to the ground, and I gave her a playful nudge with an elbow.

“That’s what friends are for,” I said, and added, “Real ones.”

I wasn’t too familiar with the mall, but it was my dream to go shopping with a friend. It was one of those dreams you had in your loneliest days, wishing there was someone beside you to spend time with. For that sole reason, I didn’t want to let Atlanta go and lose to Caspian. I had never gotten such a feeling with Haiti and Luna, and I didn’t think I ever would.

The smiles on our faces could light up an entire city by the time we returned home late that afternoon. The sun was beating in the blue sky above, and it was a perfect day to bath in its light.

No one was home today, and I didn’t want to disturb dad. Atlanta wasn’t in the mood to do homework, and neither was I. I told her about my sunbathing routine and she liked the idea. We got out two beach chairs from the garage and unfolded them on my lawn. I gave her a pair of sunglasses and she put them on. She had brought a book with her to read, but I could never read under the sunlight like her.

“These are so cute,” she said, rotating the glasses in her hand. “And the sun feels great, although it makes me feel tired.” She yawned. “It drains our energy.” Her eyes popped open as if she said something she shouldn’t have.

“Yeah, I feel it too,” I said, and Atlanta relaxed. “So, when does your mom come home from work?”

“A little later,” she said, folding her arms behind her head. “I don’t even know anymore. I hope she’s doing okay with her work.” I wondered the same for my mom, but didn’t know what else I could do for her.

A noise from across the driveway made me look up and I saw Caspian walk out of his house. My gaze stilled on him as he grabbed a hose from the side of his backyard and brought it to the front.

“Hey, Atlanta,” I got her attention. “Does Caspian like gardening?”

She turned her head to me and lifted her sunglasses. “Huh? Not really. Why’d you ask?” I nodded towards her house and she frowned. “He hates to be out in the sun.”

“Oh.” I sat up. “I thought people like him didn’t do chores.”

Atlanta shook her head. “We weren’t given any chores today, so it’s weird of him to water the lawn.” She cupped the side of her mouth. “How’s that grass coming?!” she shouted across the street.

Caspian glanced over, not answering. Atlanta crossed her legs and resumed dozing off in the sun. He adjusted the hat on his head so it shadowed his face. My throat felt dry all of a sudden.

“Um, Atlanta,” I sat up, “I’m going to make some lemonade, okay?” She replied with a faint mumble and I went into the house.

I didn’t know what came over me, but I didn’t want to see Caspian. It wasn’t even the fact that I hated his attitude. It took me ten minutes to make the lemonade, yet I didn’t want to come out.

I put two straws in each of the two glasses I had on the counter, and carried them out the door. I came to an instant stop when I saw Caspian standing in front of Atlanta with a hand wiping his forehead.

“Go away,” she was telling him. “Your efforts are useless. She’s by my side and you can’t do anything about it.” Caspian began to say something back but he noticed me standing on my porch and the words left his mouth. Atlanta turned back and smiled when she saw me.

“Lemonade? Come here, I want a glass!” she said, and I walked to them with uncertain footsteps. I gave her a glass and she took a long sip. “Wow, this is really good.”

“Thanks,” I said, sipping from my glass. My glance drifted back to Caspian and noticed he didn’t look away from me. “What?” I couldn’t be that big of a spectacle.

“You said you’d repay me back for Starbucks,” he said. Atlanta kicked his leg but he ignored her. I told him to wait while I got the money.

Not so long as I went inside, he trailed behind me. “Hey, do you know the definition of ‘wait’?” I asked, not stopping him as I went into the kitchen. He didn’t listen, but at the same time, I wasn’t complaining. I thought he made a point by saying I didn’t need to repay him for the Starbucks drink, but here we were now.

I opened a wooden drawer from the counter and took out a total of five dollars. Meh, one or two dollars more wouldn’t hurt to give. Besides, I didn’t want him to think I was stingy. When was the last time I cared about what he thought of me? Shaking my head, I shut the drawer and turned around with the change in hand.

“Here’s your—” I stopped mid-sentence when I saw Caspian right in front of me. I had to lift my head at a slight angle to see his full face, and the closeness startled me as I tried to speak.

His eyes pierced and he bent forward, his arms stretching along my sides and holding the edge of the counter. A buzz of warmth radiated from the closure, and I recoiled as far back as I could with a dumbfounded flush across my face.

“You know, it’s not a good choice to let random strangers in,” he said, his voice low. He couldn’t have followed me inside just to tell me that.

“You’re not a stranger,” I said in my defense. “Wh…why are you up in my personal space again?”

He didn’t move despite what I’d said. “I don’t know.” He sounded distracted and I tried not to sway under his overwhelming presence. “It feels good.”

“What?” I blurted. A nerve popped on his arm as he pulled back, and his hands balled into fists. “What is wrong with you? You asked me to pay you back and that’s what I was doing. You already have a girlfriend so I don’t know why—”

“Don’t be flattered,” he said with a flat tone, and his brows furrowed with such deepness it blended into the shadows of his lids. “I came here to talk to you about Atlanta and no other intention.”

I broke my way past him and pointed an accusing finger at him. “Yeah, I’d buy that after what you just did,” I spat.

His jaw clenched. “Forget it happened. I certainly regret being anywhere near you. I don’t plan to have history with ugly girls.” I felt a punch to my stomach, the same impact I had days ago before he had come to apologize.

“Are we really repeating this?” I said, trying not to sound hurt and ignoring the lump about to form in my throat.

He brushed a hand through his hair in frustration. “What, are you going to cry now? Grow up, you sensitive baby.” This was the second punch and I didn’t know how to respond.

I staggered to the island, balancing myself. “Why are you being so mean to me? I just don’t understand,” I said, trying to keep my composure. “Am I a target for you to constantly shoot at? What have I ever done to you?”

Caspian’s hands unclenched and he started towards me. I looked the other way, not wanting to see him at all. Whenever he was around, I’d end up feeling horrible or hurt.

“And don’t even say sorry this time,” I told him, standing upright again. “I’m done with this. You want me to stay away from Atlanta, right?” No word left his lips. “Fine! You can take her.”

I took his wrist and slapped the money he had asked for in his hand. “Eve—” he began, but I didn’t let him continue.

“I’d rather spend my days alone without a friend than deal with your shitty attitude,” I said, and drew back towards the stairs. “Tell Atlanta the good news. I’m sure she’ll be very happy.”

I ran upstairs without turning, and it all happened within the span of seconds I didn’t have time to reconsider or take back my words. All I knew was that he had damaged my self-esteem and crushed all that I had into worthless mush. None of it was my fault. It was his. Then why should he bash on me and lower my confidence to such a pathetic level? I didn’t want to lose Atlanta, and tears threatened to pour out on the thought of it.

But I had already made the decision, and it wasn’t after a couple hours of concrete thinking did I regret it.