“That’s not a problem for me, but you’re the one who starts it.” I feel like a little kid blaming her, but it’s the truth.
“I know. It’s my fault. Every time I start crap with you, it has nothing to do with you. I’m mad at Eric and I take it out on you. He still had a life while we were together and I didn’t. It pisses me off so bad that you guys accept him like he is perfect and you won’t forgive me.”
“Forgive you? I thought you didn’t do anything wrong.” I can’t help thinking back to the first time we spent in this office. Amy refused to admit that sleeping with my boyfriend was a bad thing. She blamed me and Alex for pushing her and Eric together.
“I was wrong. What I did was terrible. I was the worst best friend a girl could ever ask for.” She’s sobbing as she speaks and it’s contagious. Tears drop from my eyelids. “I’m sorry I went after Alex and I’m sorry I slept with Eric when you two were still together. And I’m sorry I’ve been such a bitch to you since and it’s taking me this long to say it.”
I reach over and put my arms around her. Her body shakes with sobs in my embrace. “Thank you, Amy.” I’ve been waiting to hear that for so long.
She backs away from me. “Thank you, Meg. Thank you for going with me to the clinic. I could’ve never gotten through that without you. I had no right to ask you and you could’ve told me to go to hell but you didn’t. You were there for me. You’re what a best friend should be.”
Mrs. Flores leans forward in her chair, plucks a few pieces of tissue out of a box on her desk and blows her nose. Her eyes are wet too. “My work here is done. It’s about time.”
Amy and I look at each other and bust up laughing.
I reach in my backpack and pull out Brody’s chocolate bar. I take a piece for myself and pass it to Amy. Chocolate is the cure-all for heartache.
Mrs. Flores is so right. It’s about time.
Fourth period has already started when I arrive seething mad like a rabid dog. My classmates are sitting around chatting and doing work for other classes. We’ll have a few weeks of relaxation before we begin the next big event. I scan the room looking for my friends, but don’t see them.
“Hey, where’s Mr. Mitchell?” I ask the first person I see.
“He’s in the office doing some paperwork.”
“Do you know where Eric is?”
“I don’t know. The rest of the class is either in the cafeteria or they left for lunch.”
“Thanks,” I say as I take off to find the dickhead.
When I push through the swinging doors to the cafeteria, I see all my friends kicking back, some sitting on the lunch tables and some in chairs. There are other pods of students scattered around, but I step closer to my group. My hands are balled into fists and I can feel the sting of my nails digging into my palms.
Tears flood my eyes as I get closer. I have no idea what I’m going to say. Or do. But I know I can’t let it go. That asshole is sitting there like nothing has happened. Like he didn’t lie about having sex with me. Like he didn’t allow his girlfriend to have an abortion all by herself. Like he didn’t even acknowledge that he was the father. All so his reputation would stay intact. Good luck with that now. His ass will never be welcome again. Not anywhere with me anyway.
Travis notices me first, and stands right away. “Meggie, what’s wrong?” He puts his hands out to rest on my shoulders.
I push past him, swiping his hands away and take the last few steps needed to stand in front Eric. Before I can think anymore, my right fist connects with the left side of his jaw. Immediate pain streaks from my hand to my wrist to my forearm. Then, I begin smacking him like a girl, hands flying and tears falling like splashes of water plunging over a fall.
Eric holds his hands up while I feel arms wrap around my waist.
Josh gets in Eric’s face. “What the hell did you do to her?”
I break free of Travis’s hold long enough to punch Eric one more time … in the balls. His hands clinch his crotch as he looks up at me. “What the hell are you thinking? Why are you hitting me?”
“You know why, you asshole. Don’t you ever come near me again. And you sure as hell better not tell anyone else that you had sex with me. As if!” Then I get real close to him and whisper in his ear, “and that’s not the only thing I know about you. You make me sick.”
“Hey, what the hell is going on here?” I hear Mr. Mitchell’s voice loud and clear as he closes in on us.
We all stand up a little straighter and face him.
“Nothing,” Travis says. “We’re just messing around. Got a little loud. Sorry.”
He looks at Eric who has a red blotch on the side of his face and is trying not to hunch over. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing. I’m good.”
Our teacher gives us the knowing eye. “Just keep it down,” he murmurs and walks away.
“Meggie, I’m sorry.” Eric reaches out to me.
I flinch, not wanting even his fingertips to graze my skin. “There’s not a damn thing you can say and you know it.” My gaze reaches each one of my friends’ eyes. “I’m sorry, guys. I’m going home.”
Chapter 13
I hear footsteps trotting beside me as I leave the cafeteria.
“Meg,” Travis calls out to me. “Hey, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
Looking down, I try hiding the tears in my eyes. “Thanks, but I’m just going to walk home. I don’t really feel like talking.”
“I’ll drive you. Come on,” he hangs an arm over my shoulder, “I’ll feel better if I know you got home okay. And you don’t have to say a thing.”
I lift my arm, curl it around his waist, and lean into his chest. “Thanks.”
Travis and I arrive at my house just five minutes later, and I slip out of his car with a quick goodbye. He was true to his word. He didn’t ask any questions. He didn’t make a peep, which is perfect because I don’t plan on saying anything, to him or any of the rest of the crew. This is Amy’s story to tell. Not mine. I told her she could trust me and I meant it. Letting my friends believe this is all about Eric spreading rumors about me is good enough. It’ll have to be.
Once inside my house and in my room, I close my door, sit on my bed, and pull my computer onto my lap. I need to talk to someone. I need to talk to Alex.
Time creeps by at a snail’s pace as I wait for my laptop to start up. On the way to my house, I sent Alex a text to see if he could chat. Fortunately, he’s at home for the afternoon or I’d go crazy waiting to speak to him. Even more so than I am right now.
