Chapter 2
*Jake*
Fuck, Logan can be an asshole sometimes.
I’m in the bathroom doing everything I can to save this beer stained shirt that’s clinging to my body. There’s nothing I can do about it, it’s dunzo.
I take off my tux jacket and start undoing the buttons of the shirt, hoping the tank I have on underneath will be okay. I’ll have to run home and grab a new shirt. Luckily, Mom is always prepared for this kind of stuff and has a spare ready to go.
I can’t believe Logan did that, and all to get that girl’s attention. I mean, I get it, I noticed her the minute she walked in the door, smiling up at the kid who’s hand she was holding. She walked in with another guy, you’d think that was enough of a sign to call the game off. But not for Logan. The minute her boyfriend, or whatever, left her side it was game on. I followed him for a laugh, I wasn’t supposed to end up here.
I roll my eyes at myself in the mirror. I’m gonna look like an ultra douche walking out in suit pants and a wife beater. Fuck Logan.
I open the door and stop in my tracks when I see her, but it’s not the same girl that walked in. Her eyes are brimming with unshed tears and she’s fuming. I’ve only opened the door enough so I can just see her, I haven’t stepped into the hallway yet. She’s staring daggers into something, or someone. I take a tentative step forward and see her glaring at a couple standing in front of the women’s restroom. It’s like the couple are frozen in time, the blond girl’s hair is messed up and her dress is all twisted, her hands are on the guy’s face. I can’t see him properly. His back is to me. I can however, see that his hands are adjusting himself. It’s obvious this couple just screwed in the bathroom. At least their prom will be memorable.
I almost turn to leave when I hear her strained voice. “How long?” she says, her tone flat.
What? The guy turns to face her and it’s then I realize who this asshole is. It’s her boyfriend, I assume. Well, it’s the dick she walked in with.
“How long?” she asks again, a little louder, but still the same even tone.
“Baby…” asshole says reaching out for her.
“Two years,” the blond says, at the same time.
Fuck.
I look over at the cute brunette and wait for a reaction.
I feel like I should leave, like what I’m witnessing is too intimate, too personal. But my feet are locked to the floor. I have no idea why, but I can’t look away. I can’t walk away. I want to punch this asshole square in the face. If for nothing else but causing the pained look on this girl’s face. No way anyone deserves to be treated like that, especially this girl. I feel the need to protect her. I don’t even know her.
Two fucking years, what the hell?
Asshole steps forward so his back is to the blond. The blond glares at the back of his head. “Baby…” he says. I ball my fists. “I love you, Mikayla.”
What?
“WHAT?!” both girls yell.
Asshole and the brunette both turn to the blond, “Shut up, Megan!” they yell in unison.
“Megan,” the brunette says, taking a deep breath. “You’re my best friend. What the fuck?” Tears start streaming down her face.
Megan looks at her, then at the asshole, “I’m sorry, Mick,” she shrugs. But she’s not sorry, not even a little. She walks away, brushing past me.
I still haven’t said a word. I still haven’t moved an inch.
Mikayla and this asshole are staring at each other. Neither know I’m standing here like a creeper.
“Jesus, James,” Mikayla whispers, her voice shaky now. “I’ve been with you for four fucking years. And half that time you’ve been screwing my best friend!” her voice gets louder with every word.
There’s silence as he wipes a tear from his face. Why the fuck is he crying?
“Why the fuck are you crying?” she says forcefully. He flinches. Exactly Mikayla, I think to myself.
“For four years I never so much as looked at another guy. I was loyal to you when you weren’t even around, when you wouldn’t have even known, because that’s how much I loved you.” She’s in his face now, her words clear as day. She’s beyond the broken girl she started as, and now she’s just plain pissed.
“Were there any others?”
“NO! I swear it.”
Silence. The only sound is their heavy breathing.
“Why her?”
“C’mon, Micky. You don’t wanna know this shit. Let’s just go to prom and have a good time, okay?” He has an accent, Texas, I think.
“Why her?” she asks again.
He sighs, defeated, “The first time was when we had that away game a couple years back, where we stayed overnight to support the cheerleaders at some tournament they were doing the next day.”
“The one when my dad was out of town, and my mom and sister were sick so I couldn’t go with you?” she asks quietly, looking at the floor.
He nods. “Yeah, that’s the one, Micky, it was so stupid. We just… there was alcohol, and she wanted me and I didn’t think. Well,… I did, but not with my head.”
“And all the times after? God, how many times were there?”
He flinches at the question. Asshole.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
“Don’t call me that!”
“I’m sorry, Micky,” he sighs, “she just… I dunno. She’s always wanted me and it was always so easy.”
“What?” she asks quietly.
Then fire burns in her eyes.
“WHAT?” she says louder. “You’re going to put this on me? At what stage did you think that I didn’t want you? I gave it up to you whenever you wanted! I never said no to you. EVER! I wasn’t easy enough? Because we had to sneak around and wait for parents or brothers and sisters to not be around, or go to hotel rooms, or cars… Because she lived next door and her mom was never home? That’s why it was easy? What the fuck, James!”
She takes a deep breath. “Oh my God… did you use protection? I mean, she’s been with a lot of guys… A LOT. And that’s only the ones I know about… I didn’t even consider the ones she didn’t…” she trails off. “James…?”
“I always used a condom with her, always. I know I’m an asshole, but I knew she got around, and with you… there was never that barrier with us and I didn’t want to risk it. Babe, you have to-"
“You mean you didn’t want to get caught?”
He sighs, “Mikayla, I’m so sorry.” Asshole has the decency to sound sincere. “Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive me? I mean, we had plans to go to college together. We planned our future tog-"
“OH MY GOD…” she gasps, panic written all over her face. “Who was your first, James?”
He flinches, it’s a small movement but we both catch it.
“Our first time at the hotel on my birthday, that wasn’t your first time was it?”
This guy just bought asshole to a whole new level.
“God, you faked it all, and the lies… I must be so fucking stupid!” she cries.
It’s silent for what seems like the longest time. Asshole must sense that nothing he says is going to make this any better.
A sob escapes from her and he begins to move forward to comfort her. I do everything I can to stay still. He manages to hold her while she sobs in his arms. After a minute, she rears back from his hold and pushes him away. “Was I not good enough in bed? Is that what it was? Did I do it wrong?” She sounds so sad now. “If you didn’t want to be with me, you could have just broken up with me, James. You didn’t have to cheat on me, over, and over, and over again. With my best friend. You could’ve just told me you didn’t want to be with me anymore, and you could’ve had all the girls in the world. It didn’t have to be like this. God, James…” she looks up at him. “You didn’t have to break my heart,” she whispers.
My chest tightens at her words.
Tears are falling freely down both their faces.
She squares her shoulders and lifts her chin, “You need to go, James. I can’t even stand to look at you right now.”
“Mikayla, please,” he begs.
“Please, James. Just go,” she pleads.
He actually listens, and walks away, brushing past me, as if I don’t even exist. I look back at her. She’s leaning against the wall, and slowly, her body gives up and she slumps against it, falling to her ass. Her body breaks out in silent sobs. Her arms shielding her head from the outside world.
I’m still standing here like a creeper and she has no idea. I need to do something. I need to comfort her, to make sure she’s going to be okay. Or maybe I should just go out there and kick that guy’s ass.
I clear my throat.
She looks up startled.
“Holy shit, accent boy. How much of that did you see?”