When Opposites Attract (9 page)

Anastasia

I was really hungry and was about to take a bite out of my salad
, when I felt my phone vibrate. I deliberated whether I should answer it or not. I sigh and took the phone from my pocket. A text message from a blocked number, I should delete it, but my curiosity got the better of me. I opened it and as soon as I saw the picture I felt this rage go through me with such strength it surprised me. I felt like someone slapped me right across the face. I stared at the picture of Angel and Sakura kissing. They are both DEAD to me!

"You okay?" Hailey asked me.

"Um... yeah," I lied as I put my phone back in my pocket. I can't believe how stupid I have been. I was right from the very beginning. Emo kids are stupid, cheating, two-timing, and depressing losers. We should not mix. I should have known better than to trust Angel.

"Are you sure?" Hailey asked, snapping me back to reality. "You look like you just saw a ghost."

"No ghost," I said and looked at her. "I'm just not hungry."

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing, but a huge mistake that I have to fix. It's okay. I'll fix it later." I put on my poker face and looked at my best friend.

"W
hat were you saying about John?”

 
                                                                          ###

Hailey
and I walked into the auditorium for drama. I sat down in my assigned seat next to Angel. Unfortunately all the groups were spread out, so we were alone. I couldn't look at him. If I did I have a feeling that I would hit him or scream at him; how would I be able to explain that.

"Hey," he said with a smile, stupid two-
timing jerk.

"Hi," I said nonchalantly. I had to hold my tongue at least until we were completely alone.

"Is everything okay?" I looked up from my paper.

"Why is everyone asking me that?" I looked at him, "you know what? No, everything is
 
not 
okay, and before you ask, no 
I
 do not want to talk about it." I snapped at him.

"Oh," he stayed quiet for a few minutes. Before I could stop myself I was sneaking a peak at him.

His hair was out of his eyes, which is weird for him, and he looked stressed out and confused. He looked at me and we stared at each other for a minute.

"We will talk about it after school." I said then got up and walked towards the nurse.

Angel

Anastasia has been avoiding me all day and when she does talk to me she's sharp and full of a
nger. I figured she was just PMSing, but she said we would talk after school, so I guess I'll just have to wait. When the final bell rang I followed Anastasia all the way to the back of the school towards the exit that barely anyone uses anymore. If she noticed that I was following her she didn't let on. She suddenly stopped and turned to face me. She looked really pissed. Before I knew it she slapped me so hard I bet she left a mark. Shit that hurt. I didn't even see her hand moving. 

"I hate you!" She screamed at me with such raw hate
that I was taken back.

"I hate you." She repeated in a lower tone, "
and Sakura." She said her name like the word tasted like poison. "And you know what, you asshole? You two deserve each other. I hope you're happy." I was speechless. "Oh and you know what else? I feel so 
stupid 
for actually believing that I could trust someone like you, you stupid emo."

"Are we really back to that?"

"Yes! We always come back to this! You're all sad, pathetic wannabes that just want attention."

"Well at least we don't have to lie, unlike
 all two faced, backstabbing stupid preps in this fucking school!  I yelled back at her.

She turned red.

"If you think that preps are the only two faced backstabbers, then you have another thing coming!"

"What are you talking abo
ut now?" She took out her phone, showing me a picture of Sakura kissing me.

"Where did you?”

"Sakura sent it to me."

"But why?"

"And isn't she still going out with Pete?"

"Why?"

"She is obsessed with you and uses Pete to stay close to you. Frankly, I don't think you are worth all that damn trouble. So, before calling preps back stabbers and declaring your people saints; do your research first." She ran away leaving me in shock. After a few minutes of me just standing there thinking things over I started walking towards my car.

I felt pissed and completely
defeated. I looked up to see Sakura leaning on the hood of my car. I am really not in the mood to deal with her. I just want to go home and think about how I'm going to make things right. She looked at me with a smile on her face.

