I turned my head towards where the voice came from. It was Emma and Jackie.
I still reason how they were able to find me in Mr Micheal's apartment.
"You guys are here."I said exhausted, looking away from the screen of the computer. I volunteered to help one of our lecturer to work on a file in the computer and now see how fucked up I am.
"Tell me you decided to be nice again to that old man." Jackie said in a knowing voice...full of disappointment.
I sigh. "I'm sure you know I can't just ignore him, he's a nice person."
"So when are you planning on finishing?"Asked Emma.
I typed the keys on the keyboard so hard and I remembered how hungry I was it made me want to give up but I know that won't be nice. I promised Mr Micheal I was going to help him sort out his files and yes, take out the trash since he was sick.
Yes, I was pretty stupid.
"Sweetie, just forget about it," Jackie told Emma succinctly.
"I also got to help him take out the trash." I pointed to an overflowing dump in the corner of his kitchen from where I sat. Jackie and Emma gave me a world class death stare.
"Even as nice as I am , that is extreme Jane", Emma protested.
"I know and I regret it now."
"So what happened to him. Where is he?" Jackie asked looking around the room with a sour look on her face.
I was so tired I just had to skip some things in the computer and go attend to other stuff before replying Jackie.
"He is just went to see a chemist he'll be back soon."
" Well hurry I'm so hungry and I have things to do."Jackie snarled at me and went to sit on the old couch .
"What will you be doing, Emma?"
She shrugged. "On my way already. I have a dance class by four." She stretched out her hand and looked at the watch on her wrist. " It's 3:38, text me when you're done.
While Emma left, Jackie fed me with gists about her Cousin and that and that. It was funny and it helped me think less of the burden of sitting before a computer.
When I was done we dropped off in the cafeteria in sheer exhaustion.
"Why are you tired, you weren't the one staring at the community screen and typing."
"Oh really?" She laughed sarcastically."You weren't the one who had to sit on a smelly couch for one hour doing nothing but waiting."
"Alright." I rolled my eyes."Just get us something to eat so I can dispose this trash.
She flashed me a look of disgust but said nothing as she went to the counter.
She came back with two food package. I opened mine and saw it was tacos and a juice box but she got herself three slice of pizza and a bigger juice box.
"Thanks." I mouthed between the food in my mouth.
We ate in silence for a while,. enjoying the summer air and thoughts of Lacey popped up in my head.
"What's wrong? " Jackie asked me which was weird because normally she doesn't give a fuck especially when she was eating.
"Strange but I just thought about Lacey"
"You mean the dollie? "
"Yes."
"What about her?" Jackie looked at me as if I was drunk or something.
"The way she stated at me these days.. especially when I'm with Dave. As if I did something to her."
"That's funny."Jackie replied bluntly.
I gave her a sharp look.
"Seriously? Is that all you are going to say?"
Jackie downed her drink. "You really want me to act surprised?"
I sucked in a breath and dropped my half eaten taco on the table and drew closer.
"I need ideas to what is going home because him I'm lost. Any time I'm in Dave's house and she comes around she always seem uncomfortable and sort of nasty to me."
Jackie leaned forward."I think it's pretty obvious Jane," She whispered dramatically. "She doesn't like the fact that you are very close to David."
A knot found its way to my stomach. I was sick with worry.
"But why? Dave is like a brother to me."
"I'm not sure she cares if he's your father instead. The girl is insecure, that is it."
Wow. I said nothing.
What would make her think the impossible. Some things are not just bound to happen. Like the way I can't get the attention of Max..
my brother.
"I'm sure we could turn back to kids and try something fun."
I cocked a brow. "Fun?"
She nodded.
OK.
Her eyes sparkled. "I was just thinking about playing a little prank on Lacey."
I couldn't even find the right way to describe how I felt about what she does said.
"Jackie, what are you talking about?"
She sat up more enthusiastically.
"Yeah a prank. We could sneak into her house at night and take a photo of her while she is sleeping and paste it all over her sitting room and she'll be so freaked out." Jackie was laughing so hard, lost in her own wicked imaginations.
"We could even set a time bomb in her house and give her a call that her house is about to explode if she doesn't play a game."
I was sick with terror, looking at the maniac, my friend.
"That is just violence and horror, Jackie."
"That is the point." She chuckled again and looked satisfied.
I pinched the bridge of my nose feeling a migraine coming up.
Jackie phone began to vibrate and she took it.
She listened to the caller for a minute or so then said.." It's done? Oh ok I'll be on my way."
She hung up and stood up.
"What happened? Where are you going?" " Joe sent one of his boys to pick me up to the studio."
"So what will happen to me?"
"I wish you could come but it's actually private."
I sighed and watch her go.
All that was left was myself and the gabbage . I actually felt pretty dumped, like the gabbage I was dragging all the way to the dumpster.
I hurried off across the field, eager to go to the washroom and clean up when Dave jogged towards my direction.
He halted and crouched in front of me, panting and sweating .The smell of his choking cologne became stronger.
"Are you okay?"
He scrunched up his nose, seeming offended . He stood straight. "What happened to you?"
God I was smelling so badly.
"You smell different...new cologne?"He said sheepishly.
My mouth hung open. Very funny.
"It's trash. Gabbage. I just threw some nasty stuff out."
"ok gabbage girl."
I smoothed back my hair despite my dirty hands . "If you'll excuse me, I was heading for the bathroom."
