Chapter 14: Chapter 14

He wondered for how long she had known. It now made sense he guessed. Her being away from Chad for a while. She said Chad had told her everything. She knew the bet. He had said movie logic. She was meant to fall for him too. He had actually thought that she honestly had feelings for him, but she had been lying to him just like he had been from the beginning.

But he swore that his intentions had changed. She wouldn’t believe him. But she would believe everything Chad would say. Unbelievable. She was so unfair. And now he couldn’t swear before her even if he tried with the picture that everyone was talking about.

Chad had a girlfriend. And you could guess who the girlfriend was.

Didn’t Chad tell her that he had been the one to make the deal in the first place? That he was the one that chose her in the first place? That Chad only showed interest because of the wager. And somehow he had been the good guy and now they were dating.

He wouldn’t just sit down and take it.

He would talk to her, but she must have blocked him and deleted his number. Because the calls were not going through. She was that mad that she wouldn’t even hear his side of his story. He could go to her house, but that would be too much. That would be when everything else had failed.

The only place he would have to talk to her was school. She didn’t go out so much so he couldn’t just show up anywhere to surprise her. And also the fact that class would be the only way to talk to her. That wouldn’t work because they would be learning most of the time. When they were done, he knew that she would want to get away from him as fast as she could.

Not to mention that they would be surrounded by other students so it would be hard to actually get her one-on-one. He wouldn’t cry over the fact that the girl he had feeling for was with someone that wasn’t really his friend. He also wouldn’t cry that she had played with his feelings. They would talk maturely.

She went through a change and so did she.

Getting to class, there were a few students and also Kelly. She was with her phone listening to music. He had no idea that she had a headset. He stood before her and tapped her table. She couldn’t hear, but he knew she could see and feel. She didn’t even flinch.

She was ignoring him.

He groaned and pushed the headset down her neck.

“Dude” she growled out.

“I need to talk to you”.

“Never come near me. I believe that was what I said last time we had a fight” her voice was light so as not to draw attention to them.

Jason had a deep voice. He really couldn’t whisper even if he tried. “You didn’t say it this time, so I couldn’t just stay away”.

“Well I’m saying it now. Stay away from me” and she held her headset bringing it back up, but he pushed it down. She slammed her hands down onto her table, narrowing her eyes at him.

That got the attention of a few. They weren’t looking away.

“You’re causing a scene” he said knowingly.

“If you don’t leave me alone right now, I’ll scream” she threatened lowly.

He knew she would do it. She was weird Kelly after all. He wouldn’t care normally, but the whispers and the stares. Word would get out soon that Chad and Jason were fighting over the same girl. Chad girlfriend. So he backed off. He’d get to talk to her later anyway.

Immediately the bell rang for break, she was the first person out. He wouldn’t rush after her, well more like he couldn’t. Everyone was running out. Well the class had been extra boring today that he had a problem keeping his eyes open.

How would he get her alone now?

Chad would be all over her.

And he was proven right. In the cafeteria he was by her side. While she struggled to hold her tray, he had his arm around her holding her very close. Like she would disappear. She was already his girlfriend it’s not like she was going anywhere. He was the reason her tray was tipping to the side, but she wasn’t complaining.

Well she could be on the inside. But if she had something to say she would. He was expecting her to be all smiles, but she wasn’t. This was her dream since sophomore year wasn’t it? Shouldn’t she be rubbing it in everyone’s face? Or was she with him just to prove a point to him?

He wished that was the case. But it wasn’t.

She had on a small frown as Chad led her away. The frown if anyone else saw it would be really annoyed if there were with her, but the way her lips squeezed he found it cute. So currently she was annoyed. Well with the way he was holding her he would be too.

He’d try again later.

Kelly was happy to be with Chad. She just didn’t realize that once she became his girlfriend that was like an initiation into his social circle. She had always been by herself in school. Eaten by herself, but there was the occasional projects that she had to work with someone else. Other than that no one.

Now she was pushed into his social situation.

“Can’t I eat somewhere else with you?” she whispered sharply.

“I always eat with my friends. I can’t just stop eating with them just because we’re together” he chuckled his arm squeezing her tighter for a bit.

She rolled her eyes, but they were fond. “I didn’t say that. Can’t I just eat with them another time?” she begged the closer they approached the table the table with people from the track. She never imagined this would happen to her any day. She wasn’t sure she could handle this.

She would embarrass herself and end up embarrassing her boyfriend. She couldn’t do that. They finally approached the table and she placed her tray on the table. It was a miracle that she didn’t spill anything on the way.

