Playing The Game

Playing The Game - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

As I pulled into a parking space at the movie theatre I spotted Allie, but she didn’t look her usual happy self. Instead, there was a scowl on her face, her arms were crossed and she was tapping her foot on the pavement. Uh-oh. This didn’t look good.

            I rushed up to her. “Hey. What’s wrong?” I asked, faking innocence.

            “Don’t play dumb with me,” she hissed. Her glare penetrated my soul, and I knew I’d been caught out. “I can’t believe you.” She shoved a magazine at my chest and walked away. I caught it before it hit that ground and straightened it out so I could read it. There, on an open page of Teen magazine, was a big picture of me dancing with Joel. The colour drained from my face. This was even worse than Allie finding out my secret. Now the whole world knew. I looked up. Allie was already halfway to her car.

            “Allie! Wait!” I called. She stopped for a second but then kept walking. I ran up to her and put my hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.

            “What?” Her voice dripped acid, but at least she’d stopped.

            “I’m so sorry. I was going to tell you, honestly. But I knew that you’d want to come with me, and I didn’t think the guys would want another fan screaming at them.”

            Allie spun around, her eyes sparking furiously. “You’re supposed to be my best friend. You know that if you had just told me what was going on, I would’ve kept my cool. I would’ve done anything if you’d just asked me.”

            I looked at the ground guiltily. “I know, and I’m really sorry. I just wasn’t expecting him to want to meet me, and I wasn’t sure if I should tell anyone,” I explained. Leaving out the fact that I’d told my mother.

            Her expression softened for a second, but she quickly covered it up with another frown. “Well, I’m not sure if I completely forgive you, but I’m still angry at you.”

            “So you kinda forgive me?” I asked. She nodded, and I gave a little squeal as I hugged her.

            “You better not make a habit of squealing like that; it’s really annoying,” she laughed. I just rolled my eyes and hugged her tighter.

            “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I really am sorry,” I said.

            Allie pulled away and smiled at me. “It’s okay. But you have to promise to tell me everything from now on okay?”

            I nodded. “Okay.”

            Her smile widened into a grin. “Great! Now I want all the details,” she demanded as she pulled me towards the nearest coffee shop. So much for the movie.

* * *

“So are you going to see him again?” Allie asked after I’d told her about my night with the band, which included every detail, everything we talked about, right down to their facial expressions!

            I shrugged. “He said he’d call me, but…”

            “Well from what you told me, I reckon he really likes you. He will definitely call you.” Her eyes brightened. “Maybe he’ll even ask you out on a date. A proper date, with just him!” She was bouncing in her seat at thought of a date with Joel Evans.

            “Allie, there are other members of the band. It’s not all about Joel,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Besides if he does call me it’ll be to ask for his jacket back.” She frowned. I’d told her that he’d lent me his jacket, but I guess I’d forgotten to mention that I still had it.