#friendsinlove

The sky was bursting with blue and one or two white clouds, not to mention it was 22C outside. Yet here l was stuck inside, wrapped in my pj's with a fluffy grey blanket over me two different pairs of fluffy socks on me. I was smothered in a cold, with a sore throat. The worst part was the Roberts were coming over to visit us and I wasn't in the mood to entertain them. I didn't feel right, I wasn't bursting with energy, and I certainly wasn't looking right. My hair was a mess and greasy, my lips were as dry and my skin was the colour of the clouds outside. I smelt of capol and vick, which wasn't a confidence booster to meet and greet anyone. Unfortunately, my sickness didn't stop them coming from over. I managed to get dressed into comfortable but suitable for a cold, I brushed the hair back and tied it up. I cleansed my face, once again, and put on lip balm and sprayed perfume and deoderant on me. I picked the tissues up the carboard rolls off the floor and out them into a bag, along with three empty 750ml bottles of water and the box of capol. I kept the blanket with me but I hid the pillow. I was ready for them now and I looked somewhat presentable, look..I did the best I could.

"HIii" I greeted them all as I opened the door and welcomed them in.

I wore the biggest unwanted smile I could do and kept it until they all walked past me into the sitting room. They went in for a hug but I warned them to stay back, just incase; I'd hate to have given it to them so I could've got rid of it quicker. They all awed in sympthany and continued on their way. I locked the door and dropped the smile, giving my face a rest before having to turn the act on again. I followed them into the kitchen, where they greeted by the rest of the family. I leaned against the radiatior, I knew it didn't help my congested nose but it kept me warm. I looked over to the table and noticed that Clint was staring at me, clearly I was more of a freak show than normal. I shrugged it off and watched my feet tap side to side until my name was called. I could hear the kettle go off in the background.

"Dyl? Can you do me a massive favour? Can you run across the road and get us milk, the 3L one?" Mom requested.

My eyes widened as I scoffed at her, she knows I'm not well?. I didn't want to go, I wasn't feeling up to it at all, worst of all I was afraid I'd faint if I did go out and get it, especially the way I'm feeling at the moment. I didn't want to start an arguement either, Dad was gone out and it was only Mom and l to entertain in the house so of course Mom couldn't go because I'm not much of a talker.

"Can I ask, if it can wait till Dad's home?" I inquiered.

"No I'm making a cuppa now and I need it, plus you'll need it later and in the morning. Please, I know you're not feeling well" Mom empythised me, so graciously.

I sighed and went to get my boots on and a light jacket, incase I overheated in the there. I walked back into the kitchen but met Clint in the hall. Flip it, it was my only chance to not be completed worried of being on my own.

"Can you come over with me to the shops? I don't feel well at all and I don't want to go over alone, would you mind?" I asked him.

I was on edge for what his response was. I knew I would feel like an idiot if he rejected. He looked at me and with no hesitation, he took the offer. We letted our parents know and we left the house. It was still warm outside but I was shivering, Clint was fine with just his shirt on; not even a jacket. I walked close to him, incase I did feel weak and needed to lean on him. For that walk up, I was ok. We chatted about light things; him starting school again, me working, family. We entered the shop, it was packed with people. We were dodging people and excusing ourselves, it was like a road. It was chaotic.

"Milk's over this way" I pointed the direction.

He followed me over, I picked up the 3L milk and almost dropped it with the weight of it. It normally wasn't that heavy. Clint managed to catch the milk before it toppled on the ground.

"I'll carry it, you're not well" He stated smiling.

"I'll go with that, thanks" I took the offer.

I let him hold it while we walked passed the aisle.

"Do you want anything else while we're here, you know you always stay so long and we only have limited sweets and crisps to keep you occupied" I told him.

It was sore to talk, that was the longest sentence I said so far today. He hesitated for a moment before declining the oppurtunity.

"C'mon, it will only take a second. Go on, quickly" I encouraged.

