How I Played the Playboy

Chapter 12

It's so strange not having Mom around. The house was so quiet. I quickly got dressed and headed outside to drive to school. I called Anthony earlier and told him I'll need some time to myself.

I pulled up into the school's parking lot for the first time since a couple days. I took a deep breath and walked through the doors. Almost immediately, Adison greeted me with a hug.

"Hey."

"Hi." I say back.

"How's it going?"

"Okay... I guess."

"Alright. I've gotta run but just lemme know if you need anything. 'Kay?"

I only nod back and head towards my Chemistry class. I trudge over to my usual seat, but it's already taken by none other than Anthony Roberts, himself. Oh, and the girl sitting in his lap, flirting.

Should I be mad? Yes.
Am I mad? Not the slightest bit.

I roll my eyes and take a seat next to him (and what's-her-face), not even bothering to look his way. I can see him from the corner of my eye, giving me a puzzled look and not paying attention to the girl twirling her brown curls around her finger, seductively. I also see Owen enter class and stare at the scene before he shakes his head and takes a seat.

Everything after that is a matter of unfocused thoughts and heavy doodling on what's supposed to be important stuff.

{•••}

I sat alone in the cafeteria today, poking at my food.

"Hi Courtney," a voice says behind me.

"Hey Owen." I give him a smile.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"It's a free country, dude." I smirk as he sits next to me.

"You okay?" He asks.

"Huh?"

"You seem a bit.... Down today."

"Oh uh..."

"Was it because of Chemistry?"

"No, no. I expected something like that to happen sooner or later. He is the player, after all."

"Then what's bothering you?"

"I... I don't really want to talk about it."

"Oh, no pro--"

"COURTNEY!" A loud voice interrupts. Owen and I turn to the source of the voice to see Adison running like a madman in high heel boots, towards our table. She suddenly trips and falls but quickly picks herself up and continues running.

"Courtney (pant) are you (pant) okay?!" She asks rather loudly. Before I get the chance to respond, she wraps her arms around me, patting my head. Owen snorts, but covers it up quickly, earning a glare from me.

"There, there, Courtney-bear," she says softly.

"Adison." I say, slightly annoyed.

"Don't worry, that bastard won't hurt you anymore..."

"Adison."

"It's okay..."

"Adison!"

"Yeah?" She lets go of me.

"What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking 'bout? What are you talking 'bout?"

"What's will all the comforting and stuff?"

"Uh... Hello? It's because of the whole thing that happened in Chemistry."

"What happened in Chemistry?"

"You know! The ix-nay flirting-ay?"

"Huh?"

"You aren't doing pig latin correctly, if that's what you were going for." Owen speaks up.

"Oh, shut up, four-eyes!" Adison hisses back and turns back to me.

"If this is about Anthony... I'm not upset about that. I'm upset about my mom." Adison's eyes go wide and she smacks her forehead as Owen gives us a puzzling look.

"What's up with y--" Owen begins to say but Adison cuts him off.

"Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba! Go away, big-brain, this is private girl talk." She motions for him to leave.

"But--"

"Go on, shoo!" Owen rolls his eyes and walks away.

"I feel terrible now..." Adison looks down at her feet.

"Why?" I ask.

"I maybe, might have, sort of, kind of yelled at Anthony for the whole thing..." she says sheepishly.

"You what?!"

"I'm sorry! I thought you would have been heart-broken so I went into defensive friend mode and..."

"And..?"

"I told him about your mom." she clasps a hand over her mouth the second she says so.

"Adison!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-- It just slipped out of me!"

I sigh. "It's okay... I suppose it's better he knew... I should go find him and sort things out."

"Okay," she smiles. "Want me to help?"

"No thanks. No offense and all but, I think he might be a bit scared of you for blowing up at him."

She shrugs. "Whoops."

{•••••}

Be prepared for the next chapter: there will be OTP feels.

Just a fore warning ;)