I tapped my fingers on the desk. I didn’t know what to do.
It was the last class of the day and I could think of nothing but how to get a freaking boyfriend in a day.
I shouldn’t have done what I did.
I left the tapping and put my fingers in my mouth, biting down on my nails.
What are my options?
A. Accept that I can’t have a boyfriend. No way in hell will I do that.
B. Find someone who can actually bear to be my boyfriend. Hardest task ever.
C. Date Darren. Not a bad idea but I’ll do that if I have no choice. And for even thinking that, I feel truly horrible.
At least I have the last option if I didn’t find someone else.
I looked around the class. All the boys were either nerdy, studios and single or hot, smart and taken. Even the cute ones were taken.
Maybe I wouldn’t get anyone after all. Brian was right. I just didn’t have the guts to go and tell a boy that I like him.
The class ended and I didn’t look for more boys. I made my way to my car. I stopped in my tracks as I saw Darren leaning over my car, his eyes fixed on me with a desperate look in his eyes.
Further away in the parking lot, I saw Gemma who was perched up on Brian’s bike. Her eyes were darting from corner to corner as if she was looking for someone. Definitely Brian.
I shifted my eyes to Darren again. His lower lip had disappeared between his teeth and he was still staring at me. I started walking in his direction again.
At that precise moment, from the corner of my eyes I saw Brian exit the school building. One of the straps of his bag was resting on his shoulder and he ran a hand through his hair as he laid his eyes on me.
By the time I had reached my car and was stood in front of Darren, my eyes occasionally drifting behind him towards Brian and Gemma.
“Hey,” Darren’s voice was low and clear. I easily caught the and nervousness leaking from his tone.
“Hi, Darren,” I greeted him and watched as he shoved his hands deep in the pockets of his jeans.
“How are you?” He asked and I looked confusedly at him. Maybe he just wanted a conversation starter.
“I’m good. You? You didn’t get a hangover, did you?”
He winced. “Yeah, no I didn’t.”
I nodded. An uncomfortable silence enveloped between us and my eyes flickered towards Brian’s direction. He had already reached Gemma. They were away from earshot so I couldn’t hear what they were talking about.
“I-I wanted to talk to you… about that day.” I turned my attention back to Darren.
“What about it?”
“I didn’t do something to you, did I?” He asked, his eyebrows raised as if he was too scared to know the answer.
I cleared my throat. “Well, you did try to kiss me that night.”
His mouth hung open a bit. “I tried to kiss you?!” He asked as if he was wishing I was lying. Did he not remember that?
“Yes.”
“I’m so sorry, Brooke. I was drunk and I was not in control. I-I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said, frustratingly grabbing at his hair.
“You were doing what you wanted to do, Darren. A drunk person always says and does what he wants at that time.”
He looked down as if he had hung his head down in shame.
“So…” I trailed off before clearing a my throat again, “Is it true?” I didn’t need to fully explain to him what I was talking about as he instantly understood, “Don’t lie.”
He sighed, a resigned look on his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to force you into a kiss.”
“I asked you something. Is the answer yes or no?”
“Yes,” He said after a moment of hesitation. “But I know you don’t like me, Brooke. And I can understand that. I just need a chance to prove that I’m worthy of your love. One chance, please.”
I again happened to look over at Brian and I caught him looking in our direction with a frown. He quickly averted his eyes away from me and smiled down sweetly at Gemma who was still talking about something.
“I know I didn’t make a good impression that night but I swear, Brooke I’ll never force myself on you. But please, give me a chance and I promise you won’t regret being my girlfriend. Just say yes, please. I do like you. A lot actually.”
I stared at Darren. He had been my friend for quite some time. We first met each other in fifth grade. In the beginning, we were like sworn enemies. He always used to bully me and insult me but I don’t know when we started liking each other enough to be good friends. I do like Darren. He always used to be protective over me whenever a guy got too close to me or if I got into a fight with someone.
I then looked at Brian. I had known him for more than a month. In the beginning, we started out rough, then suddenly we were really good friends until quite recently where he began ignoring me. But at least we talk right now. This all led me to our bet.
I had to make a boyfriend.
In a day.
God, help me.
I think I’d lose the bet.
What should I do?
Darren…
He was the last choice I had. And I wasn’t sure if any other boy would want to be my boyfriend. So I only had Darren.
“I love you,” The three words caught my attention and I stared at Darren, my eyes the size of saucers.
Before I could say anything else, I heard a girlish squeal and my eyes fluttered to meet Brian’s. Gemma was the one squealing. She literally jumped on Brian and he took a step back to steady himself after which, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.
I froze.
She was going to ask him out today.
She did.
She looks so happy.
He said… yes?
My heart tightened in my chest at that and I gripped at my bag as if my life depended on it. My head was swirling with images.
I remembered the first time he came to my house in the middle of the night. I remembered the second time. he had almost kissed me then. At the beach, we had talked so much, I told him about my father, we played in the water, we almost kissed that night too.
