"You can't hate yourself happy. You can't criticize yourself thin. You can't shame yourself worthy. Real change begins with self-love and self-care."— Jessica Ortner.
"WHAT IS GOING ON here?" Alex's voice was firm and strong as he spoke.
Even though I wasn't happy that he had shown up, it was nice to witness the Bs' shocked expressions as they turned to see who it was.
"Alex!" Betty gasped, exchanging questioning glances with her group.
"Fancy seeing you here, Alex." Brittany said flirtatiously.
Alex merely waited, staring at them with an expressionless face. His expression revealed nothing to me, so I had no idea what he was thinking. A few beats of silence went by before he spoke once more. "I ask again: 'What is going on here?'"
"His accent is so hot. I can't get over it." Bianca whispered a little too loudly to Betty. I had to resist rolling my eyes.
Then the Bs realised that until they gave him an answer, he probably wouldn't have a conversation with them.
"Oh, yeah, that." Brittany said, glancing at me as she moved closer to my seat. I felt her fingers on my shoulder and I stiffened, feeling uneasy. What was she doing? A knot appeared in my throat and a shiver went down my spine. She grabbed my shoulder just a little bit, forcing me to look up at her even though I didn't want to.
She gave me a pointed look, warning me with her eyes not to try anything funny. "We just saw Pi—" Alex's eyes met mine and I quickly looked away. Brittany smiled, pretending like she didn't almost let her nickname for me slip out. "We saw Maisie over here and decided to come and say hello."
So, that was what she was going with. I could feel his eyes on me as I pretended to be busy looking at something interesting on my laptop.
"Maisie?" His voice sounded so soothing as he called my name.
"Right, Maisie?" Bianca asked as I felt Brittany tighten her grip on my shoulder.
I plastered a fake smile on my face and looked up. I nodded my head to answer the question, avoiding his eyes.
Brittany patted my shoulder as if to say well-done and I clenched my fists on my lap.
What did I say about standing up for myself again?
Brittany retracted her hand. "What are you doing here, Alex?"
He didn't say anything for a few seconds. Then he sighed and moved closer, pulled out his chair and sat on it, to their shock. "I'm here with Maisie." He answered.
Dramatic gasps escaped Bianca and Betty's mouths. Brittany was the only one that was able to hide her shock. But I could tell that she didn't take the news lightly. She was glaring at me already. "You're joking." She deadpanned.
"No, I am not."
"Why?"
Disbelief washed over his features, his lips forming a thin line. He shut his eyes for a few seconds and was it just me, or did I just see his jaw clench?
He opened his eyes. "Why what? I do not think I understand your question." His eyes met Brittany's. "Care to elaborate?"
She gestured at me, pulling a face. "I'm just wondering why on earth you're here with her."
"Is there a reason I should not be?" Alex questioned in a curt tone, his jaw clenching.
"Absolutely," Bianca replied.
"If you care about your reputation," Betty added.
"My reputation?"
"Yes." Brittany answered this time. "Hanging out with someone like her is not good for your reputation."
"Someone like her?"
"Yes. A social piranha. An outcast. A recluse. A loser." Brittany explained and her minions backed her words with nods of agreement.
I just sat there, feeling like absolute trash as they talked about me like I wasn't present. It felt like something was gripping my heart and squeezing it, causing me to feel immense pain. There was an uncomfortable lump in my throat and my eyes started to sting with unshed tears.
Why are they doing this to me? Why is my life like this? I wondered.
I glared at the Bs but they didn't notice because they had their attention focused on Alex. Couldn't they comprehend that they were contradicting themselves? After claiming to be my friends a moment ago, they were saying bad stuff about me to my face. I guess their mutual hatred for me was way stronger than the urge to look good in his eyes.
I opened my mouth to say something to them – something nasty, anything to defend myself but no words came out. I couldn't even stand up for myself. If I couldn't do that, then who would? I thought about leaving but Alex and I weren't done with our report and it was due soon. We had agreed to complete it today and I've never been one to break agreements. So, I was going to be stuck here for as long as this went.
"Are you done? Or is there something else you would like to say?" Alex seethed.
They said nothing.
