Could be worse | Teen Ink

Could be worse

January 25, 2015
By notsosweetcaroline BRONZE, Cary, North Carolina
notsosweetcaroline BRONZE, Cary, North Carolina
3 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Jake has the decency to drive me home, but I almost wish that he didn't. The silence is so awkward that I have to fight the urge to jump out and hitchhike the rest of the way.

 

We roll into my driveway after what seems like hours, and I'm opening the door before the car's even stopped.

 

"Thanks." I mumble over my shoulder as I get out.

 

"Hey, wait!"

 

I turn around, and Jake's just sitting there, fiddling with his cufflinks, a vaguely guilty look on his face. "So, uh," he says. "We're... I mean... we're still cool, right?"

 

"Sure." I tell him. Whatever get's me out of here fastest.

 

"Well, great." He says. "Great. 'Cause you're still my friend and everything, and just 'cause we're not dating anymore doesn't mean we can't-"

 

"I said we're good." I tell him, sharper than I mean to. I slam the door shut and start walking away, hissing as the straps of my heels scrape up against newly formed blisters.

 

Behind me, I hear the sound of the window being rolled down. "Hey," Jake calls. "You forgot your corsage-thingy!"

 

I pretend not to hear him.

 

 

Dumped. On freaking prom night. Isn't that every little girl's dream? To have their boyfriend inform them right in the middle of the Olive Garden parking lot that they'd rather just be friends?

 

Eat your heart out, Troy and Gabriella.

 

The house is dark and silent when I get inside. Mom and Dad have probably been asleep for hours. Not that I blame them. It's almost midnight. When I first started going out, they used to stay up late until I got home. Mom would hover in her fluttery, anxious way, asking if I'd had fun, and Dad would accuse me of being late, no matter what time I got home. I used to think it was annoying, but now... now I kind of miss it.

 

I've almost made it to the top of the stairs when the tears come. Fat, embarrassing ones that roll down my cheeks and splatter on my dress. I swipe at them angrily.

 

"I didn't even like him that much." I whisper, to no one in particular.



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MotherHen said...
on Feb. 14 2015 at 11:21 pm
I love it! It didn't take you long at all to establish a connection with the characters and how she felt. It made me wish my parents were waiting up for me, and I'm not even dating anyone.