True Love:Follow Your Heart

by Melissa Heagerty

  Arriving in school trying to catch her breath, she nearly bumped into someone. “Whoa slow down. You almost had your face smashed into the locker.” Ethan jokes.

  Eileen stumbled to form a sentence. “I— ... He— ...”

  Ethan hands her his water bottle. “Want to try this again?”

  She nods her head after she took some. “Thanks,” her heartbeat was slowing down and handed it back to him. “Michael, is he here yet? I forgot we need to work on something.”

  Ethan hasn’t seen him since the gym. “Not sure, something I can help you with?” Ethan assumed he could get some alone time again.

  “I need my partner for this. He's half my grade.”

  Ethan understood what she was referring too now. “Oh, Mr. Gabriel thing. Right, deadlines in a few weeks. Did you get any of it started at least?”

  “It's not like me. I've always taken care of things ahead of time. I'm going to try texting him again. Let me know if you—”

  Ethan watched her rush off. He felt guilty lying to her about his whereabouts.

  With students starting to pile into the classroom. “Alright everybody let’s get started. With your first student project coming up ...” Mr. Gabriel continues with his lesson plan.

  Ethan glanced over at Eileen's direction. Obviously distracted with worry.

  “Anything?” Ethan asked in a whisper.

  Eileen shook her head in disappointment. They couldn’t focus on today’s lesson. Eileen was the last of the students out of the classroom.

  “You wanted to speak to me about your paper?” Mr. Gabriel finally had some time for her.

  Eileen nodded and walked up towards the desk.

  《***》

  Ethan decided to wait outside for her. He didn’t have practice today.

  “Yo, Ryley.” Someone got his attention.

  Ethan heard who it belonged to. From the corner of his eye. He spotted the brothers who lurked nearby.

  “What the hell do you two want?” Ethan glared at his direction, with Ryder who sauntered over.

  Christian punched Ethan in the face with Ryder who stood beside him. Ethan coughed and wheezed in pain as he knelt down.

  “Don't make us warn you as we did to your friend.” Ryder with a kick to Ethan’s gut as Ethan tumbled on his back.

  “What the hell?!” Eileen glared at her brothers who came out of the classroom with Mr. Gabriel rushing over to check on Ethan.

  “You okay?” She used her body as a shield.

  Another pair of footsteps approached them as Mr. Gabriel eyed the situation. Since he’s getting ready to leave also.

  “We were just leaving.” Christian told Mr. Gabriel who nodded.

  “Yes, you were to the principal’s office gentlemen.” He glanced back at Eileen who nodded to say she’ll take care of Ethan.

  《***》

  “I am so sorry about this.” She apologized to him.

  Ethan saw she was fidgety again and took her hands in his to calm her down. He touched her face to brush some hair behind her ear. “Hey, I take a thousand bruised faces to keep you safe. To me, it's worth it.”

  Footsteps approached the front door. “Oh, I can see I'm interrupting here,”

  Ethan kissed her forehead. An embarrassed Michael gawked in their direction which surprised them.

  “Whoa, what happened to you?” Michael scrutinized Ethan who wasn’t in the mood to answer.

  Eileen remained quiet.

  “Guess I won't be on the cover of any magazines right now.” Ethan joshed around.

  Eileen focused her eyes at Michael who couldn't bring himself to return the favor. She felt the tension it was time to leave. “I'm going to go.” Eileen searched for her belongings.

  Ethan grabbed Michael away so she couldn’t eavesdrop and talked to him in a hushed whisper. “Go talk to her, both of you are in a vulnerable state. She needs someone to talk to.”

  A heavy sigh escaped his mouth. Michael wished it became that simple. It was beyond complicated as ever before.

  《***》

  Michael sucked up the courage, as she swung her bag over her shoulder.

  She stopped herself and faced him taking a chance. “I understand you don't want to contribute to this assignment. Whether you blame me for recurrences or not. We're partners, and, last time I checked you need to trust partners. I need you to trust me, as I trust you.”

  Michael remained dumbfounded as she spoke her mind. He knitted his brows in puzzlement. “Slow down what are you talking about?”

  Ethan shook his head with a light chuckle. Michael noticed Eileen blushed for an odd reason.

  She and Ethan shared a small glance as if she heard him. “Mr. Gabriel's class? Our half grade term paper?” Eileen hoped it rang some kind of bells.

  Michael comprehended the matter at hand. “Shoot right. How long do we have?”

  She scanned her phone to see when the deadline is due. “A few more weeks before our winter break, when you're able to get a break, I'll be at the library.”

  《***》

  Ethan murmured under his breath and shook his head in disappointment. The boys watched her walk out of the house. “You had an opportunity to tell her.” Ethan proclaimed to his friend.

  True he could've expressed his romantic feelings. What good would it do? “Why would it matter now anyway? You’ve made your own moves onto her.”

  Ethan's brow rose after he heard the observant tone to his voice.

