★★★

     Carly walked down their school hallway. She had an English literature class during the first session. As she walked towards her class,everyone around her became invisible as she ran through her earlier conversation with her brother. ‘Perfect indeed.’She thought and was surprised at the joy she felt at the thought of spending her afternoon with him.Even though she didn't show it,she missed him.She never thought they'd ever come to this.A lot of time had passed and honestly, she had at some point thought she had lost him forever. She had made new friends, been in a relationship but none of that  had filled the gap between them.The friendship between two siblings meant a lot more and she had been craving for that.Now she would get to experience it once again and hopefully it would be like old times. It had been hard for her at first and she remembered how she had immersed herself into things she never would have thought she would ever do in her life.She didn't know what to do without her brother so,when her mother told her to join the cheerleaders, she had agreed. Her brother wouldn't even talk to her then,he blamed her for their grandfather's death  and she had somehow come to believe it was really her fault.As she walked towards her locker,she bumped into her best friend Emily. Or her so called 'best friend' and head cheerleader, hash tag mean girl as all those who weren't in her group of friends called her.It was the same name given to her minions, anyone who dared to associate herself with her.Carly included, which she hated but never showed because she thought she had no choice.

             "Uhm,do you mind?"

         "Oh,sorry!" she said then looked up and smiled upon meeting her eyes."Hey Em,"she greeted.

             "Hey yourself. Why are you walking around like a half made robot. Have you lost your sight or sense of smell?" Emily said rolling her eyes at her."I mean,hello?It's me,you can smell the fragrance of my very expensive perfume all the way from the gate."

            "Oh Em,how about a good morning for a change."

            "Every morning is a good morning for me,obvi," she replied arrogantly as always.

            "Right," Carly said then murmured in a low voice,‘So much for a change.’ "Well,we better head off to class then."

            "What's the hurry.Let Mr Gee get to class first then we make an entrance. How do I look,am I sexy enough?"

    Carly rolled her eyes,"Em,you have to stop this now.Mr Gilbert is too old for you. He is our teacher and you are a minor.To top it off,he will never look at you the same way,no matter how charming you look.Come on,it's time to wean off this terrible crush you have for our teacher.It's not realistic, "Carly said completely fed up by her best friend's behaviour.

               "You have told me that a million times and I will still give you the same answer. First of,it's not a terrible crush.I like him.Then,he's not that old.He's thirty, I'm eighteen. Twelve years is not that big of a difference.And thirdly,he won't be my teacher after five months. We could lay low until I graduate and then make it official after that. "

           "You are not eighteen yet.Two months to eighteen years does not make you an adult. I know it feels like it,I fell that too but you have to wait until you legally are."

        "Come on Carly, you are my best friend. Maybe you should act like it and stop dimming my lights,which is futile and you know it."

         "Trust me I'm acting as your best friend,"Carly replied." Why don't you focus on guys our age?"

            "Because they are gross and immature. You would know that if you were dating them."

Carly was about to snap at her but refrained. It was true she didn't have a boyfriend and she never had one before. Dylan was the first person she had dated and since they broke up, she had completely lost interest.Of course Emily didn't know about them,her sexuality was not something they discussed and it was a part of her life she wanted to keep private.Instead, she said, "I have a brother. I know about all that." They walked for a while then asked, "Do you even know if it goes both ways?You know, Mr Gilbert?"

      Emily smiled,"There's only one way to find out. "Carly shook her head and fastened her pace while Emily walked behind her.