“Who said I had to choose?”
“You dog!” the other guy whooped. “Dang, man, cousins! Locals?”
“Nope, tourists.”
“You lucky SOB! All the fun and no commitment! You’re livin’ the dream, man!”
There was a pit forming in Bri’s stomach. The Cole she knew didn’t act like this. She quickly thought back through their time together, and not once did he act like the cocky jackass he was being now. Was this who he really was? Was their whole friendship that summer a ruse? Through her shock, anger began to rise.
“Speaking of redheads... have you seen the new girl?”
“No, not yet,” Cole replied. “Hot?”
“Oh, yeah! And, damn, has she got a rack on her! You can just tell she’s a little firecracker when she wants to be. But she’s also got this whole sweet and innocent vibe going on... Ahhh, it’s driving me crazy!”
Just then, the warning bell rang, and Bri heard a locker slam shut. She quickly grabbed her things, not wanting to get caught eavesdropping. Sure enough, she had just shut her locker and turned, when she heard the boys turn down the hall after her.
“Look, that’s her,” Other Guy said loudly. “Mmm, just look at the ass on that! What’d I tell you?”
“You do know she can probably hear you, right?” Cole quipped.
“Girls dig this stuff. That’s right, Red,” he called down the hall to Bri. “I’m watching you walk, and I like what I see!” Bri’s shoulders stiffened, but she didn’t bother dignifying that with a response. “You see,” Other Guy said to Cole, “you have to make it clear that you’re interested. Chicks like that, it makes them feel special or something. I’m here whenever you’re ready, Red!”
Unable to contain her anger and disdain any longer, Bri turned and leveled the meanest glare she could at Cole, who looked a little confused by her animosity. His eyes flickered back to her locker, and understanding dawned. As he realized that she’d probably heard everything he’d said at his locker, all color drained from his face.
Satisfied, she then turned her glare on the pig next to Cole. She recognized Other Guy from her French class. Not the least deterred, the asshat laughed, elbowing Cole. Cole’s features instantly smoothed into amusement.
“Mmm, feisty,” the guy relished.
Cole chuckled and slapped his friend on the back. “Yeah, good luck with that one! I’m outta here.” He took off in the opposite direction, without another glance.
Bri hurried down the hall and slipped into her English class just as the bell rang. She didn’t hear a thing her teacher said, as she explained the class syllabus and reading lists. Bri’s heart was pounding too loudly, and her head was swimming.
What the heck had just happened? Cole was talking and acting just like every other arrogant, self-absorbed jock with a god complex. How was it possible that this was the same person? There wasn’t a trace of the smart, funny, caring boy she’d spent the summer with. This was not the person she’d fallen for.
Realization struck her, and it sucked the breath right out of her. It was all a lie. It had all been an act. Every word, every action, had just been a ploy to get close to her, to get what he wanted from her. He was just like all the rest of the guys out there, only interested in one thing. Cole was not who she thought he was.
Her stomach churned, and she was afraid she was going to cry, or throw up, or both.
After class was over, she sprinted to the girls’ bathroom, where she sat, trying not to hyperventilate, in one of the stalls. All her illusions came crashing down around her, and her heart lurched in her chest. But she refused to let Cole hurt her like this. She wouldn’t allow her heart to break over someone as undeserving as him. She sat for a few more minutes, bringing her breath and emotions back under control. She heard the warning bell ring. She was going to be late for class. History... with Cole. She wasn’t sure she could handle class with him right now, but she’d be damned if she was going to let him see he’d hurt her. Because he hadn’t. Her resolve set, she left the restroom, but not before a lone tear slipped down her cheek. Dang it. She wiped it furiously away.
Squaring her shoulders, Bri walked in the door to History, and her traitorous eyes immediately found Cole. And wouldn’t you know it, sitting right next to him was the Pig himself. Of course the besties would have this class together, with her. Yes, the scheduling gods really did hate her.
Bri rolled her eyes at the huge grin that spread across Pig’s face, and she slid into a desk on the other side of the room as the teacher began taking roll.
