Chapter 6: That's An Awful Comparison

Life just sucks. So hard and so much. 

Today’s June 25th, making it the fifth day we’ve been here and the fifth day since I’ve kissed Bradley. It’s kinda awful though because when he said that he didn’t wanna be friends, I didn’t think he’d totally shut me out, but that’s just what he’s done. He won’t even look at me if he can help it, let alone talk to me. I’ve been talking to Orlando though- he’s really cool and kinda funny, I guess. We don’t really call each other or anything, mostly we’ve been talking via text.

Besides him, Tanner’s been the one in the house I talk to the most. Him and Walker. Not Walker as much as Tanner though because Walker keeps bugging me about what happened with Bradley and me. I’m not angry with Mikey anymore for the whole park thing, well, I guess I was never mad at him- just a little irritated. He’s just always with Jaime, so when I talk to him, it’s usually with her, which I don’t mind because I like her. Anyways, that night we had our best friend’s dinner and everything was all good after.

That leaves Drew and Bradley. Like I said, Bradley won’t talk to me. And Drew? Well, he doesn’t talk to me either, not really. Not that I even care because I don’t wanna be his stupid friend anyway. Speaking of him, today’s his birthday. Drew’s nineteenth birthday, June 25th. I haven’t told him and I’m not going to because he doesn’t deserve a happy birthday. In fact, I should wish him a ‘bad birthday’. Maybe I’m overreacting but I don’t care. I’m a girl; it’s what we do.

Currently, it’s 12:30 in the p.m., but I’ve been up since like, 7 o’clock because my mom called me this morning asking me if I was having a good time yet. I told her I wasn’t- which I’m not- and then she sighed and gave me a stupid lecture on how I don’t need to let boys interfere so much in my life. I scoffed in my head at that, but verbally agreed. I couldn’t get back to sleep after that, so I just went in Mikey’s room- thankfully neither he nor Jaime was naked, well maybe they were, but they were under the covers, so I don’t know. Anyways, I went in his room  and I got his iPad so that I could watch Netflix. I could have watched it on my iPhone, but I’d have to hold it too close and I didn’t wanna.

I’m watching Supernatural right now and it’s really freaking me out. I don’t know why I do this to myself. Actually yes, yes I do know why I do this to myself.  Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. Besides those two, the show is actually really, really good. It’s just that it’s also really, really terrifying.

“Hey, Sydney?” Tanner calls from the other side of the door, knocking softly.

“Yeah?”

“Is it cool if I come in?”

“Yeah, sure,” I call back, taking my earbuds out and pausing Supernatural.

“Hey kiddo,” He greets, walking into my room and closing the door behind him.

“You know I hate it when you call me that,” I remind him, narrowing my eyes at him.

“That’s exactly why I do it, munchkin.” He replies, sitting down by me on the bed and ruffling up my hair.

“You do know that you’re only like, six months older than me, right?” I ask him, smacking his hand away.

“I’m aware, yes. Speaking of birthdays- today’s Drew.”

“Ah, yes, I remember. So, what?” I say, looking up at Tanner.

“Didja get him anything?”

“Ha, that’s a good one, Tanny.” I laugh. “No, I didn’t get that stupid fart face anything.”

“Sydney,” He says, reprimanding me. He does that whenever I criticize Drew, which is a lot lately.

“What? I’m only speaking the truth,” I insist.

“He’s still our best friend,” He reminds me, patting my knee.

“No, he’s your best friend. Drew Tyler Rogers is nothing but dead to me.” I firmly tells Tanner.

“I wish you wouldn’t say those kinds of things, Syd. We’ve been friends with him for five years.”

“Five years too many,” I murmur. “If all you wanted was to talk about Drew, please leave.”

“You’re a lot meaner now that you and Bradley are broken up,” Tanner bluntly says.

“Huh, I wonder why?” I sardonically respond.

Tanner doesn’t say anything, just shakes his head. “How’s Orlando?”

“He’s…good, I guess.” I shrug.

Tanner’s actually pretty excited over the fact that I’m befriending Orlando. He just thinks that Orlando’s friendship is gonna help me ‘get over Bradley’, which it won’t. I mean, Orlando’s a cute guy and he’s nice and all, but he not Bradley. Besides, I haven’t permanently given up on Bradley and me; even if he has.  

“Making friends is good for you right now.” Tanner notes. “Just, you know, be careful.”

