Teaching The Bad Girl To Be Good (Lesbian Story)

Chapterd 3: We seriously DON'T need to talk

Not how I imagine Sean, but he's the closest. He's not that cute to me either 😒

We were fifteen minutes late. Honestly, I was thrilled. The mayor was already in the middle of his speech—same recycled nonsense with a few words switched around to make it seem fresh. He's been giving this speech, or versions of it, for years. No one listens anymore, yet they all nod politely, as if any real change is coming.

Beside me, Mari scanned the tables, looking for her father, the retired commander. He served the country for ten years and never lets us forget it. "Best years of my life," he always says, and we've heard it so many times it feels like background noise now.

I spotted him quickly, sitting towards the back, as if avoiding the spotlight but not the prestige. I pointed, and we made our way through the sea of overdressed elites. All eyes shifted from the mayor's speech to us, whispers floating through the air like it was high school all over again. There had to be at least a hundred guests—landowners, business magnates, soldiers who'd struck gold in retirement, and billionaires propping up the town. The mayor's empty promises droned on, filling the space with the same hollow optimism that keeps these people showing up.

When we reached the table, Mari wrapped her arms around her dad in a hug, planting a kiss on his cheek. "You're late," he whispered, glancing at me with a knowing smile. I tried to take the blame for getting dragged here, but Mari just shrugged it off and motioned for me to sit.

"Sorry, Dad," she muttered, clearly annoyed. She hadn't said much since earlier, and the car ride over had been unusually quiet. This wasn't the Mari I knew, the one who loved stirring up drama just for the fun of it.

"Sorry, Marvin," I whispered as I slid into my seat, avoiding the curious stares from around the table. Mr. Fields turned and looked at me, a spark of surprise in his eyes, even though we'd seen each other barely two weeks ago.

"Jay! It's been ages!" His smile was kind, and I returned it with a polite nod.

"Dad, she and Joe were over just last week," Mari groaned, dropping into the seat beside him. I took the one on her left.

"Sshh!" Ms. Atkins hissed from across the table, her perfectly coiled hair pinned with surgical precision. Her grandsons, Sam and Corey, looked like they wanted to be anywhere else, bored out of their minds. Marvin offered a quiet apology and turned his attention back to the stage, but not before sneaking in a compliment.

"You both look stunning," he whispered, still smiling. His dark grey suit was immaculate, as always. A staple of his wardrobe—he never seemed to wear anything else.

"Shh, Mr. Fields!" Ms. Atkins hissed again, more forcefully this time. I swear she has a personal vendetta against anyone who distracts from the mayor, who, let's be honest, she's obsessed with. She was the very definition of a fan-girl, and for a 67-year-old, it was... a lot.

As Marvin stood to give his speech, applause erupted. Mari pushed back from the table, her voice cracking as she whispered, "I'll be back. I need the bathroom."

I grabbed her wrist, sensing something off. "Is everything okay?" I asked, my voice low but urgent.

"I'm fine," she stuttered, her eyeliner running. I stood, ready to follow her, but she shook her head firmly.

"Mari..." I tried again, but she wasn't having it.

"Jay, I'm fine," she forced a smile before walking away. I wanted to push, but I knew better. Mari needed space when she was like this. Maybe it was something with Jeremy? My gut twisted at the thought.

I sank back into my chair, my stomach growling loudly enough to catch Ms. Atkins' glare. Ignoring her, I refocused on Marvin. But then, that voice crept up from behind me.

"Looks like you need some company, lovely." Lovely. That was a nickname only one person used...

"I miss you, Jay," Sean's voice purred. My shoulders tensed, and I didn't even bother turning to face him. Of course, he'd show up now. I'd known I'd have to deal with him eventually, but not today. Not here.

"What do you want, Sean?" My voice was sharp, my gaze fixed forward. I shifted in my seat, growing more uncomfortable by the second. He placed a hand on my arm, and I flinched, yanking away from his touch. He laughed nervously, retreating as if he hadn't meant to cross that line.

"Jay, seriously, we need to talk," he started, his tone heavy with misplaced urgency.

"We seriously don't," I snapped, my voice low and controlled. How could he still think there was anything to discuss? He cheated. I left. End of story.

"Jay, please—" He was pushing, desperate, as if his guilt had finally become unbearable. But I wasn't about to absolve him.

"Let's talk," I spat, finally turning toward him. His scruffy jawline had grown in, and those deep blue-green eyes still carried that familiar cocky gleam. "Let's talk about how you screwed Joe's babysitter in my bed." His eyes widened in panic, and I didn't give him a chance to interrupt. "Or the girl you hooked up with at college while I was here, waiting. Five years, Sean. I wasted five years."

"I said I was sorry!" His voice broke, and I almost laughed at how pathetic it sounded.

"Sorry doesn't cut it!" My voice rose despite myself. Tears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry again.

Atkins hissed at us from across the table, her face scrunching up in disapproval. I ignored her, focusing all my energy on the anger swirling inside me.

"I was depressed, Jay. I was young and confused, and—"

"Stop," I cut him off. "You don't get to use your feelings as an excuse for what you did."

His face fell, and for a second, I saw the guilt flash across his eyes before the mask slipped back into place. "I've changed," he insisted.

"You're still lying to yourself if you think that, Sean. I'll never forgive you, and I'll never let myself suffer like that again."

His mouth opened, but before he could respond, Ky's voice broke through. "Dude, let her go. You're making yourself look like an even bigger ass than usual."

Sean tensed, his grip tightening on my wrist as I turned to see her. Ky stood there, looking effortlessly composed, like she always did. The casual swagger in her posture, the smirk on her lips—it screamed confidence. Her short curls sat messily on top of her head, the sides shaved in clean lines.

"Stay out of it, Ky," Sean growled, but there was a wariness in his voice.

"I can't do that, 'cause I'm the 'Super Saver Bitch' tonight," she joked, her eyes flicking toward me, glinting with amusement. But there was an edge beneath her humor—something deeper, more serious.

Sean snarled, "She's my girlfriend."

I snapped, "Ex. We broke up six months ago."

Ky raised an eyebrow at Sean. "Word around town is, you're the only one who didn't get that memo."

Before it could escalate further, Marvin appeared at the exit, his voice booming over the crowd. "Sean, let her go and return to your table. All of you."

Sean dropped my wrist immediately but not without pulling me close, his lips grazing my cheek in a way that made my skin crawl. "We'll talk later, lovely," he whispered.

I shoved him away, wiping the kiss off as quickly as he'd planted it. A single tear slipped down my cheek, but I swiped it away before it could betray me any further.

"Fucker," Ky muttered under her breath as Sean stalked away. Marvin guided her in, but I could see the tension in her body, the tightness in her jaw. There was something between them—something unresolved.