4 Lovesick Teenagers

Alexis made her hair in a ponytail. She did not forget to apply mascara and painted her lips with rosy pink lipstick that would match the summer look. The girl checked her final appearance in the mirror. Great, told herself. White t-shirt, black leather jacket, jeans (of course, she wore Lexy jeans), and a pair of red sneakers. The same old style but it was her favorite look. Sometimes she wore a pretty dress but jeans always made her feel like herself.

“It’s summer.”

The girl bit her lips when the older sister bluffed with an amused smile. “Hot sun and jacket?”

“It’s not that hot,” Alexis defended herself but removed the jacket from her top and roped it on her waist.

Inside the room, there were two single beds. The space was divided into two territories, Bryce’s and Alexis’s. In the older sister’s territory, there was only a country band poster on the desk and one mahogany guitar. Bryce was very good at singing and playing the guitar but she rarely showed her talent because of her shy character. Alexis played the guitar too but compared to her sister, it was like a talent and a wannabe. Bryce’s belongings were in order while Alexis’s was a little bit messy and seemed to intrude on the other’s territory. The younger attached many posters of the singer and songwriter named ‘Carmen’ on the wall including her other favorites actors. Moreover, on her desk, there were many photos of her friends decorated. At the corner of the shelf next to the desk, a plastic crown hung on the piles of books and it nearly fell to the ground.

“When I went away, you ruined our room.”

“I didn’t!” Alexis denied it but started to organize her thing.

Among the photos, one that Alexis loved so much was three pretty young girls wrapping their arms around each other’s necks, smiling at the camera. Alexis was the tallest girl in the centre wearing basketball apparel and smiling broadly. The auburn-haired girl on the right side is named June Joyce, Alexis’s best friend since kindergarten. The two pretty girls shared a resemblance but June looked more maturely gorgeous and Alexis had a baby-faced. It might be because of those fierce emerald green eyes and the scornful smile that made June have the eyes of a grown-up, the eye of bad life experiences. On the left side was named Elodie Li, a pretty small girl with dark brown silky hair. The girl smiled brightly like the morning sun.

The photo had been taken recently after the final match against Amora Team from Riverland. Although the San Bosa team lost, it was the most memorable match because they had never reached the final competition before. It was the second biggest news reported by the San Bosa Post (smaller than the San Bosa Soccer Team won the trophy of the High School Soccer Championship.) In the photo, the three young ladies might look like very close friends (Alexis also wished too); however, the two girls on the left and the right loved each other like cats and dogs.

“How’s June and Edie? Do they get along?”

“The second apocalypse still has a brighter future than their relationship.”

Bryce chuckled.

Alexis thought of how Jesse questioned why June and Elodie were stuck in the same group. Well, it was not easy to understand girls’ rationality even though she was a girl too.

The beginning of the trio began when June, who was the most beautiful girl in the school and the boys’ dream girl, and Elodie, one of the most popular girls and the captain of the cheerleading team, made the agreement. June’s mother used to have some big roles in the film industry around twenty years ago and forced her daughter to dream big. As June had to bear her mother’s expectations and gained a small reputation like the other children of celebrities, she had the habit of keeping her distance from people and thinking everyone was below her. She regarded Alexis as her one and only friend. They met at kindergarten and stick with each other since then. At the school, although June was the star, she was the kind of girl that girls hated but wanted to be.

Alexis’ friendship with Elodie began in the literature class. Elodie came to sit with Alexis during lunchtime more often. At first, June got paranoid about seeing ‘the other’ sitting with her but their group gained a lot of attention because Elodie could call her team and other sports teams to sit with them. That was why June accepted the new member. They became the influencers and the ‘cool people’ of the school society. How cool was it to be a celebrity even in the school? Alexis might not like how they agreed to make the terms of building ‘the image’ but she admitted that being one of the most popular groups made her high school life better.

Alexis still persuaded Bryce to leave the study desk. “Just leave your books for a day…not a day exactly, just three or four hours. They won’t blame you, I guarantee that.”

