I pushed my lips up, giving him the sweetest smile I could form. “I wasn’t aware of that, babe. In fact, last time I checked we were perfectly happy.” I turned my attention to Bleachy again, almost feeling sorry for her. Almost. “So, you don’t read any of the entertainment magazines or see pictures of us together? Does it look like we’re unhappy?”
Yeah, we weren’t everyday news, but those paparazzi assholes seemed to be everywhere and they loved getting pictures of Teddy, the uber sexy front man of Major Hoosiers, and his wife. Of course, they were always looking for something incriminating on him, but had never found it. Where were those assholes now?
Bleachy actually had the nerve to roll her eyes at me, which only pissed me off even more. “You can’t believe everything you read, you know,” she replied in a know-it-all voice, like I was the stupid one. “I guess I can just make him happier than you can.”
I don’t know what overcame me, but I had really had enough. I wasn’t the type of girl to take shit lying down from anyone, and this girl was really asking for it. Teddy must have seen that look in my eyes because he jumped in front of me, like he was trying to protect her, this dumbass, over his own wife. Not that I would be for much longer.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I managed to say through gritted teeth while his hands grasp my shoulders.
“Al, just relax, baby. She means nothing. I think we just need some time alone to talk, and we’ll get everything worked out.” Those brown eyes bore into mine, and I almost wanted to give in. Almost. But then, the picture of what I had walked in on flashed across my mind, something that would probably be ingrained there for the rest of my life. A memory that was life changing. One blip in time that was so small, but yet had so much meaning.
I ducked down out of his reach, grabbing my other heel to chuck in his face, and finally found my chance to attack Bleachy. Of course, the bitch came out with her claws, but I had grown up with two brothers and knew how to really fight. I landed a few good punches before I felt Teddy’s strong hands grip my forearms, pulling me off of Bleachy, but not before I got a few good hair pulls in. Hey, if she was going to fight like a girl, I could, too.
“Get off of me. You have no right to touch me. Ever again.” I hissed out, smoothing back the hair that had escaped the tight bun I had thrown it into this morning, when everything had been at least a little normal. I felt like I was in the twilight zone or something.
Teddy’s hands dropped down to his sides as I caught my breath, even though my hands were still shaking from the adrenaline, or maybe, the overall situation. He stared at me with those brown eyes that I thought I knew, waiting to see what my next move would be, and suddenly the room was just too damn small. I had to get out of there. I couldn’t be with him or her, or on that pathetic excuse that I had called home for so long. And all of it had been a total waste.
I spun on my bare heel without another word to Teddy, brushing past Mark and Tyler who were both standing in the narrow hallway, their arms crossed tightly and something in their eyes as they looked sheepishly at me without saying a word. I think it was pity, but I didn’t want that or need it. I brushed past both of them roughly without another glance. They were supposed to be my friends, too, and who knew how long this had been going on. I guess bros before hoes would always stick. I don’t know why I expected anything less.
“Bobby, please pull the bus over,” I demanded quietly, even though I just wanted to explode and scream at everyone in sight, tugging both of my unpacked bags behind me once again.
“I can’t do that, Miss Ally,” he responded, never taking his eyes off of the dark highway. “I’m sorry.” I wasn’t sure exactly what he was apologizing for but by the way his bushy brows were knitted together, I’m sure it had a whole lot to do with what I had just walked in on. At least someone seemed sorry about the whole situation. And Bobby had been trying to keep me from it the whole time.
“Yes, you can Bobby.” I gave him a tight-lipped smile and reached around him to flick the turn signal on. “I need you to right now, or I swear I’ll jump right off this moving bus. And you know I’ll do it.” I planted a hand on my hip as he let out a loud huff and, thankfully, the bus moved to pull over onto the side of the highway, because I probably would have followed through right in that moment.
“But, Miss Ally,” he tried to argue once more as I stepped on to the stairs. “It’s the middle of the night. A girl like you doesn’t need to be out there all alone. Something could happen and I don’t know what I would do with myself if it did. Can’t you just wait till we hit the next town? We could find a nice hotel. You could get a pair of shoes on those pretty feet of yours...”