“Always am,” I assure him, kissing his cheek. “I love you so much Tanner Foster.”

“Not as much as I love you Sydney Barker.” Tanner proclaims, wrapping me in a bear hug.

“So, are you boys doing something for Drew’s birthday?” I wonder as I pull away from him.

“Erm, yeah, Elena’s taking us to this club or something.” Tanner informs me. “Come? Please?”

“I don’t wanna go,” I grumpily tell him, shaking my head.

“You haven’t left this house since Mikey and you had that dinner together four days ago.”

“Your point being what, Tanner?”

“You could have stayed in Michigan and sat at home. We’re in Italy and you’re gonna enjoy it, dammit.”

“What are you even talking about? I’ve been watching Supernatural and eating Francesca’s homemade pizza- I am enjoying it,” I defend.

“I’m not just gonna stand by and watch you do this to yourself. So get up, go take a shower, get dressed and come downstairs at 1 for lunch. And after lunch, you are going to go bond with your cousin, because she’s starting to think that you don’t like her.  Then once you spend a substantial amount of time bonding with Elena, you two are gonna come back. We’re gonna do something here. Then we’re gonna eat dinner. By that time, it should be night-ish and then we’re all going to this club for Drew. You, Me, Elena, Mikey, Jaime, Walker, Drew and Bradley. Is that clear, Barker?” He asks, I guess trying to sound scary or something.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” I retort, rolling my eyes at him.

“Alright. Hop to it, go get in the shower.” Tanner demands standing up and leaving my room.

I groan loudly and fall back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. I guess Tanner’s right- I should leave the house more often. Maybe tonight will actually be fun. I doubt it, but I guess I’ll go. Besides, it’s not like I have anything better to do. Maybe Orlando will come. I’d invite him, but then I realize that that’d probably not be the best idea. Bradley would see him and that’d make him not wanna get back together any more than he already doesn’t want to.

I stand up from the bed, deciding to go ahead and shower so that Tanner doesn’t come up here and start nagging me again. Walking over to my suitcase, I flop down on my knees and unzip one of them, looking for something suitable to wear for today. For the past few days that we’ve been here it’s been rather warm outside, which isn’t a surprise really. I mean, it’s Italy and it’s the beginning of the summer. That doesn’t go to say that it’s like blazing hot or anything, well at least not the last time I left the house which was for my and Mikey’s best friend’s dinner.

Deciding that I’m not gonna actually put any effort into looking cute just to hang out with Elena, I pull out a plain milky-white V-neck. I also take out a pair of periwinkle blue short shorts, a bra and a pair of panties. I giggle to myself when I pull out the ‘Tuesday’ underwear that Bradley got me for my birthday. I’m not gonna wear them though, because, well, I’m just not going to. Taking out another pair, I zip up my suitcase and stand to my feet, grabbing my toothbrush.

Leaving the room, I go to the bathroom and close the door behind me, locking it. I quickly strip of my pajamas and jump into the large stainless steel shower, turning the showerhead on. Ten minutes later, I get out and towel off tiredly before pulling my clothes on and brushing my teeth. When I’m all done, I pad back to my room and put my pajamas and towel into the hamper- Francesca’s pretty cool because she does our laundry instead of making us do it on our own. I mean, I can do my own laundry, I just don’t like to.

I plop down on my bed and grab my hair brush, yanking the bristles through my wet hair. If I had any motivation to properly blow dry it or something right now, I would. But I don’t, so I’m just gonna brush out the tangles and let it air-dry. I check my phone and see that it’s already 12:55; not that I care about Tanner’s demand of me to be down there at 1, but still.

After my hair is relatively damp free, I pull it back into a low loose ponytail and slip on a pair of Sperry’s. Then, I grab my iPhone from its charge, sling my purse over my shoulder and leave my room, turning the light out as I go. As I head towards the stairs, I hear a door swing open behind and pray that it’s not Bradley. Not that I don’t, you know, like seeing him and all, it’s just that whenever we’re together, he always ignores me. Like, he blandly ignores me.  Well, unless I tell him good morning or hello or something, then he usually returns it, but that’s about it.

“Hey Syd.” I let out a relieved sigh when I comprehend that the voice is that of Bradley’s.

“Hey Walky,” I reply, turning and seeing Walker walk towards me dressed in khaki knee shorts and a white Ralph Lauren Henley.

“Look at you up and outta bed, actually dressed to go somewhere.” Walker smiles, walking towards me.

