Playing Free-for-All

For the last couple of days, Jillian has been rather aloof. Whenever Charlie texts her, she would have to wait over an hour for a reply that doesn't even say much. During school the situation is just as bad. The girl barely utters a word to her. Hell, she'd be lucky if Jillian even looks her way! The strain in their friendship is evident yet neither one of them have been willing to yield. They are both sitting back, waiting for the other person to admit fault first.

The two girls don't get upset with each other often (it's quite rare actually), but when they do get enraptured in an argument, the hatchet is usually buried within the same day. However, this time has proven to be a different case.

Charlie thinks that her friend is being unfair and although she doesn't believe she has done anything that has violated the sacred girl code, she decides that she has to be the bigger person. If she doesn't initiate a truce soon, their friendship could be endangered, at the brink of extinction! At the end of third period, instead of going straight to the cafeteria like she normally does, Charlie takes a detour and ends up at Jillian's locker.

The students streaming by don't pay her any attention with the exception of a few boys who are all standing at the opposite wall. Their eyes are trained on her as they whisper amongst themselves. Charlie doesn't notice them because she is too busy scanning the hall.

"What are you doing here?" She spins around and sees Jillian who is most certainly surprised by her presence. Lunging forward, she embraces her before she has the chance to escape. Charlie is hugging her so tight that Jillian feels like she's being constricted to death by a boa.

"I'm sorry. I know you're mad at me but you have to trust me on this one." Charlie pulls back and cups her friend's cheeks. A cat-call whistle ripples through the corridor but the girls do not hear it since it is drowned out by the thunderous chattering of the other students, rushing to get through. "I really can't tell you why Knight and I were together. It's not my place."

"It's something personal about Hayden, isn't it?" Jillian predicts with her face squished together.

"Yeah," Charlie confirms as her arms fall back down. "So what do you say?" There is no immediate answer and fear grips her.

Jillian has her lips hitched to the side before they molt into a warm smile. "Then I understand. You should have just told me that in the beginning. I'm sorry, too. I think I was hypersensitive last week because my period was coming. Menstrual cramps are a bitch."

Charlie laughs and moves out of the way to give Jillian access to her locker. "Ooh, that makes sense. So we're good?"

"We're good." She switches out the books she needs and closes the door after. With Charlie's arm coiled around her shoulders and Jillian's resting on her waist, they depart towards the cafeteria. People, who have been tuning in to the gossip involving the two, openly gape at them. A few even have the nerve to whip out their phones to take photos.

Oblivious to the fact that the spotlight has been placed on them, the pair move along and catch up on lost time. It hasn't been longer than a week since their dispute, which doesn't seem like they missed out on much, but anyone with a best friend can easily relate to them.

Jillian Winters has been best friends with Charlie ever since the eighth grade of middle school. Their friendship blossomed after they were partnered together for a two vs. two volleyball tournament that took place in gym class. Thanks to Charlie's athleticism and drive to annihilate everyone in sight, they went undefeated. So she was one of those overly competitive girls who thought she was playing for a gold medal, sue her.

At least she passed the class with an A++. No, your eyes aren't tricking you; that's how much Mrs Smith, their instructor at the time, appreciated Charlie's dedication. Jillian, on the other hand, was never good when it came to sports so her job during the matches was to avoid getting in the way.

At first they didn't really talk to each other unless they were out on the court but even then Jillian wouldn't have considered it talking. It was usually just Charlie shouting at her. That all changed through the course of one match. They had made it to finals. There was a 50/50 chance that they'd emerge victorious. Everything was going well. They were leading with a wide gap, but towards the end of the last set a girl from the opposing team had spiked the ball over and smacked Jillian square in the face!

The force had instantly knocked her to the ground. She had been hit so hard that an imprint of the lines from the volleyball decorated her face. She had to be hauled to the nurse's office in case she received a concussion and spent the rest of the school day lying in bed with a bag of ice over her face. The incident blew up and for the next couple of weeks, kids kept referring to her as Six-Pack Jill. A term used when someone who is struck with the ball so hard that they become dizzy and disoriented as though they had consumed a six-pack of beer.

Initially, Charlie blamed Jillian for not being able to dodge the hit fast enough. She didn't feel sympathetic until she found out the truth. In the locker room while she was changing, she had heard that the girl, whose name was Belinda, had hit Jillian with malicious intent. Apparently, the guy she was interested in had a crush on Jillian and because of her jealousy, she decided to get revenge. Sending the girl to the infirmary had been her plan all along. Once Charlie had discovered this, she was beyond enraged. She couldn't believe how vicious girls could get, especially over a boy!

Since she didn't want to report Belinda to the principal without concrete evidence to support her claim, she figured out a way to handle the situation on her own.

Belinda was playing basketball when Charlie joined in. Someone took a shot and missed; welcome to middle school. The ball ricocheted off of the backboard and, of course, Belinda ran to retrieve it. Although they were on the same team, Charlie realized that this was her opportunity. She bolted to where the ball was as well and managed to snatch it first. Belinda was right behind her when Charlie threw her elbow back and jammed it against her nose. The girl's deafening scream caused everyone to freeze and Charlie feigned innocence as Mrs Smith sprinted over to check on them.

Since no one suspected that Charlie attacked her on purpose, she didn't get into trouble. She apologized profusely (and insincerely) at the scene. In order to really sell the part, she even offered to escort the girl to the nurse's office. As soon as they were alone, though, Charlie wasted no time giving Belinda a piece of her mind.