Bryce was stubborn. She insisted on studying during her short vacation. The big sister eyed the younger, annoyed, “I can’t. I have to memorize every word. If I can eat them, I eat.”

“Just chill out. You can continue your reading at night. Please, for Monkey. Edie comes too.”

“Too many people. You can exclude me.”

Alexis placed her elbow on the sister’s chair. “I called Davy but he didn’t answer the phone. Well, he doesn’t know I come back. Maybe he’s busy. I’ll visit his house to check if he’s there. Jesse and Edie will take Charlie to the mall first. You can go with them. I meet you there. Please Please Please!”

“I can’t.” Bryce moved her chair to free herself from the younger sister. “You will understand me, Alex. Soon. I know even a brain like you can’t make it easy.”

Alexis sighed. “Okay, so do you want anything?” The girl raised the white flag.

“Poppy Gelato’s chocolate mint,” she made the order. Alexis groaned, “Grrrr, I love rich chocolate and I don’t want to eat all the quart!”

“You can eat it for a week.”

“You know it’s hard! How can people eat ice cream and save it for another day? We must eat them all.”

Bryce turned her head from side to side. “Stop being a drama queen. Rich chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, all you love is only chocolate without anything else except milk and sugar. Boring.”

“I love chocolate almonds and macadamia or added salt caramel. See? Not all chocolate.”

“How different! Look at the time! Hurry young lady, the two gentlemen might root the floor.”

“They may get out already. Don’t worry Mom, see you.” Alexis closed the door. Instead of getting their butts out of the house, she saw Elodie laughing with her two brothers. They should get out right now but they seemed to have a fun time together. Sometimes, Alexis thought if Jesse preferred girls, Elodie might be his first choice because they were really getting along well and Jesse liked Elodie as if she was the third sister.

Well, sister…

“Sorry,” Alexis interrupted.

Charlie jumped in his happiness. “Yeah, can we go now? Where’s Bryce?”

Alexis made a sad face, “Oh Monkey, she insists on studying. There’s only us and maybe Davy. But tell me, why are you guys still here?”

Elodie stood up, “Oh, I forget to tell you. I’ll go with you, Alex.”

The girl in the white t-shirt looked fixedly at her friend in disbelief because she wanted to visit her boyfriend’s house alone. That’s not the deal. Elodie forced Alexis through her eyes, “Just agree with me”.

The big boy switched his eyes from the sister and her friend, did not understand what they were playing.

“Hey, young ladies, so?” Jesse asked.

“Okay, as she said,” Alexis answered. Jesse was still sceptical but grabbed Charlie’s hand anyway then walked out of the house. Alexis and Elodie followed. Her friend brought her bicycle. Charlie sat behind Jesse and Alexis used the other one.

“I thought you want to go with him,” Alexis spoke since her brothers were gone.

The small girl smiled tiredly, “Sorry Alex, I change my mind. He doesn’t like me at all, just a sister’s friend. It’s good to be with him but it hurts too when he keeps talking about his Joshua. And he loves to talk about him. Silly me.” She paused for a while as if just realized something important. “Oh, sorry. I forget you may want to sneak into Davy’s bedroom and whisper at his ear ‘wake up, darling’ so you can see his naked top. Davy may sleep in his boxer. Right?”

The brunette groaned.

“Surprise Darling! Muah-Muah,” Elodie laughed mockingly. “Or…more than a kiss?”

“Shut up.” Alexis rushed to the bike with her red face. “If you won’t stop, I tell Jesse how you feel about him.”

Alexis smiled in victory. Elodie hit her arm and rushed to her own bike. Her face was red too.

“Oh, almost forget.” Alexis gave a lipstick palette to her friend.

“What?” Elodie’s eyes widened. “I love you!” She locked on Alexis’s neck. “You get it for free? I feel like I want to do your job.”

“Of course not. Do you think I’m the big one? I got the discount from the senior. And this perfume is for June.” Alexis showed the small pink diamond-shaped bottle. “I saw it on her wishlist.” Elodie closed her mouth when her friend mentioned the rival.

“You called her too?”

