Chapter 14

Before I knew it, I was back in school and Jessie still hadn’t apologized for my public embarrassment. I was switching classes when someone grabbed my arm. It was Jessie, of course.

“We need to talk.” She pulled me to the side of the hallway, entering a classroom that the school used as a storage room. I sat on one of the many piled up desks, waiting for her to speak. “Why have you been ignoring me?”

"I haven’t.” I raised an eyebrow. From what I recall, I haven’t received a text or call from her at all on Sunday.

“I tried messaging you on Facebook, I messaged you 16 times.” She said, with a hand on her hip. I raised an eyebrow. I took out my phone and logged into Facebook. After a minute or two, her messages popped up. I just shrugged, feeling a slight relief. At least I knew she was sorry.

“Why didn’t you call me or text me? I’m never on Facebook and you know that.” I excused, crossing my arms. She bit her lip nervously.

“I was at Nicholas’s house on Sunday and I left my phone at home,” She said, biting her lip. I raised an eyebrow. She had her phone at the bonfire. “Nicholas agreed to drive me home and my mom was waiting outside, drunk and she started harassing me. She went to hit me and Nicholas told me to get some clothes and meet him at his car and that he was taking me to his house. We didn’t do anything. I was too shaken up and embarrassed to even talk to the guy.” She admitted. I knew about her mother’s drinking problems, she was a violent binge drinker. I felt my eyes widen. Tears bordered her eyes and I went over and hugged her, apologizing softly. She pushed me away.

“No, no, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, I swear, it wasn't my intentions. I thought you’d laugh. I won’t ask you that question anymore, I promise. You don’t even have to answer it.” She said, shaking her head. I hugged her and she silently cried into my shoulder. When she finally pulled away, I smiled at her.

“Easton.” I admitted and she gave me a confused look. “I’d rather kiss Easton.” I smiled. Her eyes widened before she gave me a smirk.

“I knew it!” She said, pointing at me. I raised an eyebrow.

“Then why’d you ask?” I questioned and she wiped away the tears that stained her face.

“I wanted you to say it.” She informed and I smiled lightly.

“I don’t like him, though.” I crossed my arms and she nodded.

“Why?” She inquired.

“He’s hot and all, it’s just… he’s a bit mean if you haven’t noticed.” I raised an eyebrow as my arms crossed over my chest.

“Oh I know that, but I mean why’d you pick Easton over Ethan?” She asked, tilting her head curiously. I shrugged.

“Because Easton followed me when I was upset and Ethan didn’t bother.” Neither did you. Jessie seemed to realize what I meant and she hung her head in guilt.

“I’m sorry for that, too. I thought I was the last person you wanted to see.” She said, biting her lip. I nodded, understanding.

“Adrian told me that, uhm, you talked to Ethan.” I tried to ease onto the topic. The last thing I wanted was for her to punch me in the throat.

“Yeah, he asked me a question,” She informed, placing her book bag onto a chair beside her as she smiled at me. I raised an eyebrow curiously. “Oh, he asked if I saw Nick.” She smiled. I felt my smile dropping slowly. So he wasn’t worried about me?

“Oh… well, I mean, did you see Nick?” I stuttered casually. What was I supposed to say?

“What’s wrong?” She asked, leaning forward. I shrugged.

"I just thought that he’d go talk to me… but instead, it was Adrian, the last person who I thought would talk to me during a time like that, and we aren’t even classified as friends. We were in an argument at the time, too. And honestly, he made me feel better.” I admitted, rested my head on my knees that I lifted onto the desks.

“Maybe you should befriend Adrian and drift away from Ethan. And I saw him talking to a girl, so he might not be all that into you after all." She smiled lightly. I nodded with a smile on my lips. “I think he’s a player.”

___

I sat on my bed on Thursday, looking over to see Adrian absent from his room. He arrived home in a baseball uniform, which I may add that he looked amazing in and then he left an hour ago with his black clothes on. I knew that he was going to go do whatever it is he does twice a week. I lightly tapped my pencil against my textbook, deciding to text Jessie now that we were on good terms.

Instead of finishing my text to Jessie, my phone buzzed. I looked at the screen and saw that I had received a text from, the one, the only, Ethan Howell. I realized it wasn’t exactly meant for my eyes, he must’ve texted the wrong person.

‘Guess who I’m doing tomorrow night?’ I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion before I decided that I’d play along. Who knows? Maybe I’d get some useful information.

‘Who?’ I asked, unsure of whether to call him bro or dude, or whatever it is that guys call one another. Besides, I didn’t know who he was actually meant to be texting.

‘That Fiona chick, we’re supposed to be ‘hanging out.’ Ha. So what’s up, Foreman?’ I felt my fists clench in anger. He must have mistaken ‘Fiona’ for ‘Foreman.’ What was he? Drunk? High? I bit my top lip out of pure rage. I quickly typed a message and waited for a reply.

____

Adrian’s Point Of View

Before I left I checked my spray paint to make sure that they were the ones I’d bought a week ago. I really can’t have another slip up or Boss would be on my case for a while and I doubt I'd get paid anymore. Trent and Logan laughed at my mistake while Chase just sat there sourly when he realized that Fiona was the one who switched up the spray paint. I don’t know what Chase has against her and as long as he keeps it to himself, I’m okay with it.

Not.

“What’s your problem?” I asked Chase who was sitting in the passenger’s seat. I pulled into Trent’s drive way. Trent and Logan looked at each other with wide eyes as they realized that I was finally confronting Chase.

