Chapter 6 ~ Justin
What just happened? I go outside of the room to see which girl would be a possible date to Homecoming. And then, Caitlyn runs out crying! I don’t understand. Someone must have said something to her or she hurt herself or something! It hurts me to see her cry like that. It’s worse than when I cry. Not that I cry, ever. I mean, unless ladies like seeing guys cry. Because then I cry. A lot. Anyway, I think I’m going to check up on Caitlyn.
“GET OUT!” Caitlyn screams at me when I barge into her room with her favorite pizza pie. Although, the pillow she hid her face in muffled the scream, so it sounded more like “GUH OU”. Plus, it wasn’t as loud as it normally could be. So that was good, because her screams can wake up the dead.
“Cate, what’s wrong?” I ask, sincerely.
“Nothing, just go away. I just want to be alone,” she whimpers through the pillow.
“C’mon Cate, please? Just tell me what’s wrong. It hurts me to see you like this.”
“Why? Do you actually care? No! You don’t! I’m just some charity case you’ve been claiming to be your best friend all along. Now wasn’t I?” She fiercely turns to me. I swear she’s going to throw that pillow at me and, even though it’s a pillow, it’s going to hurt. Because well, it’s Caitlyn, she could make anything hurt.
“What? Which idiot told you that?” I asked, in bewilderment. I mean, that is the stupidest thing I’ve heard. And trust me, I’ve heard many stupid things in my very short existence.
“No one,” she says looking down.
“Oh, c’mon, tell me. You could tell me anything and I wouldn’t laugh or make fun of you. Well, occasionally I would, but not for something serious like this. You know that. Like, when you told me about that birthmark on your butt that looked like a poodle, I didn’t care. And I think this is a little more serious than that. So please, just tell me,” I said looking at her with my famous puppy-dog face. She didn’t answer. “I bought your favorite pizza,” I said holding it out to her.
She smiled and took a piece of pizza. “Well, to tell you the truth, it was Alexandra. After you walked out she was telling me how I was just some charity case you befriended. I mean, look at me Justin. I’m not pretty and I’m not popular. So it made sense.”
“Cate,” I said, lifting her head up and looking into her eyes, “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. And you know that. She’s just jealous that you’re the one who I laugh the most with. And to tell you the truth, I wasn’t going to pick her. Sure, she’s gorgeous but she’s just some slut that’s good to hook up with. You’re the one who I would rather spend my day and share my secrets with. She’s not my best friend and she’s not going to be my partner in crime. You are.”
“Wow…I don’t know what to say. That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thanks Justin.”
“Hey, no problem, kid. Oh, and just so were clear with this, you know that you’re my best friend in the whole wide world right?”
“Yeah, I know,” she smiled, as we came into a great hug. I would call it the friendship confirmation hug. This is by far the best hug in the whole wide world.
≈ ♥ ≈
The rest of the night was spent kicking all of those girls out of Caitlyn’s house. But before all of them left, I had to take care of some business.
“Hey Alexandra, could I talk to you for a minute?” I said walking up to Alexandra.
“Yeah sure, what’s up? Are you going to tell me that I won?” she asked all seductively.
“No, actually, it’s just the opposite. I just wanted to say that I heard what you said to Caitlyn and that wasn’t right of you. In fact, you should probably stick to entering all those bitch contests because unlike me, those guys would be with you,” I told her as I walked back to Caitlyn’s room. I didn’t look back, but I saw through the mail slot that I left her with her mouth open, speechless. That is probably the first time she had gotten dumped and left with no way to answer back.
≈ ♥ ≈
I woke up in a room very different than my own. But this room looked very familiar. Oh my god, it’s Caitlyn’s room. What did I do? I started feeling myself to see if I have everything in check. Well, I’m fully clothed so, thank god, that’s over with. Okay, breathe; just try to think back to what happened last night.
Well, after I left Alexandra, I went back to Caitlyn to tell her what happened. She was really happy that I put Alexandra in her place and we spent the rest of the night watching a movie in her room and eating popcorn with melted Hershey’s chocolate on top. We ended up getting all cuddly, but not boyfriend-girlfriend cuddly, just a nice friendly cuddle. And that’s the last thing I remember. We must have fallen asleep. Shoot, my mom’s going to kill me. She’s probably so worried! I better call her before she calls the cops.
