Girl Trouble (Completed) - Ayesha Azhar (graded readers .TXT) 📗

Chapter 17

It was so maddening!What was going on between Ashley and Jake that they had completely forgotten me? Or maybe, I HAD never been one of them.Maybe I had always been a puppet, something to use against Mandy.And now,Ashley had discarded me, now that she had got what she wanted.Even if Ashley did use me like that, I would never believe it of Jake.

As I lay on my bed that night, the events of the day flashed through my mind.The day had passed in a blur after I had came home from school.I had only had lunch, learnt my lines and then I had done my homework.That's all.There had been no one to visit.No where to go.

But tomorrow was going to be better.Or worse.Who could say? But I would talk to Jake tomorrow.I would try to find out what was up between him and Ashley.Tomorrow.And with that resolution in my mind, I fell in the sweet clutches of sleep.

 

 

The bus turned the corner and entered the school grounds.It was the next morning.I let Mandy get off the bus first and then I got off. The first thing I saw when I got off was Jake, standing there, and grinning at me like an idiot.

"Hey!Jake."I said, runnig towards him,"Are you okay?"

   "Never been better." Jake smiled.

"What were you up to? The last two days, you and Ash?"

   "Nothing.Just a fight we had, we are okay now."

"Ummm..good then, I was worried."

   "You take after your mother, Steph, worrying about every little thing."

  "But you left without even greeting me yesterday-"

     "Ash and I had something important to do."

"Something important which you cant tell me?"

  "Yeah, come on now, let's go inside."

  "Oh, fine then."

I let him drag me inside.Once we were in the hall, he left me and started walking towards his first class, Maths it seemed.

"Bye, Steph, see you in rehearsal."He waved.

  "Not in lunch?" I asked.

"No-"

  "Got something important to do with Ash?"I broke in coldly.Jake stared at me for a moment and then he walked towards me again.He held out his hand.I thought maybe he wanted to shake hands, so I held out my own hand.But instead, he just held my own hand in his tightly.

"What's wrong with you,Steph?"

"Nothing." 

  "Listen, do you mind when Ash and I hang out together without you?"

 My heart started beating loudly,"No, why would I?"

     Jake looked somewhat taken back, as if he had expected a different reply,"Then you should have no problem over what Ash and I do.I have something else to do in lunch, so I'll see you at rehearsal,ok?"

 I nodded,"Yeah."

  "Ok, later then."

"Bye." Jake started walking again, I turned around, why had he asked that? Did he suspect that I liked him? Oh God, I hope not. It would be a real mess if he did. Oh, well, Time would tell.Nothing I could do now. I started walking and walked towards my own class.

 

Rehearsal time again.It was 29th May today, we had to be perfect by the 9th of June, the dress rehearsal, and then the big day.The day of the play.My part wasnt so difficult so I had no reason to worry but the ones who had the big parts were freaking out.

Jake had promised to meet me, so hope was still on.But I worried that he would not make it.Ashley would be there, somehow our friendship had changed, became more complicated as we matured.I was worried about Ashley, she had been very cold to me the past two days.I did not know what had been wrong between her and Jake, but I  knew it was about me.

I was in the auditorium now, it was just as crowded as yesterday, with the addition that Jake and Ashley were here too.Together, as expected.I walked towards them.

"Hey! Hi, Steph." Ashley smiled.

"Hello." I replied, then looked at Jake.

  "What?"he asked, amused.

"Nothing, dont you have enough respect to get up,Jake? A lady is standing in front of you and you are sitting down?" I pretended to sound hurt.Jake grinned at me, Ashley laughed.

"Ya,Jake.Get up, Ladies first."

"Fine, ladies."Jake got up, then whipped out a chair from another table and sat down upon it.I stared at him, still standing.

"What now?" His tone suggested that he was supressing a laugh.

"You."I said and laughed.

  "Sit down or do you want me to take that chair back?"

I sat down and grinned at Jake.

  "Guys," Ashley broke in,"It's so weird, isn't it? Even in play, I got what Mandy wanted, I got Justin.Though I am not so sure I do really want him." She batted her eyelashes at Jake, I scowled.Fortunately Mr Owens started speaking just then, which stopped me from retorting.

"Good Afternoon, everyone.Yesterday's rehearsal was an excellent one, I hope you are all as well prepared today."There were many 'yeahs' and 'we ares' from the listening audience and then Mr Owens continues,"Today we will be rehearsing Harry's and Sandy's engagement ceremony, after which Sandy will run to Justin and plan to run off. Come up,please."

     Jake and Ash got up and walked towards the stage.I stared after them. I had no interest in listening to what Sandy had to say to Justin, but the first part, the engagement ceremony was important for me.They had taken their positions on the stage.

"Start."That was Mr Owens signal.Ashley started walking towards Jake with Serena close behind her.

  "Mama, I tell you for one more time, this is not right."

"Be quiet, do not let Harry or your father doubt you,Sandy,there he is, be good now."

  Sandy's father, whom I now recognized as my 6th grade Bio partner, took Ashley's hand and handed it to Jake.I bit my lip.It was all I could do to stop myself from screaming out loud.

