Taming The Player

8

ERICA FREDRICK POV

I can't believe our sophomore year has come to a close; time truly flies. I'm thrilled to embark on the holidays and spend quality time with my friends. Regarding Easton, I had no choice but to report him after he repeatedly harassed me, which fortunately put an end to his behavior. Meanwhile, Nathan and I have grown significantly closer, and I often find myself struggling to maintain composure in his presence.

Just then, my mother's voice snapped me out of my reverie. "Erica, you need to get moving. We have to leave for school now, or I'll be late for work."

I had completely forgotten! "Sorry, Mom!"

We hastily exited the house and headed to the car. When we arrived at school, she bid me farewell, and I watched as she drove away before entering the building – the same school I had dreaded just months ago.

Realizing I had arrived too early, I made my way to the library and took a seat by the window.

"May I join you?" I looked up to see Easton standing before me, his arms crossed.

I glanced around the library, relieved to find we weren't alone. "Of course."

He smiled slightly and sat opposite me, pulling out a textbook. I was grateful for the initial silence, but it didn't last long.

"Erica," he began.

"I want to study."

He sighed. "I'm deeply sorry for my past behavior. I was wrong to force myself on you, and I promise it won't happen again. Honestly, I've developed feelings for you and didn't know how to approach you, so I made a grave mistake. Please forgive me, Erica. I'm truly sorry."

As I pondered Easton's apology, uncertainty swirled in my mind. Was his remorse genuine, or merely a ruse to lull me into a false sense of security? Yet, I believed in giving people second chances, and his words seemed heartfelt. Forgiving him couldn't hurt, could it?

"It's fine. Just don't do it again."

He nodded fervently, his eyes locked on mine. "I promise I won't. Can we at least be friends?"

I shrugged, "Sure, why not?"

"Thank you." He smiled, relief etched on his face, and returned to his book.

Our last exam was finally behind us, but doubts lingered – would he truly change, or was I making a grave mistake?

Later, Nathan, Jared, Scoot, and I headed to a cozy cafe to celebrate the end of our exams. We were proud of ourselves for studying diligently and achieving our goals. As we settled into our seats, Nathan cleared his throat, his voice tinged with nervousness.

"Guys, I need to share something."

I sipped my milkshake, intrigued. "Go ahead."

He gulped, "Please don't judge me."

Jared frowned, *You're freaking us out, bro."

"Why would we judge you? Did you get someone pregnant or something?"

Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not. I spoke to my mom months ago about taking a temporary relocation to New York to stay with my uncle Max."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "He agreed, and I'm moving there in a few weeks."

"When will you be back?" Scoot asked softly, his voice laced with a mix of sadness and understanding.

"When it's time for college," Nathan replied, his eyes scanning our faces.

As I grappled with the news, my world felt like it was turned upside down. The boy I loved was leaving, and the thought of not seeing him anymore was unbearable. Why hadn't he told us sooner? Maybe then I would have been mentally prepared for this bombshell.