• I leaned back in my chair, tipping it back, and casually ruffled through the cards in my hands. “What’re you doing, Cass?” I looked up. A tall boy with thick black locks and dark, gray eyes peered down at me.

    I shrugged. “Meh, just looking at some cards. You want to play a round, Mike?”

    He shook his head. “Nah, I have to get ready. Amber’s coming over so I actually need you to get out of here.”

    I rolled my eyes at him. “Fine, whatever,” I muttered. The doorbell rang and his eyes widened in fear.

    “Oh my gawd, that might be her! Hurry, Cass! You have to get out before she starts thinking stuff!” He hastily pushed my chair forward and grabbed my arm, pulling me to the side door. “Be quiet, okay?” he whispered. I nodded with a scowl on my face.

    He opened the door and pushed me out just as the main door opened and a quiet voice said, “Mike? Are you here?”

    “Uh, yea, Amber. Just a minute!” He closed the door on me and made a shooing motion with his right hand through the glass as he turned away. I huffed and turned around, silently walking down the wooden steps. I stuffed my hands into my jacket, mumbling “Gawd, I thought we were friends,” to myself.

    -

    The next morning I stood in front of the stop sign, waiting patiently for the bus. Behind me, footsteps clomped against the sidewalk and I inwardly groaned as I saw Amber appear beside me. She smiled her innocent little smile and said, “G’morning, Cass.”

    I smiled back at her. “Hey, Amber. How were things with you and Mike last night?”

    She gave me a confused look. “How did you know?”

    I racked my brain, trying to figure out a good excuse. “Well, uh, see I—“

    “Oh, I know!” she cut me off, “Because you and Mike are best friends, right?” She smiled brightly, somehow applauding herself for getting the facts straight.

    “Well, yea. I guess,” I muttered.

    “How did you guys meet each other?” she asked.

    I gave her my signature shrug and said, “I don’t know. I was kind of…tomboyish back then so I hung out with the guys a lot. He just happened to be the first guy I met, really.” She nodded.

    We lapsed into silence then and I looked down at my feet, toying with the card that was buried in the pocket of my jacket. Mike gave it to me the first time we played a round together.

    Once in a while I glanced at her from the side. I wanted to hate her. Her and her long, dark brown hair and slim body and beautiful face. Her and everything that wasn’t me. I could see what Mike could see in her. She was a sweet, kind, energetic, loveable, funny, converse wearing honors student with a knack for soccer. But, how can you hate somebody with nothing to hate about?

    The bus rolled up then and we I clambered on. Me loudly, her silent and noiseless. I popped into the first seat that was empty and slumped while she clumsily made her way to the back where her friend sat waiting for her.

    I pressed my forehead against the window, waiting to see the street sign that said S. Johnson St. That was where Mike got on. I waved at him from the window and he smiled back fondly. As he got near my seat, he took a glance at where Amber was and I watched as they smiled shyly at each other. He sat down beside me when she turned away.

    “Ack—I mean, great job, Romeo,” I said to him. He playfully punched my shoulder. He sighed as he settled in and leaned his head against my shoulder. “You tired?” I asked him. He just nodded.

    -

    After school I decided to go to Mike’s house and maybe play a round of cards with him. It obviously seemed like a good day and time. I had gotten my report card and for the first time in my life didn’t get any D’s; I was finally able to get a good whack at Callie Carter (disgusting girl, really), and, the piece de resistance, Mike and Amber had a fight so my excuse for being at his house was to ‘comfort’ him. But…don’t you hate it when things just don’t work out and you’re left picking up the pieces of your disappointing life?

    I snuck up the wooden stairs and made my way towards the side door, the very one I was kicked out from. I was on cloud nine. Happy, oblivious, thinking everything was going perfect. I looked through the glass, my hand resting on the brass handle; staring at the girl with the tousle of scarlet hair and blue eyes when I was finally able to look past her. There they were, happy as can be. Wrapped in each other’s arms like sick little lovebirds.

    I froze. What should I do? Rap on the door as if I didn’t know anything was happening, or turn around and run. The most obvious thing was to turn around and run, but I guess I’m just not an obvious person. I tentatively raised my hands and softly knocked against the glass. The both looked up. I saw Mike look at Amber and tell her something. Then he got up and swiftly walked towards me. He swung the door open just until his head could get through and hissed, “What do you want?”

    I smiled at him and replied, “Oh, nothing. I was just bored. Can I come in?” He opened his mouth to answer, but I simply pushed on the door and he stumbled back. Amber looked up at me, her large, brown, doe eyes surprised.

    “Um, hey, Cass,” she said. I smiled at her and fell into the seat beside her, sighing in satisfaction.

    “Hey, Amber! Isn’t this a great day? The sun’s shining, the leaves are falling, kids are going to start trick-or—“

    “Yea, why don’t you go enjoy this obviously, ‘great day’ outside, huh?” Mike cut me off. He bent down and gripped my arm.

    “What are you talking about? Days like this are meant to be spent with friends,” I said, looking at Amber and giving her what I hoped to be was a warm smile. She smiled back with her lips, more like a twitch of the lips. Girls can’t smile at each other; they don’t know how to actually mean it.

    “Oh, really now? Well, why don’t you drop by Allie’s house or Zoe maybe?”

    I shook my head. “No, I don’t think they’re home. You know, work and…stuff.”

    He glared at me, boring into my eyes, and said through clenched teeth, “Well, why don’t you—“

    Amber stood up suddenly and said to us with a tight smile, “Well, I think I’ll be leaving. I’m sure you two would like to catch up.” She looked down at me. “I’m sorry, Cass. I probably ate up a lot of your time keeping Mike all to myself.” She turned away and grabbed her jacket from the sofa arm.

    “Amber, wait!” Mike hesitated before letting me go. Then, he turned back and bent down until our noses were almost touching. “I hate you, Cass. Why do you have to make it so hard?” He let go and I watched as he slipped his shoes on and slam the door shut, shouting Amber’s name still.

    “So,” I whispered to myself, “Guess I know his cards. I wish he knew mine, though.” I sighed and sank back into the plush seat and pulled out the card in my pocket. Ace. Not much use in real life, though, is it?