Chasing Ever After

It’s been a week.

Ever since then, I always see her—Sadie. But she acts weird every time. Like this one time, when our eyes met at the school hallway, she just averted her eyes and brushed past me, like I wasn’t there.

Like she doesn’t know me.

Like that night of her confession didn’t even happen.

I elbow my best friend (and yes, guys do have best friends), Carter, and ask, “Am I that easy to forget?”

Carter replies, munching down a bag of potato chips like a ravenous pig, “Why’re you asking me that?”

“I mean, I told you before, right? About Sadie Hall. You know, that girl from 3-C?”

He raises a brow at me. “Yeah, what about her?”

“Dude, she’s acting like I don’t exist. It’s been like that for a week, and I don’t know, it’s driving me crazy!” I practically shout at him hysterically. “Like, hello, I’m Jack Ames. Aren’t I supposed to be super cool, super famous and shit?”

“Jack Ames, you are one conceited bastard,” he chuckled, punching me on the arm. “I think that’s pretty natural. She’s a girl, dude. Of course she’d find it embarrassing to talk to you first. Maybe you should try approaching her.”

“And what would I say, exactly? That I’m sorry I rejected her? How many times do I have to apologize?”

Carter throws me a potato chip straight in the face. “If you’d be acting like this after rejecting her, then you shouldn’t have rejected her from the start, you moron. Quit pestering me with your nonsense questions. Do you like her or not? Now, that’s the sensible question.”

My jaw drops. Dumbfounded, I say, “L-Like her? Dude, you’re getting the wrong idea! I…I don’t like Sadie Hall, okay? I’m just wondering…”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You can’t accept the fact that someone could actually get over you.”

“That—“ I reply. “—and something else.”

“Like?”

“How could she just act like that, like I don’t exist anymore? I mean, a little ‘Hi, Hey’ wouldn’t hurt, would it? I just want to know how she is. I want to know the reason why she’s acting like this.”

“Why not find out then?” Carter suggests, sighing. “You won’t find your answers if you don’t act—now go to her; she’s right across our table, laughing with her friend.”

I follow his gaze and see Sadie. Her brown hair is braided, as usual, and behind her nerdy glasses, her brown eyes are somewhat sparkli—oh God, I did not just think ‘sparkling’. Shit, shit, shit, Jack.

“What are you waiting for?” This time, Carter elbows me hard. “Scram before I drag you to her myself.”

Within seconds, I am up to my feet and I start walking towards her table. Her friend, the one with curly blonde hair, looks at me as if throwing daggers of ice-cold hate. Her grey eyes look like they’re burning. I feel a shiver up my spine.

“Uh, Sadie?” I begin, coughing awkwardly and trying to ignore Blondie.

Slowly, Sadie looks up, and for a moment, I feel like something hit me in the gut.

“Yes?” she asks with an unexpected smile. It’s a friendly, warm smile. Not at all like the hostility daggers Blondie gives me.

“Can I talk to you, for uh, a sec? If your friend doesn’t mind,” I say.

Sadie exchanges glances with Blondie, as if reassuring her that she is going to be all right.

After a while, Sadie stands up, and we walk towards a free-from-people spot, away from prying ears.

“What is there to talk about?” she asks, her eyes boring into mine.

For a moment, I am completely quiet.

“Well?” she continues impatiently.

I don’t know what else to say, so with all sincerity, I apologize, “I’m really sorry.”

Sadie looks at me disbelievingly, as if finding this conversation a waste of breath. I look totally uncool right now. “Sorry?” she scoffs disbelievingly. “Sorry for what?”

“What do you mean, for what? For what happened, of course!” I reply. “For rejecting you—“

She puts her hand over my mouth abruptly, and again, I feel like something just punched me in the gut. I could see that her brown eyes are filled with anger, resentfulness…just plain hatred.

“Do—not—even—think—about—saying—it,” she warns acidly.

I gulp.