“Oh, yeah. Tanner’s forcing me to go and hang out with Elena and then come to the club tonight with you guys,” I explain as the two of us descend the stairs together.

“I think that’ll be good for you. A little time outta the house and to get your mind off of it.” He reasons.

It’s official- all five of the guys and Jaime all know all about the break-up now. Like I said, Tanner knew before we even got here to Rome. Mikey found out the day in the park, and I’m guessing he told his girlfriend. Then there’s Walker and I guess he just kinda figured it out by the way Bradley and I are all frigid around each other now. He doesn’t know why we broke up though, Walker doesn’t and that’s just because whenever he brings it up, I promptly change the subject.

“Yeah, I guess so,” I shrug.

“Are you hungry?” He wonders.

“No, not really, but Tanner’s gonna start lecturing me if I don’t eat,” I explain.

“With good reason too, Sydney. You can’t not eat just because you’re sad,” Walker reprimands.

“Well, I don’t wanna eat if I’m not hungry. That’s like stabbing someone that’s already dead.” I note.

“That’s an awful comparison, Sydney,” Walker laughs as we walk into the dining room together.

“Huh, I think it’s a pretty good one,” I shrug, sitting down at the table.

Walker chuckles to himself and pulls out the chair next to me, sitting down. I pull my phone from my pocket seeing that it’s just after 1:05. Francesca and Elena are already sitting at the table along with Bradley, Mikey and Tanner. I have no idea where the birthday boy is though.

Maybe he got hit by a bus. 

That’d be nice. That’d be really nice.

“Sydney, are you sure you’re feeling okay?” My aunt Francesca asks with a concerned expression.

“Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?” I ask as politely as I can muster.

“It’s just that you missed breakfast again this morning and I thought you might be feeling bad.”

“Oh, no. Thanks for the concern, Francesca, but I’m okay,” I assure her, my voice bleak.

“Okay dear, if you’re sure.” She replies.

“Where’s your friend Drew?” Elena asks to no one in particular.

“He’s probably still asleep,” Mikey notes. “He always sleeps in on his birthday, every year.”

“Today’s his birthday?” Francesca wonders, taking a sip of her red drink- I think it’s wine, but I dunno.

“Mhm,” Tanner confirms, eating a piece of fish from his plate. Yes, that’s what we’re eating for lunch, apparently. All around the table on plate in front of us are pieces of fish and these weird looking long breadsticks. “He’s nineteen today,” He adds.

“Oh! Well, we need to get him a cake,” Francesca exclaims, clapping her hands together.

“Yeah, no, he’s good,” I mumble, nibbling on my breadstick.

“Don’t mind Sydney, she’s a little…sensitive to Drew at the moment,” Mikey tells my aunt and cousin.

Bradley mutters something under his breath, and I glance over at him, seeing that he’s pushing his fish around with his fork, staring down at the plate. He’s sitting right across from me and had I had another option, I would have sat somewhere else, but I didn’t. When Walker and I came in just a few minutes ago, there was only three empty seat. One was on Bradley’s left, one directly in front of him and the one directly in front of him to the left. I didn’t wanna sit right beside him for obvious reasons and Walker just sat in the other, so I got stuck having to sit directly across from him.  

“Oh, that’s quite alright, dear; friends do fight, after all.” Francesca notes.

He’s not my friend. I don’t say that aloud though for fear of making things awkward.

“I don’t think he needs a cake anyway,” Walker interjects. “We’re all going out tonight,” He informs her.

“Is that so? Where are you all going, if you don’t mind my asking,” She wonders.

“We’re going to Club 22,” Elena explains to her mother in her thick Italian accent. It’s a pretty accent though, Elena’s is. I would have thought she sounded like, I dunno, Snooki or something like that. She really doesn’t though. Like, not even close.

“Oh, really? Are you sure that’s a good idea? You remember what happ--“

“Mamma!” Elena exclaims, looking over at her mother.

“Cosa?” Francesca shrugs, taking a sip of her red drink.

“Non abbiamo bisogno di riflettere.” She replies, taking a deep breath.

“Va bene, qualunque cosa tu dica.” Francesca retorts, with a shrug.

Well, this is awkward, considering the fact that none of us at this table, excluding Elena and Francesca, speak Italian. Fluently, anyway. 

“So, Elena,” Tanner awkwardly says, clearing his throat.

“Yup?” Elena looks up at Tanner with a curious expression on her face.