“You’re letting her get to you, man.” Chase snorted, his arms crossed over his chest. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What does that have to do with you?” I hissed, glaring at Chase now. Who was he to say what was doing what to me? Whatever that meant.

“It messed up our job-.” He started to explain, his anger obviously rising.

“No, it messed up my part of the job. You did your part in watching out for police and people, you got your money. Trent and Logan got theirs, I didn’t get mine. I don’t see how that affects you.” I replied, shutting off the car.

“If affects how the job is done and how we’re seen by the others.” He snapped.

“Why would you care about that? Yesterday, you were the one preaching that you don’t care what other people think about you. Now you’re all about pleasing others?” I snorted with my eyebrows raised and I heard a slight gasp from the backseat.

“You’re not yourself anymore.” Chase said. “You’re getting angry for me calling you out when you’ve been acting whipped.” He continued and I hastily turned my head towards him.

“Whipped? Did you just call me whipped?” I exclaimed, my voice raising. I was not whipped, nor will I ever be whipped. Calling me whipped was like calling Meg from Family Guy popular. It was never going to happen.

“Soon you will be.” Chase said.

“I will not be.” I snapped, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. I heard a familiar snort from Trent in the back of the car.

“Anything you want to say Trent?” I asked, my voice rising again.

“What if I told you that I want to ask Fiona on a date?” He questioned with his face void of emotion.

“What if I told you to shove that idea?” I replied back with a snort.

“What if I told you that you’re whipped?” Logan snorted. I turned my glare towards him.

“I don’t like her, how can I be whipped?” I hissed.

“Ask yourself that. You care about her for whatever twisted and sick reason. It’s like Edward Cullen. Next thing you know, you pull up in your Camaro and defend her from creeps.” Logan replied, unlocking the door. They left and I quickly started up the car, huffing angrily as I arrived in my drive way.

____

 Fiona’s Point Of View

‘Wrong person.’ I texted the simple message about 20 minutes ago. I was still waiting for a response from the boy who probably realized his mistake and was mentally (or physically, hopefully) punching himself in the face repeatedly.

I couldn’t hold in my anger anymore, so I paced around my room, muttering quietly about absolutely nothing, creating a plan. I heard a door opening in the house beside mine. I looked out of the window that I was standing outside of to see Mattie standing there. He smiled at me and walked over to the window, kneeling down.

“What are you doing up Mattie?” I said, smiling as I checked my phone. It read 9:35 P.M. I watched as Mattie gave me an innocent look.

“I was bored and I thought you might be up since you’re a big kid.” He shrugged at me.

“What are you doing?” I asked him with a smile. He gave me a sly grin before he replied.

“I’m talking to you. What does it look like?” He replied. I shook my head. This boy is too much like Adrian. I laughed before I replied.

“You’re just like your big brother.” I said with a smile and he smirked.

“But I’m cuter.” He bragged and I nodded.

“Much cuter.” I replied, nodding. I heard footsteps approach the door before it swung open.

“Mattie! What are you doing in here? You're supposed to be sleeping!” The lady said, she turned from the boy and looked at me. She had dark brown hair, much like Adrian and Mattie’s and she had green eyes that matched Mattie’s. She smiled kindly before she walked over to the window.

I gave her a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry about that, I didn't know he was supposed to be asleep." 

“It's alright. I’m Denise.” She explained with a motherly smile. “I’m Mattie’s mother. I’m sure you know Adrian, I’m his mother, too.” She continued. I nodded with a small smile on my face. Unfortunately, I know Adrian.

“I’m Fiona. I’m your neighbor.” I introduced myself stupidly. No, I’m someone breaking into your neighbor’s house.

“You’re Lucille’s daughter?” She asked and I nodded my head with a smile. I wanted to frown at the topic of my mother.  

“Yeah, I’m her daughter.” I confirmed and she smiled even wider.

“I invited your mother and father over for dinner this Monday and she agreed. I hope this doesn’t cancel any plans of yours.” She informed me with an innocent smile on her face. This was the first I’d heard of this.

“It’s perfectly fine. I rarely have plans, anyway.” I snorted and she laughed. She laughed like a teenage girl who just found out that her ex was with someone uglier than her. It was careless and funny. Her laugh was contagious and I couldn’t help but laugh. We heard a car speed down the street and she sighed while shaking her head.

“I like you, you’re funny.” She smiled before grabbing Mattie who just sat silently while listening to our conversation. “But we have to get going, its Mattie’s bedtime and Adrian won’t be happy to find his little brother snooping in his room.”  She said and I nodded, waving as she exited the room.

‘I wasn’t talking about you, Fiona. It’s a different Fiona. Are we still on for tomorrow?’ I received this text message as soon as Denise and Mattie left the room. I felt my anger rise up once again. A different Fiona? Am I supposed to believe this? And is he seriously asking if we are still on for tomorrow? I stood up again, running my hand through my hair and walking around.

‘Yeah.’ I quickly replied. He thinks I’m actually naïve enough to believe that he wasn’t talking about me? I could practically see the smirk sitting on his face. I had a smirk myself, an evil smirk as I slowly put my phone down and began laughing to myself.

“What’s wrong with you?” A voice interrupted my laughter. I quickly darted around to see Adrian sitting there with a confused and somewhat scared look on his face. I coughed awkwardly before I replied.

“Oh, nothing, I just, uh, you know…” I said awkwardly. He nodded.

“Uh huh, so… what really happened?” He asked with an eyebrow raised as he took off his bag and slid it under his bag.

“You’ll see tomorrow. By the way, tell Denise and Mattie I said ‘Goodnight.’” I replied, closing the window as a perplexed look covered his face.