The Great Pretenders

Chapter 30

Only Lucy gets a POV in this one.

Lucy's POV

So he ditched school.

And he didn't tell me.

I had to get the message from Zoey who said Zacky said they were cutting out and she had to get a ride home. I probably should have realized that the bad day was going to continue but I tried to be optimistic.

He said he'd be at the game that night and I trusted him to keep his word. I'm sure the guys just decided to skip school and hang out. Right? No need to panic and start acting like a stalker girlfriend and call him. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.

Repeating it to myself over and over till game time. My mind was nowhere as focused as it should be and I was starting to think Coach had done the right thing and benched me. Hell at this point I would have benched myself. Score was tied 0-0 at halftime and when I looked into the bleachers, I saw Zoey, Lana and Kelly waving at me happily but no sign of Matt. That made me feel sad and a bit nauseous.

I did get to play in the second half, I think in hopes of generating some offense but since I wasn't feeling it, I wasn't much help and we went out 1-0. Damn.

I was lucky that Zoey was waiting for me as I made my way out of the locker room.

"You were awesome out," she complimented and I smiled at her for trying to make me feel better.

"Coulda done better," I shrugged.

We walked toward my car in relative silence. I think she knew what was I thinking.

"They haven't come back from the beach," she said softly "I'm sorry he forgot your game."

"It's not a big deal. I didn't want him to see me benched anyway." I offered.

She nodded "We could try to find them. I think they went over by Jimmy's house."

Jimmy lived in a big house that overlooked the beach. It was practically in his back yard.

"I don't know," I replied "Doesn't that seem kind of...creeper?"

"Definitely," she confirmed as she got into the car "but you're supposed to be dating him though. So...what have we got to lose?"

"My self-respect," I cracked.

"True," she laughed "Want to sleep over?"

"That sounds like fun." I needed some girl time.

"Hey," Reilly's voice called. "You guys headed down to Bolsa Chica?"

Zoey looked from me to Reilly "No?"

"Zacky just texted me that they are there and wanted to see if I wanted to join him," she announced excitedly. I couldn't help but feel happy for her.

Zoey, on the other hand, was annoyed "Zacky sleeps with a teddy bear."

Reilly smiled "Come with me. It'll be so weird if I go by myself."

"It'll be weird if I have to see one of my friends hit on my brother," Zoey grimaced.

"C'mon," Reilly begged "Luce? Matt will be there."

I shrugged my shoulders but I secretly wanted to yell hell yeah I'll go. "I'm game if Zoey is."

Zoey looked at me with a half-smile "So much for self-respect huh?

"Who needs it?" I joked.

Boy was I going to be sorry I'd said that.

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When we got to the beach, the first thing I noticed was the small fire pit that had emanated a cozy glow. The closer we got I could make out Zacky poking at the fire with a stick and Jimmy sitting with Leana between his legs.

"Zoey," Zacky's drunken voice called out when he recognized us "What're you doing here?"

"I come bearing gifts," she said pointing to Reilly who was turning red.

Zoey shook her head "And it's probably just as well, since it looks like your drunk ass will need a ride home."

"Touche," Zacky said loudly tipping his bottle of beer at her and reaching out for Reilly's hand.

"I'm always amazed at your ability to obtain beer being minors," she mused.

"Like Matt and Brian don't look 25," I joked.

"Hey Zoey," Johnny called from a bit further down the beach near the water "Come check this out."

"Coming!" she yelled and then looked at me expectantly.

I nodded my head in the direction of Matt and Brian who were standing further down from Johnny at the waters edge  "I think I'm going to head over to see Matt."

"You want me to come with?" she asked and Johnny yelled for her again "Zoey!"

I laughed, grabbing two bottles of beer. "No I'm good."

"Good luck," she said before skipping off to the edge of the water.

As I got closer to where Matt and Brian were standing, I recognized the two girls with them, one standing extremely close to Matt, her hand holding onto his arm as she adjusted her flip flop. My heart sunk a bit but I decided to find out what the deal was before declaring it a reason to be miserable.

He's mine! I wanted to say. But he wasn't. He didn't belong to me, and he ever had.

"Hey Matt," I said walking up and our eyes met—those familiar hazel eyes that had laughed into my own so often. A surprised look crossed his face but disappeared quickly. I offered him a beer and he seemed confused but took it "I missed you at the game."

"Oh yeah, sorry. I've been here all day with the guys," he said looking at Brian who nodded in confirmation.

"It's okay," I said aloud even though I didn't feel like it was okay. "We lost anyway. No big deal."

I looked at the girls who were whispering to each other. "Are you going to introduce me?" I asked him still determined to be optimistic.

"Sure," he slurred a bit "This is...." He pointed to the blond and she smiled and answered for him "Ashley."

He nodded "Right, Ashley and this one is...Susan." The fact that be remembered made the brunette smile widely and she touched his arm again.

 "Nice to meet you," I said politely. "I'm Lucy."

"Are you Zacky's sister?" the blond asked as she leaned into Brian who threw his arms around her. He looked about four sheets to the wind already.

"Oh no...I'm Matt's..." I began

"Friend." He answered for me, cutting me off.

I kept my cool. I'm actually pretty surprised at how easy it was. I agreed "Yeah, we're buds. Well I just wanted to bring you a beer and see how you were doing. I'm gonna go check out what Johnny and Zoey are doing."

"Zoey's here? With Johnny?" Brian's arms dropped from the blond. "Where are they?"

"Um over there by the water," I pointed to Johnny who had picked Zoey up and was swinging her around in the water as she laughed. It was a cute scene, one I probably would have enjoyed and joined in if I didn't feel like I was going to puke. "See you guys later. Ash, Sue, it was nice to meet you." Not sorry, I didn't call them by their whole names. I'll show them how unimportant they were.

Before anyone could reply, I turned quickly and walked toward the parking lot, glad that Reilly had brought her own car.    At least I didn't have to stick around and watch Matt hook up with someone else. I couldn't help but feel nauseous but I knew what I had to do. And do it now. There was no time like the present to put an end to something that should never have begun. When I made it to the parking lot, I took one last look down at the group by the beach. I decided here and now to leave my feelings for Matt here and recognize them for what they were. Sentimental bullshit.