“Are you by chance going, I dunno, like dress shopping or anything?”

“Dress shopping? Why would I be going dress shopping?” She giggles.

“Oh, I just thought you would be. You know for tonight.” He expounds.

“Oooh!” She exclaims. “Oh my gosh, thanks for reminding me! I do need a new dress,” She squeals.

“Well, that’s great. Mind if Syd here tags along?” Tanner asks hopefully, placing his hand on my shoulder.

“Of course not,” Elena assure him, sending me a polite smile. “I thought you weren’t going though?”

“Oh, I wasn’t,” I tell her, picking at a piece of my breadstick. “Tanner here is forcing me to go.”

Tanner scoffs, looking at me pointedly. “Because you need to get out of here,” He austerely tells me.

“Whatever,” I mumble. “Hey, Mikey?” I ask, noticing that Jaime’s not sitting beside him.

“Yeah?” He looks up at me from his fish which he is eating like it’s the best thing ever.

And it may very well be the best thing ever- I wouldn’t know because I haven’t tasted it yet.

“Where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s still asleep,” Mikey chimes.

“Oh, so Jaime can sleep until 1 o’clock but I can’t?” I ask, glaring at Tanner.

“Hey, Jaime’s not my concern, you are.” Tanner tells me with a shrug. “Nothing I can do about it.”

“You’re so implausible, Tanner.” I notify him, sighing and pulling my legs up, sitting Indian style.

“Thanks Francesca, it was great,” Bradley suddenly says, standing up and excusing himself from the table.

Out of my peripheral vision, I watch as Bradley walks out of the room after pushing his chair in. He’s wearing a grey t-shirt, a pair of baggy black Under Armor sweatpants and black socks, which is funny because Bradley hates socks. I mean, like, he wears them with shoes and stuff so that he doesn’t get like, athlete’s foot or whatever it’s called, but he hates them. His chocolate brown hair is a mess atop his head- sticking up in every which way. How my ex-boyfriend manages to roll out of bed every morning and look amazing, I don’t know.

“So, she’s not gonna come with us? Your girlfriend?” Elena asks Mikey, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Nah, I think she’ll be good,” He replies, successfully clearing his plate. He’s almost as bad as Tanner.

“Okay,” Elena chimes, standing up and pushing a lock of her long blonde hair behind her ear. She’s dressed impeccably just like the previous times I’ve seen her. She’s wearing a pair of pale yellow high waisted denim shorts with frays on them, a grey shirt reading in black letters, “rebel of the ball,” and a pair of black studded gladiator sandals. Elena’s hair is loose and wavy, flowing way past her shoulders. Stupid pretty cousin. I mean, not that I think I’m ugly or anything, just that my cousin is exceptionally beautiful. “Should we leave now then?” She wonders, looking at me.

“Erm, yeah, sure, I guess.” I sigh, standing up and pushing my chair in under the table.

“Have fun,” Walker calls as Elena and I head out of the dining room. “Buy appropriate clothing!”

“Your friends seem to be really, really protective of you,” Elena notes.

“Yeah, they are.” I confirm. “They’re kinda weird about me though, if you haven’t noticed.”

“I’ve noticed,” She chuckles. “Especially the one called Tanner. He’s such a sweetheart.”

“Tanner is a sweetheart,” I say, nodding in agreement. “Oh man,” I sigh, realizing something.

“What’s wrong?” Elena wonders as we continue down the long corridor which leads to the living room.

“He’s been flirting with you, hasn’t he? Tanner, I mean.” I reply.

“Maybe a little bit,” She giggles. “Why? You don’t like, like each other or anything, do you?”

“Tanner and me?” I repeat, giving her a weird look. “Oh, God no. That’s just extremely weird.”

“I think you two would be adorable together. He eats a lot though, I’ve noticed.”

“Yeah, no, not at all.” I deny. “He does eat a lot though, it’s ridiculous actually.”

“I think he’s really hot though.” She admits, pulling the front door open and walking out.

“This conversation is not a pleasant one,” I chuckle. “So, do you have a car or are we walking?”

“I don’t have a car because driving in Rome is like, I dunno, running in water,” She exaggerates.

“So, we’re walking?” I ask, chuckling slightly.

“Nope,” Elena chimes, walking over to the two motor vehicles idling on the sidewalk.

“Wait, those are yours?” I wonder, eyeing the expensive looking Vespa’s.

“These are mine,” She confirms. “And we’re riding them. Do you want the green one or the purple?”

