Chapter 33: Beans For Breakfast

Alex has been gone for a week. He left on Sunday morning. Leo told me that he'd been seen off by family, and wouldn't be back for two weeks. Leo and Callum have been sitting with us, since Kate and Leo are dating and so are Bubbles and Callum.

He hasn't texted me, and I haven't texted him. Why should I? I'm supposed to be staying away from him. Its a good thing he's gone.

Its Monday. I chuck on some skinny jeans and a baggy jumper. Teachers are starting to give us more and more homework. My desk is filled with paper and pens from my study session last night for Calculus. We have a mid-quarter test today.

I throw my things into my bag and swipe my phone from off the bedside table. I call out a quick goodbye to Mum and Dad to tell them I'm leaving. I then hop in my car and reverse out of the driveway.

On the radio, "Treat you better" by Shawn Mendes is playing. I remember Alex sang that song at cafe extra when I first started working there. I switch the channel. "Hurt Somebody" is playing now, and I quickly flip the channel onto some station that's static-ish.

Do I miss him?

Yes. Yes, I do.

Will I ever tell anyone?

No. No, I won't.

I pull up in the school car park and hop out of my car. I don't notice all the glances I'm getting until I walk through the gates. I pull up my hood and shove my hands into my pockets, walking into the building with my head down.

I pass Noah and Glenna in the hallway talking. I hope things work out for them. I just hope Glenna doesn't get hurt. I continue down the corridor towards my locker. I see a large crowd gathered around the area. They all clear a space for me. My locker's been sprayed with a black spray paint. The words:

Cow

B****

Sl**

Are painted onto the front in white. I walk up to my locker and unlock it. My friends are standing closest to me and I smile at them. They all frown at me. I unzip my pencil case and take out a Sharpie. I scribbled over the words until they disappear. Then I remove my books and put my phone into my locker. I slam the locker shut and look over to Kate, Meghan, Chloe and Bubbles.

"C'mon guys, we're gonna be late."

***

After that scene, I didn't read anymore of my messages. I kept my phone in my locker at all times, since it dinged at least five times a period. I gave up on blocking all those girls, since Amanda always moved onto a new friend. How did she even text in class? Don't her teacher's see?

I had to explain to Meghan, Chloe and Bubbles that it was probably just a joke. I could see Kate giving me disapproving and concerned glances from the corner of my eye. I knew she wanted me to tell them, but I didn't.

They eventually got over it by Wednesday. All through the night my phone buzzes and I put it on do not disturb until I'm ready to look through my text messages for ones from friends.

Rosemary offered me a extra job at the cafe. I'm singing on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. I've been singing there since Alex left, as well as waitress, but I get heaps of money.

Bubbles announces that we're all going over to her place on Friday night.

Glenna and Noah have started dating. It was a big surprise, and I think his friends are still shocked. Glenna still hates me. I did do a pretty horrible thing, being with someone I didn't like while I knew someone else did. I don't know why I did it. Bubbles says I did it because I didn't want to let him down, since I thought he was a nice guy. But I don't know why I did.

On Thursday, some maintenance guy came to replace my locker door, which I was grateful for. I was happy the words were not visible, but not too happy about having a dark, black locker in the middle of other plain ones. It made people stop and stare.

Now I'm sitting in Calculus with Bubbles, Chloe, Leo and Callum. We have a relief teacher, a younger guy, maybe in his early twenties. Amanda and all her friends have decided to sit up at the front, funnily enough.

"So, Mr Williamson, what do you teach again?" Amanda asks him, twirling one strand of hair around her index finger with one elbow on the desk, her hand under her chin.

"I teach geography," he says, before returning to his work while the class works in silence.

"That's funny, I haven't seen you around. You must be new, huh," Amanda says, batting her eyebrows furiously. Leo mutters the b word under his breath and Callum, Chloe, Bubbles and I roll our eyes at her. Doesn't she have a boyfriend.