But Caitlyn’s in my arms and I don’t want to wake her. Plus I don’t really want to move. I love the feel of her soft skin against mine. I wouldn’t mind waking up like this every morning. Oh god, Justin, now you’re thinking about marriage. I better wake up and rinse my face with cold water and then call my mom.
I got up gently and walked to the bathroom with my cell phone. I washed my face with cold water and then dialed my house number.
“Hello?”
“Mom? Hey, its me, Justin.”
“Oh hi, sweetie! How was your night? Were you comfortable?”
What? What’s that supposed to mean? She’s supposed to be like, “Why didn’t you call me earlier? You had me worried sick! I was about to call the police!”
“Um, good? I’m sorry if I ended up worrying you, but I feel asleep in Caitlyn’s house,” I told her. Well, I actually fell asleep in Caitlyn’s bed but we don’t have to worry her too much.
“Oh no it’s fine, cupcake. Before you left you told me that you were going to Caitlyn’s and when you didn’t come back I figured that you were still there. So I called her house to ask her mother if you happened to be there. She said that you fell asleep together. Now, isn’t that just the cutest thing?”
“Uh-huh,” I said, awkwardly.
“You could’ve told me you liked her. I wouldn’t have minded. If you want she could come to our house and she could spend the night without any interuptions-“
“Mom! Please! I don’t like Caitlyn! And nothing happened between us! She’s just a close friend. Jeez!” I said, exasperated.
“Okay sugarplum whatever you say. I got to go now, just tell me if you’re going to sleepover there again tonight. I don’t mind.”
“MOM!”
“Bye honey-bee. I love you!” My annoying mother said, hanging up. Mothers, they are so embarrassing! Not to mention irritating, as well.
I walk out of the bathroom and I go into Caitlyn’s room and she’s still sleeping. I quietly close the door and walk in and slip back into bed and watch her sleep. She’s so cute and peaceful. Before I know it, she turns over and slowly opens her eyes to me staring at her. Awkward!
“Morning Cate,” I said to her, nearly giving her a heart attack.
“What? What are you doing here?” she asks me, while giving herself a body inspection, similar to the one I did on myself this morning.
“Wow, what a beautiful morning welcome. And before you have a heart attack, don’t worry, we didn’t…you know…”
“Oh. Okay. Well, good morning,” she said relieved, “And how did you know that’s what I was worrying about?”
“Because, I did the same thing this morning when I woke up,” I said, laughing.
“Really? I thought, I don’t know, that even if we did…” she said dragging her sentence.
“Yes?”
“I guess, that you wouldn’t care.”
“Okay. There were many things wrong with that sentence. But one thing’s for sure is that yes I would care because you’re my best friend and if I had it I think I would like to remember,” I said smiling and she smacked me. Hard.
“Ow,” I said rubbing the black and blue mark she just gave me, “But seriously, I wouldn’t want anything weird to happen,” I said truthfully.
“Oh,” she said as an awkward silence followed. Thankfully she broke it, “Did you ever, you know?”
“No, not ever.”
“Really? I mean, honestly, I’m shocked. I thought that after all the girls you’ve been with, you must’ve done it by now,” she said in utter amazement.
“Well, nope,” I said starting another awkward silence.
“You want breakfast? I’m starving!” She asked me as I heard her stomach growl.
“Yeah, I’m starved. What do you have?” I said, and she started to run. “Oh no! You’ve got Captain Crunch?!” I asked trying to catch up to her.
“Yup!” she said. Captain Crunch is our favorite cereal, as you probably have figured out by now. We have competitions on who could get it first.
“Ha! Beat you!” Caitlyn said and she pulled out the Captain Crunch from the cabinet.
“That’s because you got a head start,” I said.
“Oh, don’t be such a sore loser,” she said pouring herself a bowl.
“I’m not a sore loser! I’m just stating the facts,” I said, grabbing the Captain Crunch as she put the box down and took the milk.
“The facts are that I’m just a faster runner than you are,” she said as she sat down and started eating.
