A Life Like Mine (10 page)

“I’ll try to do that next time, Sir.”

“Don’t call me Sir,” Mr. Backs said.

“Excuse me?” Adam’s eyes squinted.

“Don’t call me Sir.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Get back to your work, Ashley. You’re on thin ice as it is,” Mr. Backs said to me.

“All right,” I went back to my work.

“Why don’t you want to be called Sir?” Adam inquired.

“Because I don’t,” Mr. Backs answered.

“No, really. Why?” Adam kept on.

“Stop while you’re behind.” Mr. Backs’ voice got louder.

              “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

              “Oh, I’m sure you didn’t,” Mr. Backs said.

              “I didn’t mean to offend you,” Adam apologized.

              “It makes me feel old,” Mr. Back answered.

              “What does?” Adam was being annoyingly thick.

              “I think you know.” Mr. Backs was really frustrated.

              “No. Do you mean that I make you feel old?”

              “Are you really not sure what I mean?” Mr. Backs was puzzled.

“Yes. I really don’t know what you mean.” Adam was confused.

              “Oh my gosh!” I said. “Adam, he said that you calling him sir makes him feel old. Jeez. Can’t you just for once listen?” I was annoyed.

              “Miss Benson, that’s enough,” Mr. Backs said.

              “Sorry,” I answered.

              “Everyone get back to work,” Mr. Backs said. Adam started to snicker again.

CoolCatAsh: 
What’s so funny?

Adam121212:
You are

CoolCatAsh: 
I’m still mad at you

Adam121212:
Sorry

CoolCatAsh: 
You’re the one that’s really thick

Adam121212:
So

CoolCatAsh: 
Whatever, just tell me the rest of the story

Adam121212:
Now that you know how much I took you know why it was such a serious crime

CoolCatAsh: 
Yeah. You got caught

Adam121212:
No. The reason I went to therapy is because Lena convinced me to ask my foster parents for help. Lena said that she wouldn’t turn me in which made me like her and I thought I owed her

CoolCatAsh: 
What about once you dumped her

Adam121212:
She got really mad at me and said that she would tell her dad what I had done

CoolCatAsh: 
What did you do to keep her quiet?

Adam121212:
I let her tell everyone that she dumped me

CoolCatAsh: 
Oh that’s why I thought that she had dumped you.  Why were you at the movies with her?

Adam121212:
Like I said she found out that I liked you

CoolCatAsh: 
And she blackmailed you into going with her to make it so I wouldn’t like you

Adam121212:
Yeah. I would tell the cops what I did but then I’d go to jail

CoolCatAsh:
What did you do with the money?

Adam121212:
I returned it

CoolCatAsh: 
How

Adam121212:
I gave it to Lena and she gave it to her dad. They stopped looking for the thief

CoolCatAsh: 
Then you’re fine. Why don’t you reveal yourself so she can’t hold anything over your head anymore?

Adam121212:
I could do that. You’re right. I should. I really hated the way that she made me look like her boyfriend in front of you. She made me kiss her and everything. It was so gross. Do you forgive me?

CoolCatAsh: 
Yes

Adam121212:
Thanks. You don’t know how much this means to me

CoolCatAsh: 
You’re welcome. Just turn yourself in, now

Adam121212:
I will soon

CoolCatAsh: 
Good

Adam121212:
Can I call you Ash again?

CoolCatAsh: 
Yes

Adam121212:
Ash?

CoolCatAsh: 
What

Adam121212:
Will you go with me when I turn myself in

CoolCatAsh: 
Why

Adam121212:
I’m nervous

CoolCatAsh: 
Sure

Adam121212:
Thanks

CoolCatAsh: 
Your welcome, but I have to get back to my homework

Adam121212:
Okay

CoolCatAsh: 
Bye

Adam121212:
Bye

              I signed off. I couldn’t believe how right my friends had been. I felt so stupid. How could I have let my jealousy get the best of me? I mean, he was trying to tell me the truth, and I wouldn’t listen. I thought he was the biggest creep, when all along, Lena was the one who’s skankiness was showing. I can’t believe that she was so mean that she had tried to get him away from me. She was never going to change! What a loser.

              “Okay class. You may talk now. You’ve been quiet all hour, you may have the remaining twenty minutes to chat quietly,” Mr. Backs said closing his book as he started to grade papers.

              “Ash, what were you doing on the computer?” Keri asked me.

              “I was IMing Adam,” I answered.

              “Why would you want to do that?” Tina asked me. “I thought he was the bad guy after what he did.”

              I turned and saw Adam looking at me, “No. He had a good reason.” I turned back to my friends.

              “Well, what was it?” Allie asked me.

              “It’s no big deal.” I said.

              “Come on don’t keep us in suspense,” Keri pleaded.

              “I’m telling you, you’re not going to care.”

              “At least tell us what he said,” Tina begged.

              “He said he was sorry.” I stood my ground.

