Beautiful Hearts

Lana's real crush

Emaline

The next few days I often spotted Lana's friends, but Declan was never among them. I hoped everything was fine with him and Austin. I didn't call Tony. I still didn't know what to tell him. Maybe I should give him time to calm down, and in the meantime, I hoped the girl he was with would comfort him.

I started to notice that I lost weight, it wasn't much, but I felt the difference when my clothes didn't fit me anymore. I realized that for the last two weeks I had no appetite and ate almost nothing.

I decided to start running in the morning. I had to take advantage of my unexpected progress.

At school, I couldn't help myself and I was constantly peeking at Declan. He sat in his usual spot but talked only with Phillip. He glanced at me once, or I better say he scanned the room, stopped his gaze on me for a second, and nodded before continuing.

It was again torture to endure the two hours of Science. If something didn't change soon, I would certainly lower my grades.

Ironically, my father called me that he needed me after school and he would come to pick me up but knowing Lana should be around, I told him to wait for me at the bus station. That was all I could do.

After a walk around and early dinner with some family friends, we came home and I went to the kitchen for a glass of water before going up to my room.

Lana was talking on the phone with her hands-free. I thought she heard me coming in but she kept talking with her back toward the door.

"I know! I'm so excited! Can you imagine me and him together?"

I rolled my eyes, thinking she meant her and Declan but her next words surprised me.

"But nothing happened. So it should be fine. I will show him that I have been interested in him from the very beginning. Declan was an innocent crush. I just liked the thought of him falling for me."

My mouth dropped open and unaware I was listening, she continued.

"It's not like that, Hann. You know I would never do that. I really thought I like him. Even now, I'm not sure I don't. But I have liked Phillip for a long time and I'm certain I want... "

"Excuse me ?!"

She turned around surprised to see me.

"Hann, I'll call you back!"

"Did I understand you right?"

"What's with you and your constant eavesdropping?"

"Answer me, please!" She looked at the door nervously. "Lower your tone, you i***t. Or my mum will be here any minute."

"I don't care, just answer me. You told me you like Dec and that you're jealous of our relationship?"

"True."

I looked at her in disbelief, arms outstretched. "Then where is Phillip in that picture ?!"

She looked for a second at the door and something changed in her eyes.

"Em, I know I live in your house but that doesn't mean I have to tell you everything about my private life. I'm entitled to have one."

"Oh, come on. Don't act so stupid. I'm asking you one more time, what's that with Phillip?!"

"I think your cousin really has the right to keep her secrets, Em, doesn't she?" Aunt Sophie came in, avoiding looking me in the eye. Her features were rigid with the anger radiating from her. "I know we're in your home and I apologize if we overstep your hospitality. But everyone has the right to privacy."

"It wasn't like that. I didn't mean..."

"Lana, go to your room."

Before she could get out, I spoke my mind.

"I'm done. I'm not going to stay away from my friend anymore now that I know there's no reason for that. Good luck with Phillip." And I stormed out of the room.

I went straight to my room, locking the door.

I picked up my phone and dialed Dec, but he didn't answer. Two hours later, as I walked around the restless room waiting for him to ring, my crazy cousin started pounding on the door. "Open the damn door, Emaline!"

"Oh, now you don't care enough to be quiet?" "Open.the.damn.door!" I opened the door and she almost ran inside.

"Where did my father go? He has to be somewhere out for you to act like that." I hinted at her constant attempts to act innocent in front of him.

"Go ahead and do it, Emaline. I don't care anymore." She was looking at me with a wicked smile.

"Do what?"

"Go to Declan. Be his friend. Or should I say try to be...?"

"I don't understand."

"I already made my move. You pushed the start and now we can't turn things back."

"You're insane, you know?"

"It's a war. And guess who will be the winner? You should have stayed in your comfort zone, Em. In your social circle. You shouldn't have crossed mine."

I sighed bored to death.

"I won't say anything and you know it."

"It doesn't matter. That was my life, my friends. My secret. A secret that would have remained that way if it weren't for you." Before I could say anything, she quickly went on, "I don't care what you're saying. I could feel safe, knowing that there's no one aware of my secret. Do you know how hard it is to carry a secret, which is so embarrassing and only because I was born into a poor family? It's embarrassing that I need to pretend on something just to be their friend. But If my secret is exposed... It won't matter that I'm smarter than them. Or more beautiful... More talented even. I'd be a joke."

I frowned.

"But... Why the effort...? There are so many people who won't care about your money...or lack of it? Even Declan. He would still want to be with you. Maybe even more."

"You don't understand. Because you're like them, Emaline. You think you're smart but you're nothing like me. You're rich but still dressing so tasteless. You could hire a private trainer, a nutritionist, you name it. But you don't care enough. You have no dignity.

But I'll show you. All of you. And in the end, even If my secret spills out, I'll still be on top of you. "

Her eyes were full of tears, and before she stepped outside, the first tear ran down her face.