She purses her lips. “Your next class?” she snips.
“Economics. Should be right down the hall.”
Andrea nods and then sighs. "When a guy like Brett or Tyler, for that matter, gives you attention, it's hard to turn them down. Damn near impossible. I'm just trying to save you from a lot of heartache."
“Tyler isn’t anything like Brett,” I blurt out.
Andrea laughs softly. “My dear girl,” she says. “Let me spell it out for you. Tyler might joke around and seem like a cool guy, but he’s not. He isexactlylike Brett. He’s one of the Mutineers.”
“Oh, no, you got me all wrong,” I protest, correcting her. “I’m just here to study. Nothing else. I don’t need a guy to slow me down.”
Andrea just laughs and walks away.
I hang my head. Did I miss the signs? Is she right? Andrea has no reason to lie. I mean, sure, she’s bitter and clearly has a thing against the Mutineers, but I don’t blame her about that in the slightest.
I’m generally a decent judge of character. I’ve known since I was little who to trust and who to talk to and who to avoid and how to ignore. It was necessary for me to survive.
Andrea… she’s been hurt. She’s bitter. I’m not sure if she truly has my best interests at heart or if she just wants to burn the Mutineers as badly as possible.
Brett. Asshole. No doubt about that.
Tyler? I have one class with him, and I don’t have to sit next to him again. Like I told Andrea, I’m not here to find a boy to take me to prom. My life won’t be determined by my past. No male is going to have a say in my actions. I will do anything and everything thatIwant to do and no one else. No one will get in my way.
I'll do things my way for once. I have got to stop talking to anyone and everyone. Follow the plan I had all along. I need to keep my head down and focus on my studies. Graduate with decent grades. Go to college. Maybe once I've graduated, then I can think about boys. I'm not one of those girls who only has worth if I have a boyfriend. That's never been me. Doesn't mean I'm a prude. I'm not a virgin, but if I want to have sex again, it'll be because I want to, not for some scheme my father's plotted.
Yes, I’ve done things I regret but no more. I’m done with all of that. The only person who cares about me is me, and I will not forget that.
The Mutineers better leave me alone. I’m not in the mood to put up with their bullshit any longer.