Chapter Six
Did It Hurt When You Fell From Heaven?

I returned home early in the morning and Audrey bombarded me with questions. Since she's my best friend, I spilled my guts to her and told her everything.

I cried a lot, too. To make me feel better she was constantly insulting Grayson, which I was fine with. But I couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal and heartbreak.

Later in the day Drew asked what was going on, but I didn't tell him anything because I didn't want him to worry. Although I know he's not going to let it go so easy, he'll probably question me later.

Audrey thought taking a trip to the mall might clear my mind, so we're currently walking around the mall aimlessly in hope of me forgetting everything that just happened.

"Where do you want to go?" Audrey asks me as we continue to walk.

"The food court," I grumble, and I hear Audrey sigh.

"I have let you eat enough of your comfort foods. It's time to do something else," she grabs my hand and drags me in the direction of American Eagle.

She pulled me up to a rack of clothes and started looking through them as I banged my head softly against her shoulder.

"I. Don't. Like. Shopping." I say through gridded teeth as continuously bang my head against her shoulder.

"Well I do," she pats my head, "and you need to do something other than crying over an asshole."

"But I loved him," I whisper against her shoulder, and I can feel the tears forming.

Suddenly she engulfs me in a big, comforting hug.

"I know you did," she whispers, "I'm not going to pretend like I know what you're going through because I've never had my heart broken. But all I want is for you to be happy," she hugged me tighter and I gripped her tightly.

"It really hurts," I cried, and I could tell people were starting to stare at us but I don't care. They don't know me.

"I'll give in this time," she sighed, "I know I said no more food but do you want ice cream?" I nod against her and she pulls me out of the store.

We entered Dairy Queen and made our way to the cashier.

"What would you girls like today?" The boy asked us. He seemed to be our age, and I must have looked like a mess because he gave me a sympathetic smile.

"A Rollo Blizzard and an Oreo Blizzard, please," Audrey looked at me to make sure that's what I wanted, and I nodded in approval. She knew me too good.

Audrey payed for me which I was grateful for, and the guy handed us back our receipt which read 'order 52'.

We took a booth in the corner together of the restaurant and sat across from each other.

"You know the heart is a muscle, right?" Audrey asks.

"Yeah," I nod, "it's also the main artery."

She gave me a sheepish smile, "I know, but as I was saying, it's a muscle."

"What about it?" I question.

"You work your muscles to make them stronger, so they can handle big things. It's the same with your heart." Her eyes softened.

"Do you mean physically or mentally?" I ask with a small smile.

"Mentally, obviously," she laughs. "But seriously," she gives me a pointed look.

"What?" I ask.

"This will pass," she reassures me, "I already said that I don't know what you're going through, but it will pass. I know it will. Nothing lasts forever."

Before I can say anything back we hear our order being called, so Audrey gets up to get our ice cream.

I watch her take our food from the guy who took our order. She says something and I watch as he laughs. What is this? Is my dear friend Audrey... Flirting?

She walks back to me and hands me my Oreo Blizzard. I smirk at her.

"What?" She asks me with an innocent face.

"What?" I mock, "what was that back there?"

"I was talking to him, obviously."

"Sure," I say with a teasing smile, "do you know his name?"

"Dakota," she mumbles while taking a spoonful of her ice cream.

"Did you get his number?" I send her a suggestive wink.

"We were talking for only a few seconds!" She exclaims, blushing red.

"Well then why don't you go get his number now?" I say in a 'duh' tone.

Her blush deepens. "Wouldn't that seem desperate?" She grimaces.

"So you do like him!" I exclaim and she shushes me.

"I met him like ten minutes ago," she groans.

"Go get his number," I demand her and she shakes her head.

"No way," she gives me a scared expression.

"Why not?"

"I've never asked a guy out," she whispers, "let alone their number. What if he was just being nice? I would look like a fool, I mean, I don't even know him. He could have a girlfriend for all I know..." Her voice trails off as she focuses on something behind me.

"Is it lover boy?" I tease as I turn around, and I freeze.

"No," Audrey says through gridded teeth, "its just a bitch."

We both watch as Katrina talks with two girls from the cheerleading team on the other side of the room. I duck hoping she doesn't see me.

"Oh no," Audrey says looking at me, "I'm sorry. You finally got him off your mind and then I have to remind you of it again because I looked at her-"

"It's not your fault," I reassure her with a forced smile, "you can't control where she goes."

"God save us," she breaths.

"What?" I ask her, sitting up.

"She's spotted us and she's coming over please don't freak out," Audrey sends me a wild look.

I don't have to answer, because a high pitched voice interrupts our conversation.

"Hey girls!" She cheers, "I saw you over here and had to come!"

I send Audrey a look. Does Katrina not know we know? Apparently not.

