My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 16

Maddie

"What is wrong with you guys?" I seethe as Mark walks off away from Cam, leaving his face as pale as a ghost.

What the hell did he say to him?

Standing up from the table, I sling my backpack over my shoulder and grab my tray to set it with the others by the wall.

Why are they acting like this? Ethan is being way too protective. Mark has been nothing but nice to me. Yes, he might have a little crush, but that's all it is. I can handle myself.

"Mads!" Cameron calls after me, jogging slightly to catch up as I leave the cafeteria. We're both alone in the hallway now, and he grabs my wrist to spin me to face him. I'm almost pressed up against his chest, but I'm so angry that it doesn't even phase me.

"What?" I ask, clearly annoyed. "Why did you do that? Why are you and Ethan being like this? You punched him for crying out loud the other day, Cam, and for what?"

"Because he's a bad guy, Mads. You don't understand his intentions. He's acting all nice towards you, but it's only because he wants one thing. That's it."

"Even if that's the case I can handle myself. I don't need you coming to my rescue. You aren't my boyfriend."

That seems to hit a nerve because he takes a step back from me and clears his throat. He nods, and I can tell that his demeanor has changed. "You're completely right. We aren't together. You can do whatever the fuck you want, and I'll do the same."

Almost as if right on cue, Sadie comes out into the hallway and arches a brow up at the two of us. I don't know why she's acting like this, but Cam takes an even bigger step away from me and lets out an irritated sigh.

"Why are you being like this?" I whisper as she begins to walk toward him. "You're being so mean again. What changed?"

He can't answer. He's just breathing heavily as he stares down at me, and Sadie comes over to clutch onto his bicep, her pink fingernails attempting to claim him. "Did I interrupt something?" she asks, but something about her tone is questionable.

She doesn't know, does she?

"No," Cam says through gritted teeth. "You didn't."

"Good." She bites her lip and gives me a side eye before she tells him, "There's about twenty minutes left of lunch, and my car is waiting."

I feel the bile rise into my throat at the thought of his hands on her, the anger pulsating through me. I almost reach out to grab onto her stupid ponytail until Cam sends her a smug grin and nods his head.

You've got to be kidding.

"I'm definitely intrigued," he flirts. The same voice he used with me this morning. "Lead the way, baby." They leave me standing in the hallway, my heart open and gaping, feeling like it's bleeding from the inside out.

I knew what I was getting myself into. Cam is the biggest player of them all. Why did I think he meant it when he said I was different? Did I honestly think I was more to him than any of these other girls? Especially when I'm so inexperienced?

I refuse to let the tears fall. I'm not going to be that girl. I chose this path, so I'll deal with the consequences. I was a fool for ever falling into his stupid trap in the first place.

"Oh, there you are." Maya is out of breath when she reaches me, but as soon as she sees my face she stops her train of thought. "What happened?"

"Nothing," I mutter and wipe away a single tear that had escaped onto my cheek. She knows everything that happened with Cam after I told her this morning, so she must be piecing two and two together.

"He was an idiot, wasn't he?" She asks, and I immediately nod my head. "I'm sorry, Mads. Jocks are dumb and don't know what the hell they have when it's right in front of them."

I don't want to talk about him anymore, so I straighten my shoulders and decide to change the subject. "Is Ethan okay?"

She shrugs. "He was mad. I've never seen him that angry before. It was weird."

"He doesn't get like that often, but what's weird is how quickly you were able to calm him down. Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"Me? With Ethan?" She laughs immediately, and my worries instantly fade. "No way in hell. I'm not going to be dumb and fall for someone who has a new girl every day of the week. No offense."

I punch her jokingly on the shoulder before she links arms with me and begins to lead us to our lockers. "I say we have a snack and movie night. Just the two of us? You need some much-needed girl time."

"Definitely." I grin, thankful to have a best friend as amazing as her. We both see Sadie and Cam get into her car from the windows looking out into the student parking lot, and I divert my eyes as fast as possible.

"What a dick," Maya sneers. "Good thing you didn't fuck him."

"Right," I say sarcastically. "I just did everything but that."

"Which I still can't believe by the way. My little virgin best friend isn't such a virgin anymore. And your first experience got to be with Cam? I never would have thought."

My heart pangs in my chest as I picture that night between us on the beach a few years back—that night I almost told him how I felt. I'm so glad I didn't. Little did I know the person he would turn into the minute he got into high school.

"Sorry. Not helping." Maya says when she sees the look on my face. "Enough about Mr. Douchebag, alright? I won't mention him again."

"Thanks," I mutter, putting on a brave face as I get ready for the next period.