Trey Woods, Bri could feel him leering at her all through class. She did her best to ignore him, both of them, but her body betrayed her again, and she couldn’t help glancing over at Cole. His face was expressionless, but there was regret and sadness in his eyes each time they found hers.
When class was over, Bri hurried out of the room, but Cole was right on her tail.
“Bri, wait! Please!”
She spun on him. “What?” she demanded angrily.
“I was hoping we could talk, that I could explain,” Cole said quietly, his eyes darting around the hall, apprehensively.
“Explain what? That you’re nothing but a lying prick? No thanks, I’ve figured that one out already.” She went to move past him, but he blocked her.
“I swear Bri, I can explain,” he said desperately. “I’m not...”
“I’m not interrupting something here, am I?” Trey walked up behind Cole. Though he was grinning, there was a tightness to his mouth.
“No, man, not at all.” All emotion drained from Cole’s eyes and face, replaced by an arrogant smirk. “Um, Red here was just asking where the cafeteria was.”
Trey’s eyes lit up. “Well, Bri isn’t it? I can show you personally, if you’d like?”
Bri didn’t even acknowledge Trey had spoken.
“Red? Really?” she glared at Cole. “Thanks, but no thanks,” she said, still speaking to Cole, “Like I said, I’ve finally got it all figured out.” She brushed past the two idiots and stormed down the hall.
So, Cole didn’t want anyone to know he knew her. Well, she’d give him what he wanted. She had no desire to see or speak to him ever again. It was true, she’d been right. Cole was nothing but an arrogant, conceited ass, and she’d been fooled by him. She’d never felt so gullible, stupid, or betrayed. It was worse than Jeremy. Back then she hadn’t known any better. Now she did, and she’d fallen for it again. She really couldn’t believe she’d actually been fooled by Cole’s I’m-a-nice-guy-trust-me facade. Well, one thing was certain, she wasn’t going to let Cole get close to her again. Ever.
As if her day couldn’t get any worse, it was time for lunch. Bri watched as Cole and Trey walk into the cafeteria ahead of her. She didn’t know if she could handle anything more today. She felt like she’d just been punched repeatedly in the chest, and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry. But that wasn’t an option here. Neither was letting Cole know he’d wounded her. So, Bri did what she did best. She took all the pain and anger she was feeling, and shoved them down, down, down, until they were only little nagging sensations. Plastering on a mask of superior indifference, she walked into the cafeteria.
Her saving grace was the fact that she knew Layla had this lunch period also, and was saving her a seat. Layla was in Bri’s French class, and they’d made plans to meet up at lunch. Scanning the large room, she saw a hand waving from a table in the far corner. She waved back at Layla and went to get her lunch.
She was standing in line for the salad bar, when she felt someone’s eyes on her. She looked over to see Cole, in an adjacent line, watching her. He looked crestfallen, and opened his mouth to say something, but Bri turned away before he could.
“CJ!” a velvety voice called.
Bri looked up to see a tall, blond, goddess walking towards her. This was the most beautiful high school girl Bri had ever seen. She could give most supermodels a run for their money. The goddess walked right up to C
ole, and full on grabbed his butt.
“How’s my favorite tight end?” she purred before releasing him.
“Serena,” he admonished, taking a step back from her. “You know I hate it when you call me CJ. It makes me sound like some stupid boy band reject.”
“Yes, but it’s what I like to call you,” she intoned. She stepped closer, closing the distance he’d created. “So, I haven’t seen you since Hell Week Hump Day. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed. While the girls and I were making you dinner that Wednesday, I left a note for you in your bedroom. Didn’t you get it?” she asked throatily.
“Um, no. It must’ve gotten lost somewhere,” Cole replied, with a quick glance at Bri.
Something in Bri’s mind clicked. Hell Week Hump Day. The night she’d stopped by Cole’s house during Hell Week, there had been a bunch of cars in his driveway. The girls and I were making you dinner. It hadn’t been Cole’s teammates at his house that night. It had been this girl, Serena, and her friends, cooking and doing who knew what else. No wonder Cole hadn’t wanted Bri to come in that night. He had probably been in the middle of an orgy.
