Eastwood Academy

Chapter 51: Beth's Offer

"What do you want, Beth?" I ask, feeling more confused by the minute. We're in full view of everyone, which makes me extremely nervous. If Beth wants a chance to humiliate me, now is the time. If that's her goal, I wonder why bother. River has done a fine job already.

"Relax, I'm not here to fuck with you. I'm fucking with them," Beth says, waving teasingly at Winnie and River. The smug and mocking grin that spreads over her face tells me she's enjoying our little spectacle. A lot.

Peeking over my shoulder, I steal a quick glance back at River and Winnie to gauge their reactions. River is impassive but tense. Winnie looks annoyed as if she can't believe someone else has stolen River's attention, even for a moment. Sadly, she still looks annoyingly perfect.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"River's pretending not to know you. Don't bother lying. My family's table is on the opposite side of the wall. I heard everything," Beth states. Could this get any more embarrassing?

"Here to gloat?" I ask her.

"Hardly. If that's what I wanted, I would have done it in front of Stanton. I'm here to help," Beth says. I look at her incredulously, and she rolls her eyes at my shocked expression.

"Help?" I echo her.

"Yes, Brooklyn, relax. Come on, let's walk out. I don't want to keep your dad waiting, and I think River and Winnie got enough of an eyeful," Beth says, throwing them one last, over-the-top, saccharine smirk before grabbing my arm and linking it through hers like we're best friends. Strolling forward, she propels me with her as I try to wrap my mind around the fact that I've been betrayed very publicly by my boyfriend, and for some reason, Beth, of all people, has decided to come to my rescue.

"Wait, you know Winnie?" I ask as we slowly make our way towards the front of the restaurant like two people without a care in the world. A couple of people wave and smile at Beth. She waves back like a pageant girl, returning their warm smiles. It's impressive how good she is at this.

"Yes, unfortunately. She's a bitch with a stick so far up her ass I'm shocked she can walk," Beth informs me. A hysterical giggle escapes me, and Beth rolls her eyes again at my outburst as we walk past the host stand. But she seems more amused than annoyed.

"She's the definition of spoiled privilege. Her parents have been telling her she's god's gift to the world her whole life, and it shows. Our families run in the same circles, so unfortunately, I've met her multiple times," Beth continues.

"The same circles as River's family?" I guess, instantly sobered up. Beth nods.

"Did he... um... did he date her?" I ask.

Heat creeps up in my cheeks, and I'm grateful for the cool air as we exit the restaurant. Asking Beth about River's dating history feels extremely odd, but the need to know if they have a past (aside from River being Winnie's first kiss) is eating at me. I'll have no peace until I know how far he went with her and if she's on the never-ending list of girls, he's fucked. Please, please let them not have had sex, I silently beg. My hopes are quickly dashed by Beth's next words.

"They've hooked up a few times, but they never dated. After Imeria, River never went out with anyone before you, remember?" Beth says. I can feel her eyes on me. When I look at her, her expression is curious and a little exasperated, but there's no animosity in her amber eyes. No trace of hostility.

"Hooked up as in...?"

"Had sex," Beth confirms. For the first time since she approached me, I sensed discomfort on her part. "Winnie and her unbearable family have friends at Eastwood. They showed up to campus during summer sports training a few times last summer." I press my lips together and stare at the concrete. I will not try or cry, I will not cry, I tell myself repeatedly. And I don't. My face is, what I'm sure is a very unappealing shade of red, but not a single tear falls.