  Michael began to have concerns about his newfound friendship with Ethan Ryley. “You know if I wasn't too blinded by the closeness I have with Eileen. I'd say you are the reason who persuaded the boys to ambush me in the first place.”

  Astonished by his cockamamie theory. Ethan remained inscrutable, nonchalant in disbelief. His hatred for those miserable, dimwitted, antagonizes before he arrived. Why the hell would he ever join forces with them? Ethan's face glanced at Michael's misinform, despondent face. He folded his arms across his chest. “Wow? This is what we're doing now?” Ethan wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “You only pretended to be my 'friend' in the first place. How do I know this ruse is trustworthy? Michael knew how Avery works by now. “For all I know you’ve stabbed me in the back and gave my personal information to him.” Michael was unsure who to trust anymore.

  Ethan nettled with a frustrated sigh. It wasn't the first time he got accused of trustworthiness. “You convinced I'm apart from some big conspiracy alliance with those jackasses?” Ethan pinches the sides of his nose. All this bickering made his migraine worse.

  Michael shrugged his shoulders.

  “So, you're telling me I faked my bruises?”

  Michael wasn't sure what his intentions were at this point. Whatever it took to deceive Eileen. Who's to say he wouldn't lie about them?

  “I get you’ve been through the crap, but to accuse me of not being your friend. Come on man, I thought you knew me better than that?” Ethan glowered in his direction as he pondered what brought this up in the first place.

  A wretched Michael knew he aggrieved his best friend. That wasn't his intention. He has been uncertain by Ethan's true perspective since this transpired. “See, that's the thing. I don't know whom I can confide in anymore. You alleged to me there is nothing scandalous going on between the two of you.”

  Ethan tried to be sympathetic to his awareness. Ethan glanced his eyes anywhere but at Michael's vision.

  Michael squinted. His small-minded impulse urged him to lash out. “Right there, that hesitation you did, proved my point.” He suffered enough and stormed out of the house.

  Ethan wouldn't allow this to end on bad terms, and followed him outside but noticed he stopped? Ethan wanted to fix this confusion with him now before it spirals out of control. “Look, I'll admit I'm still fuddled on what my feelings are.”

  Michael rolled his eyes as he didn’t buy the rhetorical response. He lets Ethan con
tinue.

  “Whether you believe me or don't. I told you the truth, but if you don't act fast, and express how you feel, someone else will. By then, it'll be too late to do anything.”

  Michael knew Ethan was right much as he hated it. Doing all that he could and walks back inside the house. All he wanted to do was rest. He had enough crap to deal with. Michael debated on what to do. He had an idea and took off in hot pursuit.

  Chapter 17

  Kate and Flynn entered the diner after coming from the carnival.

  Little did they know Morgan was working there. She gasped spotting entering inside as she grabbed her phone. Ducking to where the cooks were making food.

  Morgan: Incoming sos ... You'll never guess who just showed up here!

  Tiffani who arrived at the diner would be tailing them. Still, in one of her drop drop-dead gorgeous dresses. Leaving the house, she followed them when Yasmine said she spotted them leaving.

  Tiffani: Maybe I don't want to.

  Seeking spitefulness. Apparently, Flynn and Kate are becoming the new talk of the town.

  Morgan peeked her head from behind the door watching them sit down. Texting her more information.

  Morgan: It looks as if a storm soaked down on them.

  Morgan's eye caught something that Tiffani was not going to approve of. She's wearing his jacket! Adding details which made Tiffani shrieked out of frustration. Hitting the steering wheel.

  Tiffani: That should be my jacket! Kate doesn't deserve to be in the same room with him. All the hard work I put in to have her screw everything up.

  It was like Morgan can feel Tiffani yelling right at her face. Morgan had an idea.

  Morgan: Relax I got this, trust me, don't get your panties twisted in a bunch.

  Morgan left it at that. Keeping her phone on after calling Tiffani.

  《***》

  Kate scanned the diner seeing a few popular peers of her classmates having dinner.

  “Will you turn your paranoia down a bit?” Flynn's gazed unfocused from the menu to Kate's blanched face. He can tell she was wired. High school drama never goes away, what the hell were you expecting?

  Kate felt her knee bounce under the table. Ignoring all the stares, blocking out the whispers. Taking a deep breath as you focus on the menu. Pretending they were the only two people in the diner. Footsteps approached them spooking Kate who was on her last nerve anyway.

  “Good evening, everybody I'm Morgan, and I'll be your waitress for today.” Morgan finished her statement.

  Kate's eyes gaped at Morgan's figure. 'This was more tricks, right? It had to be'. Kate pondered to herself. Her eyes were playing tricks because she could have sworn for a split-second, Morgan had a smirk on her face. It quickly vanished when she spoke to take their order.

  “Can I start you off with something to drink?”

  Flynn laughs observing Morgan's get-up outfit. “You actually work here?” Not believing this for a second. Being a friend of Tiffani's after all. Figuring this was a dare Tiffani made her do.