Anger and mortification flushed Bri’s cheeks, and she prayed for the line to move faster.
“Pity,” Serena smiled. “Well, what my note said was that I was hoping that we could spend some more time together, just you and me. You know, maybe give us another try?” She ran her finger down Cole’s chest. “We were really good together. Remember?”
“Serena,” Cole replied in a warning tone, as he stopped her hand’s downward progression. “This really isn’t the best place to be having this conversation. Besides, nothing’s changed. I can’t give you what you want. Not now, not ever.”
Bri felt like she’d been physically struck as she finally put two and two together. Serena was Cole’s ex. She realized now just how hopeless a situation she’d been in with Cole. If the perfect, gorgeous, goddess hadn’t been able to keep him, how in the world would Bri have been able to?
“Well,” Serena continued, “maybe I’ve changed. Maybe I decided that if I couldn’t have all of you, I’d take whatever I could get.” She eyed Cole meaningfully.
“We both decided it’d be best if we were just friends.”
“Yes, and I’m just looking for a... broadening of the terms of our friendship,” she smiled brilliantly at him.
Great. Serena wanted Cole back, and was willing to give him all the benefits of a relationship with none of the commitment or responsibility. It was a good thing Bri was done with Cole, because there was no way she’d be able to compete with that.
“Think about it.” Serena gave Cole a kiss on the cheek before sauntering off.
Cole turned and looked at Bri.
He caught her eye for a moment, but Bri quickly turned her head before he could see the tears forming in her eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him drop his head and walk away.
Taking deep breaths, Bri willed the tears away. She couldn’t break down now. Later, after she was home, but not now. She got her lunch, which she now had no appetite to eat, and sat down next to Layla.
“Hey, Bri! How’s your first day going?” Layla asked as soon as Bri sat down.
“Oh, pretty good, I guess,” she forced a smile.
“Everyone, this is Bri Donnelly. She moved here from Dallas, and she’s on the Dance Team with me. Bri, these are my friends, Maddie Pembrook,” a small girl with sandy blond curls and brown eyes smiled. “And Jessica Kobayashi,” the pretty oriental girl with short spiky hair waved a hand. “And that,” Layla indicated a tall boy with brown hair and a kind smile, “is Jess’ boyfriend, Ethan Reynolds.”
“Hey,” Jess pointed at Bri with a carrot stick. “You’re in my English class. I’ll save you a seat tomorrow, if you want.”
“That’d be great, thanks” Bri smiled at her.
The rest of the table fell into conversation, but Bri was too preoccupied to join in. She was still preoccupied all throughout her sixth period AP Biology class, too. As the bell rang to end class, Bri groaned. The moment she’d been dreading since lunch was here. Cole was in her seventh period Ceramics class.
Sure enough, as she approached the classroom, a familiar dark head was waiting outside the door.
“Bri!” Cole cast a quick look around the practically empty hall before running over to her. “Bri, please! I know you’re upset, but you have to let me explain.” He touched her arm, and a powder keg of anger exploded inside her. And since anger felt better than the numbing pain she’d been feeling all day, Bri decided to go with it.
“No, I don’t,” she said icily, staring daggers at Cole.
“Look,” he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I know you are confused, and hurt, and angry, but I promise I can explain everything.”
“Oh, really? You can explain what, Cole?” Bri was fuming. “How you lied to me and manipulated me? How you pretended to be someone you’re obviously not to try to get close to me?”
“No, Bri, I swear you’ve got it all wrong,” he pleaded.
“No, Cole, I had it all wrong. Now I’m finally seeing you for the arrogant jerk you are. Leave me alone. I have nothing to say to you.” She pushed past him and into the classroom.
