TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

13. DRAMA AVERTED

We all watched her walk away, and Jean Luc laughed. "You know some people might think you saying Bless your heart to her is you wishing her well."  "Nope, more like I can't believe she didn't realize you all were saying that everyone gets a turn with her."  Tristan chuckled."Yeah, but I don't think we heard the last of this.  She always hated me talking to girls.  She had a freak out when she found out that last semester, I was paired with a girl for my speech project."

"I take it she is having an even harder time now that you are single and you won't be moving on with her."  "Yep, she does not want to accept that I do not want to be with her and never did.  I don't know how, but she thinks I am rich.  I have tried telling her there is no money."

"Tris, I am so sorry. I thought my life was bad, but at least my dad always wanted me."  'Yeah, the only reason they didn't try again was because my grandparents told them if they had another boy and abandoned him as well.  They would be completely cut off."

"Sucks that all your parents care about is money."  "Well, I can say the same to you.  Come on, Trina, your mother turned you into a slave for her husband and his daughter.  At least I was sent away, so I wasn't mistreated.  Even though they thought I was being neglected there, I wasn't.  My grandparents all sent me money every month or whenever I needed money.  My parents only paid tuition and supplies.  If I messed up a book, I had to earn the money myself."

"Well, at least now we are both free."  Jean Luc smirked."Exactly, you two.  You both can now live your lives to the fullest and don't have to bow down to jerks."  We continued eating and talking, getting to know each other.  Tristan was serious but knew when to have fun.  As for Jean Luc, he is a laugh riot.  He is constantly coming up with ideas to prank people.  I warned him that the old Trina was coming back, and if he didn't behave, I just might get him when he least expected.

Tristan laughed, and before walking away to his next class, he let Jean Luc know that I just might make him regret ever meeting me."  I shook my head as Tristan walked away."Guess what, Trina?"  "Let me guess my next class is with you."  "Yep, how did you know?"  "I have a funny feeling your dad and mine made sure I was taken care of.  I think there is someone in each class watching me."

"Yeah, Dad was able to get at least one friend of his in all your classes.  It helps a lot when between him and your dad. They are the top donors."  We walked into class, and one of the girls from my first class was there.  I looked at Jean Luc. "Who is that girl that keeps staring at me?"  He glances at her."Oh, she is one of Tristan's ex's friends.  She thought it would be so cool if I dated her while her friend dated Tristan.  She was not happy when I told her not interested."

I giggled. "Let me guess you already had a thing for Heather."  He nodded."As much as Heather likes to believe that the kissing game at that party was the beginning of our love, that is not true for me.  I had been crushing on her since I met her.  I stayed away from her for Luce.  I didn't want to put her  in the middle if it didn't work out.  I mean, come on, how would she feel if her step-brother hit on her bestie and she turned him down?  I didn't want her to choose."

I smiled at him. "You are a great guy.  Heather is lucky to have you."   "Thanks.  Now, what is going on between you and Tristan."  I laughed, shaking my head."Nothing.  We are just friends.  I am not ready for a relationship with Jean Luc."  "I know, but you two are getting close."  "I guess we are bonding over being betrayed."  "Don't rush into anything.  Enjoy being single.  Joellen told all of us that Lewis was your first boyfriend and that you never dated before him."

"Yeah, I wasn't interested in guys while in school.  I was concentrating on my studies.  Lewis pursued me and wouldn't let up until I said yes.  Then everything tumbled like a tumbleweed from there."  "Do you think you were set up from the beginning?"  "I barely knew my step-sister.  If they had this planned from the beginning, I have no clue."