I always struggled with having to get ready in the morning. Early mornings were my kryptonite and so, with the sky barely even being lit up by the sun, and with the moon still visible to the naked eye, I was in the mindset that if you could see the moon, you should still be sleeping. Thus, when it comes around to that time of year again, when school raises its ugly head, I was always late. And not like 5 minutes late, like you'd expect. I was always 20 minutes late, and it became part of my routine that the office ladies have already signed my late slip and are waiting for me to burst through the office doors. And this was one of those days.
****
I burst through the office doors, my chest heaving and my breath coming out in pants. I really needed to sort out this alarm situation. Pulling up my jeans, I try to recollect my breath and an easy smile slips across my lips as I take the late slip from Ms Ward.
"Thanks Miss." I say.
"As always, Jordan. You really do need to sort out that alarm though. You can't keep arriving this late." Ms Ward scolds with a smile on her lips.
"I promise that I will sort it out." I say with my hand on my heart.
"Just get to class, kid." She says and shakes her head. Waving with two fingers, I quickly exit the office building and make my way to my first period class; English.
As I was making to my English class, something splatters on my shoulder. Stopping dead in my tracks, I slowly turn to my left and glance at my shoulder. Just as I suspected, a bird shit on my shoulder. My lips turn into a firm line and I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of nose.
"What the actual fuck?! Why the fuck does this happen to me?! This is complete shit, what the fuck?!" I say as I stomp to the closest bathroom. I quickly rinse off the bird shit and tuck my jumper in my bag. Pulling at my sleeves, I finally make my way to the class room.
Pushing open the door, I enter the classroom and put my late slip on the teachers desk.
"Nice of you to join us, Jordan." My English teacher, Mrs Cowley, says.
"Sorry I'm late. A bird took a shit on my shoulder." You explain as people snigger from behind you.
"Just take your seat please." I sit down and focus on what she was writing down on my board.
"Welcome to Hell," A deep voice whispers from beside me.
"I was born in Hell, Gabriel. You already know that." I whisper back as I keep my attention on the whiteboard.
"Ya know, I heard that when I bird shits on you that it's good luck." Gabriel, my best friend, says after awhile.
"That's nice to know. Now, do tell me, what the fuck am I supposed to do with that piece of information." I say as I turn in my seat to face him.
"Well that's up to you, isn't it?" Gabriel remarks and picks up his pen. His green eyes meet mine, and he twirls his pen between his fingers as he raises an eyebrow.
"Touché," I say with a light voice as I avert my attention back to the notes being written on the board.
"You know, here's probably no point in copying down the notes, we've got like ten minutes left. I'll give you a copy tomorrow." Gabriel says after a few minutes of silence.
"Thank you," I mutter as I turn around to face the board once again.
"I've always got your back gurl." He says which causes a smile to jump to my lips. A chuckle escapes my lips as I turn my head to look at Gabriel. His well built frame is leaning back on the chair as he continues to twirl the pen between his fingers. I shake my head and the bell goes, signalling the end of class.
****
I'm walking across the quad when someone latches onto my elbow and pulls me to a stop.
"Um, excuse me, what the fuck do you think you're doing?" I ask coldly.
"Where do you think you're going? C'mon, we've got study." Gabriel says as he begins to tow me in the opposite direction of where I was going. I roll my eyes, and take my arm back and walk beside the giant who is my best friend.
"so, what exactly are we going to be doing?" I ask curiously as we make our way out of the school grounds.
"You'll see." Gabriel says with a sly wink. My lips tighten and I raise an eyebrow.
"Oh a surprise, I see." I say sarcastically. Gabriel just laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling me against his chest. Gabriel just chuckles but releases me from his grasp.
As we make our way towards the park, a wind blows through the trees and disrupts my hair, tangling it. Silence fills the air as our footsteps crunch across the loose gravel.
"How are things with your Mum?" Gabriel asks as we sit down on the swings.
"Well, since I last talked to her, they've been just peachy keen." I mutter, sarcasm filling my voice. My Mother is a pompous bitch who only cares about money and the fact that she never seems to get enough of it, even though she works for some high end corporation that pays excellently.
"Well, that's better than the last time I asked, right?" Gabriel asked with a smirk on his lips.