She sat down between two other students to make sure he couldn’t sneak in next to her. Class started, and the Ceramics teacher began the usual first day drill. Bri felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She discreetly pulled it out and saw Cole had sent her a text. She rolled her eyes, putting the phone away. She ignored her phone as it continued to vibrate throughout the rest of class. She ignored Cole, too, who, when not texting her, was trying desperately to catch her eye. When class ended, Bri dashed out the door. She quickly grabbed her stuff out of her locker and raced out of the building.
As she was crossing the parking lot, she heard someone calling her name. She sped up, praying she’d make it to her car before he caught her. No such luck.
“Bri,” Cole was panting as he grabbed her arm and turned her towards him. “Stop, please!”
A small, idiotic, part of her was touched that he’d worked so hard to catch her, that he wanted to talk to her that badly. But she quickly squashed that gullible part.
“What?” she glared at him. Seeing how his grip prevented her from going anywhere, she had no choice but to stay.
“You have to listen to me,” he begged. “I have so much I need to tell you, to explain to you. But I need you to give me a chance.” His eyes, bluish-gray today, bore into hers, pleading.
Bri wasn’t swayed. “A chance?” she asked incredulously. “To what, rip my heart out again? No. You don’t deserve a chance, or anything else from me. Stay away from me, Cole. I don’t want to talk to you, listen to you, or even lay eyes on you ever again. Now let go of me!”
He pulled her closer.
“Ambria, please,” he whispered desperately. “I thought we were friends! Can’t you give your friend a second chance?”
Bri’s eyes narrowed. “You are not my friend. The Cole I knew this summer, he was my friend. But I see now that he never really existed. So now I’m left with no friend, just you.” She stepped closer, right into Cole’s face. “I don’t know you. And from what I’ve seen, I don’t want to,” she finished coldly. “Goodbye, Cole.” She yanked her arm out of his grip and stormed off to her car. Pulling out, she glanced in her rearview mirror. Cole stood right where she’d left him, his hands in his pockets, his head dropped in dejection.
Bri was able to stave off the tears until she got home. She rushed inside, right to her room, and locked the door behind her.
She stood there, her chest heaving, for a moment. But now that she finally could cry, she found the tears wouldn’t come. Deflated, she dropped her bag on the floor and pulled out her phone. She froze as she saw a text from Cole, sent about five minutes before. Going against her better judgment, she opened it.
Ambria, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you, and that is the truth. I don’t expect your for
giveness, and I know I don’t deserve it. But I will do anything and everything I can to try and make this right. I hope you believe that. -C
PS- I meant what I promised you. Please remember that.
Reading that message, all of the hurt, anger, betrayal, and devastation Bri had repressed all day long came surging up like a tidal wave. She dropped onto her bed as the torrential downpour of tears began. She cried harder than she’d cried since her mom died. Indeed, she felt that same gaping sense of loss, and grief, and pain. Her heart had been broken all over again, and each time it happened the pain grew worse.
A while later, her sobbing began to slow, and the tears finally stopped. Bri was left feeling angry, at Cole for lying to her, and at herself for falling for it. But anger was a blessed relief from all of the other painful emotions she been feeling. Now everything else was just a dull throb, easier to push down and forget.
That night, as she lay in her bed, Bri vowed to never again risk feeling how she’d felt today. She vowed to never give someone the chance to rip her heart out and stomp on it, again. Because all that came from caring about someone was pain and misery.
Chapter 8
The rest of the week was excruciating for Bri.
The girls at dance practice were gushing the whole week about how much hotter Cole had gotten over the summer, and how he and Serena were definitely back together. Bri stayed out of it, telling herself she didn’t care who Cole dated, as long as it wasn’t her.
She managed to avoid him in the halls and in class, though he didn’t make any more attempts to talk to her. Apparently he’d gotten the hint and had backed off, for which Bri was extremely thankful. She no longer felt anything for him, and was glad he had moved on. She hoped if she kept telling herself this, she would eventually believe it.
Because the truth was she was miserable. She missed her friend. She missed the sweet, charming boy she’d spent the summer with. Her emotions were all over the place, so she decided to channel herself and focus only on school and dance. Which was good, because she had more than enough of both to keep her busy.
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