He stopped me from going by pulling at my hand and dragging me back to the spot I was.
"What are you doing?" I looked at him.
His lips turned at the corners. A small smile. He said nothing but he drew closer to me. This time he placed his hands on my shoulder and looked right into my eyes.
I stared back in confusion trying to figure if he was okay.
"Dave what's going on??"
"Hold still, I'm going to do something really impressed."
My heart began to race as his fingers ran through my hair sending shock waves to my spine. What sort of creepy activity was this? The next thought that came was even more horrifying.
Did Dave want to do what I think I'll really love to do with Max?
Oh no, it had better not be. He was really getting me worried and the more scared I was the way my thoughts were traveling wild...all in five seconds.
"Please, Dave I'm really worried. What are you doing?" I said in a cringing whispering." Sshh."
He placed one finger one my lips and let it longer there as his eyes swept my face... my lips .
I trusted him. He was Dave and he was not going to do what my head kept on suggesting. He wasn't thinking of kissing me and I was sure I didn't want that .
Even though his lips were two inches apart from mine. Even if I could see the look in his eyes.
Even though somehow within that heart throbbing seconds I noticed how soft his lips what...I thought he was going to do it and... his eyes kept flicking from my eyes to my lips and he held me firmly.
That was exactly how I imagined Max and I.
No way!!! Disgust and annoyance came upon me and I flinched away from his grip and punched him on his flat stomach.
He winced and backed off, clutching his stomach."What's the..." He stopped himself.
I just realized the weight of my punch. It was painful, but what the hell!?
"Well I'm not sorry for punchimg you but you deserve it. What came over you."
I bet I was bugged -eyed now."I should be the one asking you that."Dave straightened up.
"Really? You know what you're doing stop lying." I push my fingers at him.
He looked at me,bewildered.
I fell silent, hating the fact that he was kidding around here.
He was silent too but then he walked up to me and immediately took something from my hair and held it out to my face.
It was a strand of spaghetti. Must have been from the trash.
He waved it about my face.
" See ??"
I frowned and slapped it it of his fingers earning him another flinch.
"Just break all the bones in my body."
He looked heartbroken.
"Why didn't you tell me it was just spaghetti you were looking at?" You didn't have to make it look seductive." I whisper the last part.
I swallowed my spit when the corners of his lips turned up an it was cute.
"Wait, what were you thinking?"
I folded my arms feeling squirming at the question.
I thought you wanted to kiss me Dave and I was scared I was falling for it, I thought but didn't say.
"Do what?" Asked those cherry lips I would have kissed moments ago.
A knowing sensation flashed in my spine again and I knew I really needed to go to the bathroom and empty my stomach.
"Don't act like you don't know. What ever action you displayed don't do it again. It's creepy."
"You thought I was going to kiss you, didn't you?" He said it so casually.
I flushed." Where you?" I can't believe I just asked.
He laughed. "Am I crazy?"
For a second I felt a stab but I had to assure myself that was what I wanted to hear after all.
I secretly wondered why he had to play me.
" I was just rehearsing," He answered my subconscious.
I flared up so suddenly and it baffled me.
"Rehearsing with me. Why??"
A shade came upon his face. " Just forget it. I didn't mean anything."
That made me upset though but I knew I couldn't stress this enough.
" If you'll excuse me once again, I need to go to the bathroom to wash off."
As I walked away from the spot I tripped over a stone that I was so blind not to see because I was too distracted about what happened earlier.
I clutched my ankle. I can't believe how much it hurts and how badly I sounded like a pregnant goat in labour.
Dave appeared in my front and took my fractured left leg in his hands and began to apply gentle but firm pressure on it. It seemed to worsen, I couldn't bear it.
I moaned. And despite myself I was thinking about Max... doing that to me, and more.
"I'll take you to the school nurse."
....
The school nurse, Mrs Phoenix did an inspection on my twisted ankle. She gave me a malicious and unforgettable foot massage.
"Your bones will eventually heal, nothing serious."She said after that.
I looked this woman in her face and just felt like stuffing my foot in her mind for saying that crap.
She pulled off her hand gloves and her lab coat looking depressed.
"How do you really feel?" Asked Dave who had been busy walking about the room impatiently.
I managed a small smile. If not for him I would not be here. Mrs Phoenix came back to my gurney and placed a small kit on the gurney.
She brought out stuff from the kit in absolute moodiness. She handed Dave a small bottle. "I suppose she's your girlfriend," She said and Dave shot me a glance. "This is a massaging oil, you are to use it to massage her leg three times a day."
Dave took the bottle and gave it a sceptical look. " I think this is the oil they use in the spa for skin treatment and massaging."
"Yeah so?" She gave Dave a deathly gaze. He looked startled so he kept quiet.
" Mary jane, you shouldn't also avoid straneous activities with your leg but walk about so that the leg doesn't pick the wrong signal."
Lastly, she administered some drugs to me. "
When Dave assisted me out we saw Emma.
"I got a call from Dave so I came." She said when she came to me and looked at my conditions . "So sorry. It must hurt a lot."
" Yeah." I swallowed a moan when my injured leg touched the floor.
I looked afar off and noticed some people staring. What were they staring at, didn't they know it is rude to stare?
When I and Emma got to my house I thanked her for helping me and she left.
The house was quiet. Chloe must be in her room which was so good because I didn't have the strength to bear her voice .