Irreplaceable

Chapter Six

Carter's POV

I drove myself to school this morning. My parents bought me a BMW Z4 after I won a national writing scholarship. I wrote a story about my mother's life. She grew up on the rough side of town. Her mom did drugs and died from it. Her dad was in and out of jail. Despite all this, she worked hard, went to college, and became a surgeon.

My mom was an inspiration. I wanted to be just like her.

When I got to school, I walked to class. Colin, Jax, and Zach didn't look at me as I passed them. I looked down at my shoes to avoid them. Without Colin, I had no friends. His friends were my friends.

How could I have let myself become so dependent on him? It was stupid of me.

I was the first one to get to English. I even beat the teacher.

Five minutes later, Chase entered the classroom.

"Hey, sunshine." He greeted me.

"Hi." I said shortly.

"Why aren't you outside with lover boy?"

"We broke up." My voice cracked when I said it.

"That's a shame. What are you doing Friday night?"

"Probably going to be crying still."

"You should come out with me."

"Where?"

"A party."

"I don't know." I looked down.

"It will be fun. I promise."

"Okay, I'll go." I agreed.

The rest of the time, Chase and I talked about our teachers. I was being distant the whole time.

I was honestly dead on the inside. I wore a fake smile and was still my friendly self, but deep down I was shattered. I was a broken glass being held together by super glue.

***

Chase and I sat together by ourselves during lunch. Colin looked so dead. I had killed him emotionally. It pained me to see him look lost.

His eyes didn't glimmer anymore, his back slouched, and he just wasn't smiling, Jax tried so hard to make him smile, but nothing worked.

Chase was talking to me, but I wasn't paying attention. I just nodded my head and laughed when necessary.

A guy in my math class stopped at our table.

"Why aren't you sitting with Colin?" he asked me.

"We broke up." I answered with no emotion.

"So you're fair game?" he raised his eyebrows.

Chase possessively put his arm around my waist. I felt uncomfortable.

"No she's not." He answered for me.

I saw Colin looking at us. He gave me a sad look when he saw Chase with his arm on my waist.

I needed to move on. Maybe Chase was here for me to move on to. He was obviously interested in me.

I saw Angel walk over to Chase's table. She sat next to him and batted her eyelashes while she was talking.

I turned back to Chase and started to talk to him again.

***

Angel's POV

Chase was hanging all over Carter. This was good. However, Colin looked like his dog died. I could bring him out the dumps.

I walked over to his table and sat next to him. I was trying to be flirty. He was being fake with his responses.

"So Colin, baby, what are you doing on Friday?" I asked.

"Don't call me 'baby'. Only Carter can call me that." He brushed me off.

"Carter doesn't seem interested in you anymore."

"She's the love of my life. When she finds herself again, she'll come back."

"So back to Friday-" I started to bring up the subject again, but Zach started his own conversation with Colin.

"Colin, we should go to David's party on Friday." He chimed in.

"Yeah, why not?" Colin half smiled.

I started to eat my lunch.

"Um, whore, what are you doing?" Jax looked at me.

"I'm eating." I said in an obvious tone.

"Go eat elsewhere. We don't associate with sluts."

"How come you hung out with Carter then?" I challenged.

"Carter isn't a slut. She's confused. Now get your crap and leave."

"And don't you ever say her name again." Colin added.

I grabbed my lunch tray and walked out the cafeteria. I went to eat by myself in the bleachers.

I was always by myself.

***

The bell rang and I collected my things to walk to class.

Talia and two other girls blocked my path.

"I told you this wasn't over." She glared at me,

"Talia, shut up. Get out my way." I said it confidently but I was scared to death. I could handle Talia, but I couldn't handle three girls at once.

Talia shook her head and the two girls adjusted their rings so that the jewels faced the front. They all started punching and kicking me. I got a couple of hits in, but in less than five minutes, I was too weak to go on. I played dead. I closed my eyes and lay as still as I could.

The three of them left me alone. Where were the teachers at this school?

I heard footsteps coming near me. I thought it was Talia and I kept my eyes shut.

"Angel?" it was a girl's voice. She grabbed my wrist and checked my pulse. My eyes opened to see Carter. Who told her it was ok to touch me?

I wanted to get up, but I was weak.

"Carter, I'm sorry." I whispered. I would have to thank Talia later. This was the perfect way for me to get back in Carter's good graces. She was feeling sad for me and I could be convincing enough to trick her.

She didn't have a strong mind. I thought it would take longer for Chase to get to her.

This was going to be easier than I thought.

***

Carter's POV

I was going to do my homework in the bleachers when I saw something on the ground. It looked sketchy at first, but I ventured forth anyway.

What I found was shocking.

Angel was knocked out cold. She was bruised and bleeding. I checked her pulse to see if she was alive.

"Angel?" I whispered.

She opened her eyes, "Carter, I'm sorry."

I didn't say anything. I made a mental note to ask her about it later.

I saw a teacher walking into the building. I called him over. He quickly came and picked up Angel. He carried her to the nurse's office.

I followed behind.

***

The nurse called an ambulance. The ride to the hospital was silent.

I didn't know why I was helping Angel. But at least I was doing something right.