Chapter 81: Chapter 81

My tongue was tied, and I could not think of anything to say. I could not even defend myself, and I just kept my gaze down. I felt like such an idiot, and I hated myself for it.

Samantha continued. "I think you should focus on your own boyfriend, Ivy. You know what? I might just tell your boyfriend how much of a slut you are," She snapped at me.

I was too stunned to speak, and time seemed to stand still as I listened to the shuffling of chairs around me. The gasps of the students echoed in the cafeteria, and I glanced up. Joey had dumped the contents of her juice bottle all over Samantha's head.

"Don't you ever call my best friend a slut," Joey growled at Samantha, giving her a deadly glare.

Samantha's mouth hung open in shock. "What the heck! What are you doing? What is wrong with you?" She rambled.

"Shut up!" Joey barked. "Don't even try me. If you interrupt my lunch with my best friend again, I'll mess up that stupid face of yours and your cheap makeup."

Samantha's lips trembled as she struggled to respond. I could tell that she was on the verge of tears. "Y-You... you will regret this," She stammered.

"I should be the one telling you that trash," Joey retorted. "Don't you even think at all? All you do is bother my best friend with talks about Romeo, someone who doesn't give a fuck about you,"

Samantha pushed a strand of wet hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing. "Romeo loves me," She insisted, her voice wavering slightly.

"In your dreams, bitch," Joey shot back.

Samantha opened her mouth, but Joey cut her off before she could get a word out. I realized then that Joey had really wanted to put her in her place.

"You asked if Ivy was obsessed with Romeo. You want to know who's obsessed?" Joey asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "I think you're obsessed with Ivy."

Samantha's eyebrows shot up. "Why would I be obsessed with Ivy? Who is she?" She demanded.

"Ivy has been living rent free in your dry head," Joey blurted out. "You must be a huge fan,"

Students in the cafeteria erupted into laughter, and I could not help but chuckle, despite the mess I had gotten myself into.

"Let's get out of here," Joey said, turning to me. "Her ugly face has ruined my appetite."

I nodded my head, and we turned on our heels, leaving Samantha and her minions at our table looking like a fool that they were.

Joey led me into an empty classroom, closing the door behind us. I knew what was coming. She'd handled Samantha; now it was my turn to get a piece of her mind.

"I know that everything Samantha said was true," She uttered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Now, I want to know what the hell happened and why you felt the need to hide this from me. I need to know if I'm still your best friend."

"You are my best friend," I muttered, swallowing a gulp down my throat. "On Friday night, I was hanging out at the party while you were upstairs with your boyfriend. I got bored, and a group of strangers were already bothering me. I followed Romeo to his house because he was leaving too. But, nothing happened between us."

Joey's eyes narrowed. "Are you really trying to tell me that nothing happened between you two? We are best friends, and I know you better than that. You've always had a thing for Romeo. And now you're telling me that you just hung out at his place all night and nothing happened?" She rambled.

I took a deep breath. "He asked for a kiss," I blurted out.

"So, did you kiss him?" Joey probed.

"No, I didn't. We slept in separate rooms," I answered.

Joey moved closer to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and I let out a breath I had not even realized I had been holding. At least my best friend was not that mad at me.

"I'm glad you didn't kiss him. That is real progress. You are starting to learn how to control your feelings around him," Joey uttered, beaming a smile at me.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Now, that crazy bitch can go to hell. I wish I could go back to the cafeteria just to kick her butt," Joey blurted out, rolling her eyes.

"No, please don't," I laughed.

"Samantha is so annoying," Joey grumbled.

"She has gone nuts too," I added, shaking my head.

I closed my eyes for seconds. I tried to wrap my head around how Samantha had found out about my night at Romeo's house. I didn't want to believe that Romeo had told her, but who else could have?

But, for some reasons I was not sure of, I didn't want to believe that it had been Romeo. He had said and done so many hurtful things to me in the past, this should not be added to the list.

****

James leaned in and kissed me on the cheek as soon as I entered his car.

"I missed you," He whispered in my ear, planting a second kiss on my lips.

"I missed you too," I uttered.

I wasn't sure if I really meant it, but I figured that was what I was supposed to say. It had been days since we'd seen each other, so I supposed it was normal to miss someone. But still, I was not sure that I really did.

"You didn't say that in your text," James accused, starting the car's engine.

"I'm sorry. I was in class, so I could not type much," I explained.

"I believe you," James said, smiling at me in the rearview mirror.

"Can we please go to my house?" I asked. "We can go for the date later."

James stole a quick look at me before turning back to the road. He pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine.

"What's up? What's wrong with you? Don't you want to spend time with me?" He probed.

I let out a long sigh. "I'm just tired," I muttered, looking away from him.

He gently turned my face back to his, his eyes searching mine. "There's something else going on. I can tell,"

My hands balled into fists. I wanted to tell him everything, but I didn't know how. I didn't want him to hear it from someone else, and I knew I had to tell him the truth.

"Ivy?" James called out my name, his brow furrowed.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "The day of the party," I began. "I stayed the night at someone's house. We slept in separate rooms, and nothing happened between us. I swear."

There was a long pause. He didn't say anything for a while.

"Your ex, right?" He inquired.

I nodded, unable to find my voice. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. How could I speak when he was looking at me like that, his eyes piercing into mine?

"Are you still in love with him?" James blurted out.