  Proudly, Morgan nods her head. True it may not have been her dream job. “I'm saving up for college unlike most of my fellow peers. Hard work and determination seem to be lacking lately. I figured it looks good on my college application. So, what can I get you to drink?” Morgan was being sincere for a moment.

  Kate ordered a chocolate milkshake as Flynn ordered a soda. Morgan disappeared giving them a few minutes to get their orders ready.

  “What?” Flynn asked Kate who had a heedful expression.

  She kept giving him the death glare. “You don't see what's going on?” Kate asked him suspiciously.

  Flynn ran a hand through his damp hair. Noticing she became overly suspicious about every little detail since they arrived. “Kate there is absolutely nothing going on here. I promise you. Just relax and calm down, everything is fine.” He tried to reason with her.

  Kate wanted to believe him. She couldn't shake it, with everything that happened, Tiffani was behind it. Morgan came back with the drinks and 'accidentally' spilled Kate's milkshake all over her lap! Kate shrieked feeling the coldness from the shake. She jumped out of her seat.

  “I-I am so sorry about this Kate.” Morgan faked apologized to her. Rubbing in the shake onto her clothes.

  Flynn knew this day was a disaster and nothing would bounce back from this.

  Kate couldn't take it anymore. The paranoia was starting to come out. All her bitter anger. Keeping it bottled up. None of it worked anymore. “No, you're not sorry Morgan. You did this on purpose!”

  Flynn never heard Kate lose her cool before. Not even if she got pissed with Caden.

  Morgan knew Tiffani was enjoying every second of this as she had the phone in her pocket turned on, so she could eavesdrop. Morgan tried to act innocent in all this. Just to make Kate look like the bad guy. “Why would I do a thing like that Kate? I need this job for college, I would screw anything up on purpose.” Morgan played the good girl act.

  Kate huffed narrowing her eyes at a fragile Morgan. There was that smirk beaming inside her eyes again. Kate was right. Tiffani was behind all of this! The only problem, she had no proof to back up her claim.

  “Come on Kate it was an accident.” Flynn pleaded with her. Not trying to fluster her any more than necessary. Maybe it was the madness inside her mind that made her all screwy. Or she finally noticed what kind of man Flynn was. Either way, she couldn't be in the same room with him anymore.

  Kate needed air. The walls were closing in on her. Taking his jacket off she tossed it in his face. “Wow, really?” Kate threw her hands up in the air out of frustration and stomps out of the hangout leaving a stunned Flynn. Unable to fathom what transpired moments ago.

  《***》

  Morgan grins ear to ear knowing that was the final nail in the coffin. Morgan knew Flynn was still befuddled by what transpired. She did have some words of wisdom for him. “You know Tiffani wouldn't act that way. I thought Kate was one of the good ones. Guess everybody has their breaking points.” Morgan headed into the back once again. Digging her phone out of her pocket. “Did you get that?” She had her phone on the whole time during the meltdown.

  A beaming Tiffani was checking herself in the car reflection. She spotted Kate storming out of the diner mumbling to herself. Reapplying her lipstick, she gets out of the car which was parked behind the diner. Fixing her dress and response to Morgan.

  Tiffani: Every word, I knew I kept you for some reason. My turn next …

  She knew exactly how to pick up the pieces of Flynn's broken heart. Tiffani read Morgan's last text.

  Morgan: Have fun, hanging up.

  With Tiffani giving herself a final check. “Oh, I intend to,” Tiffani was around the corner of the diner.

  《***》

  Flynn left the diner, some part of him hoped to see her here. “Kate?!” She was nowhere to be seen. “Dammit!” He threw his jacket into his car. Hitting the side of his hood. This day was not going for him the way he wanted to. How was he going to face Kate again after this? Sliding down on the floor. Burying his face into his hands. One night when he wanted to earn her trust. It exploded big time in his face.

  “Hey, stranger,” a serene familiar voice said.

  Flynn knew that fragrance he smelled in the air. There was only one person who it belonged to. Lifting his head upwards he lets out a dispirited sigh. Tiffani never saw him this down. Clearly he was not in the mood for company.

  “Hey, Tiff, what brings you out here this late?”

  She came up with a cunning lie right now. “I was supposed to go on a date, but he backed out last second. Did something happen? Car trouble?”

  Flynn remained quiet about his troubles. “No, no girl trouble or car trouble. Just a crappy day that completely sucked. I'm on my way home. Trust me I'm in no condition for company tonight.” He wanted a drink or a pint full of ice cream to drown his sorrows.

  “Such a shame. A goo
d guy like you. I can think of different ways to spice up my night.” Tiffani tried to make him feel better. Having an idea of her own. Taking a risk. “You could keep me company tonight? I am all dressed up. Have nowhere to go.” She walked over beside him, kneeling down in her dress. Pleading with him with eye contact.

  Flynn wasn't even in the mood to shove Tiffani away. That's how down in the dumps he was about Kate.