THE INMATE

Friend's Again

“I’m not really a fan of surprises, you know,” Andrew whispered as Jessica led him to the balcony. There, a young man was backing them.

“Who is he?” Andrew whispered, then Jessica gave him a quick smile.

“I’ll give you guys some space,” she said, and quickly left.

Just as Andrew took a step closer, the person turned around, It was Joel. No words, just a smile, then he went up and gave Andrew a hug. With tears, Andrew tightened his grip and whispered, “Sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to leave. I’m sorry,” Joel mumbled while letting go.

“You did nothing. I’m a bigger fool for believing Bella. I’m truly sorry,” he said.

“Did you notice how pretty Jessica is looking?” Joel whispered with a wink, before Andrew started to blush.

“Don’t tell me you already have your eyes on her.”

“That should be the reverse, because you are yet to tell me how on earth you both started talking, and you even came to her party within a day of not being around?” Joel fired back.

“Umm… let’s just say a day is enough to change everything, right?”

“Exactly, which is why you will have to give her a chance,” Joel said, but he casually smiled and tapped him on his shoulders.

“Let’s go join the party,” he suggested, before they went down.

Jessica was with her friends when she casually turned to look at Andrew and Joel, Her friends’ whispers were so loud that Joel heard all that they said.

“What?! You got her a necklace?!” He whispered at Andrew, before Jessica approached them.

“I see you guys have already resolved everything. Come on, let me introduce you to my friends,” she said as she dragged them to the circle.

Their eyes were mostly fixed on Andrew, they thought he was more charming and, of course, their friend’s secret boyfriend.

“It doesn’t look like I’m being noticed,” Joel whispered to Andrew, who immediately started to blush.

“Awww…” the ladies chorused, while giving both Jessica and Andrew a charming look.

“You both look so cute together,” one of them said as she pushed Jessica towards Andrew.

“Come on, let’s give them a break already,” one whispered as she walked away. Seconds later, one of them came back and dragged Joel away.

“C’mon, you need to give them a break, who knows, you might end up being the next” she let out, while forcefully dragging him. Smiling, Jessica stared at Andrew, who returned the gesture.

“Sorry about that, my friends can really be dramatic,” she apologized, shyly trying to move away from Andrew.

“It’s fine. Besides, you told them about the necklace. You didn’t expect them to act any differently, did you?” he replied.

She widened her eyes with shock, then threw her mouth open.

“What?! How on earth did you know that?” she let out, amazed.

“I…I… let’s just say I pay attention to what I care about,” Andrew said, causing Jessica to smile. “I forgot to say earlier, you really do super gorgeous today,” he continued.

“I’m… umm…”

“Speechless?” Andrew chipped in as they started laughing.

“Exactly. I honestly didn’t imagine that we would one day sit and communicate, let alone have you compliment me,” she said.

“In all, always keep your faith alive,” Andrew said, before Joel returned with the ladies.

“Sorry to interrupt your mini-honeymoon, but we do have a lot of fun planned out and you both can’t afford to miss it—especially the celebrant,” they said.

“What kind of game are you planning this time?” Jessica whispered while giving her friend a slight pinch.

As for Andrew, he just rolled his eyes at Joel, who threw his hands in the air like, “I honestly don’t know what’s going on.”

“C’mon, we’ve got zero time left,” the girls let out as they dragged them along.

After the party, Andrew and Joel returned home; Joel decided to sleep over at Andrew’s.

“I missed you, bro. I was completely bored yesterday. No one to talk to. I was about to call before Jessica’s call came in, and she told me about her plans, which I found a little cute. Bro, trust me, Jessica is the real deal—you need to get Bella off your mind,” he said, but Andrew flagged off the idea.

“I just want to be done with my punishment. Bella and Jessica can both go get some sleep in Doom,” he said, and they both burst out laughing.

“You are an absolute joker. C’mon, let’s get some rest,” Joel suggested, before they eventually slept off.

NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL

Andrew barely took a step inside when someone called him Jessica’s boyfriend. He took a quick glance at Joel, who was even more surprised than him. Joel rolled his eyes in shock.

“What’s going on?” They both chorused.

“Tell us Andrew, what is it like to be the boyfriend to a novice?” A lady mumbled, as she walked past them.

“Did you hear that?” Andrew let out shock, as he turned to face Joel, who at an instant, started to laugh.

“This is so crazy! Do you think Jessica told them?” Joel questioned, but Andrew shook his head defensively.

“I don’t think so. Jessica can’t do that,” he continued, while scanning the environment.

“This is really crazy, what do you think Bella would say or even think when she gets to see this?”

“There we go again, it’s always Bella this, Bella that,” Joel let out annoyed.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Andrew whispered, but Joel immediately left as he spotted Bella approaching them.

“You better think straight,” he had muttered before leaving.

“We need to talk now!” Bella’s angry voice thundered as she approached.

“On what?” Andrew said quite defensively.