I nudged him on to the direction of the 'goodies'. I waited beside him as he scowled through them. He wasn't too long picking one either. He grabbed up a bar and a packet of salt & vinegar crisps and rushed us to check-out. He knew how I was feeling. We reached the self-service till and paid for the sweets. As we left the shop, a wave of light headness came over and in me. I stopped in my tracks and held my head down in my palm. Clint stopped walking and stood beside me.

"You ok? You feeling sick?" He asked.

I tried to shake my head no but it felt like the slowest shake ever "No, light-headed.." My voice trailed off.

I couldn't see Clint but I could sense he had started to worry. I would too if I was in his situation, I wouldn't know how to handle somone that I knew fainted and then everyone rushing over and asking for their well-being then having to ring our parents and let them know.

"Do you want to sit down on the bench over there?" He suggested.

"No, let's just get home quickly" I demanded.

We walked on, slowely but as quick as we could. Clint held on to the shopping bag and my backpack while gripping onto my arm and helped me walk home. We got outside the shop and waited for the traffic light's to turn green.

"Are you ok? What do you feel now?" He asked.

I looked up and him but back down again, the movement of the my head raising up was too much.

"Still the same. I'll be ok when we get home" I stated.

The traffic lights turned green and we paced across the road. We took the turn into my estate, we were almost there. I was happy to be able out of the shops, away from the chaos. I glutched onto Clint's arm and hand this time, practically in sync with his pace of walk. I leaned my head on his side arm and we tried the best we could to move. My vision and hearing wasn't going yet, thank goodness, because that would've been a sign that I was fainting. I just felt sick and dizzy, I looked at my hands - they were white as ever. I was burning up, I took the jacket off and carried it but Clint stored it in the shopping bag.

"I'm sorry Dylan" He said.

"For what?" I asked.

"If I just said to go home, you'd be alright" He said.

"Don't be ridiculous, I offered you to get something. I'm glad you did, you'll need it after this" I tried to laugh but I just coughed.

"I'm glad I went with you" He muttered.

"So am I, thanks. I would've freaked out if I was by myself" I whispered.

He just laughed, we took the last turn; into my house. I stopped him before anyone from the house could see us. He looked genuinely worried for me. I let go off his arm but he latched onto both of mine, thinking I was going to fall over or back. I smiled at his reaction and he blushed of embarrassment.

"Please don't tell anyone that I wasn't well or thought I was going to pass out..." I asked him.

He furrowed his eyes at me "Why? You weren't well?" His head tilted.

"I know but it would be a big thing and it's sore enough to talk" I told him.

He laughed at me, now I was confused. I hit him, gently of course - haven't got the energy for a full whack today. And signalled I wanted to know what he was laughing at.

"You're so strange..C'mon" He said about to walk on.

I pulled him back and held onto him "Please?" I repeated.

He nodded hsi head and smiled at me. I hugged him. It was my only second time hugging him, but I did. I couldn't show any other way of appreciation for this little trip of ours. He was taken back by it, I knew. His arms didn't wrap around my back until two seconds later. I smiled to myself, he accepted it. He knew why I was hugging him, he had to - there was no other reason l would. I letted go and his face was probably as red as mine, why did this hug seem so 'odd' for us. Granted, we only hugged once before but did it mean more or seem 'odd' to us because there was no one around. We was just us, hugging. There was a sense of awkwardness between the little air we had created between us.

"I don't want you to get this cold, and I don't want it to worsen" I broke the ice.

It was the end of May and my family and I were staying over at The Robert's house. We had seen them for a while and it was the month before Clint and I commenced our exams, my exams was for getting points to see if I could go to college or not. His exam was for the end cycle of junior year. We had a big month ahead of us. It was eleven o'clock at night and our parents had gone out for a couple of drinks. This left Aaron - fourteen, Clint - sixteen and myself - seventeen in the house by ourselves. Wasn't a great idea in my opinion because of one immature boy, although he was the youngest and one competitve boy and myself, the only girl who was quiet and on edge when by ourselves in a fancy house. We were in the tv room, just chilling and all on our phones. Aaron had turned on the smart tv and went on Youtube. Great, a battle of the songs was about to occur. Anytime Aaron or Clint played their music in front of me, they always had something to say about the other. They had very different taste in music, to put it how they put it. Clint had 'Summer music' while Aaron had 'rap music' but to each other, they were both "gay" -- Sigh and an eyeroll from me. Aaron typed in his first choice of song, I had no idea what it was called. The lad in it was dressed up in a ninja and had a harsh Dublin accent. He was roaming the streets, rapping and 'dancing' on cars and around strangers. I cringed at the sight of it, I looked back down on my phone - 11.07pm. It was a long night to begin with and it wasn't over anytime soon. Of course, Clint had something to say about it.

"Aaron, what is that sh*t you have on?" He commented.

"Oh yeah my music's sh*t, what about your gay music you keep playing all the time?.." He retorted.

Clint sat up from the floor and leaned back more on the sofa to my right. He looked at me and asked "Is my music gay?"

I didn't want to get involved but I wasn't going to ignore him either.

"I haven't really heard your music so I wouldn't know" I replied, half truthfully.

He sighed and turned back to his phone. I looked over to Aaron who was copying the moves of the rapper in the video. He was rolling his wrists around each other, above his head, and tapped his foot along with the beat. He had his eyes shut and bopped his head around slowly, he seemed to be really getting into the trans of the music. I smiled to myself and this new 'form' of dancing. Clint had started to insult Aaron again, he couldn't let it go. Aaron ignored him and started to turn the volume up on the tv. It was 4HD Smart Tv and the sound at twelve was loud enough, he highered it up and up until fifty. It was blaring at this stage, the floors were vibrating. Clint and I insisted he turned it down, I was worried the neighbours would start knocking and complain. How would that look? - Not good at all. They would know there is three youngsters in the house alone, and it would be our fault. Clint stood up and pulled the remote out of his hand, it was a game of tug of war. I was afraid they'd start thumping each other - they were the type. Clint managed to get the remote and he returned the volume to a reasonable level. He took the oppurtunity to stick on his music. Here we go again. In all fairness, Aaron's music wasn't bad; I was getting use to the rapping. "Something Just Like This" by the Chainsmokers played on the screen. I admit, this was more my music. I didn't recognise the song at first but got it when it hit the chorus. The two indivuals kept asking me 'which song was better' and 'isn't that just terrible'...I didn't want to choose one song over the other because it would've been like trying to pick banana's and strawberries - very differnet. By the end, it was settled and we were all just sitting down on the floor/sofa with the music on the background and us on the phones.

Clint turned around "Here, just- can you pretend your're my girlfriend" he requested.

I laughed at his question and confusion was written all over my face. He was smilind widely and I didn't understand why. Earlier that day, Clint had crept in the fact he had a girlfriend. It was no surprise either, of course my response was 'Aw lovely' followed by the question of 'How long are you together?' which without hesitation, Clint proudly announced '3weeks'. I wasn't surprised in the slightest. Of course Aaron had a girlfriend of '2 days'...this was the Robert's boy's for you. I was flabbergasted by their answers, in a way, but maybe it was bad timing of seeing them. They were quick to lose girlfriends too, at their own preference but Clint wasn't that quick, just two hours later of telling me.

"Why? You already have a girlfriend?" I reminded him , just incase.

He 'pfft' at me and gave a cheeky grin "I know but just for a laugh" he assured.

I scoffed at him "No way" I told him.

His cheeky grin turned the other way and down to his phone. I went back to mine. From the corner of my eye, I noticed somthing square and black. I shot up and noticed a reflection of myself in Clint's phone. He snapped a shot and whipped his phone down to his lap. I scowled at him and tried to grab it off him.

"Clint! You don't take a picture of a girl and not tell her" I said, still struggling to get his phone.