“Uh-huh. Sure,” I said as I started eating. I really wasn’t in the mood to get all-competitive with her now. “So, uh, what are we doing today, oh fast one?”
“I was thinking that we go shopping today, young grasshopper.”
“But the dance is a month away. Don’t you think we should be, I don’t know, finding ourselves a date first?” I asked her matter-of-factly.
“It’s never too early to shop, sugarplum,” she said laughing.
“Oh no, you heard that!” I said in humiliation.
“Yeah, that was priceless,” she said.
“Well I know some of your nicknames myself,” I said. Actually, I really don’t but it’s worth a shot.
“Oh, really? Like what?” she said with one eyebrow up.
“Like… um…Kitty Cat,” I said totally guessing.
“I’m going to kill my dad for ever inventing that nickname!” she said mortified.
“Wait, that was real?” I said cracking up, “I totally guessed that!”
“We shall never speak of this moment again,” she said getting up and putting her plate in the sink.
“Deal,” I said while putting mine in the sink as well. “Well, I better get home and change. Meet you outside in ten?”
“You got it,” she said as I walked outside and went into my house.
≈ ♥ ≈
“So what store are we going to first?” I asked Caitlyn as we walked into the mall.
“Umm… oh! I know! Lets go to Macys,” she said as we started walking in that direction.
“Do you want to separate and we pick out things ourselves?” I asked.
“No. Why don’t you pick me out some clothing and after I bought something we’ll go to the men’s section and I’ll pick out something for you?”
“Okay,” I said as I started picking out some dresses. “Here, take these,” I told her as I gave her the dresses I picked out. These dresses are hot, if I may say so myself.
“Um, Justin? These are cocktail dresses. Thanks, but I don’t exactly want to look like a leopard stripper,” she told me as she returned the dresses to me. “Go put them back where you found them.”
“Aw, c’mon. Maybe you would end up liking them. Just try them on. For me?” I doubt that she would like them, but they are really hot and I wouldn’t mind seeing Caitlyn in them.
“These dresses are something that Alexandra would wear to the dance. Me? Not so much. I would rather keep things that are meant to be private, private.”
“And I repeat, just try them on. For me?”
“Get your hormones in tact and then we’ll talk,” she said pushing me in the direction I came from.
“So I should pick out other dresses for you?”
“Yeah, why not. I’ll give you a second chance. I’m feeling generous today,” she said as I went back to get some dresses that are “not revealing” and “classy”. Whatever that means.
When I come back, Caitlyn doesn’t look too satisfied. “What did I do now?”
“Justin, do you not see the dress you picked out for me? It’s meant to be worn in a circus. Wait, I’m sorry, that’s offensive to circus’ everywhere,” she told me as I took the dress back.
“It’s really not that bad,” I said, as I held it up to her.
“Oh please! It looks like someone threw up on it.”
“Ouch, that stung. My sense of style isn’t that bad.”
“Okay. How about I pick out something for both of us,” Caitlyn said as she sat me down in a corner and picked out random dresses and went into the dressing room.
The next hour was spent by Caitlyn trying on random dresses that didn’t quite suite her. The first was a long white chiffon halter dress with random diamonds scattered around. I said this one was too Oscar-y. The second was a short hot pink princess cut dress, to which I replied “too Barbie”. The third was a long black dress with net bell sleeves. “Too goth”. The fourth was a short turquoise dress with brown, neon green, and red sequins all over the bottom puffy part. This dress was just plain ugly. Not to mention, she looked like a peacock.
The last one was a short white dress. The top was a tube top with a lacey belt and then it went straight down until her waist where it puffed out, but just the right amount. It really brought out the emerald green in her hazel eyes and her tan. This one was the one she bought. Want to know why? Because when she showed me the dress, I was speechless.
Another hour was spent picking an outfit out for me. Only god knows how many things I tried on that day. And all of them were just weird. Now I know what Zac Efron was talking about in High School Musical 3 when he started to sing “it makes me look weird.” Yes, I even tried on that tuxedo.
“Cate, can’t I just wear some pants with a Hanes v-neck and a black suit jacket?” I asked, pulling down the collar of the suit I was wearing awkwardly.
