"the fight"

FOUR

"Ann, phone call for you." mom called me from downstairs. who could it be? Fretzie told me she wouldn't call coz she had a date with Bret. maybe James? yeah, i think he wants to talk about my trip with Fretzie at the mall. or, could it possibly...be Ivan??? no way! impossible! a very handsome guy like him wouldn't waste time on a good-for-nothing, unpopular girl like me. aarrgghhh!!! there goes my insecurities talking again. sometimes i really dislike myself.

"Hello? this is Ann, who's this?" let it be Ivan, please...

"Who else, punk? it's your greatest friend, James. haha...were you expecting someone else's call?"

"Oh, hi James. whaaat?! of course not...i just thought uhm..i mean, nothing."

"Are you okay? you sound miserable. anyway, how was the shopping spree?" i sighed.

"Yeah, i am fine. shopping spree? oh, you mean, Fretzie...well, okay i guess. is there something particular you had in mind for calling? i'm...kind of busy..." i regretted what i said. James was being polite and nice. and i was being rude. he really deserves a better friend than me...

"Wow, too hot stuff for me now, aren't you? i wonder why..." i was getting annoyed at his anecdotes.

"There you go again James, you're being sarcastic! i told you i don't like you that way." James sounded surprised at my outburst.

"Wow, you are touchy tonight. and i'm not being sarcastic...you are...here i am, asking how you were and all, and all you want to do is slam the phone down." i denied at this, but somehow, he guessed the truth.

"I'm not doing anything of the sort. besides, like i said, i'm busy right now! do you think i got all the time in the world for you? i don't! i have other stuff to do too, you know!" the last words i uttered shouldn't have happened...i felt guilty now. James was right, i was at fault...i tried to apologize then,

"James, i'm...hello? are you there?" James was silent for a while. then he cut me off by saying,

"All right, i'll go and bother someone else who has all the time for me, sorry i called."

"James, wait!" but to no avail. all i heard was a dial tone. man oh man, i am so stupid at times! but he had to hang up on me all of a sudden. he didn't even give me a chance to explain why i was moody. that night, i had trouble sleeping. it was almost midnight but i was still wide awake. i felt super guilty for the things i said to James. tomorrow, i must talk to him. and i have the perfect solution! i'm gonna approach James during lunch and and explain. yeah, that's it! i'll ask Fretzie and Bret to sit at another table so i can talk to James alone. besides, i don't want them to see me and James having a tiff. i know they aren't used to it. i, myself, aren't. James is my best friend, and to keep that friendship alive, i should apologize to him tomorrow.

"Tomorrow..." i said to myself as i finally welcomed dream world. the next day, i saw James during first period. he didn't talk to me, didn't even give me his usual smile. he just walked past me as if i wasn't there, like i was a ghost or something. i felt bad, but what can i do? i deserved it. finally, our last period of morning classes came. it was almost lunch and i should prepare my speech. i was writing random notes in my binder when Fretzie passed a note for me and it said,

"What's up with you and James? you haven't talked all morning. fighting?" i passed a note back to her immediately,

"Had a misunderstanding, need your help." after Fretzie read my note, she gave me a nod and a hopeful smile.

"Rinnnggg!" sounded the lunch bell. Fretzie walked beside me and asked,

"What was the fight about?" i replied,

"I'll explain later. right now, i have to meet James at our table in the canteen. can you and Bret sit at another table so i can have James to myself? Fretzie squeezed my shoulders for encouragement.

"Of course, and good luck..talk to you later. don't worry, it will be fine."

"Thanks." i mumbled and hurried to our usual seats. at the canteen, i waited for James and i pretended to be reading my Math book. i waited and i waited, and finally, James came. But when he saw me, he froze and went back. i followed him and when we got outside, i called,

"James, wait! please listen to me!" i yelled. but he didn't turn in my direction. he didn't listen at all. he just kept on walking as he went to his next class.

"Riinngggg!" bummer! now what will i do? i felt terrible. and somehow, there's this funny, gut wrenching feeling deep inside that i'm experiencing right now. the next period came , and it was Literature. i wasn't feeling so great so i excused myself from class. my Lit. teacher likes me, so she told me i could go and rest at the library. i thanked her and went to the girl's bathroom. then, hating myself more, i cried. and my gosh, i cried a lot. i was miserable, and sorry, but James didn't even give me a chance to explain. what kind of a friend is he anyway? all these years i didn't expect us to fight over something so petty. just then, Fretzie came inside and found me.

"Ann, what happened? i though you both made up by now." i hugged her in between sobs,

"Oh, Fretz...he didn't even try to listen...i wanted to apologize but he just ignored me. you see, he called last night and i was expecting Ivan's call, and our conversation got a little heated and we said hurtful words to each other...or maybe i did...and now, he won't talk to me." Fretzie patted my back.

"Ann, it's gonna be okay. you and James will surpass this. give him time to cool down. for now, let's go to our last class or else we'll be late." so we went to Algebra, and Fretzie placed her arm around me and i saw James staring at our direction. oh crap, i guess by now he knows i was crying. it was too obvious, my eyes were still a bit puffy and red. will James ever forgive me for being rude and tactless? i thought to myself as i took my seat.