"I cannot believe you. You called her your friend a few minutes ago and yet here you are saying all these? And right to her face?" He snapped. The girls were taken aback and looked too stunned to speak. A few heads even turned our way.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Betty spoke first. "We're just telling the truth. I don't get why you're so—"
She stopped talking when Brittany touched her and gave her a look. "You're right. We're sorry." She apologised with a sickly sweet smile. I never thought I'd ever hear those words coming out of her mouth, directed at me, whether sincere or not. A smile is supposed to make you feel reassured but hers made me feel threatened. Mistakenly, my eyes met hers and I looked away at the speed of light.
I felt eyes boring holes into me and realised that they were all staring, waiting for my reply to the apology, but instead I offered an explanation that nobody asked for. "We were assigned as partners for an assignment together. That's why we're here."
"Not that it is any of your business," Alex added.
They exchanged glances. "Oh, wow."
"That's great."
"Anyways," Brittany paused and pulled out her phone from her bag. She offered it to him. "Can I have your number?"
"It's really weird that I don't have it already," she added as an afterthought.
My gaze moved to the table top and I didn't see Alex's phone. So even if he wanted to go with the line he used the last time, it wouldn't blow up in his face. But then again, nobody would believe him.
He didn't collect the phone. "I changed my number when I moved here during the summer and I haven't memorised it yet."
"That's not a problem." Brittany retracted her hand. "Just give me your phone and I'll dial my number on it. You'll have mine and I'll have yours."
"Problem solved." Bianca chipped in.
"Yikes! I forgot my phone at home when I drove Avery home."
Brittany's brows knitted together in a frown, but a few seconds later, her features perked up like she just came up with a brilliant idea. She pulled out a note from her handbag and a pen and proceeded to scribble something in it. Then she tore out what she had written and offered it to him. "Here. You can have mine."
He hesitated a little before collecting it. "Okay?"
"I'll be expecting your text or call later."
"Do not hold your breath."
"What about the party, Brit?" Betty asked her just when I thought it was over.
"Oh, yeah. Did you hear about the party Ray's throwing on Friday night? You should come."
Weren't she and Ray over? Looks like they ended their relationship on good terms.
"I will think about it."
"Okay. Let me know your decision later tonight."
"Now if you would excuse us, we would like to get back to work. The report is due soon." He told them.
"We'll run along now."
"See you around, Maisie." Brittany told me with a condescending smirk but turned to Alex with a smile and said, "Bye, Alex!"
The other two repeated it in unison and it gave me shivers. We both didn't say anything until they walked out of the café.
"Look, I am sorry about—"
I cut him off. "Let's just finish this."
I knew it was rude, especially to someone who has been nothing but nice to me; but I couldn't help it. I didn't want to talk about what happened and that was bound to happen right after his apology. I could tell that he was taken aback by my interruption because he remained silent for about a minute until he finally said okay.
And for the next hour, we focused on the assignment at hand. I had every intention to finish it today so that we wouldn't have to meet again. Of course, Alex feasted on some marshmallows as we worked and I tried not to comment on it. He even offered me some despite my dislike for it and I declined with a head shake.
About twenty minutes later, we had completed the report. We both had the documents and all that was left was the printout that we needed to turn in.
"I will print it out at home and turn it in tomorrow."
"Alright. Thank you." I started to pack up my stuff and so did he.
"You are a great partner, Maisie."
"You too." I said without missing a beat. I wanted to leave first but somehow he was ready before me. He sent the waitress, Mia a wave as he led the way out. I noticed him throw a strip of paper in the trash on the way out.
"Wasn't that Brittany's number you just trashed?" I asked him as soon as we stepped out.
He paused and pretended to think about it for a moment, then he shrugged.
Without realising it, I had followed him to where his car was parked by the curb near the café. My gaze settled on his sleek black car and I stared. I wasn't a car aficionado or anything but I could tell that it was an expensive car. I had never really paid attention to it until now. He must come from a rich family.
"Get in, Maisie. I will give you a ride." His voice broke into my thoughts. I knew my house was on his way but I didn't think it was a good idea to go with him. It would be different from the last time since Avery wasn't here. Things were bound to get awkward.
"No, thank you." I shook my head.
"Why not? It is on my way."
"I have to go somewhere else. I'm not headed home right now." I lied.
He opened the door to the driver's side and dumped his backpack on the passenger's seat. "Okay then. See you tomorrow, Maisie."
"You too, Alex." I muttered. I waited for him to drive away while I stood there. I needed to stay away from him now that the assignment was completed. Nothing good will come out of being associated with him or being friends with him.
Proof was what transpired in the café with the Bs. But with my bond with his twin sister growing, would I be able to accomplish that?