With or without you

Chapter 35

Riley's POV

"Get your ass over here and pick us up." Charlette screamed through the phone. Practice had gone like shit. I kept fucking up because of stupid Ally. She was purposely making me fuck up. Whether it was cutting me off, or tripping me or whatever. I had just made myself a hot pocket when I got the call from Charlette. I didn't even get a word in. She just started screaming at me asking where the hell I was and that I needed to go pick them up already. I had ignored all her texts on my way home because I was too tired to deal with her. I went and tried to shower really quick and get changed. I wanted to get out of here before my parents got home. I didn't want to be here when they got home. All they've been doing lately is reminding me of all the things I don't do right. They're always comparing me to my older brother. By the time he was my age he had already gotten a scholarship in track, he did all the chores he was supposed to, and as my parents put it, he never caused any trouble. Whereas I am nothing but trouble. Whatever.

When I picked up the girls I didn't speak for over 45 minutes, but none of them even noticed. I didn't mind much. It was okay. That is until Charlette brought up Tess again. She started going off about how Tess is practically dating Austin now. I didn't say anything at first. I just kept driving them from place to place. First it was Starbuck, then it was Wingstop. Then one of the idiots said they needed to go back home because they forgot something. I wasn't going to chime in on Charlette's rant until she said

"Are you jealous Rye Rye?" I hated it when she called me this. Tess is the only person who can call me Rye, Charlette knows that. She still likes to poke fun at me every now and then and call me this.

"Why would I be jealous?" I was trying to hide the anger in my voice.

"Because you two were practically attached at the hip, and now I don't ever see you together."

"So?"

"I mean if it were my best friend who ditched me for a guy, I'd be mad." I could feel every muscle in my body contracting. Charlette always knew how to push my buttons. And she always did it so that dumb and dumber in my back seat would think she's top bitch.

"Weren't you throwing yourself at Austin not long ago?" I don't think she expected me to say that because her face blanked for just a moment.

"No, I wasn't." Her voice didn't come out as confident as it had been. After that Charlette changed the subject, and I went back to not speaking. As soon as we got to the school to watch the game I wanted to run away and just never see any of them again. Instead though I followed them into the gym and into the student section. For some reason I decided to look around the gym, and that was when I saw Tess with Austin. I wanted to run away again. We watched the entire game with her not looking at me once, all the while I was silently pleading for her to look at me. When the game was over and she was walking out she was following him again. We made eye contact for a brief second, but that was all it took for my heart to shatter again and again.

After the game the girls wanted to go pregame before the party, so we went to Isabel's. I only took a couple shots because I knew I was going to have to drive to the party. My mind was fixating on the thought of Tess and Austin. She likes boys too. Is she going to date him? Has she really moved on that fast? I deserve this. I broke up with her. It's all my fault. She should be happy. I deserve to be miserable.

When we pulled up to the party my mind was still fixating on the thought of them together. I walked ahead of the girls and into the house. As soon as I was inside I saw Tess and Austin on the couch. I wanted to be sick. Instead I walked to the kitchen where I met a bunch of my soccer teammates. I put on my best smile and started talking to the girls around the island in the kitchen. I don't think any of them could tell how miserable I was. I started playing my own drinking game. Every time I looked over at Tess I would drink. Whether it was a shot or just a sip of the beer I was drinking.

"What's wrong Riley? You're drinking an awful lot." Charlette said. I hadn't realized she had come back into the kitchen, but suddenly here she was. My head was already buzzing, I wasn't completely drunk, but I was getting there.

"Oh, nothing Charles. I'm having a great time. How about you?" I know, I know, it was a cheap ploy just to get back at her for calling me Rye Rye earlier.

"Tess is with Austin again." She said matter of factly.

"That must hurt. Poor Riley. All alone at the party, drinking with your soccer buddies. You know I'm pretty sure like three of those girls are into girls." I just rolled my eyes.

"You're not one of those soccer types are you Rye Rye?"

"No Charlette. I'm not. But who cares if they do." At this she came closer to me and gave me a smug look.

"You know, I've seen the way Tess looks at you. I wouldn't be surprised if she had a little crush on you."

"You're crazy."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I guess she's only looking at him that way now." I felt my teeth clench.

"Well that's good for her." I could barely get the words out through gritted teeth.

"Oh well." She said as she walked off. I took another shot and started to make my way towards Tess when Gray stopped me. If we're being honest I was so angry, and drunk that everything that happened with him was a blur. All I really remember was him picking me up over his shoulder and then suddenly I was in the back yard. Next thing I know Tess is so close to me that all I want to do is kiss her. She told me to get in the car so that's what I did. She said she was going to take me to her house. I did as told and I got in the car. A few minutes later my back-seat door is opening and the little shit Lauren gets in.

"Why are you in my car?" I was still sitting in the passenger's seat with my eyes closed.

"Tess said I had to. That she's taking us home." At this I turned around over the seat and just looked at her. She's a really pretty girl, too bad she's a total bitch.

"I don't like you." I said, or rather slurred. She just looked at me.

"I don't like you either."

"Yeah well fuck you."

"Fuck you." Both of us were too drunk and tired so the fuck you's weren't yelled, they were more just spoken. I turned around in my seat and just looked forward.

"Bitch." I heard her mumble.

"You can walk you know."

"Shut up Riley." I just rolled my eyes.

"Don't throw up in my car." A few second passed by. I was just talking out loud when is said

"Why does my hand hurt?" But then Lauren mumbled,

"You punched Gray in the face." Then I remembered doing that. I'm definitely in trouble. A few minutes later and Tess still wasn't here.

"Where's Tess?" I turned around to ask. Lauren was leaning her head back on the seat and she had her eyes closed.

"I think she was saying bye to Austin." At this my head felt like it stopped buzzing, but I was still very drunk. I turned back in my seat. My mind started running again. All these feeling started rushing towards me all at once. I couldn't help it. Tears just started rolling down my face. I put my head in my hands and just tried to stay quiet. I looked out the window to see Tess walking towards us. I wiped away the tears, rested my head on the seat and closed my eyes. I deserve this.