Loving the Bad Boy's name

Chapter 27: Loving the bad boys name: Live with it

Bree's POV

"Carson, I don't really feel like talking to you right now..." This is the first thing I say to him as he strolls beside me as I walk down the school hallway.

Clearly, he didn't get the memo.

"Look, I know everything's fucked up right now but I couldn't stand it if I knew you hated me." He admits in a rushed tone as if he feared I was going to cut him off before he had the chance to say what he needed to.

I pause my steps, halting in the middle of the hall. "I don't hate you Carson." I tell him honestly with a sigh.

"No?" He asks me hopefully, the slight glimpse of a smile on his face. It's then that I notice the somewhat fading bruise he had around his eye from Ryder's punch.

I shake my head. "No. But I do think we shouldn't be around each other." I tell him seriously.

He frowns. "I guess..."

"Look, I've gotta go." I say as I spot Nina and Tanner at the opposite end of the hallway, turning the corner to head towards our outside lunch table. "I'll see you around." I wave absentmindedly, going to chase after them.

"Hey." I say, slinging my backpack off my shoulder and sitting down at the table once I reach it. "So, what'd you two do this weekend?"

Nina and Tanner remain completely silent.

My eyebrows furrow together. "Um, did you guys not hear me or something?"

"No we did it's just..." Nina starts off. "We hung out with the guys this weekend. Blake wanted us to come and see his team down at the race track."

I frown. "Oh. Okay."

Nina takes one look at my face and begins rambling. "It was super boring though, I wish you could've seen for yourself. We totally wanted to invited you and the rest of the girls..."

"Totally." Tanner adds on quickly coming to Nina's defence. "It was supposed to be a whole group thing but the rest of the guys changed their minds because of y'know...you and Ryder. They said the whole day would've just been awkward."

I nod, turning my attention to literally anything else but then. It hurt me deeply to know that Ryder and I's breakup was stopping everyone from hanging out with each other.

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"Hey..."

Ryder momentarily stops putting books in his locker to stare at me with a dull expression. "What do you want, Bree?"

I slowly breathe out before speaking. "You don't have to uninvite the girls from your plans. If you don't want me there then don't invite me, but don't punish the rest of our friends for my mistake."

He takes me in for half a second before turning his attention to his locker. "Noted." He says with a single nod.

I frown at his stoic response, all my composure going out the window. "Ryder I'm sorry, okay?" I tell him, slugging my back against his neighbouring locker. "I did something so stupid and I can't take it back but-"

"But what?" He snaps angrily, slamming his locker closed which makes me flinch. "You want me to forgive you? To tell you that you didn't hurt me and that we can be together again?"

"No, I-"

Ryder speaks quickly, cutting me off. "Good, because I'm not going to. You fucked this up Bree, not me. Live with it."

I open and close my mouth as I have an internal battle with myself, wondering if I should ask the big question that's been at the forefront of my mind. I take a deep breath and ask. "Do you still love me?"

My question takes him off guard but he tries to mask it with an expressionless face as he slings his backpack over his shoulder. He rolls his eyes, walking past me. "What'd you think?"

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It was finally the end of school and I was in the parking lot waiting for Peterson to pick me up. I hear footsteps against the stoned path behind me, before they finally reach where I'm stood.

"You look like you need a hug." The person tells me and I don't even have to turn to them to know who it is.

I finally face Blake and without verbally replying, wrap my arms around him. "Be honest...do you think I'm a terrible person?" I ask, my voice muffled against his chest.

He takes a pause before answering. "No, I don't. When I said I had both you and Ryder's backs, I meant it. I couldn't ever think you're a terrible person."

I nod at his answer, somewhat relieved that I knew Blake was still there for me. I move out of his embrace and take a step back. "How is he?"

He shrugs, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. "Hurt mostly, if I'm being honest. He's been really quiet and he never wants to speak about it, so there's that."

A frown falls on my face as I turn my attention to my hands and start inspecting them, as if they're the most interesting things in the whole world. "I hate that everything's like this." I admit. "I wish that I could just fix everything."

"Don't stress about it too much." He says waving me off. "He still has to check himself out in every reflection he passes. So he's still somewhat the same Ryder we know and love."

I let out a little laugh, thankful for Blake's lighthearted words just as Peterson pulls up in front of us.

"That's me." I say before waving to Blake and making my way to the car.

"Hey Bree!" Blake calls out to me so I stop walking and turn around to face him. His expression turns earnest, the sincerity on his face clear as he speaks up. "Don't give up on him, alright?"

I smile. "Trust me, I won't."