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

folded the note and placed it neatly into a drawer. I was getting it about neatness these days.My stomach gave a growl so I opened the refregirator and looked inside for something to eat. I found nothing to my liking. That meant that I would have to cook something. I opened some drawers and finally found a ragged cook book.Hmmm..what to cook now?

Stew would be good. I cut some meat and then adding some chilli, placed it into the oven, setting the timer for 15 minutes. Then I decided that it would not be a waste of my time if I watched Tv while I waited. I went into the common room and switched on the news.

"It has been revealed that Mr Harry Sutton willl also be attending the high school production of Sustenance. He will also select the best actor and cast him in his new movie, Only For You. Get ready, young girls and gentlemen. You might just be selected-"

Balh, Blah, Blah. I started counting on my fingers, just to pass the time, and then the bell rang. Mummy was home early. It wasnt even 12 yet. I got up and opened the door.

"Jake!"

 "Yeah. Umm.. hi."

"What are you doing here?"

  "I..I just came to, you know, check up on you, you left so suddenly yesterday."

"Has Ashley came with you too?"

  "No. Its just..me."

We stared at each other for a while. He was still standing while I was standing at the door, preventing him from coming inside.

"So..is your mother home?"

  "No." I replied,"Mummy's out."

"Umm..can I come in?"

  "Yes. Of course."I said, letting him in. I followed him as he walked towards the living room and then turned to look at me.

"Your house is pretty nice,Steph." He said, looking around.

"Thanks. Have a seat. It isn't necessary to stand." I said, sitting down as I talked.

    "No, thanks, I am alright."

"Your wish."

  I opened up a bottle, and pouring out some water in a glass, handed it up to him. He refused. I shrugged and drank it up myself. The next 4 or 5 minutes that passed were like hell.We just kept staring at each other like mannequins(Dummies). Finally, I decided to break the silence and said,

  "What do you want,Jake?"

He seemed relieved that I had spoken first. Taking a deep breath, he said,"I really only just wanted to talk to you, Steph.Look, I know you are angry at me. Just tell me why. Please."

 "There's nothing wron,Jake.I am fine-"

    "Dont lie, Steph. I KNOW there's something wrong. Why are you being so indifferent? Is it something Ash said? Or me perhaps?"

 " It isnt what you said, Jake, it's what you two DID."

"So there really is something then. What did we do?

   "Do you think I dont know, Jake?" I stood up, and slowly circled around him, my face contorted in anger,"Do you think I dont know that you and Ashley are together?"

  He gasped,"You..you know?"

"Yes!" I said,"I have seen you two together."

   "Now you know. I...I wanted to tell you, Steph, Ashley stopped me. Believe me-"

"Dont lie to me, Jake, you were both on this together!"

    "It isnt how it looks like, Steph,trust me-"

"Trust you so that you can break me again?No.No, Jake Wilson, you cant fool me anymore."

   Jake came forward and tried to force my hand into his.

"Calm down.Just calm down,Steph-"

  "No!" I broke free,"You both are going out!"

"So?" For the first time, Jake looked angry,"What does it matter to you, Steph, why do YOU care about what I do?"

  "Because..Because," I satared at him, tears in my eyes, at loss for words,"Because..just, just shut up,Jake. Get out! Out! Now!"

  "Say it! Say it,Steph, why do you care whatever I..what's that smell?"

I looked up at this change in the subject and sniffed the air. Really, there was a smell around. Like burning. OMG! The stew! I ran into the kitchen, Jake followed me. I opened the oven door, black smoke came  out. Wearing safety gloves, I took out the tray and almost felt like screaming, It was burnt.Completely. Not even an animal could eat this now. And the smell was unbearable. Jake looked at me sympathetically.It made me angry.

"This is all your fault!" I said," If you hadn't came adn distracted me, then it wouldn't have burnt."

    "My fault?" However is it my fault,Steph?" Jake said, the trace of a smile on his face. It made me even more angry.

"DONT LAUGH!"

  "Okay, okay, fine."Jake held up his hands,"If you are really that hungry, then we can go out and eat. We could get Ashley too-"

"Dont take her name infront of me."

  "Fine then. Just the two of us."

I thought about it. It didnot seem like a very bad deal, ofcourse if Jake would pay."You'll pay?" I asked.Jake laughed."Yeah."

"Good then."

I took my overcoat and locking the main door behind me, we went out. It was not a very big coincidence that we met Ashley while we were in the restaurant. Ofcourse she came and sat with us. I could hardly bear to look at her, every time I saw her arrogant face, I saw her and Jake kissing, and it almost made me feel sick.

"So, do you know the latest scoop? About Mr Sutton?" I noddded. She hadnt up till now mentioned her and Jake's little encounter. I didnt care if she didnt. I would, I wanted her to know that I knew. As soon as Jake would be out of sight. I had been saved by the burning stew. I knew he did have a theory that I liked him too, that was why he had asked ofcourse. Soon Jake got up and left the table to pay the bill. I leaned forward towards Ashley.

