Fuentes Time

I was sitting in the cafeteria at our usual table. I wasn't focusing though. My eyes were so distant. Someone poked the in the side and I focused again. I saw Davie looking at me and shrugged. "You okay?" Davie asked.
"I'm fine." I quickly said. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know..." he trailed away. I took one of the pills from in my bag and swallowed it hard. I smiled a little sat back in my chair.
"What was that?" Paris asked.
"Aspirin." I shrugged. "I have a headache." I lied.
"Didn't look like an aspirin." Matt said.
"Well, it was." I snapped. "Leave me alone."
"You down to hang out tonight, Effy?" Josh asked.
"I can't. We have band practice." I said.
"Yeah. But Matt's coming after."
"I can't." I shook my head.
"Why not?" Kyle asked. I looked at him and frowned.
"I have work to do."
"We didn't get any homework." Josh said.
"No. But some people have important stuff to do. Like finishing off a demo for Fearless and tying up loose ends so the gig next week will actually happen." I explained shortly.
"Matt doesn't do all that." Kyle said.
"Well, Matt just comes to practices and gigs. He doesn't play fucking manager like I do!" I growled. I was standing up now. Everyone in the cafeteria was looking at me. "What?!" I snapped to the room.
"What happened to you? Since that night you've changed so much, Effy!" Kyle said.
"I've changed." I mocked. "I wonder why!" I spat.
"Guys, leave her alone." Paris tried. "She's stressed. Just stop." she defended me.
"Thanks." I told her. "But by the looks of things people are showing me what they really think."
"Effy, I have nothing against you." Davie said quickly.
"Then why are you all ganging up on me? I'm sorry I can't be that girl who gets you all weed and flirts with the bar man to get you served in clubs anymore. I'm sorry I can't show my tits and arse when we go out to get you guys excited before I talk girls into sleeping with you. But I see a future for myself, as hard as that may be to comprehend." I spat.
"You're talking like you have no choice. You changed yourself. You have a future and you know it. You could wait until graduate and get straight on a tour with PTV." Kyle snapped.
"Matt?" I tried.
"Effy... I'm sorry. I just-" Matt stuttered.
"Forget it." I laughed dryly. "I thought we wanted the same thing. Apparently not." I walked over to Kyle and glared. He looked down at me and I folded my arms across my chest angrily.
"Well done. You've possibly fucked up my relationship and my band." I sneered. "Tell me what is this really about?" I demanded. "Do you hate I've left all my friends behind for a future doing- let's be honest - what all of you wish you had the balls to even try? Or is it because I've hardly spoken to you since then?" I asked smoothly.
"Stop, Effy!" he snapped.
"So the last one." I shook my head. "Grow the fuck up!" I stepped closed to him and reached up to his ear. "It was one time. It could have been anyone. You knew I liked Matt but you still welcomed it... And I'm supposed to be the bad friend. You could have easily said no, but you decided to take advantage of me. I'd take you to court but they're so fucking useless and condescending I'd probably get charged for shoplifting as you walked free." I whispered. Kyle pushed me and I frowned at the floor.
"I'm sorry." I mumbled.
"Effy." Paris tried.
"I'm sorry." I repeated. I turned and ran out of the cafeteria. I ran down a corridor and down another. I stopped when I saw this hall was empty. I collapsed down on the floor and kicked out. I took a cigarette out of my bag and lit up. Before I too a drag though, I swallowed another pill. I finally took a drag and let it calm me. I sighed deeply before I exhaled. Tears were running down my cheeks as I cried. I took another long drag and another.
When it was gone I stamped on the butt. I looked up and saw Mr Gilchrist watching me. "How long have you been standing there?" I asked.
"A while." he told me.
"Why didn't you tell me to put it out?"
"You looked like you needed it." he explained. "Do you want to have a chat?"
"Is that code for come into my office?" I asked.
"Sort of." he nodded. I wiped my eyes and nodded. I followed him to his office and took a seat on the couch. I sat back and wrung my hands together. "Do you want to tell me what's going on?" he asked.
"My friends are stupid. They're not even real friends. My maybe boyfriend chose them over me. They hate me. There's no justice in the world and people need to fucking get locked up, but apparently that doesn't happen even if you rape someone!" I exclaimed. He looked at me sadly and sighed. "You know the usual."
"How are you?" he asked carefully.
"Shit." I said.
"Do you want to go home? I don't like having you here when you're like this, when you're thinking about all these things." he explained.
"Seriously?" I asked.
"Only for today."
"Thanks." I told him. He started writing something down and handed it to me. It was a pass out. "You're a good head teacher." I told him.
"I'm here if you need to talk, Effy." he told me.
"Thank you, Sir." I told him. I got up and left the room slowly. I know he always said if I was struggling I could leave, but I never expected it.
I walked outside and started walking. I didn't have any battery on my phone so I just had to walk. I didn't want to go to Mike's or home though. I needed time to think. Everything is just fucking up again. I don't even know how I can stop it.
I eventually stopped walking and looked where I was. I was standing outside Fay and James's apartment block. I used to my key to get inside and walked up. I knocked the door and Fay answered. He frowned when he saw me and opened the door wide so I could come inside.
"What's up?" Fay asked.
"People are dickheads!" I said simply.
"Hey, Effy." James smiled as I walked into the sitting room. I sat on the couch and waved to him.
"What happened?" Fay asked.
"Matt chose my friends over me because apparently I'm going against them all because I want to future." I explained.
"You kind of are." James shrugged, making Fay glare at him.
"Shut up." Fay snapped. "They just don't get it." he told me. "Don't worry." he added.
Then Fay's phone started ringing. He answered it and I heard him sighed deeply into the phone. "Yeah." he said into the phone. "It's for you." he said and handed me the phone.
"What?" I asked.
"What the fuck is with you Effy?!" Matt demanded down the phone.
"Me?" I laughed shrilly. "What about you? Thanks for backing me up." I said mocked.
"They're my friends."
"And what am I?" I muttered.
"I don't know."
"Really? Because I was under the impression I was your girlfriend."
"Thanks for telling me." he said dryly.
"Can you just stop! Please." I muttered.
"I'm sorry, Effy. But if you're going to be this stupid about everything I can't be in a relationship with you."
"What about the band?" I asked urgently.
"Again, this is all you think about."
"It's all I need to think about. Now answer me!" I snapped.
"I'm not leaving the band. But I can't date you anymore."
"Fine." I spat. "That's just fine. Make sure you're not late for practice, Matt." I added stiffly and threw the phone back at Fay.
"Effy?" Fay asked cautiously.
"Well, I'm single. It's fucking great isn't it!" I laughed humourlessly. The band has cost me my friends, my sleep, my boyfriend and we're not even signed yet. I can't turn back now.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? Things are turning bad for Effy. What will she do? Do you think the band is a good or bad thing? How far is Effy willing to go to make it work? Let me know! Only four more chapters and this one ends. Who's up for a sequel? :)