Chapter 10 #2
“You going?” Taylor asks Aria.
Aria looks up at me. “Wanna come party?”
Sighing, I know I’m going to give in. Tyler has been a bit of an asshole lately when it comes to Aria.
Not sure what the fuck is going on with him, but I know he won’t be there to keep an eye on her.
Not that she needs to be babysat, I just don’t trust guys when it comes to parties.
Girls drink or do drugs, and aren't in the best headspace.
A lot of college guys take advantage of it.
Maybe it’s just my paranoia, but I’m not going to let that happen to my friend.
The first year I came to SVU, I walked in on three guys assaulting a girl.
After the shock of the moment wore off, I lost it.
I never felt that kind of rage in my life.
I pulled them off her and beat the shit out of one of them.
The other two tried to help him, but thankfully, some of my teammates heard the shouting and came in to assist.
After that, my mom sat me down and opened up about her past with me. It gutted me. I’ve never cried like that in my life.
I went and talked to someone for a few months after.
Now, I won’t let any of my female friends go to parties alone. Normally, Tyler watches Aria, but lately, he cares too much about drinking with his teammates.
“You know I’ll come.” I grin.
“Alright, we’re in,” Aria says.
We head back to my place to grab my car. Taylor says something about Easton meeting us there and getting a ride with his buddies.
We might have left not long after the game ended, only stopping to grab some drinks, but by the time we get to the field, there's already a massive bonfire going and at least a dozen cars.
We grab our things and join the other partygoers. Aria grabs Taylor’s hand, pulling her toward the fire.
Music plays, and I lean back with a beer in my hand, smiling and watching as the girls let loose and enjoy themselves.
An hour goes by, and I’m five drinks in. Thankfully, Aria isn’t drinking, or we’d be walking home.
I only meant to have one, but forgot I was the one who drove us here by beer number three.
I’m feeling good, a nice buzz going on. The girls are having fun, switching from sitting with me to talking and dancing.
I was right, there’s no sign of Tyler. But Easton did show up about twenty minutes ago. He gave Taylor a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and then left again. No idea where he is.
And I don’t care. The death glare he sent my way told me he didn’t care to see me here.
Too bad for him. I’m not going anywhere.
“I need to piss.” I groan as I stand from my seat. “Save my spot.”
I’m a little lightheaded as I trudge toward the trees. Maybe I need to stop drinking for the night. I wanted a buzz, not to be drunk.
I find a spot away from sight, lower my fly, and pull my dick out to piss. I sigh with relief, head tipped back.
As I’m finishing up, tucking myself away, I hear a moan.
Smirking, I chuckle to myself. People are already hooking up in the bushes, I see. Good on them.
I’m turning around, ready to leave, when I hear the girl again. “Fuck, Tyler, yes, right there. Harder.”
Tyler?
No. It’s not Aria’s Tyler, is it? It can’t be. Tyler is a common name. It could be anyone.
“You like that, baby? You like my thick cock taking that tight little pussy?”
That voice. I know that voice.
Rage fills my already cloudy mind.
Staggering toward the grunting sounds, I stumble upon Tyler fucking into some girl, who’s bent over, gripping the tree.
“Didn’t know Aria had red hair,” I sneer, my fists clenching at my side.
Tyler’s head snaps toward me, eyes widening. “Shit.” He pulls out of the girl. “Bennett. It’s not what it looks like.”
I snort a laugh. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? So you’re not sticking your dick in another woman? A woman who isn’t my best friend.”
“Bennett.” He quickly tries to put his dick back in his pants. The girl scrambles away, taking off toward the party. “Listen.”
He doesn’t get the chance to say another word. My hand flies towards his face. I can feel his nose crunching under my fist.
He screams out in pain, hand going to his nose. “You broke my fucking nose!”
“I’ll break something else,” I roar, going to take another swing when someone grabs my arm.
“Can’t let you do that,” Easton says.
Chest heaving, I turn my steely gaze on him. “He was cheating on my best friend.” Flashes of when I walked in on Liam fucking some girl fill my head, adding to my anger.
Easton looks at Tyler and sighs. “Not you too.” He steps forward. “Can’t you guys keep it in your damn pants?”
“Shut up, Easton,” Tyler spits. “This is none of your business.”
“What’s going on?” Aria appears, Taylor behind her. She looks at Tyler and frowns. “Tyler?”
“You going to tell her, or am I?” I bark.
“Tell me what?” She looks between Tyler and me.
“Baby. It’s not what—”
“Don’t you fucking dare even try to talk your way out of this,” I warn him.
“What's going on!?” Aria shouts.
“I caught Tyler with another girl.”
“We were just talking!” Tyler shouts.
“Well, thrusting your dick inside her pussy is one way to talk, I’d say. Maybe next time, use your mouth, not your penis.”
“You were fucking another girl?” Aria’s voice cracks.
“No.”
“Yes!” I hate this for my best friend, trust me, I do. Maybe this could be done a better way, but this asshole is going to try to spin lies, and I’m not letting that happen.
“Can you blame me!?” Tyler shouts, and Aria’s eyes widen. “You’ve been pulling away. You never want to have sex anymore. I have to beg you.”
“So, because I'm not giving it up all the time, like I used to, you're going to someone else?”
“I need sex, Aria. I'm a man.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Easton growls. “That’s the biggest load of shit I’ve ever heard.”
“Baby.”
“Go.” Aria shakes her head. “We’re over.”
“No. We’re not.”
“Yes, we are!” she shouts. “We’re done. I never want to see you again.”
“I suggest you go,” I tell Tyler.
He looks pissed, like he wants to argue, but he doesn't. He lets out a frustrated growl and storms off.
