Happily, school was over for the week. Annie was just too tired to think about studying no matter how much determination she had in fixing her grades. She looked forward to the journey home. As such, she was early at the school gate, bundled up against the cold afternoon breeze and waiting for her ride home.
"Hi, Annie," a familiar boy's voice greeted her.
Annie turned to see Darren, with his charming grin full of teeth, in the company of a few of his fellow schoolmates.
Oh, no!
It was Friday. Usually Second Sis would send a text message earlier stating that she was going out with friends and would not be going home with Annie. However, that day, she had received no such message. That meant that Second Sis would be here soon and if she caught Darren here with her... Annie did not want to imagine what horror awaited her.
Darren waved his friends goodbye. He leaned against the black metal gate, next to where Annie stood within the school compound. "Hey, how about we get a sundae over at Greasy Aunt's?" Darren suggested. Greasy Aunt's was the diner located near their school.
"Sorry, I've got to get home," Annie told him, "Mother is picking me up soon."
"Then how about tomorrow? We could catch a movie."
Second Sis could appear at any minute. In fact, because of her position within the school compound, Annie could be seen with Darren from a long distance. She had got to get rid of the boy. Maybe the truth will set her free.
"Listen, Darren." Annie looked up into the blond boy's eyes. "You're handsome and I'm flattered by the attention but the truth is, I'm not interested in you. Sorry."
It was not the whole complete truth. She could not add the other reason without betraying her sister's trust. Then again, maybe she should reconsider since keeping her sister's trust just might lead to strangulation by that same sister.
Wait, this was not the time to worry about that!
"Oh." A disappointed look appeared on Darren's face. Then he managed a little smile. "Can we be friends?"
Annie matched his smile. "Okay." Looked like she need not worry about betraying her sister's trust and informing Darren about Second Sis' crush on him.
Darren flashed that beautiful grin of his again. "Great. See you around." He dashed out the gate to catch up with his friends.
It was painful to break such a pretty boy's heart. However, the eventual hurt of a shallow relationship would be much greater that the present wound of the truth.
But most importantly, she was free! No more having to worry about Second Sis finding out about Darren's crush on her. Her neck was safe!
Annie took out her handphone for a look at the time. Mother was late again. Nevertheless, she was relieved that Second Sis had not arrived and caught her with Darren.
Suddenly, the phone sang a short subdued tune to signal the arrival of a text message. It was from Second Sis stating that she was out with friends. And there was no apology for the late notice.
***
On the following week, the Journalism Club's paper, the Fernham Post, did have a story on Thursday's incident. It was an exaggerated account of how juniors Keith McDowell and Darren Colson saved poor freshman Saki Aizawa from being forcefully stripped by junior Carrie Billings over an unknown disagreement.
Such was journalistic integrity and accuracy in Fernham High.
***
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