They had all been talking, doing whatever before they approached. Well they had surely seen them coming. Now that they had sat down all eyes were on them.

‘I can do this’ she told herself. She had gotten Chad as her boyfriend when she’s a complete introvert. She had changed her wardrobe with an overly strict mother. And she had shown the lady killer what she was made of. That last one filled her with a lot of confidence that she felt she could do anything.

Which was have her food with her boyfriend and his friends. They would be acquaintances now it seemed.

Lunch had gone well. She had met them, talked a little. She had laughed hearing funny stories about Chad. She shared some of her own. Today was track practice and she told them that she would be staying.

And she was back in that place that she had kissed Chad for the first time. She wouldn’t get tired of saying that word. Boyfriend. While they got warmed up, she tried to do her homework. Well she couldn’t do it with how they were warming up. They were stretching and she was entranced.

She had been doing well. With the way everything had gone down, she had already decided Jason wasn’t worth it. She had already detached herself from him in any sort of way since she found out. He just couldn’t handle the fact that a girl like him had played him. It was a huge hit to his reputation. But he should be happy that no one knew about it. The whole school wasn’t talking about it.

It was easy ignoring him.

Well until this morning. He had walked up to her like they were friends. They were never friends. And he should stop trying to do whatever he was planning. So she was going to continue doing what she was doing. Being happy with Chad. Jason asshole should get that and stay away from her.

She stayed there till they were done and walking down the track. She maneuvered her way under the railings, everything in her bag and jogged to meet him.

“Enjoyed watching me?” he asked. He stretched his hand to touch her, but she ducked under his arm.

“Yes I did. After your shower”.

“You didn’t seem to care before at that time” he teased.

“Now I do. There’s no bar separating us. Shower first and then we’re out of here”.

“Sure” and he breezed past her.

She waited not far from the place that led to the locker-room. She heard footsteps. Turning with a smile, it vanished immediately when she saw Jason.

“Can we talk now?” he asked.

“No” she said stiffly, then turned away.

He stepped in front of her. The first turn had made her dizzy so she couldn’t keep turning to avoid him. “Tell me what Chad said” he didn’t make himself to sound like he was demanding, but he sort of sounded that way.

“He told me the truth. Now stop talking to me”. Where was Chad?

“Well I have to know if he changed anything. Because you are with him even though you know he was part of it. So I want to know what he told you”.

“That is….”

“Kelly!” they both heard. She turned to see Chad jogging towards them.

He was beside her, his arm finding the right place round her shoulders. “Do you have something to say Jason?” he questioned daringly.

“Yes I do” he replied unfazed.

“Then say what you want with me here. I don’t like other guys, especially guys like you talking to my girlfriend when I’m not close”.

“Not this again” Kelly groaned pretty loud but it went unheard among the two posturing males. She would have walked away but she didn’t want to pay. She already had a free ride.

“Okay fine. I’ll tell you what I told her” he stepped forward.

If he started talking, it would turn into an argument and she didn’t want it to get further. She didn’t want to see what their relationship was really like. She would have to be the one to step in.

“He told me how you said I would fall for you. That he showed you my picture saying you couldn’t and you said you could!” she got out pretty quick. “And that’s the end of it. We can go now Chad!”

“So he told you all that and you still decide to be with him?!” this time he demanded an answer.

“I don’t like your town with my girlfriend Jason!”

She held him back.

“Yes. At least he told me, he didn’t lie to me like you!” she screamed. “Are you really mad at the fact that I’m mad at you?”

“I’m not mad at that! I’m mad that you’re being really partial right now. We both lied and you forgive Chad instantly”.

“Are you being stupid?!” she stomped her foot. “You used me. Do you forget what you told me? That you just wanted to my friend? No other intentions!”

“But you lied. You did that anyway, claiming that your intentions were pure. Lied to my face that you liked me and that you finally wanted to change. You should go to Hollywood really”.

“You really thought I was lying?” he asked astonished.

“You’ve been caught. So just stop that, you’re being really pathetic right now”.

Chad looked at him puzzled for a while, then realization crept onto his face. “Jason Angle. Are you really trying to say that you really have feelings for my girlfriend? Right to my face”.

“Like you didn’t lie too Kelly?” Jason asked quietly.

Chad watched everything unfold with undisclosed interest.

“Just because you did. What? You had feelings for me?” she jabbed. “The lady killer falling in love. If Chad didn’t tell me I would have believed you” she shook her head tiredly. “I’m done with this. Can you take me home now?”

“Why would you think I.…I might have lied from the beginning but I….”

“So much emotions” Chad mocked him openly. “You’re done Angle. Stay away from her”.