He laughed it off and played it down. I wasn't happy with him. I took his phone and tried to get the photo back to delete it but it was Snapchat and I didn't know how to use it. Yes, I must be one of the few that doesn't own Snapchat. His worried face gained colour again when he got his phone back. I grunted at him and turned the other way.

"Ok ok, I'm sorry...just one photo. We're only messing, she'll know it's a game" He explained.

I looked at him with narrow eye's "So it's pointless to even do it then?" I stated smirking, making my point stronger.

"It's just for fun?" he replied.

I don't think so, but, I agreed with him and took the one photo. At the end of the day, it was not my fault if he wanted to mess up his three week relationship with this girl, Hailey. I couldn't see what he typed as the 'caption' but he read out loud "My new girlfriend". A notification binged through like a school bell for the first period in the morning, the horror.

"Whose she?. Are you in her house? Is she your girlfriend?" He repeated her words.

We all created an 'O' shape with our lips "Is that Hailey?" I questioned.

He snickered at me and knelt up on the floor. He leaned his elbows on the black leather sofa. For some mad reason he was excited about this, thrills had risen from him. Aaron and I sat knelt beside him and watched his phone light up with this girl's messages.

"You won't believe who it is?" He continued "My ex-girlfriend" He stated.

Now I was confused "Why is your ex texting?" I asked.

He shrugged with a 'I don't know' and started to type the ex back. He replied to her with 'She's my new girlfriend and we're at my house'. Like, that wasn't going to go down well.

Ex: What's her name?. Is she staying in your house tonight?

(Ha funny enough I was!)

Clint: Dylan. Yeah she is

Ex: Just texted Hailey, she's really upset with you.

"Oh sh*t" Clint muttered to himself.

Clint: What did she say?

Ex: She doesn't want to talk to you. She's crying here

He backed out of Snapchat and went into Messenger and Whatsapp. She seen them but she didn't reply, I wouldn't blame her at all.

Clint: I'd tried texting and ringing her but no answer...can you ask her to call me back?

Ex: She doesn't want to. Why would you do something like that to her?

Clint: It was a joke. She's my mom's friend's daughter

Ex: Then why would you post something like that

Clint: It was a joke. I was messing

Ex: Doesn't look like it. She's crying here...

Clint: Can you ask her to ring me?

Ex: She doesn't want to. Hailey want's to know if she's sleeping in your bed?

Oh crap. Clint and I shared look's, the answer was yes but in a very different context. He wondered how to reply, he wanted to say the honest answer but it would be took up wrong, especially in a text. I advised him to lie; she wouldn't know the difference and it would be for her own sake.

Clint: Yeah but I'm not. I'm sleeping in Aaron's room (wrong move pal)

Ex: Ur a sicko! How could u do that to her?

Clint: I'm not sleeping with her! She need's a bed

Ex: Doesn't matter!

This went on for a bit until eventually Hailey got on the phone to Clint. They talked for ages, I was there with Aaron listening in the background. The whole situation was very dramatic, they were teens though, so it's the usual show. But I wouldn't blame her, if I had a boyfriend that did to me and I had insecurities, which I had, I would be well annoyed with him too. Then they stopped calling and texted each other instead. Clint showed and expressed regret but I knew he enjoyed the show, he lived for little things like that - the jokes here and there. We made our way upstairs, I stayed in the lad's room for a bit, on the phone chatting.

"Her grandmother is ill, she was already upset today so that just tipped her over a bit" Clint admitted to us.

"Oh my, Clint you idiot, I knew it wouldn't go well" I told him.

"What I didn't know?. If I knew that, I wouldn't have done that earlier" He said.

He shouldn't have done it at all, is the point. I rolled my eye's and what he just said. He'd learn, he had to. Sometimes I forget he's sixteen and has that boyish humour when it comes to girls, everything he else - he's mature with. I glanced over to Aaron who just smiled and shrugged his direction back to his phone.

"I bet you a fiver that you two would last 'tops' three months, no more" I provoked him, smiling.