Stereotype Read Online Free Page B

is so in love with him.” Fiona smirks.
    Sarah rolls her eyes. “Stop. Please. I’m not.”
    “Yes, you are. It’s so obvious.”
    “I’m not! I’m just excited about the band, that’s all.”
    “ Sure. ”
    “Go do your homework,” Sarah tells her.
    Fiona goes back to her maths.
    “I don’t like him,” Sarah says firmly. “I don’t.”
    It sounds like she’s trying to convince herself of that fact, but I don’t say anything.
    “I believe you,” I reassure her.
    I hope Shane isn’t going to be the sole topic of conversation for the next six months. I remember when she was going out with Kieran. At first it was, “He’s so wonderful/kind/gorgeous, don’t you think so? I wonder if he likes me. Do you think he likes me? No, of course he doesn’t. He probably just thinks of me as a friend. Maybe he doesn’t even like me as a friend! Maybe he really hates me and every time I talk to him he can’t wait to get away from me . . .”
    Stage Two. Budding Romance. “I think he likes me. I mean, he’s been calling me every night this week. That has to mean something, right? And we’re going to the cinema on Saturday. But I don’t know if it’s a just-as-friends thing, or if we’re going to the cinema together. You know what I mean?”
    Stage Three. Getting Together. “So, we’re officially going out now! Oh my God, I can’t believe it. My boyfriend, Kieran. Wow. But what if he only wants to go out with me so he can say he has a girlfriend?”
    Stage Four. Jealousy and Insecurity. “We saw his ex yesterday. She’s so pretty, you wouldn’t believe it. And skinny. He’s still friends with her, you know. He was really nice to her. He probably wishes he was still with her.”
    Stage Five. Boredom. “It’s just not exciting anymore. He’s so predictable . I don’t even bother getting dressed up for him anymore. I mean, what’s the point? We’re like an old married couple.”
    Stage Six. Fighting. “I hate him. Absolutely hate him. Every time he says something, I just want to shoot him. He’s so boring! He never shuts up about that stupid car he wants to buy. I mean, who cares?”
    Stage Seven. Post-Break-Up Blues. “I miss him so much. Why did I break up with him? Why? He was such a great boyfriend. I’m so stupid!”
    Stage Eight. A New Beginning. “So we’re back together now. It’s great! Really! Even if he’s boring and I hate his friends and he spends way too much time hanging around his ex-girlfriend. This is what I want. Really.”
    Stage Nine. Coming To One’s Senses. “Thank God that asshole is out of my life for good.”
    Not that I don’t absolutely adore Sarah. I mean, she is one of my closest friends in the entire world. I just wish that the boyfriend crisis wasn’t so all-consuming. It gets boring hearing about your friend’s love life. Especially if your own happens to be somewhat non-existent at the time.
     
     

Chapter Fourteen
     
    To be fair to Sarah, she didn’t babble on about Shane all through lunch. The babbling was mostly band-related. Sort of like Michelle in American Pie . Fiona and I nodded and smiled like the good friends we are.
    I find it hard to get enthusiastic about anything. Sometimes even going out with my friends seems like too much effort.
    After lunch it’s time for assorted Pointless Classes. I settle back and examine my homework journal. Behind me, Karen is whispering to Leanne. I can’t believe she doesn’t realise how horrible Leanne really is. I can’t believe the others don’t, either. I don’t get why Karen is a part of their group. An enthusiastic member, I mean. I’m just the quiet one who sits there biting her nails. She likes them. She really does.
    I hate her sometimes.
    Our last class is careers, in which no one listens. We get handouts on different universities. I think I’ll do Arts in UCD. A nice, pointless degree, right? I can study a couple of subjects I like for a few years without having to decide what I actually want