Kelly couldn’t be here anymore. She let go of Chad. He had given her a ride this morning, and since they got together so she knew where he parked. She walked away from the both of them. Both boys watched her go.

“So, you like her” Chad stated with a smile. “That’s why you won’t leave it all alone. So it’s not because you lose to me. Good to know” he nodded. They just stood there looking at each other. Chad couldn’t picture a more funny sight. He wouldn’t have imagined that he would one day beat Jason. He didn’t beat him in schoolwork, didn’t beat him on the track, and didn’t beat him when girls were involved, but not anymore.

He had beat him actual feelings for a girl. He got a girl that wanted nothing to do with Jason, that didn’t like Jason, and also helped him in knocking him down a peg. Looking at the sorry sight he was right now was so delicious.

He really did look pathetic.

“See you dude. You win sometimes, other times you don’t”.

“There was no need for all that” Jason stated. He wasn’t going to cry about how unfair what he did was. It had already happened. And she had been in on it. He guessed that was what hurt the most. She had thought he was lying. And when she said she liked him back, she had been lying. He needed to talk to her about this.

Especially without Chad.

“My girlfriend awaits” he said with fake chivalry.

“Do you like her?”

“Yes I do and she likes me. Not you” he pointed out before walking past their shoulders touching.

Kelly slipped off his trunk as she saw him approach. “Why did you have to talk to him for that long?” she said under her breath as she opened her door. “My butt was getting friend”.

“Why don’t I massage it then?” he leaned down to touch her backside to soothe her, but she slapped his hands away.

Okay she was mad.

“You still want to go out?”

“I just want to go home and try to get over that weird conversation that happened. I really never want to be part of that in future. Please I hope that never happens in future”.

“Are you blaming me?” he was confused. “What did I do?” he pulled out of the parking lot. “It was you he came to talk to”.

“You’re seriously asking like you don’t know. Like you didn’t put me in his sights. Make him back off Chad or there will be problems”.

“Between us….or….” he droned waiting for her to answer.

“Actual problems. Like the way he keeps approaching me and trying to talk to me. He shouldn’t do something drastic”.

“I know Jason. He wouldn’t do something like that” he said trying to assure her.

“Well he’s not being so cool right now. When it was a bet he had no problem, I won the bet and he can’t accept that. I’m done with him”.

“Nothing is going to happen. Trust me” he placated.

“Whatever” she said petulantly.

He dropped her at the normal spot. He didn’t ask funny questions like why she always made him stop her here.

“So have any plans for the weekend?” he asked with what he must have considered a cool lean.

“I’ll tell you when I see how it’s going to be” she said giving him a chaste kiss before closing his door softly. She stood there and watched him drive away before she began her walk. Looking at her phone, and since it was a Friday she knew her mum would be back early.

She was really trying to convince herself that she was okay with everything that had happened. But she wasn’t. And who could she tell it to? Herself in the mirror. Jason had really hurt her bad and he hurt her more today when he actually accused her of lying. She wondered sometimes if he listened to himself talk. All that had just happened three, maybe almost four days ago. The worst things always happens on a Monday.

The way he had looked at her…..it just made her want to punch him in the eye. How can he look so innocent when he was freakishly guilty?

She looked to the driveway and her mum’s car wasn’t there yet. Well she would have nothing to complain about tonight.

“Kelly!”

‘No way!’ she thought frozen with fear. She was just a couple more steps from her door. Turning she was staring at Jason. Jason Angle was literally standing before the opposite house. This wasn’t time for her to be frozen. This was time for her to tell him to leave because if her mum came back to see him, all hell would break lose.

“No!” was all she said shaking her head. Like shaking her head would rid him away from her sight. “Go away!”

“Not after we talk” he said firmly walking up to meet her.

“There’s nothing to talk about” she kept glancing to the side like her mum would just appear out of thin air. "Leave!” she said frantic.

“Not after we talk. I might have been lying at the beginning, but I’m not lying now. I actually took you as a friend, and I developed feelings for you. It wasn’t a bet. You’re smart Kelly you have to see that”.

“Rich. I wish I could believe you, but you’ve only proven since I met you that you’re nothing but a liar”.

“So are you trying to tell me that people don’t change?” he scoffed with disbelief. “You changed from weird Kelly. So the lady killer can’t?”

She shook her head. “Just get out of here now” she turned to go. He didn’t grab her though, but he followed. She turned back immediately and shoved him, but he didn’t budge. That just made her more frustrated than she already was.

“If I’m a liar, then you’re also a liar. You knew, but you didn’t tell me to my face so we could settle things like the way you did. You’re partial and also a hypocrite” he said flatly.