In other words, she did what she did best. She cussed her out.

The petrified look on the girl's face as Charlie warned her to stay away from Jillian if she didn't want to end up with a broken nose the next time they had gym told her she got the message. After that, Charlie ordered her to walk by herself to the nurse's office and Belinda practically scrambled off without needing to be told twice. What Charlie didn't expect, when she turned around, was to see Jillian standing there with her mouth hanging open.

What happened after that is pretty self-explanatory.

The two of them aren't exactly polar opposites. They're similar but not too similar. They have their differences which they have learned to appreciate over the years. They share interests in certain matters while, simultaneously, having their own views and opinions that would sometimes clash. However, if you ask them what they think is the best component of their friendship, they'd both say it's the fact that could be always be themselves around each other, flaws and all.

"I can't believe he lives right across from you." Jillian is peeking through the curtains where she has the perfect view of Ethan's house. She is hoping to catch a glimpse of him but so far she's had no luck. "This is meant to be, Charlie. You have to ask him out," she gushes with a large grin sitting on her face. When she hears nothing but the sound of guns being fired, she looks back and scowls at the sight.

Charlie doesn't hear a single word spoken to her. Her focus is directed towards the television screen. She is currently engaged in a game of Free-For-All on Halo 5 and unfortunately for her stats, she isn't doing so hot. She is trying to use the radar to help locate the enemies, but by the time she finds them, they have already killed each other.

Allowing her anger to get the best of her, she quits in the middle of the game and throws the controller onto the couch. Being ranked Diamond means she has to go up against people just as good, if not better, than she is. With the games equally matched, however, she realizes it is much more difficult to increase her rank.

"Charlie, did you hear me?" Jillian goes over and plops down beside her, arms folded up against her chest.

"No, I was trying to kill those bastards. One of them kept talking trash the whole time through his mic and I wanted to assassinate him at least once so he'd shut the hell up. I'm pretty sure that little bitch was camping most of the time. This isn't Call of Duty, you fucker," Charlie fumes with deep creases wedged into her forehead.

"I don't know what you and your brothers find appealing about these violent games. I thought you said they were fun? Every time I watch you play, you're always swearing and cursing at the screen. I don't get it." Jillian sighs.

"It is fun," defends Charlie. "I'm just pissed off because I'm playing people who are actually on my level. My overall K / D is probably shitty now too."

"I don't even know what that means, Charlie. Forget it. Back to what I was talking about earlier. I think you should ask the new guy out."

Charlie pulls away from her with her face twisted in disgust. "Are you high? Why the hell would I ask him out?"

"Because he's cute and easily accessible," Jillian answers swiftly as she wriggles her eyebrows.

"I'm not interested," she states as she stands up and stalks to the refrigerator in search of something cold and refreshing to drink. Hopefully it would help cool her down a bit.

"Why not? We have prom this year. Don't you want to go with a date?" Jillian shadows her as though they are attached at the hip.

Charlie finds a can of Coke hidden in the back and reaches for it. She breaks the seal and takes a swig before she responds, "Not this again. Jill, how many times do I have to tell you? I am not going to prom. Not now, not ever. It's not my thing." The gas from the beverage builds up in her intestines and Charlie beats her fist against her chest. She belts out a burp a moment later.

Unfazed by the crass act, Jillian continues to argue her case. "You never know until you give it a try. Have you even gone out of your way to talk to him yet?"

"I've talked to him a bunch of times. More than I would've liked to actually," she grumbles, recalling all of the conversations they have shared.

"What? When? Tell me!" Her friend demands as she digs her nails into Charlie's arm.

"I'd rather not." Charlie doesn't want to think about Ethan. He's as arrogant as they come. Why would she find someone like him attractive?

"Oh come on. You can't do that," huffs Jillian like a child.

There is a knock at the front door and Charlie takes this as a blessing in disguise as she goes over to answer it. Seeing who stands on the other side of the threshold makes her wish that she hadn't opened the door. "What do you want?" she questions.

"Layna wanted me to return this." Ethan shows the plate she had brought over the other day and Charlie swipes it from him.

"Thanks." She kicks the door to close it, but Jillian stops it in time and pulls it back open.

"Hey, aren't you the new transfer student?"

"Why yes I am." Ethan's interest is aroused by another potential target. The Casanova inside him is awakened as he props one arm up against the doorframe and smiles coyly at her. "And who might you be, gorgeous?"

His view of the honey blonde is then obstructed by Charlie who steps in between them. "Don't flirt with her. She's already off the market," she informs briskly before she slams the door in front of his face, almost jamming his fingers in the process.

Ethan scoffs and takes his phone out. He scrollsthrough the pictures that have been circulating around the entire school andshakes his head in disapproval. "I guess the rumors are true after all. What a waste."

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Author's Thoughts: I'm so happy you guys are reading this and commenting and voting and just being awesome! I won't disappoint! I'm also going to try to make this story as realistic and relatable as possible.

Like Jill and Charlie fighting and how their friendship isn't perfect. More problems will come, but not for a while. Therefore I ask that you guys be patient and understanding with the flow and pace. I hope you're having a wonderful day.

Also, I urge that you pay attention to details because they're hints on how the story will unfold. 

K / D Ratio = The number of kills you get divided by the number of deaths.