Jaded (Jaded #1)

There had been no Trevor Bently, punching, or party when Bryce and I had first slept together. And that’s why I loved my two best friends so much. They were lying for me. She knew it. And they continued to lie.

Miss Connors shifted in her seat and stared at me. “I’m glad that you think this is a joke because I’m sure your friend would’ve thought the same about you. Wait—no, she wouldn’t have. Your friend probably would’ve cried if it had been you instead of her.

How do you feel about that, Sheldon?”

Bryce commented, “You’re a great counselor. You make people feel like shit.”

“No doubt,” Corrigan added his two cents.

“And when the two of you stop talking for Sheldon, maybe we can actually get somewhere instead of all three of you jerking my chain,” Miss Connors said briskly.

“Sheldon, I asked you a question. How do you think Leisha would’ve reacted if your places were switched?”

Bryce opened his mouth again, but Miss Connors cut him off. “I want to hear

Sheldon’s voice. She’s got one.”

He closed his mouth and leaned back.

I leaned forward and said simply, “The difference between Leisha and me is that she was a decent person. I’m not.”

Miss Connors was cool when she asked, “So is this your martyr bit? Am I suppose to tell you how great and wonderful you are, how much potential you have? I’ve already said that. If you choose to listen or believe me, then that’s on you. It’s your life at the end of the day. You’re the one who falls asleep at night, but you still haven’t answered my question. How do you think Leisha would’ve reacted?”

“I can’t answer that because I’m not Leisha.”

“You were friends. That’s what everyone says. It’s funny that I never saw the two of you converse in the hallways. I usually notice that, but everyone has told me that you guys were friends with her.”

I leaned back and said coolly, “I considered her a friend, yes. Not best friends, but I liked her.”

“Enough to have a guy she liked call her. Right? Carlos said that you were the one who suggested that he should call her. You were looking out for a friend, weren’t you?”

“What?” I countered. “Does that make me a decent person now?”

“No,” Miss Connors clipped out. “One act of decency just shows that there is decency inside, but it doesn’t make a person decent. No, but that wasn’t your question was it? Your real question is if I think you’re a decent person, right?”

Bryce remarked, seemingly casual, “Why don’t you back off of her?” He looked bored, but everyone in the room knew he wasn’t.

“And you come stepping to the plate,” Miss Connors stated. She waved a finger to each of us, “Is that what you do? You step up and shield Sheldon when you think she can’t handle anymore?”

Bryce leaned forward. “Why don’t you stop trying to classify us as awful people and do some counseling? That’s what you are, aren’t you?”

“I think my question to Sheldon was if she wondered if I wondered if she was a decent person. An ‘awful person’ never came into the conversation.”

“What’s your point?” Bryce demanded as he leaned back, back in cool control.

Miss Connors watched him and shook her head as a grin tugged at her lips.

“Bryce Scout, you’d be surprised how many times I hear your name in this office. Little girls who think they’re in love. Some just want to lose a few more pounds so you’d notice them. Some try to convince themselves that you’ll love them if they sleep with you or sleep with your friends. And then there’s the scorned ones. The ones who finally realize that you don’t love them and you’ll never love them. Those are the ones that break my heart because they think they’ve lost everything.” She shook her head, astounded. “How do you do that, Bryce Scout? How do you get everyone to want you so bad and they still want you even when you’ve tossed them out?”

Bryce locked eyes with her and neither budged.

I sighed and stated, “I know what you’re doing.”

“Hold on, Sheldon. I’m talking with Bryce Scout now.”

I ignored her. “You’re trying to understand us so you’re going after all of us. You went after me, Bryce, and Corrigan’s next. You want to know who speaks up for who because you want to understand us.”

She ignored me in return and murmured, “So, Bryce Scout, how does it feel to have Sheldon think you can’t handle anymore? She just stepped up to save you, like you did for her.”

“I’m bored,” Corrigan proclaimed.

A smile came to Miss Connors as she reflected, “And your best friend just threw in his bit. He’s trying to save you too.”

“Maybe they’re trying to save you,” Bryce said softly.