"Aahhhhh... How I wish my dog would just eat my homework!" I groaned, looking at Rainie, my husky, hopefully, who sneezed and padded to Elaine.
Traitor, I thought.
"Who asked you to finish them off the last minute," came Elaine's reply, who gave Rainie a few pats on the head before sticking her nose back into her romance novel.
Amongst the heap of thousands and millions of paperwork, I stuck my tongue out at her.
"I saw that," she said.
"Get back to your fantasy land, you bookworm," I shot.
"And get back to doing your homework, you lazyass," She shot back.

I ignored her and went back to writing my 300-word 'Why we must not be late for school' essay. After finishing half a ton of my holiday assignments, Elaine finishing three whole books, and Rainie having had her beauty sleep, I let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"I'll just bloody throw my homework away and tell 'em Rainie ate them," I said, flopping onto my velvet soft bed... which I would have fallen asleep on if not for Rainie barking her lungs out when the bell rang.
"HOLY SHI-" I screamed as I practically jumped a foot high from my bed.
Heart still pounding from shock, I walked to the door.
"Coming!" I called on the way down the stairs.

Swinging the front door open, I stared at my visitor.

And gaped.

"Ma- Marcus! Hi!" I stammered, grinning a little too broadly. Well, I wasn't expecting him here.
"What, ah, brings you here?" I asked, running a hand through my hair.

"Hey Serene..." He trailed off, looking away.

"What?" I said defensively.

Still not willing to look at me, he waved a hand at me. Puzzled, I looked down at myself, and my eyes went wide.
"Ah, um, do make yourself comfortable, I'll be right back!" I threw over my shoulder as I practically flew up the stairs. Slamming the door shut behind me, I ran to my full-length mirror and gaped at myself.
"Hmm, bed hair, oversized hoodie with no apparent shorts.. Ah, not forgetting panda eyes too. Who wouldn't be more surprised?" Elaine ticked off sarcasticly.
"Why didn't you tell me?!" I hissed at her.
"You ran like lightning, my brain was too slow to register any sort of reaction," she shrugged.

I glared at her as I pulled on a checkered skirt. Then, making a final check on the mirror, I sneered, "Ohhh you witch, I don't have panda eyes!"
Opps, she mouthed.
After putting on a little lip-balm and rolling my eyes at her, I raced back down.

And found Marcus half-lying down on the couch, playing with the remote control as he browsed through the channels of my television.
I cleared my throat.
He threw his head back, glanced at me, whistled, then patted the space beside him as he straightened up. I ignored the gesture.
"Want a drink?" I asked.
"Gotta beer?" He winked.
I frowned at him, "You really should cut down on those."
"And if I don't?" He challenged, catching me off guard.
"I'll... Well... You'll see!" I spat as I stormed into the kitchen, fetching two cups from the kitchen cupboard.

"Thanks sweetie," He said as I slammed a cup of water on the coffee table.
Rolling my eyes at him, I sat a good two meters away from him.
"Aw, come on," he smirked.
Not taking my eyes away from the television, I asked, "So waddaya want?"
"Oh yeah," he said, and I noticed he seemed to be trying hard to make it sound casual.
"I just wanted to stop by-"
"Oh, cut the crap, tell me." I cut him off. "I have a friend waiting upstai-"
"Nah, it's okay, I'm gone." Elaine said as she walked down the stairs, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Already?! But..." My eyes flickered from Marcus to Elaine, and back to Marcus. "Can she join us?" I asked, I didn't want Elaine to feel left out because of this.
"But-" he started to protest.
"It can wait, right?" I hurried. "Besides, it's great to make new friends, right?"
You're freaking lame, Serene, my mind scolded.
I skewered him with those big hopeful eyes, taking advantage of his weakness.

As Marcus blushed slightly and thought about it, Elaine's hand was already closing on the door handle, I started panicking.
"Yeah, I guess it's okay." He sighed, and smiled at Elaine. "Take a seat."
She returned the smile, and sat beside me.

They chatted for a good half hour, and I seldom joined in. Elaine even stood up from her seat to beside Marcus. That was when I was starting to feel like a damned light bulb. Trying hard to keep my temper to myself, I smiled tightly at them as I got up. "I'm heading up first, enjoy yourselves." And with that, I rushed up the stairs and slammed my room door shut.

My knees buckled under me, and I sank to the floor, breathing hard. Rainie padded up to me, placing a paw on my cheek before snuggling up to me.
"Oh God, what's wrong with me?" I asked Rainie.
"I was the one who introduced them to each other, so why do I feel this way? But hearing them talk so casually like old friends, every word bringing them closer, watching their every moves. I just couldn't stand it."
Then realization struck me hard on the head as I guessed the possibilities.
"It couldn't be right? That I'm actually... jealous?" I said to my dog, who stared up at me with her big blue, concerned eyes.

Oh hell, fancy talking to a dog, but sometimes they're all you've got.