He's After Me

Chapter FIVE



All week I’m waiting for Jem to get in touch with me but he doesn’t. I can’t concentrate on a thing. I check Facebook every five minutes but he’s not on it. As the days go by, I drag Zoe along to the mall after college but there’s no sign of him. I even consider getting the bus over to the Docklands in case that’s where he hangs out, but I manage to stop myself.

‘Message him,’ says Zoe, but I won’t. I’ve got more pride than that.

‘He knows where to find me.’

‘Maybe he’s one of those guys for whom the thrill of the chase is everything,’ says Zoe thoughtfully. ‘Now you’ve agreed to go out with him, he’s no longer interested.’

‘Since when were you such an authority on men?’ I say grimly and she shuts up.

Then she adds with a grin, ‘I don’t believe he exists. You made him up, sad creature. He’s a figment of your lonely imagination,’ and she makes me laugh.

But inside, I’m gutted. He was different from anyone I’d ever met. Now he’s disappeared off the scene I realize how much I liked him. And I thought that he liked me.

As time goes on and there’s no sign of Jem, I start to think Zoe was right about him after all. Not about existing – he was real, all right. But he must’ve been just trying it on.

I come to the conclusion once and for all that you can’t trust men, and try not to let it get me down. I’ve got A levels to get on with and, soon, uni to apply for. Who needs them anyway?

Gradually I settle back to college work. I’ve had my eyes focused on Newcastle for ages. Great course and loved the city when I went up to have a look round. The competition’s fierce though, I can’t afford to slack. Not that I would.

All I want now is to get away from this place. Go to uni and have a good time.

And then, all of a sudden, he’s back.