"Yes, I came just this year. Please get back to your work, miss," he says in a clipped tone. Amanda tries pouting at him. He just shakes his head at her with a 'what the hell?' expression on his face. The class returns to their work until the bell rings.

The five of us walk out of the classroom and talk in the hallway, since its the last period.

"What would Alex say?" Chloe asks. "She was full on flirting with our teacher!"

Callum shrugs. "If you ask me, he wouldn't be worried. He seems to be interested in someone else."

The other four turn towards me. I blush slightly and hold my books tighter to my chest. "I agree,"

Leo says.

"Me too," Bubbles says. Callum's arm wraps around her and she leans into him.

"Me three," Chloe contributes. I roll my eyes and walks off.

"See you tomorrow, guys!"

***

I'm at my house, packing my bag for Bubbles' house when my phone dings with a text. I pick it up and unlock the phone. I click on the message and see an unknown number.

hi, I was just wondering if you knew where to buy some b**** repellent? There's this one girl that just won't stay away from my boyfriend! See, this girl is really clingy. My boyfriend told me that she's an annoying cow, that just won't go away. So, if you know where I could buy any of that, it would be great. Also, this person needs to sink to the depths of hell. She's fat and ugly and a total s***. If you see her, please tell her to lay off my boyfriend. He literally told me he hated her. No one will ever love her. I blame her parents. They created that mistake. My boyfriend himself told me himself that she was ugly. I mean seriously, she needs to start wearing make up! She actually looks like a toad. I bet her parents paid for her friends, she stinks soooooo bad, no one would ever want to be around her, she smells like trash! She seriously needs some deodorant. And maybe some invisible spray so that no one has to lay eyes on her ugly face. If she tries wearing a bikini I will shoot myself. I hope she locks herself in her room forever. Maybe she should try and get expelled, since no one wants her around. Anyway, if you find some of that repellent, give me a call. Cheers,

Amanda Harper. :)

I sit down on my bed and lay my phone down beside me. Is that what people really think of me? Alex thinks I'm ugly? I sound like a popular queen bee. So what if I'm ugly. But do I really smell bad? I think I do always keep following Alex around. I need to stop. No wonder he called me ugly. He probably does hate me. I need to stay away from him. Do people at school really hate me? Probably.

I bite my lip and pick up my phone when it dings again. Its another text message from the number. I should've blocked them while I had the chance to, because my curiosity gets the better of me and I open the message, its a picture. Its a series of text messages, someone (Amanda) has screenshotted them. On the top it reads, Alex (bf)

Hey baby

Hi Amanda

What do you think of Natalie Bennett?

She's literally so ugly, lol. She's so clingy. She needs some deodorant. Someone needs to take her shopping so that they can buy her some real clothes. She annoys me sooo much. She keeps calling me 'babe' like, aren't you supposed to call me that? She actually thinks I'm her boyfriend. Either get a life or go to hell, she can choose.

Thanks babe. I miss you. xo

I bite my lip so hard I'm surprised I don't draw blood. I swallow the lump in my throat and flick my phone onto my bed beside me. I continue my packing, going to get my toothbrush. I walk back and shove the toothbrush inside. I look up and see Alex's room. His lights are turned off.

I walk out my french doors and clamber up onto the railing. I jump onto Alex's balcony. I try the doors. They're unlocked. I roll my eyes. What an Idiot he is. But then I stop myself. I shouldn't be calling him an idiot. Is that basically flirting? I hope not. But he probably thinks all of my jokes are flirts. I sigh and walk into his room like the psychotic stalker I am.

I lie down on his bed and sigh. I am so creepy. I'm literally lying on the bed of a guy that thinks I'm ugly and hates me.

I twist around so I'm lying sideways on his bed. It smells just like him.

Ignoring each other is very annoying. It means we can't talk, I can't call him names, he can't wrap his arm around me, he can't comfort me, he can't hug me and he can't text me.

I miss him. A lot.

I close my eyes and curl my arms under the pillow and pull my knees up to my chest.

