A car passed me by and stopped dead on spot, backing up a bit to where I was at. “Hey, what are you doing walking home on a night like this?” the guy asked as he rolled down his window. I recognized him from school, Matt Nichols.

“Get in, we’ll give you a lift!” The guy in the driver seat shouted. It was Oliver Sykes. They were in a band as well, but they were a little more hard.

“No thanks guys, I got it!”

“Oh come on, we’re not gonna let you walk Fee!” Oli shouted, “I was on my way to drop Matt off anyways! He lives on the street behind yours.” I was a bit surprised when he mentioned my house, but then I thought about Liam and how he always threw parties when Mom was away from town.

“Alright, alright.” I got in and we drove to Matt’s place. He got off and I switched to the passenger seat. I was expecting him to turn at my street, but was shocked when he didn’t.

“Where are we going?” I asked confused.

“To get some tea or coffee. My hands are chilly and I need to warm up. Besides, I can tell something is bugging you, eh?” He looked at me for a second before directing his eyes back on the road.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked him. We had never really talked in school, and I didn’t think we were even considered acquaintances.

“Everyone needs a friend sometimes.”

“But we’re not friends….?”

“I like to think I’m everyone’s friend.” He said and shot me a smile. I couldn’t help but smile back. We pulled up to a 24/7 Starbucks and got out. “So what would you like?”

“I’m alright, thank you though.”

“Fiona, if you don’t order something, I’ll order the nastiest thing I can think of and make you drink it,” he said in a serious tone. His eyebrows lifted and his eyes widened a bit, “Well??”

“Alright, fine,” I resigned. I turned to the cashier and ordered myself something to hot. “Can I get a Caramel Brule Latte?”

“And for you, sir?”

“I’ll just have some hot chocolate,” he answered the guy, never once taking his eyes off me, “and two cake balls.” He paid for our things and we took a seat on some small plushy couches in a corner. He shot me another one of his winning smiles and he started the conversation, knowing I wouldn’t have done so. “So you want to tell me what’s bothering, darling?”

“Not really..” The cashier delivered our things and I took a sip of my latte after thanking him. “It’s kinda of stupid and you wouldn’t understand”

“Obviously not if you’re so upset about it. And hey! I take offence to that! I’d like to think I’m a very understanding person.”

“Justin lied to me.”

“That’s it?”

“See!?! I told you, you wouldn’t understand…”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll be more sympathetic.” He said raising his hands up apologizing. “What happened?”

I sighed and thought about everything that had happened today. It sucked to think about, especially because he was someone really important to me. “He’d been acting weird about Willow and when I asked him about it he basically told me it was nothing and that she was nothing, then a few hours later, I find out they’re actually dating!”

“Oh.” He sat there silently for a few minutes before continuing, “So that’s why you were walking home from the mall so angrily?”

“No, well yes, kinda. I was out shopping for a stupid dress with Willow for the Fall Ball that I was supposed to be attending with Justin. He asked me to go with him this morning. In front of Willow.” I pulled out my phone and showed him some of the pictures I had taken of myself with the dresses.

“These are nice, which one did you get?”

“Obviously none since I don’t have any bags on me.” I snapped, but he didn’t even take notice.

“Right, right. Well this red one looks very nice on you,” he gleamed and showed me the picture he was talking about. I took my phone back and looked at it.

“Yeah, that one was my favorite one from Sears.”

“So he asked you in front of her?”

“Yes!” I shouted, “like who does that?!”

“Him, obviously,” He muttered, “but if you really think about it, he was being considerate of your feelings.”

“Go on.”

“I don’t know of any guy who would ask his best friend to a dance in front of his own girlfriend, and his girlfriend not saying anything. Maybe he told her what your friendship meant to you both, and that’s why he hadn’t mentioned it yet.”

“So what you’re saying is that he was looking for the right time to tell me that he lied to me and got everyone else to go along with it?”

“Um, no, you’re twisting my words, darling.”

“He lied to me! Lied!” I said exasperated, “He’s never ever lied to me before and then all of a sudden this bimbo from wherever shows up and he’s lying to me and getting everyone else to do it, too! How would you feel if Matty did that to you? Isn’t he like your best friend?”

“Matt. And alright, I get what you mean.” He resigned. “So what are you gonna do about the Ball?”

“Not go.” I sighed and took another drink of my latte. This afternoon had been a complete waste of time and now I had to go home and explain to my family why there was a huge bruise on my face.

“Oh goodness, c’mon, let’s go.” He said getting up, grabbing my hand and dragging me outside with him.

“Where are we going??”

“Sears.”

“What?”

“We’re getting you that dress so you can prance around in it at the dance and we can make everyone jealous.”

“Again, I repeat. What?” We got into his car and he headed back to mall. I didn’t want to go inside and I didn’t want to get the stupid dress. I wanted to go home, take a hot bath, maybe cry a little, and then head to bed. “Oli, you don’t have to do this just because I’m a sad case. I’ll be okay.”

“I’m not doing it because you’re a sad case, I’m doing it because I need a date for the ball and I’m not gonna let you be mopey and miss out.” He turned the radio on and we listened to his band’s EP. They were surprisingly great, even though I couldn’t understand half of the songs. My phone began to buzz and the screen turned on to reveal Justin’s picture. “J-Hottttt? Really?”

“Shut it! He typed it in like that when we were in middle school & I never changed it.” He answered the phone as I fought to get a hold of it. “What are you doing!?! Oh my god, give me the phone!” He placed the phone between his shoulder and his face on his left side, had a hold of the wheel with his left hand, and then stretched his right arm to push me away as I fought to get the phone back.

“Hello?”

“Hello? Who is this?”

“Oli, mate. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?” He asked with a devilish grin on his face and glanced at me for a second.

“Justin. Can I talk to Fiona?”

“No.”

“What?”

“Sorry mate, she’s not up for talking right now, but I’ll let her know you rang.” He hung up the phone and then handed it back. “You’re welcome.” He laughed.

“You’re a tool.”

“Oh hush it.” When we got to the mall, we went to Sears which was about to close, and we paid for the dress. Well, Oli paid after we fought for a good while about who would be paying. He won and although I wasn’t very happy about it, I was glad I had the dress.

When I got home my Mom was dead asleep on the couch and Liam’s car wasn’t in the driveway so I went to my bedroom to drop my bags off, then showered. Oli had said he’d be here tomorrow morning to pick me up and that he’d be there to help me confront Justin and Willow. I was scared, but mostly outraged. At least I’d have Oli there, even if he was the last person I expected to confide in.

Notes

Decided to go ahead and upload this today cos I might not have time tomorrow. Enjoy! [: