Girl In Love

                                    

                                          
Jasmine

                          
"I like Allan." It's Thursday noon, and I'm in the university cafeteria, sitting across Rebecca, who hasn't touched her bowl of salad once.
                          
Jolene won't be eating with us today because, ugh, she's with her boyfriend.
                          
Seriously don't like that guy. He radiates unpleasant vibes.
                          
I look up from my small bag of peanuts to meet Rebecca's intent stare. "And you're telling me this because..?"
                          
She rolls her eyes heavenward. "You were friends before, and you're friends now. I was kind of hoping.." she meets my gaze again, letting her voice trail off meaningfully.
                          
"What?" I reach into my nut bag and toss a handful into my mouth.
                          
"Good God, Jasmine!" Rebecca facepalms, looking exasperated. 

                          
I take a minute to examine the shiny apple in my palm before chomping into it. When Rebecca notices that I'm done swallowing, she continues, "Help me get close to him."
                          
"Oh is that what you were trying to say?" I ask, glancing at her blankly.
                          
"You know fully well of what I was trying to say," she fumes, shooting me a sharp glare.
                          
"Of all people, you're aware of how I detest filling in blanks when one can just speak directly instead of skirting around the issue."
                          
"Alright! Fine! So are you going to do it or not?"
                          
"No," I reply in a flat tone, maintaining eye contact the whole time I'm talking. "I'm not."
                          
"Excuse me?"
                          
"You are excused."
                          
As I take a second bite out of my apple, she snaps irritably, "How dare you say no?"
                          
"It's simple communication, Becca. You asked me a question and I answered it."
                          
"Give me one good reason why you won't help me," she demands furiously.
                          
Her face matches the red of my apple, I observe as I say to her, "Because I don't want to."
                          
She narrows her dark eyes into tiny slits. "Do you like him? Is that it? You want him for yourself so you're-"
                          
"You instantly think I like him and my refusal to aid you in seducing him is a petty result of emotions clouding my judgment?"
                          
Rebecca recoils as if I've slapped her in the face. "Oh.. so, I'm mistaken? You don't-"
                          
"Yes, I do like him, but it has nothing to do with denying you of my assistance."
                          
Her jaw falls in shock, her cheeks reddening in outrage. "I knew it! You bitch!"
                          
"I'm not the one pursuing another guy when I still have a boyfriend."
                          
"Ivan? I dumped that sorry excuse of a partner two days ago." She smirks. "I lost interest."
                          
"Oh sure," I say casually, peeling open the seal of my cup of yogurt. "It must have been extremely dull, making out with random guys, having one-night stands, and sending nudes to handsome foreigners, but still tell your actual boyfriend that you love him."
                          
"Are you talking about me or yourself? We are cut from the same cloth, sister."
                          
"Don't call me sister. You are not my family, Becca, and don't even think about pouncing on any of my brothers because you will regret it."
                          
"Why are you so against me hooking up with Allan? I doubt you've changed but what about me?" She folds her arms on the table, leans closer, and flashes me a wide smile. "I might have changed."