I won’t give up…
That’s what he had said on Saturday night. Was he lying?
Well, he never tried.
I hadn’t realised that I was staring at the ground until I heard Darren ask me something and I averted my eyes from the green grass beneath me to stare at him. I swallowed, my throat suddenly feeling dry.
“What?” I asked.
“Are you alright?” He asked, his hands raised as if he was going to put it on my shoulder.
I glanced back at Brian and Gemma and he was smiling down at her, Gemma still in his arms.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m perfectly fine.” My eyes were still locked on the happy couple and as I was about to look back at Darren, Brian’s eyes flickered to me and his smile disappeared as he stared at me with an unreadable expression on his face.
So what if Brian had a girlfriend now?! I could have a boyfriend too! I’d show him.
I looked at Darren again.
He was babbling about how he was so sorry about what he did that night.
“Stop!” I suddenly erupted.
He stared at me with wide eyes, questioning my outburst.
“Um… What?”
“I’ll be your girlfriend, Darren. I like you too.”
His eyes widened even more, if that was even possible and his mouth hung open as if he had just seen a UFO land before him.
“Please pinch me and tell me that this is not just a dream!” He said, extending his arm in front of me.
I laughed a little at this and pinched his arm.
“Ow!” He hissed in pain as his fingers rubbed the spot on his arm where I just pinched him.
“That means this is true? Did you just say what you said right now?”
“Yes, Darren!”
“Repeat!”
“Um… I’ll be your girlfriend. I like you too,” I said and glanced at Brian who was watching us, his fists clenched tightly by his side.
~
I was sitting on my bed, staring off into space. What had I done?
My head was swirling with questions. Did I do the right thing? Was my answer influenced by Brian’s? Did I really like Darren?
This relationship shit is so confusing. I just wanted to run away from all of this.
I had a boyfriend now.
Oh gee, that sounds so foreign to me.
I stared at my phone. My hands were itching to message him.
I wanted to know if he really had said yes.
Of course he had. Why would Gemma jump like a monkey on him if he had said no?
I hopped out of bed to distract myself from what had happened today. I went to the kitchen where mom again was baking a fresh batch of chocolate cookies. The rest of the evening was spent in baking and cooking.
It was a perfect distraction I got from the situation.
~
I trudged up the steps to my room way after eleven in the night. I said a quick goodnight to mom and went to my room.
I stared at my phone. Just then my phone beeped.
I eagerly skipped towards it. My face fell seeing who had texted me. It was Darren.
Good night, babe. Sweet dreams. Dream about me 😉 xoxo
Good night to you too xo
I can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
Same 🙂
I sent the text and threw my phone on my bed. A minute or two later, it beeped again and I sighed.
Must be Darren.
It wasn’t.
Hi
Just ‘hi’? Seriously?
Hi
I didn’t know what else to say.
So… What did you and Darren talk about?
He apologised for Saturday night.
Did he tell you that he likes you?
Yes
And?
And what?
Brooke, we both know what I’m asking about. What was your answer?!
Yes
Yes you know what we’re talking about or yes you said yes to him?!
Yes, I said yes to him.
There was no reply from him. I waited for more than five minutes but still I got no response from the other side.
You there?
I sent the text and almost immediately got the reply.
Yeah
So… Gemma was going to tell you too. What did you say? Did she tell you?
Yeah. I said yes
He said yes.
No!
It took me a full minute to reply back normally.
That’s great.
Why did you say yes? I thought you didn’t like him.
Well, now I do. I like him very much.
It doesn’t seem like that
I don’t care. I like him and that’s what really matters.
Good night, Brooke
Good night to you too, Brian
I just kept staring at the screen of my phone. Why did he care whether I said yes or no to Darren?
That boy was so confusing.
By the way, I won. I now have a boyfriend
He may be your boyfriend but I know that you don’t like him. Remember, I’m not giving up just yet 😉
I narrowed my eyes at the screen. What the hell did he mean by that? That boy really was a confusing mystery to me. I would never understand him.
What do you mean you won’t give up? You have Gemma now!
I’m not going to answer that.
You’re confusing me.
Forget what I said, Brooke. I will do what needs to be done
I don’t like you very much. You never tell me things
Oh, you would want to rethink that. Admit it, I’m irresistible 😉
Hardly
You don’t lie very well
Or tell the truth very well. I must emphasise. You are not irresistible to me, Mr. Smirking Arsehole
Aw you know me so well. I indeed was smirking 😉
He was forever going to be like this. People like him wouldn’t change at all. I shook my head at his stupid texts.
Good night, Brian
Good night. Dream about me xoxo
I widened my eyes at the text. What was up with this boy? Was he drunk or something?
Sorry, my dreams are reserved only for Darren
Let’s see who you dream about
Stop trying to hit on your friend’s girlfriend!
I never said he was my friend
Oh gee, what happened to the stupid bro code thing you guys have?
I never follow bro codes.
Evil
I know
I didn’t bother to reply and instead switched off my phone and shoved it under my pillow.
My life was a big mess right now.