I wiped an escaped tear. “Then don’t let me stop you.”
I tried to retreat to the Honda, but Travis grabbed my arm again. In the next moment, America was wildly hitting his arm with her fists. He looked at her, blinking for a moment in stunned disbelief. She balled up her fists and pounded them against his chest until he released me.
“Leave her alone, you bastard!”
Shepley grabbed her and she pushed him away, turning to slap Travis’s face. The sound of her hand against his cheek was quick and loud, and I flinched with the noise. Everyone froze for a moment, shocked at America’s sudden rage.
Travis frowned, but he didn’t defend himself. Shepley grabbed her again, holding her wrists and pulling her to the Honda while she thrashed about.
She fought him violently, her blond hair whipping around with her attempts to get away. I was amazed at her determination to get at Travis. Pure hate glowed in her usually sweet, carefree eyes.
“How could you? She deserved better from you, Travis!”
“America, STOP!” Shepley yelled, louder than I’d ever heard him.
Her arms fell to her side as she glared at Shepley with incredulity. “You’re defending him?”
Although he seemed nervous, he stood his ground. “Abby broke up with him. He’s just trying to move on.”
Her eyes narrowed and she pulled her arm from his grip. “Well then, why don’t you go find a random WHORE—” she looked at Megan, “—from the Red and bring her home to fuck and then let me know if it helps you get over me.”
“Mare,” Shepley grabbed for her but she evaded him, slamming the door as she sat behind the wheel. I sat beside her, trying not to look at Travis.
“Baby, don’t leave,” Shepley begged, leaning down into the window.
She started the car. “There is a right side and a wrong side here, Shep. And you are on the wrong side.”
“I’m on your side,” he said, his eyes desperate.
“Not anymore you’re not,” she said, backing out.
“America? America!” Shepley called after her as she raced to the road, leaving him behind.
I sighed. “Mare, you can’t break up with him over this. He’s right.”
America put her hand on mine and squeezed. “No he’s not. Nothing about what just happened was right.”
When we pulled into the parking lot beside Morgan, America’s phone rang. She rolled her eyes as she answered. “I don’t want you calling me anymore. I mean it, Shep,” she said. “No, you’re not … because I don’t want you to, that’s why. You can’t defend what he’s done; you can’t condone him hurting Abby like that and be with me … that’s exactly what I mean, Shepley! It doesn’t matter! You don’t see Abby screwing the first guy she sees! It’s not Travis that’s the problem, Shepley. He didn’t ask you to defend him! Ugh … I’m done talking about this. Don’t call me again. Goodbye.”
She shoved her way out of the car and stomped across the road and up the steps. I tried to keep in step with her
, waiting to hear his side of their conversation.
When her phone rang again, she turned it off. “Travis made Shep take Megan home. He wanted to come by on his way back.”
“You should let him, Mare.”
“No. You’re my best friend. I can’t stomach what I saw tonight, and I can’t be with someone that will defend it. End of conversation, Abby, I mean it.”
I nodded and she hugged my shoulders, pulling me against her side as we walked up the stairs to our rooms. Kara was already asleep, and I skipped the shower, crawling into bed fully dressed, coat and all. I couldn’t stop thinking about Travis stumbling in the door with Megan or the red lipstick smeared across his face. I tried to block out the sickening images of what would have happened had I not been there, and I crossed over several emotions, settling on despair.
Shepley was right. I had no right to be angry, but it didn’t help me to ignore the pain.
· · ·
Finch shook his head when I sat in the desk beside him. I knew that I looked awful; I barely had the energy to change clothes and brush my teeth. I had only slept an hour the night before, unable to shake the sight of the red lipstick on Travis’s mouth or the guilt over Shepley and America’s breakup.
America chose to stay in bed, knowing once the anger subsided, depression would set in. She loved Shepley, and although she was determined to end things because he had picked the wrong side, she was prepared to suffer the backlash of her decision.