Dalliance (on hold)

Stephanie

My feet fell heavy on the stairs as I trudged up them. I was tired, sure, but it was something more than that. I thought about Colton the whole walk home; I don't know why his arrogance bothered me so much, it wasn't like I expected anything much to happen with him. I just felt my heart drop a little when he started flirting with Molly. Not because I wanted to be with him; I wouldn't want to be with someone so rude and arrogant anyway. But it was the fact that he chose someone else over me the way he did; was I not good enough?

Connie was sat in the kitchen when I walked in.

"What's up?" She said, immediately recognising the discomfort in my face.

"Guess who was at rowing practice."

"No." She gasped. I nodded and took a seat opposite her. "What happened?"

"I shouted at him on a couple of occasions. Made a fool of myself in front of the team. And watched him flirt with some bitch called Molly." I scoffed.

"Molly who?" She asked.

I looked at her, exasperated. "I don't know."

"Why'd you make a fool of yourself?"

"I didn't want to listen to his orders so I was rowing to my own pace. He shouted at me to listen to him and told me I was a child."

"Ouch." She cringed. I groaned and put my head in my hands. "Here." Connie pulled out a tub of cookie dough ice cream and two spoons, setting them down in the centre of the breakfast bar.

"Cheers." We clinked our spoons together and started shovelling in ice cream, unashamed.

"Guess whose Mother has a new boyfriend." She raised her eyebrows.

"Gee, could it be yours?" I laughed. Connie's Mum seemed to have a new boyfriend every other weekend, none of them stuck around long. "What's this one like then?"

"She said he's nice. I'm meant to go have dinner with them and his kids on Monday evening."

"The joys." I joked, and she nodded, laughing.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

What's up, Nag? It's my mates club opening tonight and he's asked me to get as many people to come as I can cause he's worried there won't be enough people. Let me know if u can come and I'll give u the deets and put u on the guest list. Colt. X

"What?!" I shouted, and showed my phone to Connie. "How did he even get my number?"

"I don't get what his problem is." She said. "One minute he acts like he hates you, the next he's inviting you to a club."

I text him back:

How did you even get my number? And why are you texting me?

Blunt but necessary.

He text back a minute later:

Pete had ur number on the members information list so I asked him for it. U coming or what? X

I text him back:

That's private information, not intended for you. And probably not.

He replied:

Kk.

"Damn he's so frustrating!" I yelled.

Maddison walked into the kitchen. "Who is?" She asked.

"Colton."

"Damn right." She sat down with us. "But good news though. My cousin's opening a club tonight and has put us all on the guest list with VIP passes! I told him we'd go to promote the club. That's okay, right?" She beamed.

"You've got to be kidding me." I sighed. I pulled up the texts between me and Colton and showed them to her.

She cringed. "I told him we would help him out, I owe him a big favour and he really needs guests to come and promote the grand opening."

Connie remained quiet.

"I guess we've got to go then." I groaned loudly.