Just Friends

26

Meghan's POV:
"I think Connor may be cheating on me." I told Cindy when our session started.

"Okay I see we're jumping right into things; explain to me why you think he's cheating on you." Cindy said.

"Well when he picked me up from my brothers house last weekend, I saw a hickey on his neck covered poorly with makeup and he reeked of perfume that I don't wear." I explained." I know I didn't leave the hickey there; we haven't done anything like that."

"You said you've been dating for six months." Cindy commented." I don't mean to pry but really? Have you kissed him?"

"Of course but we don't make out or engage in "foreplay"." I answered." We don't really have the time for that. His mom is always home and I can't bring boys up to my room without my roommates following behind us."

"I see. You said Connor plays football right?" I nodded." Is it possible the mark could be from practice or weight lifting? My ex husband did CrossFit and constantly had bruises on his spine and collarbones from the bar."

"I don't know, maybe. But the perfume; Is recognize if it was mine and I know it wasn't."

"Could it have been his mother's?" She asked. I sat back in my seat. Maybe he isn't cheating on me.

"Regardless of him cheating, I still think you should get out of that relationship. You don't seem very happy and nobody should be with someone they aren't happy with." Cindy advised." From you tell me and since you still love Luke, it would benefit dropping Connor."

"I am happy-"

"No, you're not. If you thought he was cheating and you were happy with him or in love with him, you'd be more broken up about this but you haven't shed one single tear or raised your voice once when talking about it. If you're happy, explain that."

Cindy was challenging me and I know she's right." Because if he cheats on me I get a free out and he's the bad guy and not me; better than letting other people finding out about leading him on."

"If you do break up with him, are you going to go back to Luke?" Cindy asked.

"I don't know." I mumbled.

"Is there someone you can ask if Connor is cheating? Like one of his friends that would tell you?" She asked." Follow up question, do your friends know about this stuff?"

"No. I didn't tell them because they'd go after him and interrogate him. Plus if I was having my doubts one of them would crack under the pressure of carrying around that secret." I replied." And yes there is someone I can ask."

*
*
*

"Brittany," I said, coming up to her after seventh period." Your brother is connor's best friend and your brother tells you everything, we both know that. But I need you to tell me right now, is Connor cheating on me?" I asked her. She shut her locker and sighed.

"Why don't you ask your boyfriend?" She said.

"Because he wouldn't tell me directly." I replied as she began walking away." And because I'd be able to get out!" I called. She turned around and walked back over.

"What're you talking about?"

"If he cheating on me, I can dump him. I still love Luke, there's no denying that but if Connor were to know that, I'd be the bad guy who lead him on. If I dump him for cheating, his dating reputation is ruined and not mine." I explained." Please."

"Fine," she finally said." Marcus told me Connor is sleeping with a girl from Stanford who showed him around at his visit a few weeks ago."

On the inside I was a little crushed but on the outside I kept a straight face. I thanked her and left the school. On my way home I cried; I may not have been happy for a good portion of our relationship but for most of it I did like Connor a lot. I wouldn't have dated him if I didn't.

When I got home I took notice that nobody was home and that the boys left for their show already.

After about half an hour of lying in my stomach crying into my pillow, I heard banging at the door. I ignored it for a while, until it got louder and more frequent. Frustrated and really upset, I threw my pillow onto the floor as I stood up, storming down the stairs. I hadn't even looked in the mirror, I probably looked terrible.

My shaky hands reached for the door handle and I opened the door. Luke pushed past me and walked inside.

"What the fuck Meghan? I was waiting outside the school like a prick for half an hour and you didn't show! I had to wait for fucking ages for the bus to get there and then when o finally get here, you take forever to open the door!" Luke exclaimed." I have a lot to say about yesterday!"

When I stood there, not saying anything, Luke looked me over. His frown disappeared within seconds, a look of worry took over his face.

"Meghan? What's wrong?" He asked.

I just wanted to be alone, and Luke continued to talk while I stood there silent. He was talking so much, keeping repeating my name, trying to ask me what happened. He continued to ramble on about yesterday.

"There's so much to say and so much we need to talk about but I can't until you tell me what's wrong. I can't do this when you're sad." He said but I remained silent." Meghan, I-"

I finally gained enough out of me to say something." Oh Luke, just fuck off!" I shout, pushing him out the door, slamming it behind him. Reaching my hands up to wipe my face, I slid down the door. As I say on the floor with my head buried into my knees, the knocking started up again.

"I'm not leaving till you tell me what happened." Luke said from outside the door followed by a thud which I presumed to be him sitting against the door.

I remained quiet as the tears continued to roll down my cheeks and he stayed there for a good hour. When I left to go back up to my room, I didn't wait around to see if he stayed.

When the boys came home later that night I pretended to be asleep. I couldn't tell them what happened and I didn't plan on doing so.

•

Luke's POV:
"Well?! How'd it go?" Ashton asked when I walked in the door.

"Are you guys back together?" Calum added.

"No." I stated. Their optimistic grins faded and Calum gave me a hurt look.

"At least you can try and move on now. Is she staying with her boyfriend?" He asked.

"I don't know." I answered.

"What'd you guys talk about?" Michael asked.

"We didn't get to talking. I waited outside the school for a while before going over to her place and when I got there she was crying and for once I don't think it was because of me. I tried asking her what was wrong but she threw me out and told me to fuck off but I sat outside the door for a while until her roommates came home." I explained." The important part is we still have a lot to talk about and I think I still have a shot."