Free Lean On Me (Take My Hand) by Nicola Haken Page A

believe.
    Maybe
we’re more similar than I originally thought.
    **********
    “You’ve
slept with someone!” is how my friend Holly greeted me when I met her in
Starbucks. Holly’s great. I suppose she’s the closest thing I’ve got to a
‘girl’ friend since Emily left. She’s in several of my classes and like Emily,
she’s too sweet for me to be a bitch to, so somehow we’ve ended up mates.
    “It
was Jared,” I admitted, wondering what gave me away and blushing ridiculously
like I’d just lost my virginity or something.
    “About
time! Congratulations!” she squealed and I couldn’t help wonder what setting
the love balls she must’ve been wearing were on.
    “Seriously?
You’re congratulating me on having sex?” Holly laughed and flicked her
mousy-brown hair over her shoulder like really ‘girly’ girls do.
    “I’m
congratulating you on making your mind up. It feels like he’s been chasing you
forever.”
    “It’s
only been a few weeks,” I argued playfully.
    “In
guy time that’s forever. Unless he was completely smitten with you he would’ve
given up after a couple of days. So does this mean I get to meet him now?”
    “Sure.
You could’ve met him anyway, you know that. We hang out all the time.”
    “No
I couldn’t. How awkward would that have been? Watching him drool over you while
you pretended you weren’t interested. Sounds about as much fun as plucking my
bikini line.”
    “How
about Saturday? We can swap ideas about our sculptures for the display next month.”
    “Sounds
good to me. Providing I finish this Cezanne assignment. I’m so behind I just
can’t seem to get into it.”
    “Really?”
I’d been finding it quite easy but I didn’t want to gloat.
    “His
paintings depress me. They’re so dark and miserable. Ugh.” Holly literally
shuddered. “Anyway – subject change. What’s going on with your hair?”
    “What
do you mean?” I asked quizzically, curling one of the pink strands around my
finger and bringing it in front of my face.
    “It’s
been pink for weeks. That’s not like you.” Hmm, she was right. I usually get
bored after two weeks max.
    “Guess
my mind has been preoccupied. But now you’ve mentioned it I won’t be able to go
to sleep tonight before I’ve changed it.” I was quiet for a moment while I
decided which shade to go next. “Red. Not had red in months. I’ll go and get the
stuff during dinner hour. Want to join me?”
    “Sure.
I’ll help you apply it if you want?” My back instinctively stiffened slightly.
Then I remembered everything Jared had said and realised I had to let this
stupid notion about people pitying me go. “We’ll make it a real girly
afternoon!” Holly beamed, snapping me from my thoughts. You see? She would have
offered to help any of her friends.
Like I said, she’s girly. She’s into this kind of shit. She probably just
wanted to play human dolls while talking about guys – nothing to do with the damn chair.
    “Great,”
I agreed.
    “You
could sound a little more enthusiastic,” she complained, pouting at me.
    “You
should know by now I don’t do squealing
and waving my hands in the air. I’ll leave the girly shit to you thanks.”
    “I’ll
make a girl of you yet, Rachel Mason.” Doubtful. “Look I’ve got to get to sketch class but I’ll text you when it’s over and
we’ll arrange a place to meet, ‘kay?”
    “Sure.
Catch you soon.” Holly blew me a kiss before flicking her hair again and then
she stood up and left. I waved her off through the window as she passed it and
continued sipping my Gingerbread Latte. This drink is without a doubt the best thing about winter.
    After
draining the cup, I began my journey through the maze of tables, chairs and
caffeine addicts towards the exit. The queue for the counter was backed up
though so I ended up waiting in line, hoping it would go down quickly so I
could escape. Now, you’d think it’d be hard to miss someone in a big square
chair with