Chapter 28 Astrid
ASTRID
“He’s a prick.” Gwen seethes beside me in the cafeteria as I pick at my burrito. My appetite fled around the same time Callan did.
“Maybe you should talk to him,” Renee says, looking across the room to the soccer team’s table where Callan is sitting between Riley and Chris.
“He’s had five days to think about it, and he might feel differently now.
He watches you all the time when he thinks no one’s looking, but I’ve caught him staring, and he doesn’t look happy. ”
“I wouldn’t chase after him,” Nikki says before biting into her apple.
I turn to Lyn, waiting for her to offer advice, but she remains silent, like usual lately. “You don’t want to say something?”
She shakes her head. “It’s none of my business,” she says before lowering her gaze to her lap. She is taking her parents’ impending divorce really hard, and she’s like a shell of the girl I used to know.
I jerk my head up as footsteps approach, internally groaning when Ana stops at our table. She pins me with a smug grin. “I knew he’d come to his senses.” Her derisory gaze rakes over me. “A virgin was never going to hold his attention for long.”
I purposely ignore her, unwilling to give her what she wants.
She’d love to make a scene, but I’m done being the subject of gossip.
I guess Callan couldn’t wait to tell everyone we’d broken up because the news was all over school by lunchtime Monday.
I’m still hurt, but it’s starting to feel a lot like anger.
“Fuck off, Ana,” Gwen snarls, and while I love how she jumps to defend me, I really wish she wouldn’t. Ana isn’t above taking it out on Gwen at cheerleading practice.
“Watch it, Gwen,” Ana snaps. “I’ll let that one pass, but keep going, and you’ll find yourself sitting on the bench come game day. I have Coach wrapped around my little finger, and she’ll do it if I ask.”
“Drop it,” I say in a low voice. “She’s not worth it, Gwen.”
“Got nothing to say, virgin?” Ana continues poking me, but I stare straight ahead, ignoring her until she finally gets the message, huffing and stomping off in the direction of the soccer team’s table.
“You’d think she might mature the older she gets, but I swear she’s even bitchier than she was as a freshman,” Renee says, scoffing as she watches Ana drape herself all over Callan from behind.
He pushes her away instantly, but I wonder how long he’ll keep doing that.
Then again, Callan clearly wants uncomplicated, no-strings-attached fun, and Ana is as complicated and clingy as they come.
He said he can’t stand her, but I’m questioning everything he said and did around me now, and who’s to know if that’s the truth?
“You can’t take the bitch out of that bitch,” Nikki drawls before slurping her coffee.
“If she is who he wants, he’s welcome to her.
” It’s the truth. If he ends up with Ana, he’s not the guy I thought he was, and I want nothing to do with him.
It’s going to be awkward with how close our families are, but I’ll get through it.
I have ten months until I leave for college, and the campus is big enough I can avoid him if he’s there.
“Do you mean that?” Gwen eyes me curiously.
“I’m not chasing after him,” I say, scooping up a forkful of salad.
“I was honest with him, and I owe him no apologies. He’s the one in the wrong.
If he can’t man up and apologize, he’s not someone I have interest in any longer.
” It hurts to admit it because, deep down, I think the guy I got to know is the real Callan, but if he wants to smother his feelings because he’s scared or stubborn or blatantly lying to himself, there is nothing I can do to change the outcome.
I just hope my heart gets the memo soon because I’m sick of crying myself to sleep and pining for a boy who doesn’t look like he wants me.
Lyn clears her throat. “I have news.”
We all turn to look at her.
She lifts her chin and sits up straighter. “I’m moving to Texas with my mom.”
“What?” I splutter.
“Why?” Nikki asks.
“When?” Renee adds.
“We’re leaving in the morning.” Tears well in her eyes. “I had to choose between staying here with Dad or moving into my grandparents’ house with Mom, and I chose to go with Mom because she’s really upset and she needs me.”
“Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” I can’t believe this. There isn’t even time to throw her a going-away party.
Lyn glances over my shoulder briefly before swiping at her eyes, brushing tears away. “It all happened suddenly, and I didn’t want anyone to make a fuss.”
“We’re your best friends, Lyn,” I say. “I can’t believe you didn’t say one word about it.”
“We’ve been giving you space because we could see how upset you were and that you didn’t want to talk about it,” Renee adds. “But springing this on us at the last hour is really crappy, Lyn.”
My heart softens. None of us knows what this feels like, and Lyn has been through a lot.
I’m sure she didn’t mean to hurt us on purpose.
Taking her hands, I smile through my sadness.
“I hate you’ve been going through all this alone.
I wish you could’ve talked to us, but I understand you have to do what’s right for you and your mom.
I hope things get better in Texas.” I pull her into a hug. “I’m going to miss you.”
The others get up, coming over to join us in a group hug. Whispers abound around us, but I don’t care if we’re drawing attention.
