“You’re acting like a child right now.”
“Oh? I’m acting like a child?”
“Yeah,” he said quietly, glancing around again. “Let’s go over here and talk.”
“We can talk here,” I insisted.
He sighed.
“Fine. I’ve heard you’re sleeping with Trey too. Is that true?”
“What are you talking about? That’s crazy.”
“You two have a secret between you. I’m not an idiot. I can figure it out.”
“This is why you haven’t answered my calls or texts?”
“I’ve been busy too,” he said defensively. “Why don’t you tell me the secret?”
“You don’t deserve to know.”
“I don’t fucking care anyway,” he said, his voice rising.
“You’re being ridiculous! Listening to some stupid rumor!” I shouted.
Several players turned their heads. The coach did too.
“Come over here, Austin,” he yelled.
“I’ve got to go. I’ll come over to your place later tonight and we can talk about it, okay?”
“Fine,” I said, still furious.
I walked home annoyed with this sudden change in events.. With each step, I wondered if I was heading in the right direction with my life. Did I really want to get into sports medicine and be around asshole jocks the rest of my years on the planet?
My dream of becoming a Nurse Practitioner had started when I first found out about it during a Career Day at school. Some other boy’s mother worked as one. I had listened intently to every word she said then went home to learn more online.
Only two years down the path and I wanted to give up? Did I have what it took to make it all the way? Doubts swirled around me as I took the long way home for my safety. What were my other options? Find a rich guy to marry. That so wasn’t me.
By the time I reached the apartment, I was not in the mood for Jocelyn and crap. She started in on me as soon as I made it through the door.
“Brooke, everything okay? You look upset. Let me guess, Austin problems?” She said it so innocently, that I immediately figured out where Austin had gotten his information.
“Why would you tell him I slept with Trey?”
“Who? What?”
“Don’t play dumb,” I said.
“I thought you liked Trey,” she said. “You kept talking about him getting a boner.”
“You’re so immature, I mentioned it once, because I thought it was funny. But now I know, it wasn’t,” I said. “He’s coming over. You better tell him the truth.”
How had we been so close at one point? We had nothing in common anymore. I was growing up and we were growing apart, and she couldn’t handle it. Her issues with Austin had nothing to do with him, it all had to do with her.
“Fuck him and you,” she said. “I’m leaving.”
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