Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
When I wake up, I know things are bad because I have a pounding headache and I see Ricky's asleep on my recliner, clutching one of my pillows to his chest and snoring.
I sit up slowly, but my bed creaks and Ricky snaps awake.
I rub my eyes. "Ricky what're you doing here? You know Nini leaves today, you should be with her."
He sets my pillow down. It was my ladybug pillow pet from when I was, like, ten. "Don't be rude to me. Yeah, I should be with my girlfriend, but I couldn't leave here without worrying about you all night!"
"I wasn't being rude!" I fire back. "I made a simple statement. Why are you yelling at me so early in the morning? I already have a headache!"
"Well you wouldn't have a headache if you'd laid off on the alcohol last night." He says bitterly. He picks up his phone off the dresser and checks the time. "And it's not morning. It's almost 2 pm."
I grab a water bottle of my dresser that's god knows how old and drink the rest of it. I feel horrible. My head hurts, I can barely remember last night, and I still have on yesterday's clothes along with Ricky's hoodie.
"What did I do?" I say quietly.
He sighs. "You were about to go skinny dipping."
I close my eyes and lay back down. "And everyone saw me?"
"Yeah."
"Ugh!" I slam my head on my pillow over and over (which doesn't help with the headache).
I feel the bed move, and when I open my eyes Ricky's laying down next to me. "It's okay, Nini and I got you out of there before things got too bad," he says trying to be comforting.
I flip over so we are lying down face to face. "I'm sorry I ruined your night."
"Well, it kinda already got ruined anyway. Nini had just told me she was leaving, so..."
"You should go with her now until she leaves. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay." I say quickly. Now I feel bad for making him waste his day making sure I'm alright.
"I know you will. And I am." He says, but he still doesn't get up for a minute. Instead he just lays there and studies me. "You know there's nothing wrong with you, E. You're pretty, and smart, funny... and red hair's way prettier than blonde anyway."
"What?" I ask, feeling my face turn red.
"You don't remember anything from last night at all? Not what you told Nini and I in the car?"
I shake my head.
"About Percy, that dickhead, how he cheated on you at the ski trip."
I stay quiet. Mentally I facepalm. How could I be so stupid and tell them that?
"Why didn't you tell me right away? I could've fucked him up. I still can, if you want." I laugh a little and so does he, even though it isn't really funny. "I mean come on. I've hated that guy since you started dating him. He's a total jerk and he treats you like shit, he always has. Why do you stay with him Ellie? You deserve better."
"I'm breaking up with him today," I say without thinking, but as soon as I say it I know it's true. "I'm gonna call him to come over and break up with him, because you're right, he does treat me badly." Tears well up in my eyes and I almost tell him about what happened the night before the ski trip. But I don't. I turn away from him and face the wall as my tears escape and slide down my face.
"You're allowed to cry Ellie," Ricky says softly.
"This isn't me," I say, sniffling. "I'm not the girl who cries over boys."
I don't want Ricky to see me cry, so I try to hold it in, and it causes a burning pain in my chest, and I can't stop it anymore and a loud sob escapes my lips. I feel Ricky's arm wrap around me. He doesn't say anything. Just lays there with me.
***** It's almost 9 at night when the front door opens. I know it's Percy, I told him to come right in, although it was over an hour ago when I texted him. He's not exactly known for being on time.
Nini has already left for YAC. When I went over and said bye, she didn't mention Percy or anything about last night, which I was thankful for.
"Hey babe," Percy says as he opens my bedroom door. I stare at my feet.
"Hey..." I start, taking a deep breath. It'll be better to just get it all out immediately. "I want to break up. So... we are. I'm breaking up with you. I'm sorry, and I loved you, but we can't be together anymore."
He scoffs. "Why not?"
My throat goes dry. He knows why. He knows, yet he's still going to sit here and pretend that he's never done anything wrong. I think that's the worst part.
"Are you kidding? I don't know, maybe it's because you cheated on me, and then had the nerve to make it seem like I was delusional!"
"You're still stuck on this? I told you, that never happened."
I feel tears prick in my eyes. I always cry when I'm mad. "But it did! I saw it with my own two eyes! And fuck you, by the way, for making me doubt myself."
"You're crazy."
The tears spill over and don't stop. "And you're an asshole. Even before the damn ski trip, y-you-"
"I what!" He cuts me off.
"You made me have sex with you!"
He pauses for a second, and I see something flash in his eyes. Anger. "No, no, no. You don't get to do that. You said yes. Don't act like it wasn't consensual."
"But if you really—" my voice cracks, "if you really cared about me, you would've known I wasn't ready."
"Well, you seemed to have enjoyed it enough." He replies snarkily.
"Get out." I say. When he doesn't move, I yell, "get out of my house! And don't ever come back, I mean it. Just stay out of my life forever!"
"Fine! I never liked you anyway, you slut."
"What did you just call me?" I said shakily.
"You heard me." He replies. He starts to walk out then stops at the door. "Who do you think people will believe anyway? East High's most charming guy, who everybody likes, or the girl who was nothing until she started dating him?"
I stare at the floor.
"Especially after last night. I mean, that just showed everyone your true colors, huh. Word spreads around quick, Liz. And you just made a huge mistake."