“No. I don’t like the cold war between you and her. I am just thinking about visiting her house this evening. Of course, without you. Come on! We already graduated, Edie.”

“So what? She hates me. I hate her. Nothing can fix that.”

“Okay…okay.” Alexis surrendered and dared not mention anything about June anymore. Therefore, they could ride to Davy’s house together without any quarrel.

Davy’s house was located on the south avenue, a little bit bigger than the Davis’. When the two girls arrived, it seemed like there was nobody in the house except that his bike was still there but the car was gone, which meant only the parents were absent since it was a business day.

“He’s here. Why doesn’t he answer the phone?” Alexis murmured to herself.

“He glued himself to the bed,” Elodie said. “Does he snore?”

Alexis pretended that she did not hear the question. But as she turned her head, Alexis saw the mysterious bike near the garage. It was painted orange, June’s favorite color.

Not only the color, but it was June’s bike.

Elodie followed her eyes and muttered, “Actually, I want to talk about it for a while but since I have no clear evidence…”

Alexis stared at her friend’s eyes and understood the meaning so well. She slightly shook her head in denial. Davy was her first love and would be the last. They went steady for a year and everything went smoothly. He had no characteristics of being a cheater and the fact that June was her best friend could clear any suspicion.

“They’re friends, like you and him, come on…”

Elodie restrained her hand and whispered. “Try not to make a sound. Don’t lie to yourself. Why is June with your boyfriend when his parents are not home and they think YOU-are-out-of-town?”

“She’s our friend, our best friend.” Alexis tried to deny Elodie’s suspect and ignored the bad thought that paraded in her head. “You’re close to him too. You know he’s not like that.” The girl had not realized how much she stressed her words to make herself believe in it. Her heart beat like crazy as if it wanted to break out from the chest.

“Please let me correct. First, she’s your best friend, not mine and since you joined the modeling agency, I don’t think so. Secondly, Davy is just a boy.” The girl added. “And in general, no one stays with bf's boyfriend in his house, with or without parents.”

“They may be talking.” Alexis tried to give an excuse for them but the more she spoke the more she looked stupid.

Elodie rolled her eyes, “I hate your over-positive thought. You try to deny it, do you?”

The sentence was familiar with what Jesse told her.

“I’m not over-optimistic! I…”

“Shhh, okay you’re not but you’re lying to yourself. I know you see my point.”

Admittedly, Alexis lost the courage to go inside the house. Her hands were cold and her feet turned numb. Half of her mind believed in Elodie’s suspicion but another half tried not to because when they were arguing, many invisible needles were nailed into her heart.

“We won’t knock on the door.” The smaller girl checked on the window. “It’s not locked.” She opened it and tried to climb inside the house.

“Help me!” Elodie urged Alexis.

They almost walked on tiptoe but as Davy did not stay downstairs, it was easy to sneak up to the upper floor without notice. The more she got closer to his room, the more her heart skipped a beat. Her friend’s logic was making sense but she wished that Elodie was wrong.

Elodie gradually turned the doorknob; it was not locked again. Suddenly, she pushed the door open. At that time, Alexis’s heart stopped beating completely. She felt grateful that Elodie came with her instead of going out with Jesse. Why? Because she would not have to see this scene alone.

June and Davy were really together as Elodie suspected, on his bed, under the blanket, arms on arms, both naked. Their clothes were scattered around the room. They seemed to have a wild night.

A trophy flew to them and fell on his stomach. No, it was not Alexis’s work but Elodie who shouted and cursed them like crazy, “See! I told you! Dave, you’re such an IDIOT! And you’re WHORE” Their eyes wide open, awake and alarmed.

Alexis was not sure how she felt at that moment, angry, jealous, mad, or disappointed? The only thing she could feel was the emptiness in her chest as if the heart was not there anymore.

I thought we were in love.

The two best people in her life betrayed her cruelly. Sometimes the emptiness is the worst level of pain. The scene knocked her speechless.

How can they do this?