When I do finally open my eyes, I see something that catches my eye.

I sit up and lean again the bed frame. I pick up the photo frame. It's plain white and light. I hold the frame in both hands and stare down at the picture. It's the one we took that day we went to the beach together. I taught him how to make a paper crane and we watched Star Wars. We went to that ice cream shop and he dropped his after moshing it into my face. I smile at the memory.

Before I know it, tears are starting to fall down my cheeks. It's been a long time coming. With the Amanda thing. All the text messages make me feel so bad about myself, and she's getting to me because I'm starting to believe them. I twist the heart necklace on my neck. How can Alex have a photo like this and hate me? How'd I go from thinking he loved me to knowing he hates me? Another tear falls off my chin onto the glass of the photo. I wipe it off quickly. He must've only recently started hating me. He must think I'm a wimp from screaming about my cut. Im such an idiot.

I study his face in the picture. His sharp jawline that could cut through a karate board and his dimples and his bright and straight teeth. His leather jacket is visible in the bottom on the picture. I'm leaning into him slightly, my sunnies perched on top of my head. We both look happy. Why do I always feel safe around him? Why can't I stay away from him?

Oh, my God. I'm in love with Alex.

A/n: hehhe so cliche, sorry I couldn't help myself.

***

I arrive at Bubble's at around six. All the others are there and they usher me inside. Bubbles' brothers and dad are out, so we have the house to ourselves for a few hours before they return (at around eleven, Bubbles tells me, because they're seeing an NFL game). Her Mum's still home and is making a lasagna for us all. I smile and greet her when I walk in and she does the same.

We walk up into Bubbles' bedroom, which has blankets, mattresses and sleeping pillows spread out so none of the floor is visible.

"Sorry," she says to me. "I got bored waiting for you all to come so I set up the mattresses since I didn't want us all to sleep in the living room, in case any of you fancy my brother and he sees or hears so sleep talking, farting or snoring."

The girls  - who're lying on the mattresses on their phones - all groan at her and tell her to shut up but she just laughs. I throw my bag onto Bubbles' double bed and plop down next to everybody after Bubbles.

"You look down Nat, what's wrong?" Meghan asks, looking up from her phone.

"Nothing!" I say quickly and whip my phone out. There's nothing left for me to do on it after I like all the Instagram posts, so I block Amanda's number and delete the conversation, along with all the Instagram ones as well. The others are all mindlessly chatting while looking through their phones. I play Candy Crush but quickly stop when I remember Alex also plays it.

I chuck my phone down beside me and join my friend's conversation, my head lying on my arms, which are crossed in front of me, my legs, from my knees down. Are off the mattress and dangling above my body.

One of the only things I know that was a lie in Amanda's texts was that my friends were payed to be just that. Maybe Chloe can act that well, but I know the others can't. And I'm lucky to have them. I just hope they don't smell me.

"Guys, do I stink?" I ask them? They all look at me with puzzled expressions. Bubbles comes over at sniffs me.

"You smell like the deodorant 'sexy bouquet' from Rexona. No, you don't stink, why would you think that?" she says. The others laugh at her first statement and I shrug.

"My brothers," I grumble and the conversation continues.

After discussing the new Mary Poppins movie, we move onto our favorite breeds of dogs, followed by a talk about a BuzzFeed quiz Chloe took that gave her some disturbing answers,  and then we just talk about random things, like how Bubbles ate beans for breakfast and how Meghan's parents have decided on getting a cat.

And then, sadly, Bubbles and Chloe decide to play a dramatic game of truth or dare. Bubbles runs downstairs to grab some chips and lollies and a plate of fruit, because we need to be healthy (obviously).

Then we start, everyone sitting crossed legged in a circle.

"Ok, I'll start," Bubbles says, biting into a lolly snake. "Meghan, truth or dare?"

"Uhm... Truth," Meghan says, picking up a potato chip. Bubbles turns to Kate and asks what truth to do. Kate then whispers something into Bubbles's ear and she smiles.

