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

stairs so that my parents couldnt hear.It was quite a difficult task since our stairs creake very loudly but I managed it in the end.

"Oh,hi,Steph"Ashley waved at me as I ran out of the back door.

"Hi"I replied.

"I didn't think you would come"Ashley said,"Because of Mandy"she added.

I hadn't thought about Mandy.But it was my choice who I hung out with.

"Why would I not come because of Mandy? I did come with you to Steve's party, didnt I?"

"Yes, you did,good then, I would really like to know you better, Steph"'

"Then you have a chance to now," I said "Mandy is my best friend,but I make my own choices"

"I am glad"she replied"I would like to hang out with you more often".I nodded.

We entered Caeseys, I had never really came to Caeseys before, Mandy and I always went to the California Dream Parlour.But this looked quite posh. I couldnt quite understand,Ashley was poor,Then why did she hang out at such an expensive place?The people here looked quite rich.

    I would never be able to ask Ashley right out if she was poor, I had to try some other way, maybe I could ask about her scholarship.

"Ashley?"I started.

"Yes?"

"Well,Jake said that you got admitted in this school through a scholarship,umm...is that true?"

"So he told you?I knew he would."

"Umm...yes, he did, do you mind?"

"No,I dont, but what do you care?"

"I do care,Ashley, I mean, arent we friends now?"

"I suppose we are, though Mandy wont be too happy to hear that, would she?"

"No she wont be, though she has got nothing against you,Ashley, its just that shes very possessive sometimes."

"oh really?" Ashley said, copying Mandy's sarcastic tone,"Then why doesnt she mind when you hang out with Jake or someone else?"

"Well,errr..."I couldnt find an answer to that,"Forget that, Ashley, tell me about yourself."

"You already know everything about me,Steph, Jake must have told you that I am poor and everything else too"

"No, he didnt tell me anything else,Ashley."

"Then here it is, when I came in The Educators, it was Jake who helped me, who shared everything with me, he supported me so much, I dont know where I would be without him."

Hmmm......Jake said that Ashley had helped him,Ashley says that Jake helped  him.I couldnt understand a single thing. What was going on?

"So...you two are best friends?"I asked.

"Ofcourse, I would have thought you would have guessed as much now."

"Ok, so you really want the lead, dont you?"

"Yes, its really important for me,Steph,If I get the lead, then that will secure my position."

"Oh," I suddenly felt very sorry for Ashley, it was so important for her to get the lead, maybe Mandy should back off, afterall, she had been the lead last year too, others should get a chance now.

"Come on, lets order, Steph." Ashley suddenly said, I nodded

    We got a table and sat down.I looked around. There wasnt anyone else here whom I knew, wait, who was that? Suddenly I saw something which made me freeze.Guess who I saw sitting with her whole FAMILY on a corner  table?Mandy.

Chapter 5

 

You can guess what happened after that,we ended up in a fight as usual.but  thankfully at that time I was sensible enough to hide my face and run.Though why did I ran? Why didnt I want Mandy to see me? Maybe I just didnot want another fight.I mean it was really nothing,Mandy seeing me,but if she knew that I was with Ashley then she would get one of her ideas that I was ditching her.But Mandy had already seen me, she didnot say anything as I ran,but the next morning,in class, she had a WHOLE LOT to say.

"How CAN you behave like Ashley's best friend when you know I how much I hate her?Mandy said.

"What are you talking about,Mandy?"I said innocently.I didnot want to start a fight.

"Dont lie to me Steph,the least you can do is tell the truth"she said coldly.

"Alright",I said"Even if I WAS with Ashley its not as if I commited a crime"

"CRIME?"Mandy's voice was raising"Now ashley is trying to steal you from me too"

"No, she is not, Mandy, I can have other friends beside you, and anyways, Ashley isnt reallly as bad as you think she is,Mandy, if only you would give her a chance-"

  "I dont want to give her a chance,"Mandy broke in"I am good enough as it is, and I want you to stay the same too,Steph,Why do you want to be friends with her anyways?

"Because I like her, Mandy,I like her, though not as much as I like you, but good enough, why shoud  I not be friends with her just because YOU have made her your enemy?"

"Because you are my best friend! you should support me,Steph!"

"I do support you,Mandy, I mean, ofcourse I want you to be the lead."

"I didnt mean that, Steph, I meant that you should support ME, and not be friends with your best friends enemy."

"It doesnt matter,Mandy,I like her, so I will be friends with her, you cant stop me, because you dont own me"

"Yes,"Mandy said as if in a daze"yes,I dont own you", and then without saying another word,she turned away.I stared after her,I was used to her storming off now.

 

 

"Ummm......I saw you having a fight with Mandy,Steph"Ashley said,stopping me at my locker.

"Doesn't it seem strange that YOU of all people saw me having a fight with Mandy?"I  said sarcastically.

"Yeah"Ashley shuffled her feet.

"What?"I asked.

"well",she began"I have a feeling that it was because of me".

It was kind of her to say that,but at that time I was pissed off with her,so I said"yes,it WAS because of you".

Ashley looked at me,surprised.

I continued"Will you be as kind to leave me alone?"

Ashley nodded quickly and turned away.Why was I being rude to her?It wasnot her fault that Mandy was so stupid.

