Chapter Six

                                    

                                          
Sorry for the late update. I've been slacking off. Haha, enjoy.
                          
“Cres! Wait up, please! Just listen to me!” I ran after her, knocking over few ukuleles, and I heard some shouts of protest before I was out of the shop. I found her running down the street bare feet, and I quickened my pace to overtake her.
                          
I stopped in front of her, and took in her ruined make-up and dishevelled appearance, feeling the knot of guilt coil tighter in my stomach. I knew I wasn’t the one who had kissed Lucas, but I felt guilty nevertheless.
                          
“Cres, that wasn’t what it looked like. I don’t like Lucas. At all,” I held out my hands in front of me, as if it would help emphasise my sincerity, “I’m sorry, but you have to believe me, okay?”
                          
She glanced up at me through her tears, “I shouldn’t have come. He was obviously into you. I’m stupid: I’d never have a chance with someone like him.” She sniffed, before gingerly lowering herself onto the bench beside us. I sank down into the seat and gripped her arm.
                          
“Don’t say that. You’re amazing. I mean it,” I murmured, not really knowing how to comfort her as I had never really been the touchy feely type of person.
                          
“You don’t need to say that. I get it, he likes you. I just wish you wouldn’t have forced me to come along and watch.”
                          
“I didn’t know he . . . liked me. I really thought I could help you, but obviously I screwed that up.”
                          
Cressida laughed, shaking her head ruefully, “No, you’ve been a great friend.” She leaned forward and hugged me lightly.
                          
“Come on, let’s go get a cup of coffee, and I’ll introduce you to some of my closest friends. I think you’ll like them,” I smiled, and pulled her to her feet, “But you’ll probably have to wear those.” I pointed at the high heeled shoes she was clutching.
                          
She rolled her eyes and slipped them on, before following me back to Charlotte’s Café.
                          
---------------------
                          
We slipped into the hangout and I saw Cres look around uneasily.
                          
“What’s wrong? Scared?”
                          
“What, no way! This place just looks sorta’ dodgy. Looks like a warehouse.”
                          
“You’re right, because it is one. Come on, you loser. I’ll protect you.”
                          
I heard her heels clicking on the metal stairs as we made our way to the top and I yanked open the door to loud shouts.
                          
“Yes! I won again!” Rob bellowed, flexing his biceps and I realised he had been arm wrestling with Eric, judging from the protests and demand of a rematch coming from the room.
                          
“Show off,” I said jokingly and pulled Cres into the room with me.
                          
“Who’s the hottie?” Eric stood up, staring at Cres, a small smile on his lips.
                          
“Okay guys, this is Cressida, my friend from school. She’s not a snob like all those other kids,” I introduced, and laughed when Eric slid in to shake her hand immediately.
                          
“No, I don’t want to see you again, and stop calling me, please!” Izzy flipped her phone shut and sighed, a frown creasing her forehead as I walked towards her.
                          
“Hey, Iz, what’s going on?”
                          
“Oh nothing. Just . . . remember Zane?”
                          
I gasped sarcastically, “Do I remember Zane? Hmm, oh yeah! Zane as in the one who took your . . . yeah, the one who made a sex tape, and also the one who’s car I smashed, and house I vandalised for you because you were so upset which nearly landed me in juvie? Why of course I remember that idiot!”