"Meghan, tell me if you're into that cute guy on the soccer team, Sam," Bubbles says. Meghan blushes.

"Yes, I am. Hurry up, now," she says quickly. "Truth or dare... Chloe."

"Dare," says Chloe, puffing up her chest slightly as though picking the second option is brave. Personally, I think they're both horrible options, and you could die both mentally and physically, I'd prefer truth, dare or would you rather myself, because the obvious answer would be would you rather.

"I dare you to balance the biggest chip on your head and run straight into the bathroom. If it drops, you have to eat it, if it doesn't you don't," Meghan says. Chloe shrugs and places the largest chip on her head. She runs to the bathroom and comes back with the chip in her hand, frowning slightly.

"Where'd it drop?" Kate asks.

"Bathroom floor, right next to the toilet," she says, scrunching up her nose. She then takes a deep breath and shoves the chip down her throat. She swallows it and sits back down, taking her waterbottle from her bag before she does so.

"Nat, truth or dare?" she asks, through sips of her water bottle.

"Dare," I say.

"Ok, we shall discuss," Chloe says, capping her bottle and crawling over to where the other three sit. They talk in hushed whispers before parting and sitting back down. Bubbles speaks up.

"Natalie, we dare you to call Alexandra Coll-" she starts, a big grin on her face.

"His full name's Alexandra?" I ask. She nods and continues.

" We dare you to call Alexandra Collins and say everything we want you to, emphasizing the underlined words. I'll right sentences on a piece of paper for you to read when we say go. The phone will also be on speaker, and you will press mute when you finish the phrase so we can laugh. The volume will also be on high."

I groan and the others laugh. I glare at them as I take out my phone. I click his contact and look up at them. Bubbles has a notepad and a pen with her. This will not end well.

"Start," she says, and I click call. I'm so glad this isn't FaceTime.

She writes something on the paper as it rings. It reads, 'hey you handsome, sexy beast."

"No!" I yell quickly as the others laugh. I groan just before he picks up. Bubbles nods at me to begin.

"Hey you handsome, sexy beast," I say in my most confident voice I can muster, clicking mute so he cannot hear the girls' laughter. I, personally, am moritfied.

"Nat?" his voice is all husky, as though he's been sleeping. Why the hell did he pick up the phone? He should hang up and go back to sleep, its probably two am in Italy. "Um.. hi."

Bubbles turns the notebook back around and I ground before unmuting it. The other girls hide their laughter in pillows. I send them all 'I hate you' glares.

"Will you be my prince charming, my love?" I say. I mute it again and the girls howl with laughter.

"Um.... if that's what you want then sure," he answers back. The other girls giggle and I take it off mute, ready to read out the next thing Bubbles' writes.

"Ditch that shallow dumb cow of a queen bee and get with me," I say. Letting out a large groan when I hit mute. I send a death glare in Bubbles' direction, which, unfortunately, she doesn't see. Again she flips around the notebook.

"What?" Alex says. I hear shuffling on the other side and assume he's moving into a sitting position.

"I feel like we're soulmates," I tell him, letting out a deep breath once the mute button is pressed.

"Ok," Alex says hesitantly.

I send Bubbles a 'what?' glance when she flips the notebook around again. "Did you know there's and island near Mexico full of creepy dolls?"

I'm not the only one that asks "what!?" when mute is pressed. Bubbles just laughs and shrugs.

"Are you trying to give me nightmares, Nat?" he asks.

Bubbles rights something down and I take it off mute. "Maybe, but I hope your dreams are filled with the beautiful image of my face."

Alex responds, "Nat, are you drunk?"

"No, baby, I'm just drunk on our love," I say and let out a big groan/laugh thing and fall back against the bed. I am so embarrassed.

Alex doesn't respond. Bubbles scribbles something down and I squint to read it, it was written so fast.

"I've always loved you, Noah's got nothing on you, babe," I say.

"Really?" he sounds surprised.