“You need to call us regularly,” Gwen says when we all break apart. “Just because you’re no longer here doesn’t mean you’re not one of us.”
“Gwen is right. Please keep in touch, Lyn, and maybe we could come visit you in the summer if you’re still there?” I suggest.
She nibbles on her lip. “I’m not sure where we’ll be. This might just be temporary, but I’ll try to keep in touch as often as I can.”
“Lyn arrived safely, and she’s at her grandparents’ place,” Gwen says from the passenger seat of my car the following night. Our shift at the resort has just ended, and I’m en route to the diner to drop her off to meet Scott. I cast a glance to my right, watching her tap out a reply.
“Good. Tell her I said hi. I’m still in shock. It all happened so fast.”
“I know, right?” Gwen places her cell on her lap and gives me her undivided attention. “Please change your mind and come to Thor’s tonight.” She seals her palms together in a pleading gesture. “I know you’re upset, but it’s Halloween, and everyone’s going to be there.”
“I’m not in the mood to party. I’m tired, and I just want to eat my body weight in cake and watch a scary movie.”
“He won’t be there. Thor is still pissed off with him.”
I slow down at the junction. “I love Thor for having my back, but I don’t want to cause issues with the team. I told Renee earlier to tell him he should invite Callan. It makes no difference to me, seeing as I won’t be there.”
I take the left onto the main street.
“You should go and show him you don’t care.” Gwen is like a dog with a bone. “Staying away sends a pointed message, and it’s not one I think you should make.”
“Drop it, Gwen,” I snap, losing my temper and gripping the wheel tight. “I’m not going, and that’s final.”
“But I’ll miss you.” She pouts, and it’s too hard to stay mad at her, especially when I know she’s only thinking of me.
I bark out a laugh. “Gwen, you’ll be too busy with Scott to even notice my absence.” I reach over and squeeze her hand briefly. “I love your loyalty, but go out and have fun with your boyfriend.”
“I don’t want you to be sad.”
“I won’t be,” I semi-lie. I will be trying hard not to think about Callan or the party or how everyone is out having fun when I’m tucked in my bed nursing a fragile heart. Doubt is etched all over her face. “I’ll be fine, I promise,” I say, taking the turn for the diner.
“I’ll message Scott to come outside.” Gwen taps buttons on her cell again.
“I want pics of your costume,” I request as I drive down the road toward Joey’s Diner, where some of the gang from school is hanging out before making their way to Thor’s.
“Sure.” She pockets her phone and smiles.
I slow down as I approach the diner, preparing to pull up at the curb to let her out when I see them.
Callan and Ana.
Her arms are tight around his neck, her lips glued to his, and my pain is immediate.
Shards of pain stab me all over my heart, like needles being driven slowly into the organ to cause maximum injury.
Air seizes in my lungs, and tears spring to my eyes.
How could he do this? Did I mean nothing to him at all?
I look away, unable to watch it for a second longer.
“Oh my gawd,” Gwen screeches. “Keep driving, keep driving! Don’t stop.”
I’m in shock, and my entire body is wracked with pain as I fight tears and push my foot on the accelerator, driving past the diner and turning the corner at the end. I keep going as a few tears leak out of my eyes.
“Oh, Astrid,” Gwen says, and I hate the pity in her voice.
“That didn’t take long.” My voice cracks as pain shudders through me. “He didn’t even wait a week.” Silent tears roll down my face. This hurts way more than it should.
“Pull over,” my bestie says. “You’re in no state to drive.”
I do as she says on autopilot, sliding over into the passenger seat after Gwen gets out and rounds the hood. When she’s in the driver’s seat, she reaches for me, wrapping me in a hug. “He’s a prick, Azzie. He never deserved you, and you should put him out of your mind.”
“He knows how much Ana hates me,” I say, my voice wobbling as I hug her back. “Why would he do this?”
“He did it on purpose to hurt you.” Her tone is laced with anger.
“There is no other explanation for why he would go for her. Callan could have any girl in school if he wanted to prove he was moving on. Kissing Ana was a pointed action, and you can’t let him get away with it.
Fuck him!” she shouts. When I pull back, I see just how angry she is on my behalf.
“Fuck that fucking Irish bastard! How dare he do this to you! He doesn’t get to use my best friend and get away with it.
Please tell me you won’t take this lying down? ”
“It’s not like I can do anything about it.
” I rein in my hurt, redirecting the emotion because Gwen is right.
Fuck Callan Hunt. He doesn’t get to play me like this.
It’s clear I meant next to nothing to him.
A bitter laugh tumbles from my lips. “I’m such a fool.
It was all fake. Every single second of it was fake.
It was never real. I was the one deluding myself, not Callan. ”
“He deserves payback, and I know just how you’ll get it,” Gwen says with a devilish glint in her eye.