Finally, my computer powers on and the internet connects so I can push a video chat through to my guy. It doesn’t take long for his face to appear on my screen.
“Hey, babe,” he smiles, “Tired of school already? Let the ditching begin. I should’ve gone to college closer to home so I could’ve kidnapped you and spent the day with you whenever we wanted.”
The thought makes me smile. “I wish. I could’ve used one of those days today. God, I wish you were here,” I groan.
The skin between his brows furrows. “Megan, what’s wrong? What happened?” The questions spill out with concern.
I get weepy again. And I’m not sure why.
“I had a chat with Amy today.”
He grumbles, scrubbing his hands over his face. The image on my screen looks like a blur. “What now?”
I don’t know where to start. “Well, I think we’re okay now. We’re over the past.” I pause, considering it. “I guess I’m over it. But I’m not sure Amy ever will be. She’s been through a lot.”
“Okay.” He looks confused. I bet he is. I know I would be.
“What I’m about to tell you, no one else knows about. Only me, Amy, and Mrs. Flores. Promise me you’ll keep it to yourself.”
“Of course, Megan. I promise. Tell me whatever you feel comfortable with. You know I’m here for you.” The sincerity in his voice and eyes warms my heart.
I go on to tell him the whole story. From last year, when I went with Amy to the clinic, to today when she confessed about Eric being the father and about their secret relationship.
I don’t mean to spill my guts, but I just can’t hold it in any longer. My mind is full of sympathy, confusion, anger and it’s hard to make sense of it all. I’ve been dying to talk to someone about it.
“Wow, I can’t believe you’ve been holding this in for months. I know going with her had to make you feel … I don’t know. Weird? Sad? Something?”
“Exactly.
Something
. I don’t know what exactly. At the time, I just felt really bad for her. I know I wouldn’t want to be in that situation. At least, I’d have my mom to talk to. I always thought maybe she could talk to the baby daddy, but now I know
that
didn’t happen.”
“Kinda makes me want to knock his ass out.”
“Don’t worry, I already did.” I smile, thinking about punching Eric. I really shouldn’t feel happy about being violent toward another person, but that dickhead deserved it. I give Alex the run down on the events in the cafeteria.
“I wish I could’ve been there to see that. You think someone recorded it?” Alex chuckles.
“Wouldn’t surprise me. We should check YouTube.”
We both let out another quick laugh. As we quiet down, Alex smiles at me and I start to feel better.
“Hey, babe. I don’t know what to say. I want to be here for you, but I’m not sure what to do other than listen. How can I help?”
“You already have. Listening is perfect. Now that I’ve told you, and just seeing your face and knowing you’re here for me makes me feel better.”
“Good.”
“Oh, wait. I forgot to tell you something.” I can’t wait to see his reaction to this. “Eric told Amy I had sex with him.”
Alex sits up straight, blinking at me in confusion. “What? When?”
“What do you mean? When? I didn’t have sex with him. Are you crazy?”
He shakes his head and sighs. “I know. I know. It just threw me for a minute there.” He coughs. “I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.”
“Calm down. Chill. My flower is still intact.”
There’s silence for a second as we both acknowledge what I just said. And then we both bust up laughing.
“Your flower? Nice one, Meggie.”
“Thanks.” I chuckle. “Anyway,” I drag out the word. “He told her we slept together at Josh’s. All of our friend’s think that’s why I’m pissed at him.”
“Sounds like a reason to be pissed. I might have to have a little chat with him when I come home.”
“Don’t bother.”
“I’m sure no one believed it anyway. If you wouldn’t do it when you two were together, why would you now? I bet whoever he told thought he was just talking out of his ass. People know you better than that.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Oh, I am.” He winks.
“I knew there was a reason I called you. You’re the best.”
“You can say that again.” An exaggerated wink marks his face.
“I love you,” I say with a grin and a slow shake of my head.
“You can say that again too. Any time you want.” His smiles reaches his eyes, and sends sparks throughout my body. “Preferably, all the time.”
“Count on it.”
I never thought I’d say this but … TGISS. Thank god it’s soccer season. I can definitely use the distraction from my friends, both those near and far. The girls seem to buy my story about Eric spreading rumors and how I’m so sick of his dumbass-ness that I don’t want him around anymore. But I still feel bad about lying. Or not really lying, but just not telling the entire truth.
Then there’s Ben. He’s coming home soon for a ten-day leave. Ten days. That’s it. Alex will be home too so it will be nice to all be together again. If I can make it till then. I’ve never been known for my patience. More like my lack thereof.
Until then, I’ll settle for soccer. Coach has been working us nonstop for days and seems to be impressed with my improved skill. Running with Keesh and Andi over the summer, and since school started, has really helped my stamina. I can remember freshman year when I thought my lungs were catching fire after running up and down the field for five minutes. At least now, I can last till half time before I need an oxygen tank. My legs are stronger too. My kicks aren’t pathetic little put-puts anymore. I can make the ball fly across the air or skim the grass at record speed. Okay, so maybe I’m giving myself too much credit. I may not be ready for the Olympic soccer team or anything, but I’m good enough to make varsity again.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s not like I’m Hope Solo or something. I’ve only been playing for a year. But, dude, I really want to make Varsity.”
“Andi, just chill. You did great through all the drills. You were consistent. That’s what coach is looking for.” Keesh sheds her long sweaty socks while she gives our friend a pep talk.
“Dude, I just really want to play with you guys, even if I just ride the bench. Shoot, I can even be the water girl.” Now, she’s pulling off her socks and picking the lint out from between her toes.
“Nice, girlfriend. You should save that for Travis. He could put it in his pants and mix it up with his ball lint.” I laugh at my own joke, kind of disgusted I just said that aloud.