"No, you flipping idiot!" I yell at him. Bubbles shoots me a glare and writes something down before Alex ca respond. "Oh, sorry, I mean, yes.I am pregnant with your child."

The others howl with laughter when I hit mute and my cheeks burn. Alex lets out a little chuckle. "Nat, you sure you're not drunk? Or high?"

"Of course not, baby, why would you think that?"

"Uhh.." Alex drones off. Bubbles writes something down and turns it around. I give her a 'please, no' look but she nods at me to stop the muted call.

"Do you think I'm beautiful?" I ask.

"Yes," he says so confidently I wonder if he was dared to say that like I was. "I think you're gorgeous."

I turn a deep shade of red, I can feel it. "Nat?" he says softly. "Take the phone of speaker."

I look up at Bubbles and she scribbles down, do it. The other girls are quiet and I take it off speaker.

"Was that a dare?" he asks.

"Yah," I say quietly.

"Good night Nat," he says.

"Night Alex," I say.

I don't make a move to hang up. Instead I just look in front of me and listen to the sound of his breathing on the other end.

"I miss you, Nat," he finally says.

"I miss you too, Alex," I say softly, I hope the others don't hear. I hang up and toss the phone to the side. The others' faces light up and I blush, burying my face in my pillow. They start yelling and laughing and hooting, I just stay lying down with my face in the pillow. "Shut up," I say in a muffled voice.

They eventually stop laughing and continue with the game. Its all going smoothly until...

"Nat, truth or dare?" Kate asks me.

"Truth," I say, not wanting to call Alex back.

"Do you like Alex?" she asks. Meghan stops chewing on a lolly and Chloe stops and looks up from her phone. Bubbles just sits up straighter.

I blush. Should I tell them? Yes, I trust all four of them. "Yes," I say simply.

It happens slowly. Bubbles' mouth slowly twists into a smile, showing her teeth after about five seconds. Meghan's mouth slowly opens and Chloe's eyes start twinkling. Kate just looks smug. Then everyone else starts yelling and screaming until they get up and starting jumping around and screeching. There are heaps of "I told you so"s and "I knew it"s.

I just sit on the floor, my back pressed against the end of the bed, stretching out a lolly snake between my teeth and fingers.

They eventually calm down after about ten minutes and start quizzing me. There are so many questions, to which I answer with blunt answers. Then they give up and start talking. I scroll through my phone.

Then we start playing 'never have I ever.'

"Never have I ever drunk texted an ex," says Kate. Everyone except Bubbles and I drink our water. Water.

"Never have I ever skipped school."

Kate drinks.

"Never have I ever pretended to love someone."

Chloe drinks.

"Never have I ever had a boyfriend."

Everyone drinks.

"Never have I ever made a prank call."

Everyone drinks.

"Never have I ever eaten something out of the bin."

Bubbles drinks, which causes a heap of questioning.

"Never have I ever broken something at a friend's house and not told them."

We all drink except Kate and Chloe. "It was actually at your house, Nat," Bubbles informs me.

"What! What was it?" I ask.

"A glass cup. Don't worry, I cleaned it up and told your dad. He was OK with it," she says. I shrug and we continue.

"Never have I ever had a crush on a next door neighbor."

No one drinks and everyone's heads turn to me.

"Oh, right," I say and drink.

***

We're just about to go to sleep when Bubbles whispers something to me.

"You know he only picked up because he saw it was your contact right?" she says.

"What?" I whisper, trying not to wake the others.

"He was sleeping. He probably would have put the phone down and kept sleeping if it was someone else," she says. I just grunt. "You really like him don't you."

I just shrug and bury my face in my pillow again.

"You do," she says. I hit her with a spare pillow.

"Shut up and sleep," I say. I can practically hear her smug smile.

____________________________________________________________

Hope you enjoyed this chaoter! There were heaps of kistakes, due to fast typing but I just wanted to get the chaoter up.

Bye! Vote and comment. laterrrrrrrr dudesssssssssss.

-Abbey