The Love Story - Chapter Three

Chapter Three1

“Hey Mellie, Awesome necklace girl.” Shawnee exclaimed. “Where’d you get it?”2

“Just a friend.” I replied, smiling. Shawnee is the girl I catch my bus with, and yes it does annoy the hell out of me how she calls me ‘Mellie’. 3

The whole day at school was a blur…I saw James a few times, only for him or me to turn around and walk the other way. Alex wouldn’t shut up about the necklace so I told her how I got it and then she wouldn’t shut up about James. She would say ‘He’s pretty cute for a Goth.’ and I would reply with ‘He’s not a Goth; just coz he has black hair doesn’t make him a Goth Alex.’ And that’s how it went, her stereotyping her as Goth, punk, Bogan or something and me defending him, not even knowing why I was. Anyway, finally it was after school and I slowly walked to my bus stop, where Alex was waiting for me. 4

"Hun? I have to tell you something.” Alex looked at me, her face deadly serious. I completely panicked.5

“What? Has something happened?” I asked. She sighed and closed her eyes.6

“I…I…I’m going…” She started. “I’m going out with Ben!” She burst out in a huge smile. “I mean, you don’t mind do you?”7

“What? You scared me half to death!” I started laughing. “No, I mean…No! Why would I mind?”8

“I saw you looking at him…I thought maybe you like him.” She said. I almost laughed. I do not, I repeat, do not like Mr Ken Doll. 9

“Honey, I don’t like him! I like James!” I said it before I realised what I said. Shit, did I really say that?10

“What?” Alex asked confused. “James?” I was desperately trying to think of some smart excuse to get Alex off my back, but I couldn’t. 11

“I mean…Uh…I don’t know…” I stuttered. Alex sighed and bit her lip.12

“Well there is something else…” She paused. “Someone else is going out with someone.”13

“Who?” I asked. It couldn’t be James…could it?14

“James.” She stated. “Him and Katie are together now…since Drama today.” She pointed behind me; I turned to see James, with his arms wrapped around little Katie. Her brown hair was blowing in the breeze and he tucked it behind her ear for her, smiling lovingly at her for quite some time. 15

“Mel? You okay?” Alex asked, lightly touching my shoulder. 16

“Umm yeah…I’m fine.” I said, very unconvincing. “I think my bus is here, I have to go.” And just at that moment, by some amazing twist of fate, my bus did pull up. I ran to the cold steps, handed Bob my ticket and went and found a seat at the back. 17

“Hey Mellie!” I heard, coming from the front of the bus. Shawnee was making her way down the bus, with…who was that? 18

“Katie is catching our bus today!” Shawnee exclaimed excitedly. Shit! Why is she here?19

“Oh…Hey, Katie.” I greeted her, very unenthusiastically. She smiled and sat down in the seat in front of me, with Shawnee. 20

“Oh my god Mel, Did you hear about Katie and James?” Shawnee just had to ask that.21

“Oh yeah…It’s great!” I exclaimed, trying hard to stop myself from saying what I really thought. For god’s sake, I didn’t even realise I had feelings for him still…until I accidentally blurted it out at my best friend. 22

“It was the cutest thing…I had asked him out ages ago…” Katie thought for a second. “About 2 months after you and him broke up I think Mel? Anyway…He came up to me today and told me that he liked me like…heaps. And I was just like so happy!” She giggled. Shawnee looked at me, and laughed with Katie. So I really had no choice but to join in as well. 23

“So…Mel? How’s your love life lately? I mean I must have heard all about Katie’s from everyone in the grade by now.” Shawnee asked. 24

“Umm let’s not talk about me. How’s yours Shawnee?” I answered quickly. 25

“Oh, well…You really want to know?” She asked. I nodded. “Well there’s this guy…” And that’s how it went for the rest of the bus ride.26