P.S. I Lime You

Chapter 15-Mariah

"I'm just gonna go," Tyler said as he tried to scoot off the counter. He fell to the floor, and I helped him up. I grabbed his arm gently so he knew I wanted him to stay and talk.

"Tyler, what's going on? Don't play games with me or I'll make sure something else gets wounded before you leave this house!" I said bluffing.

"There's the Mariah I love and know so well! You had me fooled for a while, but I knew she was still in there," Tyler said, thinking this was some joke. I folded my arms and stared him down. He was still Tyler and I knew he would crack eventually.

"Did you know I'm dating Haley, well not really dating, more like friends with benefits," Tyler said trying to change the subject. I kept my eyes locked on him not changing my emotions. Although, I was a little surprised Haley decided to do him. I veered slightly in the direction he wanted to go with this conversation.

"She's a senior, you're a sophomore, you must be proud," I said, giving the smallest hint of a smile.

"Yeah it's pretty cool I guess, I just wish we could do more than sex," he said very honestly.

"Stop, I can't do this! It's you, and Haley, but it's you that I really can't picture having.... gross!" I said laughing about the whole situation. Tyler let out a sigh of relief. As much as I didn't want to talk to him, I was glad we were talking. When Wesley and I started dating, Tyler became very jealous. I not only took away his best friend, but I took away a lot of their "guy time". In the beginning I didn't care, because I didn't care about Tyler, but seeing him alone and only having Haley (which meant he was still alone) made me feel sorry for him.

"Tyler if I had a do-over," I said taking my time. Tyler leaned in close putting his hands on my waist.

"You'd what?" He said smiling. I wasn't threatened by Tyler so I let his hands stay where they were, because I knew it would make his night being so close to me.

"I wouldn't have been so rude to you in middle school and half of high school, I guess," I said as I laughed about all the things I made fun of Tyler for. He didn't quite understand why I had laughed at him, but he stared into my eyes like those guys in the movies that saw their whole future with the girl they had in their arms. I felt a little nervous.

"My dad," he started to say. "He got out of jail today on bail," Tyler's words were in bits and pieces. I put my hands in his front pockets. "And?" I asked. "My mom used my college tuition money that she had been saving for the last sixteen years to get my dad out of jail. Over fifty grand Mariah, she used on him. Just so he could come home and beat the shit out of me," Tyler said with dread in his voice. I didn't know much about Tyler's dad. I all I knew is that he worked away from home for long periods of time.

"I-III don't understand?" I said stuttering over my words. Tyler took his hands off my waist and turned around fighting back his sadness, or anger, or whatever it was he was feeling. "Tyler, how can I help?" I asked.

"You can't! You can't help me, no one can!" Tyler shouted at me like I was the enemy.

"Then why are you still here in my kitchen complaining about God knows what, like you want me to help?" I said as I screamed louder than he did. Tyler looked shocked that I yelled at him. He gave me a funny look and shook his head.

"I hope one day Wesley wakes up from his dream, and realizes what a bitch you are, and then dumps your ass. I honestly thought you had changed Mariah, thanks for showing me that you are still the same sad girl I knew since I was twelve," Tyler said.

"I'm a bitch because I don't let people walk all over me?" I said as I continued the fight to prove a point.

"No, you're a bitch because all you care about is yourself, and you will do anything to make sure a person is put in their place, because you live in a world where only you can reign," Tyler said as he left my house.