"I won't hesitate to smack you." I state bluntly.
"What?"
"Did I stutter?"
"I thought that I was your favourite though." Gabriel says, his lips falling to a pout.
"Oh, don't worry. You are my favourite, but sometimes you say and ask some stupid as fuck stuff, that makes me want to hit you." I say with a shake of my head, faux venom in my voice.
"I can't tell if you're being hostile or not.." Gabriel trails off before grinning at me as a smile spreads across my lips.
"Well I guess that we'll never know aye?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"True." Gabriel says before we fall into a comfortable silence.
That's what I loved most about hanging out with Gabriel; you never had to be making conversation in order to not feel awkward. I begin to pick at the seam of my shirt as I gaze around the children's park. I haven't been here in so long.
"So this is the mystery place that we were going to." I say with a hushed voice. My eyes widen and I try not to blink as I take in my surroundings, memories filling me with warmth.
"Yeah. We haven't been here in ages so I thought that a trip here would make you feel better." Gabriel explains as sit down on the swings. It's totally cliché but oh how I love it.
"How are you really though, Jordan. You know that I am worried about you." He says as he looks at me with his deep blue eyes.
"It's hard to describe, Gabriel. You of all people should know that." I murmur while playing with my fingers.
"I know, Jordan, I know. Don't you think that you should at least try to talk about it? Sometimes it helps." He says.
"I have tried, Gabriel. I really have but whenever I do try nothing comes out. I'm rendered speechless because I have no words to describe the way I feel. I know that it helps, believe me I do but sometimes it's better to keep quiet about some things." I say, while trying to keep calm.
"Silence is never the answer, Jordan! You have to talk about your feelings otherwise you'll never get better and you'll be stuck in this cycle."
"Do you ever think that maybe I'm content with my current mental state?" I quip with venom in my voice. "Do you ever think that maybe I'm tired of trying to say something that I have no words to describe? It's hard as fuck, Gabriel. It's a real fucking struggle. It's so hard that I actually cry because I can't fucking say anything."
I kick away the bark as guilt pools in my stomach at how rude I was to Gabriel.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel. You're the only one who's stuck by me through all of this shit. I shouldn't have attacked you like that." I say as tears well up in my eyes.
"It's okay, Jordan. I know that you struggle with everything. I just wish you'd be more open, to me at least, about how you're feeling. I want to help you, I really do." He says. I bring him into my arms and lay my head on the crown of his head.
"You're the best friend I could ever ask for." I murmur as he wraps his arms around me. I know we seemed like a couple,or whatever, but that was certainly not the case. If I was to date Gabriel, it'd be like dating my brother. It would be weird. He has other friends who are girls and other friends who are guys, but he always seems to stick with me. And that is something that I'm eternally grateful for. I don't know if I'd be here if it wasn't for him.
"I'm the bestest friend you could ever ask for." He quips back, a smirk on his face as I release him from my embrace.
"True. But, I'm eternally grateful for you sticking by me. I know it's been a hard uphill battle but I don't know if I would be here if it wasn't for you." I say, voicing my thoughts.
"Oh you are definitely a darling and I'm starting to wonder if you're feeling okay. Why are you being all mushy? You and I both know that is definitely not your forte." Gabriel says with a click of his tongue as he gets to his feet, only just towering over me.
"Oh shut up. Is it a crime for me to express my gratitude towards you?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"Like I said, it's just not your forte. Come on let's go get some lunch." Gabriel says as he takes my hand in his and gives it a slight squeeze.
"But we have fourth to go to." I protest half heartedly. I should go to Biology but who can actually be bothered with that?
"By the level of protest that you are expressing, we are skipping. You and I know that Biology is a waste of time." Gabriel says as he leads me towards the entrance towards the park.
I grin slyly and follow Gabriel out of the park.
"Where are we going for food?" I ask, eager to have something to eat.
"I don't know. What do you feel like eating?"
"Hmmmmm. Definitely hot chips from the bakery. They do them the best!" I exclaim as we amble towards the bakery.
A smile spreads across my lips as I realise that I have the coolest and greatest friend who is loyal to me, even though that he has other friends. I truly am a lucky girl.