“No! You have to wear a proper tux! I understand it’s uncomfortable, but it’s all going to be worth it in the end when your date practically faints with just one look at you,” she said fixing the collar for the umpteenth time.
“Hmm, I kinda like the sound of that. Work your magic!” I said, as she fixed the tux.
“Kay, look in the mirror. I think this should be the one you buy, I mean, look at you! Yah Gawgeous!” she said, as I took a look in the mirror. Wow, not too shabby. I might even say I look very spiffy. Wait, did I just say that? Anyway, I look GOOD! This tux was just a plain black classic tux. Why didn’t we find this one in the first place? I think Caitlyn wanted to embarrass me and make me look weird…
≈ ♥ ≈
After we were all done shopping, for shoes and jewelry (for Caitlyn), we went to the food court. Caitlyn got a smoothie and I got a double deluxe burger with French fries and a slushee.
“So, Justin, I was just curious, but who were you really going to choose yesterday?” Caitlyn asked.
“Well, if you must know, I was going to choose Jessica,” I said taking a bite of my burger.
“Really!?! But I thought you were going to pick that Alexandra girl?”
“Well, to tell you the truth, I was, but then she said that awful thing to you and I couldn’t be with someone who hated my best friend. So I picked Jessica, because she loved my best friend. And I figured she would be the only one who would make out with me,” I said smirking.
“Justin! I can’t believe you! I knew you were shallow but I didn’t think you could sink this low!” she said as she dumped her smoothie on my head. “Well, I was done with that anyway. Glad it didn’t go to waste,” she said smiling. Ohh, she is so dead.
“Oh, its on Caitlyn Nicole Harris!” I said, as I threw my slushee in the direction of her face. Unfortunately, she ducked and it landed on the person behind her. Before I knew what was happening, everybody in the food court started throwing food at each other, participating in this huge food fight. Caitlyn and I hid under the table, and when she wasn’t expecting it, I smashed mashed potato that someone threw at me on her head. She was so angry that she put ice down my pants when I least expected it. But no worries, I put ice down her shirt.
“C’mon, lets call it even. Lets just get out of here before the owner finds out we were the ones who started it and are left cleaning up this pigsty,” I yelled at her and we ran out the mall entrance.
≈ ♥ ≈
We walked to my house from the mall and before we went inside we hosed each other down.
“Thanks to you this mashed potato in my hair will take forever to clean out,” she said and she rinsed out her hair.
“Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I have tomato in places where tomato should never be,” I said laughing.
After we were done I got us some towels from the linen closet.
“Oh my god, I smell like deli sandwich,” Cailyn said as she sat down on my bedroom floor.
“And I smell like throw up,” I said as I took off my shirt.
“I cant believe we started that whole mess,” Caitlyn said as she recapped what happened in the food court.
“Yeah. I always wanted to start a food fight. I guess I have to come up with a new troublesome goal,” I said.
“How about bungee jumping?”
“Nah. That’s not troublesome. That’s adventurous.”
“How about vandalizing school property?”
“Nope. I’m not creative enough to do that. You were always the creative one,” I said as I walked toward Caitlyn to sit down next to her.
“Yeah, I guess,” she said, blushing.
“Aw, don’t be modest. You know you’re awesome at art. Didn’t you say you wanted to become a fashion designer when you’re older?”
“That was my seventh grade aspiration. Now, I want to become a veterinarian.”
“Really? Well, I think you’d be awesome in that department.”
“How so?” she asked curiously.
“Well, you love animals, not to mention you rock at anything you put your mind to,” I said.
“Thanks,” she said embarrassed.
“You know, you’re actually the most amazing person I ever met,” I said looking at her.
“Really?” she asked turning to me.
I responded by kissing her. It was a soft and sweet kiss. Better than any kiss that I have ever had. I thought Caitlyn might get freaked out but she was actually kissing me back. Wait, Caitlyn was KISSING ME BACK. CAITLYN, MY BEST FRIEND.
Maybe I was wrong. Could it be that Caitlyn really does like me more than a friend? Could she secretly like me? Should I ask her out? But before I could find out, she pulled away from the kiss. And when I opened my eyes, I heard the door slam and all that I was left with was a towel and a million different questions.
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