              “That’s it?” Allie asked.

              “I can’t believe you forgave him just because he asked you to!” Keri got a little angry.

              “No, really he has good reasons,” I defended.

              “Like…” Tina wanted to hear more.

              “I promised I wouldn’t tell,” I answered.

              “It was probably a really stupid reason,” Allie said

              “No,” I said simply.

              “We’re not going to get it out of her,” Keri said.

              “Why not? Come on, Ash. What made you forgive him?” Tina looked imploringly at me.

              “No,” I answered again.

              “I don’t like this game,” Allie said.

              “It’s not a game. It’s just between him and me,” I said.

              “Not good enough,” Jennifer said. She hadn’t said anything, but I guess she decided to give input.

              “What about you, Bet?” I looked at Betty. “What do you think of all this?”

              “Hmmm?” Betty sighed.

              “You’re not listening to me, are you?” I asked.

              “I agree that you should go shopping with everyone else,” Betty answered.

              I looked at the other girls, “But I’m having your baby, Bet.” I giggled.

              “That’s okay. I don’t mind.” Betty had a glazed look in her eyes.

              “What if it’s a munchkin?” Keri added.

              “Then it’ll have more fun,” Betty said.

              “What if it looks like Michael Jackson?” Allie chuckled.

              “Then he’ll be even hotter.” Betty definitely was thinking about Jack.

              “What if the baby isn’t Jack’s?” I asked.

              “Huh? What about Jack?” Betty came out of her daze.

              “Nothing.” Everyone said to Betty.

              “I still don’t know why you won’t tell us about Adam,” Keri said.

              “Shhhh. You know he might be able to hear you,” Allie whispered.

              “She doesn’t care,” Tina replied.

              “I just think he’s scum.” Jennifer said.

              “Hey! Don’t say that about him!” I snapped.

              “Sorry,” Jennifer apologized.

              “That’s okay,” I answered.

              “Why do you care what we think about him?” Allie asked.

              “I don’t know,” I said.

              “Yes you do,” They said.

              “No really, I don’t,” I responded.

              “Oh, I think you do.” Keri shook her finger at me.

              “What?” I looked at her.

              “You’ve got it bad,” Tina agreed.

              “I’ve got what bad?” I asked, offended.

              “You know,” Allie said.

              “No I don’t and could you guys stop talking as if you’re one person.” I asked indignantly.

              “Sorry,” They all said.

              “Hey! Stop it!” I yelled.

              “You have it bad for Adam.” Allie reasoned.

              “I do not.” I refused to believe it.

              “Yes you do,” Tina said. “If you didn’t like him then you would be trashing him like we have been. Instead, you’re standing up for him as if he is a really good friend of yours. And don’t tell me that you’re just defending him because he’s a nice person. He might be, but I’ve seen the way you look at him. You think he’s a hottie. I know it.”

              “I do not!” I laughed.

              “Come on, Ash. Don’t tell me you don’t see it. He’s smart, funny, and not to mention adorable,” Jennifer added.

              “So…” I began to blush.

              “See! You’re even blushing at the thought of him! Just like Betty does about Jack,” Allie said.

              “Hey! When did this become about me? And I do not blush!” Betty said.

              “Oh yes you do.” I smiled.

              “Hey! You’ve got it bad for Mr. Pitt!” Betty retorted.

              “I do not!” I became angry. “I don’t agree with you.”

              “So then, you’re not going out with him?” Allie asked.

              “No.”

              “But you want to,” Keri prodded.

              “Says who?” I looked at Keri.

              “Why else would you cry because he was going out with Lena?” Tina said.

              “Stop doing that! You’re still acting like you’re all one person!” I frowned. The bell rang. We all got up to head for our next class.  I started to leave when I heard someone call my name behind me.

              “So…I’m glad you’re not mad at me anymore.” Adam put his arm around my waist.

              “Well…Just know that you’re still in the doghouse.” I wiggled out of his hold.

              “What’s up with you?” He looked confused and hurt.

              “I forgave you. That doesn’t mean that we can just pick up where we left off. Besides, we only kissed once.” I started to leave.

              “You don’t want to go out with me?” He was genuinely sad.

              “I didn’t say that. We still have a while of you flattering me before that happens.” I winked at him.

              “Okay.” He smiled. He and I walked side by side. We started to go in separate directions when Adam grabbed my arm. Swinging me towards him, it was as if we were dancing. “Tomorrow.” His dimples had smiles of their own.

              “What’s tomorrow?” I took his arms off of me.

              “I turn myself in.” He became serious. “I’ll see you later. He walked away leaving me there. I was so worried for him that I knew I wasn’t going to sleep at all that night.

              I know what you’re thinking though. You’re thinking, “Ugh! What a boring chapter that was!” Well, this is my story! Deal with it! Besides, come on you’re just as interested in Adam as I am. Aren’t you? I knew it! Ha!

Chapter 6

Lunch