"Hey Angel," she said and threw her arms around me. I pried
them off.

"Sakura are you still with Pete?"

"Yes we got over the fight." Huh...

"Was there even a fight? Why are you with Pete?" I blurted out.

"Yes there was a fight and I love him."
"Shut up!" I screamed in her face. "Just shut up! You treat him like crap why don't you just leave!"

"Why should I?"

"Because you are a bitch that can't fucking love!"

"How would you know?"

"If you would really love Pete you wouldn't kiss his best friend or have sex with Derek." I said with no emotion. She stayed quiet, no longer being able to look me in the face.

"That's what I thought." I muttered and started walking but she grabbed my jacket.

"Wait I can explain." I looked at her, expressionless.

"I don't want to hear any more lies and even if you were to tell me the truth, I don't give a shit anymore."

I shook off her grip, got into my car, and drove away. I drove over to Pete's house.

"Pete, I have to tell you something." I told him everything. He had suspected something was going on and was going to break
up with Sakura anyways.

"So, no hard feelings?"

"None."

"Good
, now I have to go."

Anastasia

I got home and was still crying. This is bad I have never felt this bad after a break up. I felt my insides slowly collapse. I walked into the family room and everyone was there. I sat down and just let the tears fall even though everyone was staring and obviously worried. They let me cry myself dry, then I told them what had happened. They were surprised that I kept Angel a secret for so long, since I can't keep secrets about myself for the life of me. They kept telling me he wasn't worth it over and over again.

"But that's the problem," I said betwe
en sobs and a hiccup, "he is. I liked him a lot."

"Sweetie, why don't you go take a hot shower and go into bed to think this through?" Hanadi said putting a comforting arm around me. Still sobbing, I nodded, and she guided me up stairs. I took a long shower then put my fluffy pink robe and jumped in my bed. I was numb for a few minutes and then the tears started flowing. Gosh
, I'm such a loser! There was a knock on the door.

"I'm not in the mood!"

"Just for a moment, I promise." Hanadi said from the other side.

"Fine."

She came in and sat at the edge of the bed.

"Sweetie, I know it hurts since it sounds like this Angel was your first great love, but they come and go."

I sat up, "I guess that's true."

"Do you want one?" She said offering me a plate of cookies she pulled out of nowhere.

"Have you ever thought about cheating?" She looked caught off guard.

"No, never, I have had boyfriends before and I loved them, but with your dad it's different. I don't know what I'd do without him."

"But, you're away from him all the time. How do you deal?"

"The same way you and your sisters do. I look forward to the next time I see him, because as long as he is out there I will always pray for his safe return."

"Me too, and you know what? He is deeply in love with you although he still loves my mom."

"I'm not trying to replace your mom. I could never-"

"Hanadi, it's okay I never said you were," I said interrupting her.

"Okay."

"I'm going to take a nap. All that crying wiped me out."

"Okay, sweet dreams."

"Here's hoping."

I love Tuesdays! I don't know why I just do. I pushed all the crappy Angel drama deep inside me and got dres
sed in the happiest, brightest clothes I had. I grabbed a piece of toast and walked out towards my car; then sped towards Hailey’s house to pick her up. When I got there I had to wait so long, just because she didn't know what to wear!

"Hailey! Just put on a skirt and a damn shirt and get your little butt in my car!" I yelled up the stairs.

"I'm going!" She yelled from her room. Sounds like she had a shirt over her face.

"Fine, I'll be in my car!"

"Okay just don't leave without me!"

"We'll see!"

I walked towards my car and waited. When she finally came out, I nearly killed us both! We were really late. I have been late a lot of times, but it has never been this bad.

"You know Mr. Adams is going to
 
kill
 us," I said.

"Not if you kill us first! Slow down! I mean, we're late as it is!"

"Yeah you're right," I said slowing down. We walked as fast as we could. We were laughing at how stupid we looked. When we reached Mr. Adam's door we hesitated, but eventually walked inside.