“Already been established. Now that you got all that out, you can leave!” the veins were prominent in her neck area. She was that mad.

“You would know if I was lying…..”

“I wouldn’t because I would have known we weren’t real friends!” she cut him off.

Just like school, they were attracting people. Some of the neighbours watched from the windows, while others came out to watch. They were both oblivious to it this time.

“I wasn’t lying about my feeling for you. God, you even let me kiss you. Why would you do that if you hated me?” he almost begged. He wanted to be wrong. He wanted to be sure that she felt something.

“Easy. The same way you had. Now get out of here Jason! Now!” she pointed to the place he normally used to pick her up and drop her off.

“I can’t leave until we settle this” he told her.

“Don’t be like this now. Don’t be an infuriating asshole”.

Both teenagers didn’t even hear the car pull up into the driveway.

Adriana got out immediately and made her way towards her daughter and a boy she had never seen before.

“What is going on?!” she asked close enough to touch but didn’t. She was still in shock at what was happening. She had seen people outside, but she had no idea that her daughter would be the one drawing in the crowd.

“Mum!” Kelly exclaimed scared. “He’s…..he’s just leaving” she reached for her mum to hold her hand.

“Good evening ma’am” the boy greeted with a smile. “I’m Jason Angle a friend of Kelly” he introduced himself. She looked between him and her daughter and she wasn’t comfortable. There was something bigger here.

“He’s not!” she shot down that claim.

She tried to walk away, and he didn’t even care that she was there. He held her daughter’s hand.

“Kelly!” she exclaimed.

She fought out of his grip. That was when she knew she had seen enough. She grabbed her daughter. “I think you need to leave!” she warned.

“Ms. Blinch we had a small argument. I’m trying to make things right…please”.

The boy’s closeness was disturbing. She didn’t like it.

Kelly was shouting behind her and the boy was talking too. She didn’t care, she got her phone out and dialed a number. While both children kept arguing, she talked to someone on the phone. When she was done, she looked to the boy. “Leave now” she leveled him with the same look she gave her daughter.

“I can’t leave ma’am”.

“Kelly go inside” she said sternly. She was already in mum mode.

She actually hesitated. “Mu-mu…”

“Inside now!” she barked.

Kelly turned and walked back into the house. It was just her and this boy. Jason was his name.

“Stay away from my daughter!” was all she said, with her chin up.

“B-but I can’t just leave things as they are. We had a misunderstanding and I can’t leave things as they are”.

“I want you to stay away. She doesn’t need boys like you distracting her” she said further.

“But we’re friends. I give her rides to school, I drop her off. Someone said something and now…things here like this….” He kept talking and he didn’t even know he had said more than he should have. He kept talking to Adriana whose mouth had gone slack.

Until a man in uniform was by her side.

“Adriana” the officer said.

She came back to her senses and addressed the man. “He’s the one causing the disturbance. I saw him harassing my daughter when I came home” she narrated. “Everyone else saw it. You can ask them” she said vehemently.

“I wasn’t!” he denied to the officer.

A hysterical teen wasn’t really someone who could be taken seriously. Before he knew it he was being led away. He didn’t even know why he was moving with the officer. That must have been best. He didn’t want to become a criminal offender along with everything else Kelly said.

Wait Kelly.

Did she know what was happening?

“Kelly!” he yelled. “Does this make up for everything?!” he made sure to shout as loud as he could, but there was no answer.

So he tried again. “Kelly!” he yelled. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, but you have to believe me when I say I wasn’t lying”.

He was pushed none too gently into the car and his door was shut. But the window was open and he went closer and continued yelling her name. Then that was when everything sunk in. He had just gotten arrested.

Kelly watched her mum talking with the officer from the window. She had seen and heard everything. She had heard him yell her name and she hadn’t moved. She just didn’t know what to do. She jerked the curtain shut with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t control it this time. She ran to her room with her hands over her mouth to at least stop the sound.

She wasn’t okay. And what was worse, the only person that would understand her wasn’t her boyfriend but Jason. Jason Angle. Asshole, user, liar and pretender.

Adriana walked in with Gregory. “Kelly!” she called. She needed her to talk to him, but there was no answer. She had been like this lately. Rebellious. There would be no answer until she was ready. She looked to him and he looked back at her in understanding.

“I’ll be here tomorrow” he said as she led him out. He stood before her and just stared. “If you need anything” he assured her.

She closed the door and made her way up the stairs. She would just have walked past, but there was the unmistakable sound of Kelly crying.

She stood there for a while. For the first time in all her years of being a parent she didn’t know what to do.

What had happened?