Chapter 32 #3
“Sorry? Sorry? Sorry doesn’t mean shit right now.
It doesn’t fix anything. I listened to everyone who said I should follow her lead and give her some time while she was healing.
That she was prioritizing herself and getting better.
I did all of it. I didn’t reach out. I gave her space.
I didn’t drive to Traverse City when I missed her like crazy.
Or call her when I was awake in the middle of the night, wondering if she was scared or if people were treating her right.
I haven’t seen her in six weeks. It-it’s a long fucking time.
Her parents told me she was doing better and was ready to come home and that I could see her today so we could fix our relationship because she was more stable emotionally and mentally.
And now that she’s back, she’s with him?
No. No, no, no. She can’t be. It’s a mistake.
She was supposed to come back to me. To be my girlfriend.
Not Clarke’s. Jayden I’m-gonna-kick-his-ass Clarke.
” I tugged at my hair, pacing the parking lot.
“No. I don’t agree with that. Are you sure?
Is it a prank you’re playing on me? Are you all in on this? ”
Craig pulled me aside. “Mase, calm down and let it go. For now.”
“No,” I screamed despite myself. “This was not how it was supposed to be…how it was supposed to go down.”
My body vibrated with all the anger and sadness spreading through me.
My brother hugged me. “I know. Stick with me, okay? I have your back. Always.”
I leaned back and adjusted my jacket, trying to look unaffected. Even though I wanted to, I couldn’t put my cocky jock suit on this time. My head and my heart weren’t in the game. My attention drifted to the main entrance where Melinda had disappeared.
Nausea filled my mouth. My eyes burned with unshed tears.
I was a bomb about to explode.
How many nights had I spent lying awake, imagining our reunion?
I would open my arms, and she would run into them, telling me how much she’d missed me.
Then she would kiss me, saying she should have done it a long time ago.
The scene I’d just witnessed looked nothing like that.
For a moment, I wondered if this morning had been nothing more than a nightmare I would wake up from.
My heart raced faster in my chest. I felt dizzy. My mouth tasted like chalk paint.
Craig elbowed my side. “Come on.”
Following Paige and my brother inside, I met with Chase who was waiting by my locker. “Hey, Cap. How was your break?” Chase had spent the last two weeks in Bora Bora with his mom and older brother, far away from his deadbeat father.
“Later,” I mumbled, not meeting his eyes.
“Whoa, did your cat die?”
“I don’t have a cat. Gimme a break.”
Tanya walked by, waving her fingers. “Morning, baby,” she purred.
“Who are you calling baby?” my friend asked. “Me? No thanks, I would rather die than get too close to you. I’m afraid your poison is lethal. That bitch attitude of yours might be contagious, and I haven’t received the vaxx.”
She pushed my friend aside with a hand. “Go. Get lost somewhere else, Chase. I’m not talking to you. I’m here for my king.”
“Jesus,” I groaned.
“Your king?” Chase’s attention traveled between us. “Something I missed?”
Tanya sighed. “Haven’t I told you to get lost already? Come on, Masey Baby.”
“Masey Baby?” Chase’s loud chuckle vibrated around us. “That’s precious.”
“Don’t,” I said, pointing at him.
He inserted himself between Tanya and me, blocking my view of her. “Tan, hear me out. No way will I let my man here alone with a viper like you. Your behavior is bordering on harassment.”
Tanya circled him and draped herself all over me. I wanted to push her away, I really did, but I was hurting and couldn’t care less what anyone thought right now.
Chase nudged me. “Are you okay with her being here, or do you want me to kick her ass to Neptune? Your call, Captain.”
My conscience made a comeback before I did something I would regret. “Kick her ass, Chase. Far away from here. She’s bad news. And she doesn’t understand the word no.”
Seconds later, Tanya was pried away from me. “Mase. You can’t do this. What about us? Our reign over ERH? We said it would be you and me. We agreed. Don’t you remember your promise to me?”
“You’re a psycho, Tan. I never promised you anything. You are accusing me of things I never said or agreed to. Don’t come near me ever again, or you might hate the person I turn into. Keep walking and forget I exist.”
“What? You can’t be serious. We had a deal.”
“Nah. No deal. You never meant anything to me, and you’re done screwing up my life.”
Hurt flashed in her gaze. “You don’t mean it.”
I stepped forward, towering over her by almost a foot, forcing her to tip her head back. “Wanna bet? I’m in a very bad mood right now. I suggest you go annoy someone else.”
Fury poured out from her. She transformed right under my eyes from kitten to evil. “You’re a mean person, Mason Pierce. I’ll tell everyone you gave me crabs. We’ll see who’s gonna let you bang them now.”
“Do that and I’ll tell everyone you’re a lame fuck,” Chase added. “Worst I ever had.”
She rested her fists on her hips. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Watch me,” my friend said. “You’re lucky I was too drunk that night to realize I was making the biggest mistake of them all.”
I had no idea what had gone down between them, but right now, I didn’t care. I enjoyed seeing Tanya being handed her own medicine for once.
She gritted her teeth, stomping her foot. “You’ll both regret this.”
“Whatever,” I said as she scurried away, adjusting her tiny cheerleading skirt as she did.
Chase’s palm met mine, and I sighed in relief. “Thanks. For having my back.”
“I have no idea what happened to you or between you two,” he said. “I can’t wait to be updated on all the latest gossip.”
“Well, I won’t be the one feeding them to you. I haven’t seen her since the last day of school before the winter break. She’s making up stories about us in her mind.” I filled my book bag and hoisted it over my shoulder. “I’ll see you around.”
Before he could utter another word, I stormed away, wishing the day was already over.
For the rest of the week, I lay low, spending all my free time in the weight room of the athletic building or jogging around the indoor track, sweating my anger and pain away.
I watched Melinda from afar, making sure she was okay, even though she pretended I didn’t exist. She not only looked different nowadays, but also acted different too.
Every time our paths crossed, she switched directions, not acknowledging my existence.
She did the same thing with Paige. Even after all this time, she still refused to talk to her best friend.
Craig had told me Paige had tried to mend their friendship and explain herself multiple times, but Melinda had reiterated she was done with backstabbing people, whom she couldn’t trust, pretending to play nice.
It hurt because I concluded she had included me in that statement.
Yesterday, she was having lunch by herself in the library when I walked in.
I had noticed she only ate when she wasn’t surrounded by other people.
At least she’d had food on her tray when she walked out of the dining hall, and her plate was empty afterward, which reassured me that she really was doing better.
Our eyes locked for a long moment, and I saw the flames bank low in hers.
All was not lost. I still had a chance. Before I could say anything to break the uncomfortable silence between us, she picked up her things and left without a word.
My heart had cracked into thousands of pieces.
I had to talk to her. Whatever it took, I had to make things right between us.