Love vs Life - A.S. Lewis (essential reading txt) 📗

girls are all sharing stories on the intimacies with their boyfriends. Penny is the most outspoken. Really don't want to hear this about her and Nic. 

 

"So Anna, I've heard you were dating that Daniel guy who just got recruited to the Swans! He must have been amazing!" Penny gushes.

 

"Um, we didn't really date." I clarify. Where are people getting this information from?

 

"Oh so it was more friends with benefits then?" She questions. "I'm pretty sure on his profile page it says that he was in a relationship with an Anna who he grew up with."

 

"No! Definitely no benefits. I'm not like that, I haven't even been with a guy! And what profile page you talking about?" I ask.

 

"Oh the guys were looking at the draft pick pages the other night and I heard Ben read out that guys profile." She explains.

 

Oh. My. Goodness. Stop the press. He has said what? I pull out my phone and text him.

 

Dan! What's with this profile I'm hearing about? X

 

While I'm waiting for a reply I hear the girls have moved on in their conversation. Penny is now discussing how much she doesn't like Tegan because Nic is always with her and the girl doesn't have the decency to be her friend or at least friendly. Really? Your issue is with the girl your boyfriend spends more time with and not your boyfriend? And the problem isn't the time they spend together but that she doesn't say hi? I get the feeling her relationship with Nic is about status and not much else.

 

My phone lights up.

 

Babe, how are you? Oh yeah, oops, I just wanted to get the guys off my back and prevent getting swamped by girls. You know I love you though. X

 

That sounds about right. Using a relationship between us as a convenience. I can almost imagine him winking at me when says the last part, which would be followed by me hitting him. I do miss him, but we were going two different paths in life and it was always more of a friendship than anything more.

 

I start to reply back when I realise the meeting is over and Nic is standing behind me.

 

"Say hi to lover boy for me too" he says near my ear. I look down at my message and realise he's read my response saying I miss him. I turn around to him and see he looks really annoyed. Like he has any right to be.

 

"Oh babes you're here!" Penny exclaims "Anna was just telling us how that profile you guys were reading about that Daniel guy was wrong, they're not an item!"

 

I see a flicker of relief cross Nic's face as he shrugs and acts like he doesn't care. Seriously what is the deal with this guy. I can't work him out.

 

I grab my bag and say my goodbyes and head towards the cafeteria. I'm walking down stairs when I hear my name being called out. I turn to see Nic chasing after me.

 

"Anna, wait up!" He calls.

 

I'm already standing still so it wasn't really necessary. I wait for him to get down to me. He flashes this crazy sweet smile at me and starts to walk next to me.

 

"So Matt is having a party this weekend and I know heaps of the Italians and Greeks are going. Danielle probably will be there. Maybe you could come too?" He asks.

 

"I don't only hang out with Europeans you know?" I snap back. I hate people thinking I'm racist because of where I sit.

 

"No I know you're not, it's just Max mentioned how you'd said to him that your parents are strict and I thought maybe you'd be allowed out if some of your people were there too." He tries to clarify.

 

"Seriously? My people? I'm the same as you Nic. I was born here along with the majority of the rest of the school. Pretty sure that makes us all the same." I say frustratedly. I am getting so sick of this cultural divide. 

 

"Whoa, I'm trying here!" He gets defensive. "I just want you to come out with us".

 

Okay so I'm being painful again. It's this inner war I have about the way I feel around him.

 

I sigh. "Okay I'll see if I'm free."

 

"Great! So can we call a truce. Like, can we try and be friends?"

 

"Sure. Friends." I reply as we go our separate ways in the cafeteria.

 

Friends. Thats the safe word.

Chapter 5

 Thump Thump Thump Thump

 

The walls of the house seem to vibrate in front of me. Cars line to street and people are everywhere.

 

High school party. I'm pretty sure I should be more excited about this. Danielle looks over at me and gives me a "told you so" look. She was completely against coming until she got a message from some unknown person. Unknown to me that is. From the amount of time she spends messaging this person I'd say she knows them awfully well.

 

We walk up to the front door, our heels clicking on the paving. Despite not wanting to come, Danielle informed me we have a certain reputation to maintain which means we had to be dressed hot. I feel like I'm a fraud. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion along with the best of them, but it something learned for me. I'm just as happy in my running shorts and tank. For Danielle and the others it's like style flows through their veins and they live and breath fashion. 

 

I adjust the the skirt line on my mid thigh and ring the bell. Not that anyone can hear. I shrug at Danielle and open the door and walk in. 

 

The party is packed. We weave our way through the crowd, toward what I assume is the kitchen. Danielle has been here before so she is leading the way. We make it to the kitchen and it is amazing. It looks over an infinity pool which overlooks the city. While I'm busy gawking at the view I become separated. Next minute I can feel some one nudge into me. I turn around only to be met with a solid chest. Looking up I see chocolate eyes that belong to the one and only Adonis. 

 

He leans in to speak into my ear. I know it's loud and that's the reason but it creates an intimacy. "I'm so glad you came." He murmurs.

 

I look down to the beer he's holding and then back into his eyes and just smile. I turn around to face the view again and I feel him move in next to me. It's like we are both comfortable just being in each others space.

 

"It's so loud in here, want to go out near the pool?" He asks.

 

"Where is Penny?" I ask, reminding him of who he belongs to.

 

"Dancing with the Girls and Jay. She's off her face, I'll scrape her off some guy before I leave." He shrugs.

 

I don't even understand why they are together. We head out towards the pool and I feel his hand on my back as he guides me through. I try to keep and eye out for Danielle but I can't see her. Thanks wingman.

 

He opens the door for me to the outside and I take a deep breath of fresh air. I didn't realise how rank the air was inside until I got out here. It's a lot less packed out here. There are a few groups lounging around and who I assume is some of Matt's relatives, having a smoke and drink.

 

I follow Nic over to some outdoor lounges and I notice there is a few of his mates there. Max looks up as we walk into the group and I see some sort of communication between him and Nic. One of their friends Chris gets up from a double seater and moves onto a floor cushion, making space for the two of us.

 

Awkward. I'm the only girl here. That, and now I have sit somehow so my skirt doesn't make me look tacky. I end up perched on the edge of the couch with Nic's leg pressed into my knee. Max leans across and passes me a beer. Now I feel really awkward. I don't drink from bottles. My mum drummed into me how unladylike it is and now I just can't do it.

 

"You don't know where I can get a glass do you?" I shyly ask Max. 

 

He gives a little laugh that lights up his eyes. "Let me guess? Bad manners for a girl to drink from a bottle?"

 

I laugh back and nod. He sends Ben inside to grab one.

 

"Well boys looks like we have a lady here among us." He announces good natured. 

 

Im pretty sure I'm blushing right now. Why didn't I just stay inside? Luckily one of the other guys, Eddie, I think his name is, brings up some local match from the afternoon and they all get involved.

 

Ben comes back with a glass for me, but instead of passing it to me and gives it to Max and he takes my beer and fills it in. Our fingers brush as he passes it to me and his eyes don't leave mine. Our eye contact is broken when Nic managed to bump me with his leg and I nearly spill the drink. Then there is some strange eye communication happening again between Nic and Max.

 

I sip my beer and let the conversations around me wash over me, until I realise someone is talking to me.

 

"So Anna, what made you move to our school?" Ask Max

 

"Well my dad wanted to expand the business and he preferred the universities here for me so he figured a move now was better than next year." I reply.

 

"Well I'm glad you moved." Says Max as he raises his glass to me.

 

We fall into a group conversation about football, the beach, surfing, travel and then school. Before I know it its been a few hours and I'm ready for bed. I try to stifle a yawn but get busted by Nic.

 

"Do you need a lift home?" He asks

 

"I came with Danielle but I have no idea where she is. I should probably find her." I reply.

 

He stands up and puts his hand out to help me up and says "I'll come with you." 

 

 I wave goodbye to guys and Max gets up to hug me and gives me an air kiss to the cheek. As we walk away I can feel his eyes on me. I feel the goosebumps and the tingles.

 

As we get inside I can see the party has died down a bit, but those that are left are plastered. Not an attractive look for the girls attempting to dance in lounge. Their faces are washed out, they are staggering around in an attempt to seduce, but looking really gross instead. 

 

I Scan the room until I see Danielle in the corner chatting and giggling with a guy. I point her out to Nic, and leave him behind as I walk over to her. Only to find that the guy is actually my cousin Stefan. Small world. No wonder she hadn't told me who the mystery guy was. I see the panic in her eyes but I smile reassuringly, it really doesn't bother me. After the normal hugs and greetings with my cousin