Chapter 16: Chapter 16

I kept my part of our pinkie promise:

ISABELLA: Anna R U there?

ANNA: Of course, my phone is surgically attached 2 my ear! Why Rn’t U skating?

ISABELLA: I haven’t seen Scott since he gave me the ultimatum.

ANNA: Did U break up with Michael?

ISABELLA: Yes.

ANNA: How did it go?

ISABELLA: Devastated.

ANNA: Him or U?

ISABELLA: Both, I need 2 talk.

ANNA: Sure, but Lara’s over, she’s having troubles with Jeremy.

ISABELLA: I’ll come over.

I leave my house hastily calling out that I’m going over to Anna’s not even explaining why I’m not training tonight. Dad is the only one home and with a little luck, he won’t remember my schedule anyway. I don’t know where mom is, I assume shopping. I close the door behind me to find Anna’s car parked in the driveway, and my mother pulls in.

Mom gets out of her car and holds her hand up, “Not so fast Isabella! Would you like to explain to me this little secret you’ve been keeping from me about a boyfriend at school? Mrs. Brandon is in a right mood.”

“I can’t, not right now mom, Anna’s waiting for me. We have a project coming due tomorrow.” I get into the passenger side backseat slamming the door behind me and quickly ordered Anna to, “Drive!”

She starts the car and backs out immediately, “I take it your mom knows something?”

“She found out I have a boyfriend.”

Anna did an exaggerated whistle, “Oh boy, the shit’s going to hit the fan when you get home.”

“My whole fucking world is caving in,” I complain melodramatically.

“Mine too,” Lara chimes in.

“What’s going on with you and Jeremy?” I ask.

“What’s not going on? Let’s just say he wants to try everything and everyone!”

“She caught him kissing Juliet at the mall,” Anna elaborates anti-climactically.

“Anna’s kept me up to speed about Scott and Michael. Wow, you’ve gone from nothing to get it on!”

“You don’t know half of it Lara,” I comment. “Anna, I change my mind, I don’t want to go back to your place, I need comfort food.”

“Agreed!” says Lara.

“Memphis Barbecue in Ikeja?”

“Perfect!”

We chose a small table for four instead of their long benches and sit close to the kitchen. We order the most amazing shakes with fries smothered in sour cream, green onions, and cheddar cheese.

“It’s been so long since we’ve talked Lara, I’m sorry.” I was forever apologizing to my BFF’s for the lack of attention I pay them.

“Oh, you don’t worry about it,” she reassures. “I know your back skating now.”

“Thanks, when did you catch Juliet kissing Jeremy?”

“Like an hour ago, I can’t believe it, I’m still in shock.”

“What did you do?”

“The only thing I could think of doing at the time!” She has me on the edge of my seat, “Which is?”

“I filmed them and posted it on Facebook.”

“Get out! So then what happened?”

“All my friends begin clicking ‘Like,’” she whales.

Anna shakes her head disapprovingly, “You had to have known that was going to happen! You made Jeremy look like a stud on social media.”

“And Juliet a slut,” I add. “He’s not worth it Lara, you’re too good for him,” I say honestly.

Our fries and shakes come to the table.

“What happened with you?” Lara asks.

“Michael knew about my pair skating, but I guess he didn’t think he had anything to worry about until he saw Scott.”

Lara looked at Anna to elaborate, “He’s so unimaginably gorgeous, I’ve named him Orgasm!”

“Oh my,” Lara responds.

Anna continues, “He’s the new guy in school. You must have noticed him by now!”

“The guy with the wispy longish hair and dark dreamy eyes? That’s your partner? You just want to touch his body it’s so perfect? Oh, Fuck! Some people have all the luck!”

Anna shakes her head again, “She hasn’t been that lucky, first of all, he doesn’t do relationships because he’s too busy with school and skating, and second of all when he found out about Michael he forced her to break up with him.”

“He can’t do that! Nobody can force you to break up with someone.” Lara turns to me.

“He can, and he did,” I tell her. “He doesn’t want my personal life affecting our skating career. He threatened to stop skating with me if I continue seeing him.” I look over at Anna, “He must have told his mother who spoke to mine because when you guys picked me up, she was furious and said she knew about me having a boyfriend. I definitely didn’t tell her.”

Now Anna and Lara are gripped to the edges of their seats, “So then what happened.”

“I broke up with Michael in his car and then we went back to his place.” Anna nudged me, “And?”

“I gave him my virginity on a silver platter.” Anna chokes on her milkshake and Lara gasps.

“Oh my God! Your first devirgination was break-up sex?” Anna exclaims before clarifying, “So you are broken up?”

“Yes, but ever since my first kiss, I had to have him.” “That’s so sad,” Lara says.

“That’s horrible,” Anna agrees. My eyes fill with tears, but I refuse to let one drop.

“Did you use protection?” Lara asks.

“No, I wasn’t planning on doing it with him,” I explain.

“Does Scott know what you did?” Anna asks.

“Not yet, I hate him so much for what he forced me to do, I don’t even want to look at him right now.” That is when the floodgates holding back my tears finally burst open. I completely lose my appetite.

“You should tell Scott,” Lara advises. “He needs to know exactly how big a sacrifice you made for him and your partnership.”