“Alex, li—li—listen to m—me.” Davy hurriedly wrapped the naked body with the blanket. His sudden move caused June to rush to her clothes trying to cover herself. His beautiful hazel eyes were full of guilty tears. “I—I can explain.” His charming husky voice now turned hoarse. His mouth was trembling as if he was the criminal and Alexis was the police. His sexy bare chest was painted red by June’s lipstick and interesting bruises that she could imagine how he got them. And when she saw the kiss traces on his face, she tried so hard to resist her hands not to throw all the anger on this handsome face.

Tears gradually flew on two cheeks. Alexis tried not to create waterfalls but the dam was broken. How can they do it? Why does it hurt so much? Alexis thought her life came to a peak and might be better and better until Davy screwed it up.

My life is nearly perfect. ‘Nearly’ can't be ‘entirely’.

Their eyes met, June’s and Alexis’. No tears, no pleading, no apology, June stood still and slightly avoided her gaze, trying to get dressed calmly as if they were inappropriate by intruding the room. Alexis could not hear anything until Elodie spoke to her ears.

“Alex! Don’t be sad.” Then she turned her eyes to June and cursed again, “Whore! How can you do it? Both of you!”

“I’m sorry. I—I—I” And Davy spoke as though he got an instant tonged-tie.

She did not understand why and how they got together when June never showed any sign of interest in Davy and never took her eyes on him. June dreamed of a man, not a boy, a man who was mature and perfect. Of course, Davy was hot and handsome but June always said he was a big baby boy. He could not reach her high standard of men. Yes, he was a boy, shy and untalkative. And Davy, he told her he loved her…, loved like never loved anyone before. They would grow old together and share dreams and life. Everything he promised to her from the first day they kissed until the prom night, had been broken. But of course, June was beautiful…extremely beautiful, the most beautiful…my best…bitch.

“You love her? Tell me you love each other and I’ll be out. No, I’m out now.” That was the only thing Alexis could say: asking them, to sacrifice her love for their lust.

“No” Davy assured. This time, his speech did not betray him. “No!”

His answer triggered the conflict between them. Two cheaters suddenly met their eyes and June glared at him furiously. The first word she split it out was,

“What? No?”

“Come on! You know why you’re here.”

“And why you have me here?”

“Okay, I let you guys smooth out.” Alexis grabbed Elodie’s arm while Davy caught hers.

“I’m sorry. Yeah, I—I did like June before. It was long ago before I love you. And I love you, Alex. I love you, I do.” He gently touched her face to regain her trust. “It’s m-my fault. I hurt…you, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. Please forgive me. Please?”

Alexis could hear Elodie trying so hard not to give June a mocking laugh but, to be honest, it did not make her feel any better. The girl did not feel like winning or being chosen. In contrast, it made her feel wasted. Watching around the room, seeing the kissing traces on his body and their clothes, Alexis wondered how many times they did it behind her back? And he said he didn’t mean it?

Excuse me?

The thing she did not understand at all was why June committed this action. They were best friends for a long time. Was it because Davy became the star midfield, the key to winning High School Soccer Championship, and the newest prom king?

But...why did she make this ugly decision when she knew well that he belonged to her best friend? Alexis thought her friend loved her as she did.

“June seduced you?” Elodie asked, still staring at her frenemy. They had never been friends even though they were in the same pact and both claimed to be Alexis’s best friends.

“Shut up, no one asks your opinion,” June scowled, still frustrated with Davy.

“It’s my false only. I’m sorry.” He turned to June, “I’m sorry to you too.” But her friend could not accept it.

“You’re such a prick. You want me. You spy on me. You kiss me. You sleep with me. And you say you don’t mean to fuck me. Coward!”

Like another big knife stabbed deeply at her heart, Alexis gave the demanding look to her boyfriend.

“Yes, it’s just my curiosity, my fault. I’m just a man! I know you use me just to revenge on Alex. Yes, I’m stupid. I’m selfish.” Davy confessed.

“Wait. Why do you have to revenge on me?” Alexis blurted out. This was new to her. “Why June? What happened to us?”

The hand that carried the souvenirs shook helplessly with anger.

