~11-Guilty Conscience ~

I know, everyone at school has a crush on him"says Brit as they continue the chat about Jamie

"Oh he goes to your school?" Beth asks and I listen attentively because that's a question I would have asked myself.

"Nope, he teaches at my school" she says wryly

"Training?" Asks Beth

"Oh no" Brit shakes her head "he's an actual lecturer at my school"

"You said he was 17" Beth's brows creased in confusion, mirroring my own look.

"Yup" Brit mutters, popping the p "He's the youngest lecturer in school and probably in the whole world. He managed to get enough credits to get into college when he was 14 and everything fell into place for him I guess"

Beth and I stare at her in bewilderment.

"He's really smart" she shrugs

"Wow" I breathe, because I honestly can't believe this.

And I thought I was smart.

They continue their little chat and I stand up to leave.

Neither of them even notices as I walk right out the door.

Either that or they're too involved in their conversation to care..

Whichever one it is, I realize that it's time to let them be for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at them or anything, I'm actually glad that my only two friends are getting along.

Is Brit even my friend? She sure acts like it and I love her jovial attitude, it's a great lift to my spirit.

"Hey, Danielle" someone calls.

I scan the environment for who that someone is but I see absolutely nobody.

Who am I kidding? Nobody knows me as Danielle here.

I'm Danny to everyone here. Well, after their little chat, I'm sure Bethany will have blabbed about it to Britney.

Do I mind? I don't think so. As long as she doesn't take to calling me Danielle that is.

"Danielle" the voice calls again.

I ignore the sound, and take a sit on the small staircase at my porch as I scroll through my Instagram feed.

"I'm guessing you changed your name?" Says the voice from right beside me.

I jump, startled by the suddenness.

"You startled me" I frown at him.

"Well?" He quirks his brow.

Is this guy dumb or what?

"You startled me" I repeat, making sure to put just enough emphasis on each syllable.

"Okay, I'm sorry" he shrugs unapologetically but I choose to let it go by giving him a nod of acknowledgement.

"So?" He asks

"So?" I reply

"You changed your name? Or are you still Danielle?" He repeats his question from earlier.

"My name's Danny" I point out and go back to scrolling through my feed.

"Okay, Danny" he gives in "I just wanted to apologize for earlier"

"What happened earlier?" I give him a confused look as I choose to play obtuse.

"I must have embarrassed or annoyed you with my dumb laughter-it was out of place" he says with the humility I didn't think he was capable of showing.

"Oh" I reply

"Oh?" He asks

"Oh" I repeat

"That's really all you're going to say? Oh?" He says, getting irritated already.

"What would you prefer I said?" I say in a mock sweet voice.

"Nothing" he mutters as he storms dramatically away.

"Bye, Jamie" I call sweetly

He turns to glare at me for a brief second and I burst out in laughter.

"Hey, what was all the ruckus about?" Says Britney as she rushes out the door.

You'd think she'll at least leave the laptop inside but no..the laptop rests easily on her bicep.

"Nothing" I shrug "Just Jamie apologizing"

"You kidding?" Brit asks wide-eyed

"No" I answer her with a frown.

"Jamie apologized to you?" She sounds shocked.

"Yes, no big deal" I shrug.

"It's a big deal, Danny. Jamie never apologizes to anyone..EVER.. not even to my school's principal" she explains

"Oh" is all I say in response.

"How did he look? Cute, I know..wait.." She squeals "What did he say? What were his exact words?"

"I don't know, Brit. He just stormed away angrily" I inform, aiming for nonchalance even though I feel really bad.

He apologized to me and I turned him away rudely.

"What?" Beth and Brit scream at the same time.

"Danny, you got the first guy you met there angry on the first day?" Says Beth

"He apologized to you and you got him angry?" Says Brit

"Would you guys drop it? It's not that bad" I reason.

"So you don't feel bad?" Asks Beth "..don't regret it? Not at all?"

Damn...this lady knows me so well

"Okay, I do. I feel bad and you guys aren't helping" I groan.

"Oh, we'll help alright" Brit assures with a ridiculous grin plastered on her face.

Brit leaves with my Mac-book and I'm left all alone in my apartment.

I try to focus on anything but Jamie but he's always there, he's stuck in my head.

Our two encounters keep replaying in my head over and over.

They're etched on my memory like a scar.

What's happening to me?

I've never been this disturbed over anything.

'It was just one stupid conversation' I say to myself

It was more than a stupid conversation Dumbo, you like him says my subconscious.

I roll my eyes at her and focus on the only thing that has the ability to distract me whenever I need it-memories of dad.

I think back to when dad was still alive, the times he told me never to be rude just for the fun of it...then the scene with Jamie comes up again.

Ugh..I'm so freaking tired of it.

And then there's a knock on the door.

"Come in" I call because it's probably Britney

The door clicks open and shut

"Sh*t did someone die?" He groans as he finds the switch and turns on the light.

"Jamie?" I exclaim "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I met a friend of yours who said you feel bad about what happened a while ago" he says calmly "So I came down here to aks if that's true"

"Britney?" I ask, in an equally calm tone even though I know it's not her he's referring to.

"Bethany, I believe" he clarifies

"Oh, Britney" I groan out loud.

It's a chance to make up for my mistake and I'm blowing it.