I go to comfort my best friend, tell her I’m sorry, that she deserves better, but it looks like Taylor already beat me to it.
She has her arms wrapped around a crying Aria.
“I’m so sorry, Ari.”
“Fuck him.” She sniffs, wiping at her eyes. “I hate him. I hate him so much.”
“I know.” I rub her back. “I hate him, too.”
“I can’t believe he would do that.” She looks up at me with sad eyes. “If he wasn’t happy, why wouldn’t he just say something?”
“I don’t know. I’ve asked myself that before.” My heart breaks for her.
She leans her head against my chest while Taylor still holds her.
I look down at Taylor, and I’m surprised to see her face filled with anger.
“He’s a piece of shit. You deserve so much better than him. Someone who will make you their whole world. Put you first.”
“Thanks.” Aria laughs sadly. “I wish.”
They’ve only been together for a year, but that doesn’t matter. He’s a dirtbag for cheating on her. Aria is a great girl. Smart, funny, and kind. If I were into women, I’d have made her my girlfriend the moment we met.
“Maybe I’ll stay away from guys for a while,” Aria says. “Just enjoy my last year of college.”
“You don’t seem as upset as I’d thought you would be,” Easton says.
Aria shoots him a glare. “Of course I’m upset. My boyfriend just cheated on me.” She sighs heavily. “But maybe...” She chews on her lip. “Maybe I haven’t been feeling the relationship as much as I used to these past few weeks.”
Huh. That, I’m surprised to hear.
“You wanna go home?” Taylor asks her, brushing the hair from her face.
I can’t help but pay attention to the way Taylor is looking at Aria, the care she’s handling her with.
I knew the two of them were friends, I just didn’t think they were this close.
My eyes flick over to Easton, but he doesn’t seem to see what I’m seeing, or care.
“Yeah.” Aria nods. “I don’t wanna be here anymore."
“Let’s go home.”
Aria nods, and we all start toward the car.
Easton follows us, not saying anything.
“What were you doing that had you there just as I was about to kick his ass?” I ask, watching Aria and Taylor walk ahead of us, Taylor’s arm wrapped around Aria’s shoulder.
“Just went for a walk,” Easton mutters.
A walk. In the dark? Yeah, I don’t believe it. But I don’t press him on it.
“Are you staying?” Taylor asks when Easton hangs back from my car as Aria gets in the back.
“Nah.” He shakes his head. “I’m heading out in a few.”
“How are you getting home?” she asks.
He shrugs. “I’ll get a ride with one of the guys.”
“There’s no point.” Taylor says. “I mean, you two literally live together.”
“It’s fine, Tay,” Easton says.
“Don’t be stupid.” Aria pops her head out of the car. “Get in the damn car. Plus Bennett has been drinking. Can you drive a car?”
My brows jump.
Easton mutters, shooting me a look.
What the fuck did I do?
Oh, right. I threw out his lucky socks.
Now, not only is my hand throbbing from that punch, but I feel bad again about the stupid, nasty pair of socks.
“Yeah,” he grunts.
“Good. That's settled. Now, let’s go. I’m over tonight.” Aria slides back into the car.
No one says anything else as I hand the keys over. Easton gets in the front driver's seat and Taylor gets in the back with Aria. We head for Aria’s place first.
“Can you stay over?” Aria asks Taylor. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“I can stay over,” I tell Aria. “I don’t mind.”
“It’s okay,” Taylor answers. “I got her. She will be safe with me.”
The two of them get out. Aria stops at my door, and I roll down my window. “Love you, B.” She leans in and kisses the top of my head.
“Call me if you need anything, okay?” I ask her, searching her eyes.
She nods. “I will.”
I watch as the two girls walk toward Aria’s dorm.
“I didn’t know they were so close,” I murmur.
“Then you're not a good friend.” Easton snorts. “The two of them are thick as thieves.”
My head turns toward him. “What do you mean?”
“You do know any free time where she’s not with you, she’s with Taylor.”
My brows pinch. No, I did not know that.
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“Why would it? Taylor can be friends with whomever she wants to be friends with. I don’t control her.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what do you mean?” He sounds defensive.
This is way too weird for me right now.
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter.” He starts the car up and pull out of the driveway.
I wait for him to ask about the socks, to yell at me, to cuss me out as we drive to our place. He doesn’t.
And I don’t know if I should be relieved or worried.
He should be mad at me, but apart from nasty looks, he’s done nothing.
Maybe the socks I threw out weren’t his lucky ones. Maybe they’re just some other rough-for-wear pair he had.
Easton hardly has the car in park before he tosses the keys to me and getting out, jogging toward the house.
When I get inside, he’s on the common room couch, watching TV with some of the guys.
Having no more energy for the day, I head for bed.
Tonight was a shitshow, and I hope Tyler doesn’t think that this is over. He hurt my best friend, and I plan on giving him a piece of my damn mind. I won’t lay a hand on him again, but I want him to know what he did was fucked up, and he doesn’t deserve my best friend.
Why do people hurt the ones they claim to love?
I couldn’t imagine hurting the person I loved. Whenever I find my person, the person, I’d fight. I’d put in the effort. Because if you really do love someone, wouldn’t it be worth it to fight for them?
I just wish someone would have fought for me. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll have someone who does.
I want what my parents have. I don’t need sunshine and rainbows. I don't care if it’s messy or if the person isn’t perfect. I just want that person to love me, to fight for me, just as much as I would for them.
My biggest fear is getting hurt again. Risking so much to open up, give everything I have, only to have my heart broken.
Maybe I wasn’t meant to find that kind of love, or maybe I just haven’t found it yet. Either way, I want it. I want it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly.