Glendale

Chapter Nine

Parker

I lay in the grass looking up at the sky. In the back of my mind I felt that I needed someone to hold. The sun was warm on my face. Emmett lay a little ways off with Nicolette. The courtyard and the fields were filled with students. The brisk February air froze my cheeks and hands. I lay bundeled in my coat with my school badge and my hat. Valentine's Day was approaching and I had no girlfriend, just an unrealistic soul tie to Genevieve. I exhale and my breathe swirls into a cloud of fog then evaporates. I dig my fingers into the earth. "Hey." I look up to see Josh and Genevieve holding hands. They too were bundeled in school badge coats, hats, and scarves. "Hey." "We were gonna grab some coffee. Did you wanna come keep warm with us?" "Sure." They help me up off of the snow covered ground. "Should we ask them?" I point to where Emmett and Nicole lay making out. "Hell no.",Josh said. "I don't want to watch them do that for an hour." "I have to watch that a lot. Emmett being my brother and all. " "Poor kid." We walk through the courtyard to the bistro. Josh and Gen sit at a cozy corner booth. I sit across from them. We take off our coats and other cold weather clothing. Josh puts his arm around Gen and she leans into him. These fuckers had matching sweaters. It was adorable and I hated every part of it. "Okay, Question. How exactly did all this happen?" I motion towards them with my hands. "I'm done lying to people I care about. Genny and I have been friends since the first grade. We started dating officially in the sixth. Then we broke up in the summer because I was having some issues with my family. Then we got back together in seventh broke up again after freshman year in the summer. Sophmore year we were together again. Then I was moved here during the first term. Gen was moved two months after that and we were stuck on each other. Glendale made things look smaller for us. Our goals were kind of reestablished. Then came Rivera. Was I jealous? Hell yeah. This nerd was digging my girl we argued a lot and started to be really mean to her so I broke it off. Then Rivera starts assuming shit, dumps Gen and walks off with Becky right in front of her and I swoop in and snatch my second chance." "Thank you for being honest with me. Now I'm going to snap on you. How the hell can you be friends with someone for 10 years and date them for half that time ithout telling your best bro?" "Because bro code #34742 states that said bro hinding secret is allowed to keep the secret from other bro as long as it won't bring harm emotionally or physically or physiologically or send other bro into a state of shock." "What the FUCK did you just say!?" "Sorry bro, did other bro not pick up the code?" "Josh why don't you get me something to drink.", Gen said. "Pumpkin spice latte and get this boy a caramel machiatto." "Will do." As soon as he disappears into the crowd of students trying to keep warm, I look at Gen. "What the fuck did I just hear?" "The truth." "What about us?" "What us Parker. You lied to me and I should've known it was a lie. You had no intentions of leaving Alice but once our little scandal was exposed, you went back to her leaving me in the dust looking like a slut. Then she dumped you I got Josh and now I sit here explaining to you that you have a problem." "What's my problem?" "You're a man whore." "What?" "Yes. You. Are. A. Man. Whore." "Nah." She grabbed my hands. "The first step is admitting that you have a problem. " Josh came back with the coffee. "What's going on here?",he said sitting down. "I was explaining to Parker here that he is a man whore." "Oh, yeah. You're totaly a man whore." "You're a man whore!" I yell at him. "Yeah, so. I embrace my man whoredness." "That's not word and you know it!" Harmony slipped through the door and sat at a table. I stood up. "I'm going to sit with Harmony. A person who doesn't judge me on man "whoredness". And just because I used it doesn't make it it a word." "Bro code #452973-3 If said bro makes up a words other bro(s) must be at least 98% supportive." "Shut up." "Bro code #4630292 Bro's are...totally allowed to tell each other to shut up..." "Ha! Bro code backfire!" I walk over to Harmony. "Mind if I sit?" "Oh. Hey Parker. Yeah you can sit. " "They were really getting on my nerves." I point to Josh and Genevieve in the corner. "Can you believe our friends?" "Those aren't my friends." "No?" "Josh is heartless ass who stomped on my heart, threw it into a blender, and turned it into a gooey smoothie." "Wow, never heard heartbreak described that way." "And Genevieve is a scheming, manipulative cunt." "Wow. Those are definitely accurate descriptions that I agree with like 96% because in spite of that they are still my friends." "Right. Umm, anyway I was about to read my book if you don't mind. " "I was actually about to read a book as well." We both reach into our bags andnpull out a book. "The Ballad of Greenwich.", we say simultaneously. "No way." "I love this book.",I say. "I think it's amazing how despite everything Sara still ends up with Duncan. It's tragic though because Eric's baby dies. That evil evil bitch Sadie kills her." "Yeah and when Corinne finds Meghan in that cave when they crash and she wanders off." "Such an epic novel." "Yes." "You dont strike me as the book reading type." "Oh, I know. Nobody expects it. My demeanor is apparently dark and brooding." "Yes. You know what's funny about this?" "What?" I ask. "My boyfriend and the girl you accidentally fell for left us in the dirt and got together and now we sit here sulking and reading tragic romance novels." "Yeah that is funny." "Do you wanna join my book club?" "What?" "I have a book club that is in desperate need of a hot guy." "So I'm hot?" "Don't flatter yourself too much." "Sure. I'll join your book club if you help me study for exams." "Deal." We shook hands. "Don't let it get to you too much. Whatever Gen did to steal Josh. That's just her nature." "Yeah?" "Yes." "Well fuck her and her nature." "I have to go.I'll see you in 5th period." Right 5th period." I stand up and put on my coat, hat, and scarf. Harmomy stands up and hugs me. "Keep warm out there." "I will." I leave the cafe without a second glance at Genevieve and Joshua. I had bigger fish to fry.