Chapter 26
I should have known Maria would act out against Elizabeth.
I lied to Jayson when he asked me about our breakup.
I tried to end things amicably, because I didn’t want our failed relationship to affect her friendship with Elizabeth.
I should have known that for Maria, there was nothing left to salvage.
Asking Maria out was another one of those stupid mistakes I tend to make when not being able to have Elizabeth becomes too much for me.
I thought Maria was funny. She made me laugh, provided me with short reprieves from my thoughts of Elizabeth.
I knew Maria wanted more from me, and I figured, what the hell, so asked her out.
Almost immediately after our first date, Maria started dropping subtle, snide comments about Elizabeth.
It was like she wanted me to turn on Elizabeth, to hate her.
I never said anything about it, not even to Julien, and especially not to Jayson or Elizabeth.
Maria also kept pushing for sex. Was I tempted?
Yes. Did I love Maria? No. And I made a promise to myself after Elizabeth saw me with Jacinda at the bonfire party that I would never be that guy again—the one who uses a girl like that.
So I kept my hands to myself, which only made things worse with Maria. I’m an idiot for not ending our relationship sooner. Now I have to fix the mess I created. To say I'm upset with Maria after watching the video is an understatement.
I know exactly where Maria is when I get to school, but we’re not having an audience for what I need to say to her, so I call her when I get to the front office doors.
“What?” she answers tersely.
“Come outside,” my tone letting her know that it’s not a request. She looks over and sees me through the window. Her eyes narrow.
“Now, Maria.”
“Fine.”
As soon as she walks out the doors, I grab her elbow and pull her down the hallway and into the empty A/V storage room. Once inside, she jerks her arm out of my grasp.
“What is wrong with you, Maria?”
“What? Did Liz come running to you all damsel in distress? Figures.”
“No. Your little tirade was posted online.”
“Good.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
Maria stares at me, unblinking.
“That was a horrible thing to do to your best friend.”
“She’s not my best friend.”
“Yes, she is. She’s been your friend since the fifth grade.”
“No. I hate her.”
My head jerks back like she just slapped me. “Maria, what is going on with you? How can you say you hate her? You two have been inseparable for years. She’s your best friend.”
Maria scoffs at that. “You are so dumb. You know nothing.”
“Well, then, explain it to me.” She’s really starting to tick me off, and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep my temper in check.
“I only started hanging out with her to get close to you.” Maria must see the confused look on my face. Elizabeth and I have both known Maria since the third grade, but it wasn't until the seventh grade that they started hanging out and became friends.
“You really think I wanted to waste my time being friends with her? She had the monopoly on what I wanted, so I used her as my in with you.” She folds her arms across her chest. “All the good it did me,” she mumbles.
“That’s the biggest pile of crap you have said to me. You’re going to stand there and tell me that all the years you and Elizabeth were friends, it was because you wanted me to—what? Notice you?”
Maria comes closer, invading my space. “I want you, Ryder. I have wanted you for a long time. You want me, too. I know you do. You wouldn't have asked me out if you didn’t feel something for me. For me, not her. Don’t throw away what we have for her.
” She slides her hands up my chest. “I’m better than she is.
I can make you feel so good if you’ll let me. Please let me.”
Maria slides her hands down to my belt. I grab her wrists.
“Maria, what the hell? Stop.”
“No,” she says and tries to unbuckle my pants.
Disgusted with what she’s trying to do, I shove her away from me.
“Maria, I said stop.”
“Why can’t you love me like I love you? It’s all her fault! She doesn’t care about you! She takes and takes and takes. She has Jayson. It’s not fair! She shouldn’t get you too.”
I take another step back, wanting as much distance between us as possible. How could I not have seen this about her? How could I not see her hatred for Elizabeth?
“You know what? I’m done. We're through, Maria. Over. No longer together. I’m not your boyfriend anymore.
And you’re right. I don’t love you. I never did love you.
I’m sorry if I ever led you on. That’s on me and I apologize.
But what you said to Elizabeth, what you just said to me now, that’s all sorts of messed up. ”
Maria pulls her shoulders back, hate and venom radiating from her eyes. “Screw you, Ryder. And screw Elizabeth.”
“Stay away from Elizabeth. I’m warning you, Maria.”
“Like you said. We’re no longer together. You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore.”
With that, she flings open the door and leaves. I clasp my hands around the back of my head and stare up at the ceiling. If what Maria said is true—that this entire time she just used Elizabeth to get to me—Elizabeth isn’t going to understand.