"Ah,Sandy."Jake looked at Ashley with eyes full of love.It made me feel sick.

   "Take good care of my Sandy now, son."Sandy's father said, shaking Jake's hand.

"You can rest assured,father."Jake said.Ugh.Then came something which almost had me over.Rings.Jake's father whom I noticed now, gave Jake a ring.The rest of it was so heart breaking that I closed my eyes and did not open them again until Jake came by my side and said,

"Was I good? Were we ok together?"

"Yeah," I nodded,"You were good."

"Then why did you close your eyes?"

   "I...they were hurting, that's why.Can we go home now?"

"No, Ash is still rehearsing her scene with Justin, she is telling him that she doesn't love me."Jake pouted.

   "Do you mind?" I said,"That she doesn't love you?"

"No,"Jake grinned,"You love me na, I dont need her."

  "Oh,yeah."I said," I love you, but you dont love me, so it doesn't really matter."My heart was beating really loudly now.

     "I do love you,Steph,I am just not able to tell you."

My heart dropped a beat,"You do love me?"

    "Yes," Jake looked at me,"In the play, I mean."

  Of course.I should have known.

   "If you love me, then why do you kill me in the end?"

"Well, errr..because the writer wants me to."

   I smiled,"That's a good one,Jake."

 Ashley was around us suddenly, I did not realize where she came from, but there she was.

    "We were good together, weren't we, Jakey?"

Jakey?Ugh."Ya, you were both good, especially you,Jake."I said.

   "Thank you,"Ashley started,"by the way, you will have your turn tomorrow,I asked Mr Owens,he said we are going to rehearse your scene tomorrow,Steph."

"Finally!" I said, Jake smiled,"You can go home now, Steph."

   "You aren't coming?"I asked.

"Nah.Got something to do."

   I raised my eyebrows, but then decided to let it go,"Ok, bye."

 "Bye."

I ran off. The walk back to home was a quick and a quiet one.Noone following me today. I was soon at my house on my bed, thinking about what tomorrow would bring.Tomorrow I was going to be on the stage, rehearsing my scene with Mandy.Oh! I couldn't wait for tomorrow!

Chapter 18

I woke up afresh the next morning.I could hardly wait to get to school.Finally, I would be acting along side Mandy.And I would show them all! My acting would be so good that they would all have to admit it. Especially Mandy.

"I had a different idea for you, I thought you might like to join the stage crew,since you.."

  Ha! She would soon know that it wasn't only stage crew that I was good at. Talking about stage crew though, I didn't know whether all the sets had been built.Gosh, I had completely forgotten! I would have to see to that today.

I ate quickly and in minutes, it seemed, I was in the school grounds searching for a familiar face.

  "Looking for me?" Jake grinned as he came over.

"Sorry."I said,"But you aren't special enough."

   "Ohhh," Jake sounded amused,"Then who is that special person?"

"He hasn't came in my life yet."

   "Then make do with the ones you have."

"Oh, shut up Jake. Look, there's Ash, come on."

I started walking towards her,Jake didn't follow,"Why are you standing there now?" I asked.

   "Listen, Steph,I need to tell you something."

"Something as in what?"I turned to look back at Jake, I could see Ashley watching us from the corner of my eye.Maybe Jake sensed it too because he said,

   "It's something important, Steph, something private. Maybe later?"

There. Ashley had spoiled my special moment now. I glared at her then turned back at Jake.

   "Oh, ok, come on, let's go to class now."

 "Yeah, come on."

 

It would soon be rehearsal time again. This was beginning to be a routine now, just come to school, have a little chat with either Jake or Ashley, have lunch, rehearsal, and then leave.

"For all members of Sustenance," A voice came from the school microphone. I sat up," The rehearsal today has been canceled, Mr Owens had had to visit his sick sister today.You may all go home after school."

Many children whistled. Someone said,"But we have only a few days left, we will not be ablt to act perfectly if Mr Owens keeps canceling rehearsals."

"It's just one rehearsal and besides Mr Oqens will schedule another one in it's place."someone replied.

  "Yeah, but it wont be the same."

I closed my ears to the sounds and complaints of my classmates. As it was, normally I would be happy that the rehearsal had been canceled, becasue I was not a very big fan of watching Jake act all lovey dovey towards Ashley.But as we were supposed to rehearse my scene with Mandy today after such a long wait, I was one to complain.

Well, atleast I would be ablt to go straight home from school now.The bell rung soon enough, and I slung my backpack over my shoulder and prepared to leave.And then suddenly Jake was there.

"Hey, wait Steph."

"Oh, hello Jake."

  "Can I walk you home?"

This wasnt it all ways unexpected, after that strange way that Jake had said that he had something important to tell me, I knew something was up.But all the same, I was nervous.

"Err..umm, yeah, if you want to." I said.

  "No, he doesnt want to. Jake, not today."

There, here comes the villian of my story, Ashley John.

  "But she should know, Ash, she's our friend."Jake said and gripped Ashley's hand,