“Uh, are you sure? I mean, I can barely drive a car without going too fast.” I nervously notify her.

“That’s okay,” My cousin shrugs. “You’ll be fine.” She assures me. “Now, what color would you like?”

“Um, I’ll take the green one,” I say to her.

It’s a seafoam green colored and it’s pretty cute. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? I mean, sure, I could like, get hit by a cab or run into a tree or something, but how bad would that be? Not that I’m like, suicidal or wanna die or anything. Like, I love Bradley more than anything else in this world, but him ending our relationship doesn’t make me wanna kill myself or die or anything like that. It makes me feel pretty crappy because even though he won’t admit it or even talk to me, I know that he’s hurting. And the fact that he’s hurting pisses me off because it’s stupid Drew’s fault.

“Alrighty, here you go.” Elena hands me the helmet and walks behind to the purple Vespa. “Just follow me and you’ll be fine. If you can ride a scooter or a bike, you can drive a Vespa.” She assures me, pulling her helmet on and perching herself atop her Vespa and turning the key. 

I copy her motions, climbing onto the seafoam colored Vespa and slipping my helmet on, buckling it underneath. Taking a deep breath, I start my Vespa and it roars to life.

“Come on,” Elena calls, speeding off in front of me. Pumping the gas, the Vespa lurches forward and I pull off into the street, cruising closely behind Elena.

__________________________

“Oh my gosh, no, I may as well go naked,” I laugh, rejecting the dress Elena’s holding up for me.

“Hey, well, you know, if that’s what you wanna do,” She teases.

“You’re a dork,” I tell her, sticking my tongue out and jokingly rolling my eyes.

“You know,” Elena starts, putting the barely-there black dress back on the rack. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

“I like you,” I assure her. “Why would you think that I don’t?”

“I mean, like, you don’t really talk to me, not since you guys got here.” She tells me, rifling the racks.

“Oh, that’s nothing personal.” I promise. “I’m just going through this little thing right now.”

“Well, if you wanna talk about it, I’m all ears,” Elena voices to me.  

“Thanks,” I say, trying to sound courteous to my cousin. While it is fun shopping with Elena, I prefer to be back at her house up in my room watching Sam and Dean Winchester fighting demons and all that good stuff. When you’re depressed you don’t wanna go out clubbing and eating fish and shopping with your estranged Italian cousin. Especially when you’re depressed about your relationship being ripped away from you. Then all you wanna do is pull your hair in a ponytail, slip on some baggy sweatpants and a holey shirt, eating ice cream by the quarts. Not the pints. The quarts.  

“No problem,” She retorts. “Now, what about this one?” Elena wonders, holding up a bright yellow strapless dress that would probably just barely cover my butt. I think Walker would literally murder me if I wore that or even thought about wearing it, not to mention the fact it looks kinda trashy.

“Uh, no. Not gonna happen,” I hastily shake my head.

“You’re so freaking picky,” She tells me, frowning and putting the dress back.

“I think you should get this one,” I respond, noticing a sequined golden dress.

“Ooh! That’s pretty,” Elena chimes, taking it from me. “You don’t want it for yourself?”

“No, it’s way too…out there for me,” I say, rifling through the racks for a suitable dress.

Preferably a long black one like the nuns wear. 

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Author's Note: There's a new cover, in case you couldn't tell. Kinda an Elena/Sydney chapter just so you guys can see that they don't like, hate each other, haha. Because for some odd reason you all seem to think she's awful and horrible and just a terrible person. Which, I'm not saying that she's not but I'm not saying that she is! Sorry that there wasn't that much Bradley in this chapter and no Drew- they'll both be in the next one a lot! Party is next chapter- it would have been in this one but then, it'd have been too long. 

The photo is Elena (Cara Delevingne). The song kinda goes with Bradley and Sydney's relationship, I think. Don't forget to vote and comment por favor! I'd say Happy Monday, but it happens to be July 29th, meaning I've got about twenty-two more days of freedom before I have to go back to priso- I mean school. Ugh. 

I'll be seeing you lovely people on Thursday, the 1st! Also, I have a new Tumblr where I will post character profiles, fan art of any kind (banners, covers, etc.) sneak peaks of chapters, quotes from the characters and more. So, if you wanna see all of that good stuff, you can follow the blog. It's: the-magics-not-here-no-more.tumblr.com and I'll place that in the external link and in a comment below! <3