“What?! You now talk back to me. Gosh, what did that scumbag tell…!”

“Hey! I won’t watch you insult my friend. Just tell me what you want already; I do not have time to spare,” Andrew interrupted.

“Wow-Wow-Wow —this is indeed baffling. I honestly can’t believe this is happening,” she said with a heavy breath.

After seconds of waiting for her to say something, Andrew walked away.

“Wait!” Bella called out as she ran after him.

Andrew made a halt, while still squeezing up his face.

“I know you are probably still mad, but c’mon, leaving me for that low-life? That’s really crazy. It’s an insult to my personality. I even heard you gifted her a necklace on her birthday,” she said, but Andrew remained mute.

“Is this all you have to say?” He whispered, then she immediately ran up and hugged him.

“I’m sorry. I should have defended you,” she pleaded, but Andrew pulled her away.

“What do you want from me, Bella?” he questioned, peering deep into her eyes. Immediately, she adjusted. The question made her uncomfortable. She kept drawing circles with her toe.

“You can’t answer that, can you? You just want to use me, you are—”

“I want us as friends. I…I actually like you, but…” she paused, after she interrupted Andrew.

“But what?” Andrew questioned disappointedly.

“I don’t want people thinking we are dating.”

A thrilled laugh escaped Andrew’s lips as he laughed and walked away.

Confused, Bella watched him leave.

“Andrew? The shitty nerd?” she let out, amused.

“Does he really believe I like him? What a silly crush. But how dare he walk out on me? He even chose that insane girl over me!”

“Hey, what’s up? What did he say?” Bella’s friend questioned as they approached her.

“What else would he say rather than apologize? I’m the queen, you know. Nobody can stand in my way, and Jessica, of course, isn’t even a competition. He only used her to get back at me,” Bella mumbled, leaving her friends astonished.

“You are really pretty, Bella. I wish I were you. I don’t know how you do this, babes, but trust me—you are winning.” Another of her friends complimented.

“Of course,” Bella replied, throwing her hands in the air.

“Isn’t this Jessica?” one of her friends let out, as Jessica came out of the volleyball court, wearing a skimpy skirt and a sleeveless top, while having her hair packed in a ponytail. This was Jessica no one saw coming. She looked like heaven’s toast.

“O.M.G! She’s looking hot,” Bella’s friend exclaimed, as she rolled her eyes at her, then immediately went to attack Jessica.

“What do you think you are doing, nerd?” she mocked, while obstructing Jessica.

“What do you mean?” Jessica whispered, scared.

“Is that it? the necklace he gave you?” Bella pressed, narrowing her head to the glittering necklace on Jessica’s neck.

“He just gave it to me as a birthday present, it’s no big deal,” she said defensively while trying to walk away. But Bella pulled her back.

“If it’s no big deal, then you don’t have a problem giving it to me, do you?” she said. But Jessica remained quiet while stepping away from her.

“Do you?” Bella continued, while forcefully trying to pull the necklace out.

“Bella?” The voice of the volleyball coach interfered, as she immediately let go of Jessica, while framing it up with a smile.

“So… umm… Jess and I were just having a friendly chat,” Bella let out pretentiously.

“It doesn’t look like it. Now return back to your classes,” the coach said, before Bella left with her girls.

Relieved, Jessica immediately pulled the necklace and put it in her pocket.

At the school hallway Andrew was serving his punishment when Jessica approached him with a saddened expression.

"I'm sure you must have heard about the recent trend in school?" she said. Without words Andrew responded with a nod.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know my friends would..."

"Why are you apologizing? Isn't this what you have always wanted?" Andrew interrupted brusquely.

"I... I... No — Not at all, I know I have always fancied you. But I was never gonna pin anything on you. I only came to apologize if you kindah feel uneasy about the whole situation," she cried out.

"Uneasy? It's not gonna change anything, will it?" Andrew continued to sound harsh.

"It won't, but I still want to apologize. I already explained everything to Bella; I didn't mean to come in between you guys," she let out, while sticking her hands in her pocket to bring out the necklace.

"Here, I shouldn't have accepted this, I think Bella is more deserving of it," she continued.

Confused, Andrew concentrated back on his punishment, ignoring her.

“You should take this. Bella wasn’t happy seeing me put it on,” Jessica insisted.

“If you don’t see the need to own it, maybe you should just go ahead and give it to someone else. If you don’t mind, you are kinda distracting me and you are probably missing out in class.” Just as Andrew finished speaking, Bella came out with her girls.

“What? I thought you said nothing was going on between them?” Bella’s friend questioned, confused as they went closer.

“Andrew?” Bella’s irritated voice echoed as they got to where they were.

“It’s nothing for real. I was already… I came to return the necklace,” Jessica said frightened, as she tried to walk away.

“Stay,” Andrew let out in a low but caring tone, as he pulled her back.

“What?! What do you think you are doing? Tell me, are you in love with Jessica?” Bella thundered.