"Miss. Somerville
 and Miss. Foxx, since you can afford to be late could you tell me if what is one of the major components of acid rain?

Hailey and I looked at each other.

"No," we answered at the same time.

"Miss. Foxx you may take a seat." Hailey squeezed my hand and sat down.

"What about me?"

"Could you wait outside for a minute, I have to talk to you." The class erupted in "oohs!"

"Okay," I looked around the classroom, which was a big mistake. Angel was looking at me, and our eyes locked for a minute. I looked away to see Mr. Adams grab a letter, so I just walked out into the hall. When he came out, I was extremely nervous.

"Am I failing?" I asked worried.

"No, actually you are doing really well in my class."

"Oh."

"No actually a letter came to the school from the army base."

"The army? Why would they send it here?"

"Apparently it was urgent and they couldn't reach anyone at home."

"That is very weird." I said as I took the envelope. I opened it with my stomach up my throat. I started reading the letter, and I tried to finish it but my eyes were locked on three little words. I couldn't get passed it. How can three little words turn my whole life upside down? The words "died in action" knocked the air out of me and I dropped to the floor. I felt my inside slowly dying and I started crying. I didn't care who passed by or the fact that Mr. Adams was just staring down at me. I was borderline hysteria.

"No, no, no, he can't be gone." I whispered between cries. "He can't, he can't, no, no, no, no, no." My sobs became quieter. I was literally dying.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Can you please get Hailey?" I asked him between hiccups and sobs. He nodded and went to get her. When he left I got up and started walking towards the exit.

"Anastasia!"
Hailey’s echo reached me, making me turn around to see my best friend running towards me. I opened my arms and she crushed me with hers.

"He's gone," I whispered into her shoulder. "My dad left me alone! They took him from me! He'll never kiss me again! I will never be able to tell him I love him again. My world is over."

"You still have people that love you." She said trying to comfort me.

"It's not the same! It will never be the same.”

"I am so sorry."

"I want my dad! I need my dad... he can't be gone.... he can't." I started getting louder and louder not wanting to believe it.

"I’m so sorry," was all she could say.

"Anastasia!" I looked up to see Angel standing a few feet away.

"I'm not in the mood." I said the tears still spilling out. Hailey looked at me confused.

"
Hailey can you get the make up work that I'm going to miss?"

"Sure," I love
Hailey for knowing when to ask about things. When she left I looked at Angel he was closer.

" I am so sorry."

"How do you know?"

"I thought something was wrong, so I came out after you guys."

"And you heard me." I finished for him. He nodded.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm supposed to be in the bathroom, but I came here to make things right."

"Not now, because I am now an orphan that is slowly dying inside," I choked out. He stayed quiet. I thought he was going to leave
, but instead he pulled me into a hug.

"I miss him so much!" I cried into his shoulder. "He'll never come back to me! He promised me! He promised me, but they took him away!" My feet gave out, and Angel supported my weight.
 

"I am so sorry. I know how it feels. It's horrible, I know. I never thought I'd say this, but Anastasia I love you." He whispered in my ear, squeezing me tighter with every word.

I pulled away and looked at him.

"Are you serious?"
  I asked and looking into his eyes.

"Of course," he said without hesitation. "I am here for you."

"I... um... I can't do this right now." I stammered.

"It's okay, I'm not rushing you." He said as he pulled me into another hug. His
cool jacket felt so good against my wet cheek. I missed him. I took in a deep breath. I missed his smell. He smelled so good. His familiar scent calmed me down slightly.

"I have to go or they are going to think I'm constipated." A gave him a small smile, nodded and pulled away.

"I'll call you."

"Do you have my number?"

He thought it over. "I'm not sure. We never really text or talk, I just usually pick you up. I think I might have it."

I found
a pen in my bag. "Just in case," I said as I wrote my number on this arm. I kissed his cheek and looked at him as he ran back to class. Tears slowly running down my cheeks.