"Hey, K," I force a smile and she looks at me.

"Sky!" She shrieks, "what happened? You look like a mess!"

Jeez, thanks.

"Audrey and I had a sleepover," I said through my forced smile, "I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Oh, that makes sense," she waves it away and moves on. "Anyway, are we still bowling this Friday? Noah cancelled, him and I have been having some... problems, lately."

I assume she knows Noah knows, but she doesn't know I know. Is it wrong that I want to scream she's a lying bitch in her face? It's probably natural.

"Actually," Audrey says, "my parents reminded me that they were taking Sky and I camping for the weekend. We leave Friday night, sorry," Audrey shrugs. I smile at her, grateful.

"Oh," Katrina's smile dropped. "That's too bad, I was hoping we could all get together! Maybe next time," she sighed.

"We can't go, but why don't you invite your friend over there?" Audrey jerked her chin in the direction of Katrina's cheerleader friends.

"I guess I could," Katrina pondered the idea.

"Well," Audrey checks her phone, "I think Skylar and I need to go, but it was nice seeing you."

"You too!" Katrina smiled before she walked back over to her friends, her heels clicking the whole way.

Once we've left Dairy Queen, I ask Audrey "where do we have to be?"

"Somewhere away from her," Audrey sends me a smile which I return.

"What would I do without you?" I sigh.

I'd rather not find out," we both smile at each other and continue walking through the mall.

***

No one dared ask where Katrina and Grayson were with Noah and I near by as we all sat together on the bleachers for our free period.

Everyone was aware of what Katrina and Grayson had done, and I can gladly say they were all disgusted by it too. None of us were ever going to hang out with either of them anymore by choice.

There had been little to discuss today. No one really knew what to say. The tension was very light, but it still felt almost impossible to speak my feelings aloud to my friends.

"I'm hungry," Owen blurts, making us all look at him.

"We just came from lunch," Sam answered. Yes, he hangs out with us now. He's basically apart of our group.

"Well Owen's always hungry," Noah snorts and I think everyone was a bit relived that he can still crack a joke. That makes one of us.

"We could sneak off the grounds for a bit," Audrey suggests with a shrug and we all nod in agreement.

"Can we get Starbucks?" I pipe up and everyone agrees again.

"I call driving!" Owen shouts before standing up and running over to his car.

Soon enough the five of us piled into Owen's small Mazda. He sped our way to Starbucks in record time.

As soon as Owen was parked we all dashed out and races for first spot in line.

"I should get first!" We hear Owen call as stomps into the café after us. "I drove! Plus it takes time to park a car," he whines.

"You're the one who asked to drive," Audrey gave him a pointed look and we all turned away and gave our attention back to our orders.

Once it was my turn to order, I order my usual strawberries and cream frappuccino with a chocolate chip cookie, (heated, of course).

The barista handed me my drink and cookie and I thanked them and smiled when I read my name 'Sky,' on the cup.

I walked in the direction of where my friends sat, when I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a certain someone sitting at a table in the corner.

"Graeme?" I approached him and his group of friends who seemed to be in a heated conversation.

The blonde haired boy looked up and have me a confused look. "Do I know you?"

I was about to scoff when I remembered that he only met me as Gone Girl, the awesome Superhero who kicks ass. Not Skylar Johnson, the boring girl who actually liked homework.

"Uh," I searched my mind for an answer, "I saw you around."

Graeme didn't have time to answer because one of his buddies looked up at me and interrupted our little conversation.

"Oh my kangaroo, it's a girl," he squeaked and the word 'girl' caught all of their attentions because soon they were all staring at me, wide-eyed.

I just stood there for a second, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Guys," Graeme put his hands up and reassured them. "Remember? I talked to Gone Girl last night," he bragged with a smug look on his face, "I'm an expert at talking to girls. Let me handle this."

I tried to contain my laughter as he whipped his hair to the side, obviously trying to be flirtatious. Out of my peripheral vision I can see my friends watching me with amusement.

"May I ask, did it hurt when you fell from Heaven?"

I grin and shake my head. "No, but I scratched my knees while climbing up from Hell."

His smile falls and he just stares at me in shock, as do the rest of his friends.

I let out a laugh. "My name's Skylar, by the way." With a smug look I walk back to my friends who are laughing at what had just happened.

"Sky," Audrey playfully hits my arm, "I can't believe you!"

I just laugh and then Sam slides a bag in front of me.

"What's this?" I ask and pull out a warm chocolate chip cookie.

Sam shrugs with a smile. "I'm still trying to get you to like me, so I got you another cookie."

I thanked him and knew that it must have been obvious that I had gotten a chocolate chip cookie, since the moment they handed it to me I started eating it so he must have seen it. What I was wondering is how he knew I liked it heated. A wild guess, maybe?