"So..you and Jake are going out? Congratz."

   Ashley looked at me like she could not believe herself,"Did Jake tell you?"

I thought about it, I wouldn't mind if Jake and Ashley stopped talking to each other.

   "Yes,"I nodded,"He was bursting to tell me, told me first thing on Saturday. Ofcourse, I am his best friend, he had to tell me. You are only his girl friend."

  Ashley looked like she did not like this description of herself and said,"Really Steph? Then how come he never mentioned the fact that he had told you? And by the way, Steph, have you really forgotten Mandy? You are her best friend, remember? not Jake's."

  I thought about how to retort, finally I said," One can have more then one best friend, but ofcourse you wouldn't know, you always have run after one thing, haven't you, Ash? You always find a way to get what you want."

"Yes."Ashley smiled, she looked dangerously evil when she smiled, I couldnt believe that I once used to consider that smile cute." Now you have admitted it yourself, I do always get what I want. So be warned now only,Stephanie."

 "What do you mean?"

"You cant get Jake. He's mine."

    "I dont want him-"

"Liar. So like your darling Mandy, arent you,Steph?'I dont love Justin, I merely say for your sake.'You are both such liars."

"Atleast we lie to bring happiness, we dont DESTROY people's happiness, Ashley, like you do. You drove me and Mandy apart, Ashley. You did it on purpose."

  "I dont know what you mean, Stephanie, but know this, everyone who comes to competite with me will always loose. I always win. Now here comes Jake."

 I looked up."Ready to go, ladies? " Jake said.

  "Stephanie is. She has somewhere to go, that was what she was telling me about, dont you Steph? Come on, Jake. We can practise pur lines at your house."Ashley said,I stared at her in disbbelief, with my mouth hanging open.

"Well. if you say so. Come on, Ash. Bye, Steph, see you tomorrow."

    "Yes.See you tomorrow, Steph." Ashley called out airily. they both turned and walked out of the restaurant, laughing and talking together. I stared after them. So this was on now. Ashley would do everything in her power to keep me away from Jake. Well, I would stop her. I ran out, but I had lost against her once more. She and Jake were nowhere to be seen. Sighing, I started the long walk back home. Alone this time.I sighed again.

 

 

Once back home, I cleaned up all the mess I had made in the kitchen. Then I sprayed some air conditioner to drown out the bad smell. When I was done, I went up to my room and closed the lights. So Ashley had won. There was nothing I could do now, except make up to Mandy once this pay was over, and pretend as if none of this ever happened. I was sure Mandy would forgive me. But I wasnt sure whether I could live with Jake and Ash together. I would have to distance myself with them. That was the only thing left to do. It would be all as if this play had never happened and Jake and I had never met.

Just about 4 more days, tomorrow would be 8th and then all this would be over. And once mummy and father would be back by the 13th, my life would be back to normal. I looked around. Time to clean my room.

 

 

"Steph, come on down for dinner."

"Coming, mother."

I went down the stairs, and entered the kitchen. For the first time in forever, father was home. He looked up when he saw me.

"Stephaine, come on, sit beside me."

I went and sat down, wondering what special ocasion this was.

  "So, your mother has told you that we will be leaving on the 11th?"

I nodded, wondering where this was heading.

  "Your mother has talked to Mrs McHugh, girls your age would be able to live alone, but since you get scraed, you can live with the McHughs. You would like that, wont you? Their daughter Mandy is your best friend-"

"No.Absolutely not." I stood up,"Mummy, you KNOW Mandy and I arent talking these days, how will I ever live with her for two whole days?"

"You can make it up to her during this time, I know you want to, Steph, and really, if you dont agree, then you would have to stay home alone. You wont like that, would you?"

 "Then dont go.Please?"

"You know we have to go,Steph, now like a good girl, you'll stay at the McHughs, whatever has changed? Up until last month you and Mandy would have been delighted at this opportunity."

"Things arent the same now, mummy, but..oh,alright." I ate quickly and thenstarted climbing the stairs sulkily. I came down a moment later.

"Does Mandy know?"

"What does she know?"

  "I mean, does she know that I am going to stay with her?"

"I suppose yes, though I am not sure. Mrs McHugh may not have told her yet."

  "Oh."

I went up the stairs again, and slowly climbed up on my bed. I suppose this was all fro the better, if I was staying at Mandy's house, it would be easier to make her forgive me. But the play would be on the night of 11th and then I would go to Mandy's house. And an after party, if there would be one, would of course be at Jake's house on the 12th and then 13th and Mummy and father would be back. Just tomorrow and the 10th and then everything would be normal. Everything would be as it used to be.With this resolution in mind, I lowered the covers on my head, dreaming of a better tomorrow.

 

Chapter 24