𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐠 𝐌𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 (𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏)

41

Song: Learn my lesson - Daughtry

.............................

Just as I put my book into the locker it was slammed shut, making me jump.

"Jeez." I brought my left hand to my pounding heart just as my eyes met Paris burning ones. "The hell is wrong with you? You almost gave me a heart attack."

Instead of answering, she snapped on her own: "Tell me it's a fucking joke."

"No, you really scared me right there."

"Not that." she rolled her eyes. "You want to leave the cheerleaders?"

My brows furrowed. "And how do you know that?"

"So it's true?"

I opened the locker, but once more Paris pushed it close with a loud thud. By now we already gathered the attention of some students surrounding us. I could feel their stares on us and I wanted nothing more than for them to look away.

I glared the blond in front of me, irritated now. "Would you stop that?"

"You can't leave the squad. We need you and you know it."

"You've fucked up the football team and now you want to screw your own team as well?" snarled Robin Jones stopping by her side, but to my shock Paris turned her cold glare towards her.

"Shut up, Jones, and keep going."

That apparently took her by surprise as well and the brunette glared at me, but do as her captain say. Once Paris attention was back on me, I gestured towards where Robin had left. "Do I need to give you more reasons?"

"What? You can't endure a bit of pressure?"

That infuriated me. "A bit of pressure? Ever since what happen you've been nothing but awful to me. It might surprise you, but I don't feel like-"

"I'm sorry, okay?" suddenly her anger mixed with something that resemblance to guilt and I stopped, baffled at the sudden apology. "I know I hadn't handled it in the best way, but I was sure you had stolen him from me, and I hated you for it." I already knew that, but her saying it out loud in front of everyone got my chest clenching. I went to dissmiss it, but she wasn't done: "Then we found out about what he's done and..." her voice shook a bit and confused me further. "I didn't know what to do or say, especially after how awful I've been to you. I know I should have apologized or at least stop the girls, but I... I was ashamed and hurt and I don't know..."

As she took in a breath, calming her nerves, I gawked at that turn of events. Didn't she blame me for Adam's fate? Could it be possible that after all she believed my side of the story? Now that I think about it, I didn't remember her bad talking me after the accident. Actually, the times someone had she wasn't even there.

"I'm sorry." she bit her lip and in her eyes I read the blame she held. "I should have had your back, but I guess I was lost. That's no excuse but I..." she shook her head. "If I'm the reason you're leaving the team... don't. I know you need it for California. Everyone could see that you love it and we love having you there."

"I seriously doubt that." was what I managed to mutter, too bewildered to make anything else out.

"It's true. Girls can be stupid, you know that, but I'll take care of it."

Her offer sounded so good... but I remembered all the hate I'd received lately and shook my head, very self-conscious of the stares we still got on us. Luckily she was talking low enough only for me to hear, but I still felt uncomfortable with their attention on us, provably hopping she'd slap me or something.