Alexis locked her eyes with June’s beautiful greens, there were tears in them. It was the first time the girl realized that she had never understood her friend.

“The bitch’s jealous of you.” It was Elodie who answered that question.

“Jealous of me?” Alexis hardly believed when the girl in front of her possessed natural beauty and financial prosperity without effort.

“Of course not!” June’s opposed. “Alex, you separate yourself from me. You choose that bitch! Your family loves that bitch more than me! You’re not my friend anymore.”

“I don’t choose my friends. You’re both my best friends. I love both of you. Why don’t you talk to me? Why? Did I do any other thing wrong to you?” Alexis asked but it seemed like shouting. “Because I won that plastic prom crown, is it? Tell me!”

“Oh, forget it! It’s not that plastic crown. You left me and you take everything!” She scolded in return.

“I’ve never left you!” Alexis threw the perfume bottle on Davy’s bed. “That’s your wishlist, is it? Tell me June, what did I take from you? This is how you revenge me? By sleeping with him? This is how you try to reclaim what I stole from you? Say it!”

“Don’t force for more. She’s jealous. The bitch should not blame you but her slutty arrogance,” Elodie interrupted the heated conversation between Alexis and June. But it maximized June’s rage.

As a Basketball player, Alexis grabbed the glass jar, that was flown to Elodie’s direction in time. Elodie’s head was unharmed.

“Shut the fuck up, big mouth!”

“Thanks for your skill, Alex,” said the girl behind her. “She’s mad. Just a toy for your boyfriend.”

“Not a toy!” Alexis unintentionally corrected Elodie’s word. “He’s not my boyfriend anymore,” The girl concluded.

Davy moved closer trying to beg for forgiveness.

“You know what she thinks?” The one who had been cheated asked the boy while leaving the jar on the floor. He nodded. “And you still sleep with her instead of telling me?”

“Alex…it’s just sex,” Davy gave the excuse and it was the worst one.

“Can I say that if I sleep with other boys?” she hit back.

After a short analysis of the fact that he knew how June thought of her but still jumped into the trap, Alexis found the answer. It was not the trap but his own insufficiently sexual greed. The fact that he knew June was her friend, instead of remaining faithfulness, he took the knife and decided to help June by stabbing the girl he declared his love to. It was about sex only that he wanted to say. Yes, Alexis agreed with that but it was not an acceptable excuse.

It did not make her feel better at all. I should believe what adults say! Davy who was standing facing her at this moment was not the Davy she loved, not the one that she sacrificed her innocence for.

Alexis did not want to hear anything so she threw the other souvenirs to his face. “I bought them for both of you. Check it. Have to go.”

Davy was blocking their way, still almost naked.

“Please, we can fix it,” he begged.

“Get dressed.” She told him, “Don’t waste more time, Jesse and Charlie are waiting for us. I don’t want to ruin Charlie’s day. Please excuse me, Mr. Montes.”

His tears dropped but they could not move her mind. The mascara on her eyelashes might ruin her face enough. Davy knew he could not fix their relationship. The coldness Alexis gave him made him back away.

Their relationship had come to the end.

Her view of the town changed. The day was not as bright as she had seen it. Alexis had not noticed the dark clouds before going out.

“How long did you suspect them?” She asked Elodie. They were walking, with their bikes alongside.

“A month, after the soccer team won. I should tell you earlier but…I’m sorry. Hardly believe he was willing to go into the trap.”

“No need to say that. It’s not your fault.”

Alexis tried not to look back at Davy’s house. Jesse and Elodie were right. She had no clue at all, especially for June. Over-positive, over-trusting, she was. It was too late to pull out the knife. This knife was sharp and she would run out of blood.

“He’s a fool,” Elodie said. “Super fool”

“He’s not. I am.”

Alexis laughed to herself but the laughter sounded mad rather than funny. “You know? I even imagined my wedding dress and a flower crown. I’ve never thought I’m so daydreaming and stupid.”

Elodie shook her head. “You’re not. I used to dream of me and Jesse too.”

Everything turned upside down within an hour. The short period that Alexis learned the truth and it cost two important persons in her life.