No; chapter one

People watched her in envy as she walked through the door, her hair blowing behind her as if she were some goddess… in fact; they envied her so much it actually made me sick to my stomach. 1

I watched as she pranced her way down the hallway, holding hands with her boyfriend, smiling and laughing those fake smiles and laughs. She glanced at me once before she passed by. She usually did that. Some best friend, huh?2

I turned and stalked back down the hallway, keeping an eye out for my other friends, Jana and Alyss. At least they would walk by me with a hello. I knew that much for sure. 3

They were both standing in the hallway, giggling and holding their books to their chests while staring down the hallway at one of the two new guys. He was hot, and of course they would be right on that.4

“Hey guys,” I said, stalking up beside them. “What’s new?”5

“Well,” answered Jana, “The new guy looked at me, smiled and winked. Isn’t that amazing?”6

“He winked at me,” retorted Alyss.7

I smiled and quickly stepped away from them, not wanting to be a part of this argument. I skipped back down the hallway toward my locker only to find Lisa, my so called best friend, standing right there beside it. I hadn’t talked to her in a couple days; I wonder what she had to say this time.8

“Hey,” she said, arms crossed as she leaned against the locker beside mine.9

I simply smiled and nodded my head as I pulled open my locker and threw my back pack in with the rest of the clutter.10

“So, what are you doing this weekend?”11

I sighed and shut my locker, crossing my arms across my chest in a mimic of her.12

“Nothing, why do you ask?”13

I watched as she pondered this in her head. I had a feeling nothing good would come of this.14

“Well, my boyfriend is going to the lake this weekend, and he wants me to go with. But, obviously my mother won’t let me. So I was wondering if you would tell her that you wanted me to stay at your house this weekend.”15

Of course that was what she wanted. That was all she had ever wanted. And she took advantage of it, because she knew I could never tell her no.16

“Let me think about it, and I will let you know,” I finally answered before turning around and stalking toward the stairs. 17

“Great Cicely, thank you!”18

I lifted a hand in reply and cursed myself. I should have told her no. Why couldn't I just tell her no?19

By the time I was up the stairs, my eyes glanced from one face to the other, looking for just one in particular. I really needed to talk to him right now. 20

While I was looking, he walked by me, John, the guy everyone thought was a heart throb, my best friend’s boyfriend, the one that made me sick to my stomach as well. His gaze lingered on my pallid face for one extra minute before he winked and kept walking. It took all I had not to turn around and throw up my breakfast. 21

I sauntered down the hallway, looking from face to face hoping to find that familiar black shaggy head and tall lanky stance. He couldn’t be that hard to find. He easily stood out from the rest of the crowd.22

There he was, sitting down beside the wall of his classroom, book open, dark fingers tracing along the pages. I stood beside him, watching as he peacefully read his book, smiling and laughing his deep laugh. This was what made my day every day.23

“Hey Cicely,” he finally whispered, realizing I was standing above him. 24

“Hey Addison. What are you up to?”25

“Reading. Have a seat.”26

I sat down beside him and folded my legs underneath me comfortably. I waited for him to finish his page and set aside his book before leaning forward and kissing him softly.27

“And we wonder why people ask if we are more than just friends,” he said giggling after kissing me back.28

“I don't wonder,” I whispered. “I know why they ask.”29

We were silent for a couple seconds as a group of teenagers walked pass us. 30

“So, Lisa talked to me this morning,” I said, twiddling my thumbs in the process.31

“Yeah, what did she say?”32

I shrugged. “Nothing really. Just wanted to know if I would tell her mom that I want her to come to my house this weekend so that she can go to the lake with...” I didn't want to finish his name. Addison knew full well who I was talking about anyway.33

“What did you say to her?”34

I sighed and avoided his gaze. “I told her that I would think about it. She took it as a yes, so I guess I'll call her mom tomorrow and see if she can 'stay the weekend with me.'” 35

Addison was quiet. He knew my weakness too. He knew I couldn't say no. But he was the only friend I had that didn't use it against me. He wanted to make it my strength...36

“What do her and John plan on doing at the lake?”37

I shrugged and looked down the hallway to see him standing with a couple of his friends. “Probably what he does with girls all the time at the lake. But, it's not going to stop Lisa and you know that. I have already tried warning her countless times. She always wants to know how I know. I lie and tell her that I don't.”38

“Why don't you just tell her the truth?”39

I turned and glared at Addison as if he were stupid. “She's Lisa, and you know she would never believe me. She has John, and she's part of the popular crowd now. It doesn't matter.”40

“She's part of that crowd because of you. You introduced her to half of those people, John included.”41

“Yeah,” I scoffed. “And I wish I never did.”42

“Hey Cicely.”43

I refused to look up at John who was now standing in front of me with a group of his friends. Instead, I laid a hand on Addison's arm to calm him down and keep him from getting expelled. 44

“So, I was wondering if Lisa talked to you this morning...”45

“Yeah, she did. What's it too you?” 46

“No need to get hostile baby. Just double checking. I have plans for this weekend.”47

I turned my head to glare daggers at his face. “Don't call me baby, and I swear to god, you make her do anything she doesn't want to do, I will hunt you down.”48

He smiled and knelt down, grabbing a lock of my hair and twisting it around his finger and yanking to bring just the slightest pain to my head. “Hunny, I hope you don't mean that.”49

I pulled my hair out of his hand and stood up so that I was eye level with his chin. “I mean every fucking word. I swear to God Jonathon, I will make you suffer.”50

He laughed and turned to his friends, causing them to laugh as well. “You know, she doesn't even like you anymore, so why do you try?”51

“Because I'm the better person.”52