"Wait!"I called after her"I am sorry for being so rude"

"That is to be expected"Ashley smiled"I understand"

"No,really.I was just upset and taking it off on you"

"Its okay"Ashley said"but what you did last night was NOT okay.why did you run off like that?"

"because of Mandy,you see,I was scared that we would end up having a fight'

"well,you had now too"Ashley pointed out"so there was no use of you running"

"yeah"I sighed.

"Why do you care for her so much anyways, Steph? I mean, I have only ever seen you two fighting."

'Well, no.."I said defensively."We love each other, we have been best friends since years."

"So just because of that, you will let her say anything she wants to you,Steph?"

"Why are you saying all this,Ashley?"

"No reason,"Ashley shook her head,"I just thought-"

"Well, dont think  then,"I interrupted her in between," I dont want to hear anything against Mandy, I will see you later."

"Okay, see you later,Bye."

"Bye"'

I left, I really wanted this school day  to get over quickly, I turned and went into the hall to look for my next class.

 

 

It was Literature and I was scribbling away notes when my name was announced.

"Mr Owens is calling you in the auditorium,Stephanie"Miss Jonathan said.

I quickly made my way to the auditorium. Why was Mr Owens calling me? something must definitely be wrong with the sets.I opened the door and went inside.

"You called me.Mr Owens?"

"Yes,sit down dear," I sat down on a chair and then looked at him expectantly. He took a sigh and then said"As you know the roles of Sustenance are to be announced tommorow,Miss Moore."

"Yes" I nodded, wondering where this conversation was going.

"So I  have to tell you, Miss McHugh is not the lead."

"Oh"I said,though I wasn't surprised,after the tantrum she had shown that day on the first auditions,Mr Owens was very unlikely to choose her for the lead.

"I know it is wrong to tell a student this before the roles are announced but-"

"But?"I asked.

"Let me finish please, Miss Moore."

I nodded.This was all quite dramatic, Mandy not being the lead, who else was the lead then? Ashley ofcourse. Then hadnt Mandy got even a minor part in the play?

"Knowing  Miss McHugh's anger,she is sure to  get wild,and I dont want any unpleasent events in my play,Miss Moore.So I want you to break this news down to her gently,before I announce the roles"I nodded.

"I have given her the second role,seeing that she IS a great actrees,but if she does anything,I am afraid she will not be allowed to act in the play".

I sighed,Mandy would NEVER be able to stand this.

"I dont want her to be deprived of that position so I hope you will do as I tell you to,will you,Miss Moore?"

"Yes,Mr Owens"I said though I didnt know HOW I would do it since Mandy wasn't speaking to me, or rather I wasnt speaking to her.

"You can go now".

I left and went back to class,Noone bothered to look in my direction as I entered, I guess, I just wasnt as important, but Mandy did look up, and smiled. I didnt smile back.My mind was too preoccupied.

         I went back to my seat and put my hand into my bag for my necklace which I also used  as a good luck charm,which relaxed me.But to my surprise it wasnt there! I emptied the contents of my bag,but no necklace.then I began to panic,the bell rang and everyone went out,But I stayed behind, looking everywhere for my neclace.Seeing me,Mandy came over,

"Whats wrong?"she asked worried.

"My necklace,Mandy,the one which I always wore,you seen it somewhere?".I said, forgetting in my tension that Mandy and I werent speaking to each other.

"No"she shook her head,we both started to look for it but we couldn't find it.Tired,we went back to her house.

"I am sorry Steph,about my behaviour"she said."Its okay,Mandy"I said"as long as you dont do it again"

"Oh, but I do keep doing this again and again, dont I?"

"Well, yes,"I said,"But you just have to understand, Ashley is my friend too, even if she is not yours."

"Ok, I wont do this again."Mandy made a face."Oh!and I am sorry about your neclace too, though why you care for it so, I dont understand".

           I started at her,she knew the necklace was my good luck charm,then why was she saying this?Staring at her, a thought crossed my mind,Could it....Could it possibly be that Mandy had stolen my necklace for getting back at me for hanging out with Ashley?No way,Stephanie,I told myself,She's your best friend,Best friends do some horrible things sometimes,I thought.Why was I thinking like this?Why WOULD she do it?I asked myself,though I already knew the answer.

"Oh,Steph"Mandy began"tommorow the roles of the play will be announced."

Oh my gosh!I had forgot all about what Mr Owens had said,I had to tell Mandy about it,but I couldn't bring myself to tell her.

"Mandy,if you dont get the lead,dont get upset,okay?"I said

"Dont worry,I wont"Mandy replied,smiling strangely.I looked at her suspiciously,this was not like Mandy,but maybe she had learned to control her anger.

"You really wont be upset if you dont get the lead?"

"Yes....What is the matter with you,Steph?I mean it is just a play."

"Oh, good then."I nodded.

This was far too much, Mandy didnt care if she didnt get the lead, when did this happen? something was definitely wrong.This wasnt Mandy, but I decided not to bother about this now. 

" Ok,do you have the dialouge script,Mandy?"I suddenly asked,though I didn't know why I wanted the dialouge script now,I just felt like reading Mandy's script.

"Yes,it must be in my backpack"

I got her backpack and took out the script.Wait,there was something else there,I shouldn't pry,I thought.Oh well,I will just have a look.I put my hand inside,took the thing out and gasped.

It was my necklace!