The Adventures of Bad Boy & Bad Girl

21 - He's Just a Friend

*Bridget's POV*

I took a fulfilling nap, but was still exhausted. I woke up and Brent wasn't there. Deja-vu hit me and I had a knot in my stomach. I also started to recall what had happened earlier that day, too, and wanted to throw up. I got up and went to the kitchen sink, hurling my guts out. 

"Oh, sweetie," I heard someone say behind me. It was my mom. I rinsed my mouth with water and spit it out, then I turned around. "You're home," she said before engulfing me in a hug. I stood, frozen, not knowing what to do. My arms stayed still at my side, but then I gave in. I hugged her back. I was overwhelmed and began crying again. "I missed you," she said. 

"I missed you too," I said between sobs. I cried into her shoulder and she squeezed me harder and rubbed circles on my back. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, baby. It's okay." I cried even more and hugged her tighter. I hadn't hugged my mother in years. I really did miss her. I didn't want to pull away from the hug, but after about three minutes of me just sobbing into her shoulder, I pulled away. 

"I'm sorry," I repeated. She wiped my tears away with her thumb and shook her head lightly.

"There's no need to apologize. We both fucked up, Bridget. I fucked up so badly you ran away with god knows who. I'm sorry, sweetie. I should have been there for you." I didn't notice how she looked until now. She was a mess. Her usually straightened hair was frizzy and in a messy ponytail. Her eyes had bags under them and she looked like she hadn't slept in ages. To top it off, she was wearing no makeup. My mom always wore makeup. I took her hand and squeezed it, while giving a slight smile. 

"Where's Brent?"

"He didn't say. He just said he was going to be back soon." As if on cue, the door opened, and Brent walked in.  I saw his hands and gasped. His knuckles were bloody and scraped. 

"What the hall happened?!" I almost shouted. He nearly sprinted over to me and locked me in a bear hug. 

"You should see the other guy," he chuckled. He let go of me and our mom saw his hands. 

"Brent, what the hell did you do?" She asked, sounding maternal for the first time in years. 

"Let's just say Tyler got what he deserved," he winked at me. My eyes widened. 

"You didn't..." 

"I did. We did, actually. I had a little help."

"From who?" He gave a hesitant smile. 

"Ronnie." My heart pounded faster and my stomach dropped when I heard his name. 

"Is he okay?" 

"He's fine; he sure can handle a fight." I know, I thought, remembering that night in the forest. 

"Who's Ronnie?" Asked our mom. Brent and I looked at each other and smiled. 

"Ronnie is Bridget's friend," said Brent.

"Friend?" 

"Yeah, he's just a friend," I said. 

"Well he must be a very good friend then," said our mom. "What do you guys want for dinner?"

"I'm really in the mood for some fast food." 

"Five Guys?"  

"Hell yeah."

*******************************************

I was laying on my own bed, once again. I looked around my room and at all the posters on the walls. I felt at home again, and it felt so good. I looked at the clock beside my bed. 11:34 PM. I had school the next day. I should go to sleep, I told myself. So I went to sleep, and even though the one of the most terrible things that could happen to someone happened earlier that day, I slept soundly, because I was home. It felt so good to sleep alone again, without Tyler by my side. 

The next morning I woke up at 7:13, thanks to Brent. 

"Wake up, sleepyhead. You have to go to school!" I groaned. "Bridget seriously you have to go to school."

"How come you don't go to school? We're in the same grade." 

"That's a story for another day, just get up." So I got up. I ate breakfast, took a shower, did my hair, did my makeup, and walked out the door. It was so cold outside I ran to the car. 7:50. 

On the way to school all I could think about was seeing Ronnie. His face kept popping up in my head and I knew I was going to look for him once I arrived. I parked in the student lot and turned off the engine. 8:05. He popped up in my head again. I hurried out of the car and rushed inside the school. No one was hanging in the lot because it was so cold. Once inside, I pushed my way through the halls trying to find Ronnie. Out of the dozens of people I rushed past, one pushed me back. Normally I would've let it slide, but when they spoke, I froze. 

"Bitch," said the recognizable voice. I grit my teeth and pulled the fakest smile imaginable, turning around to face the brunette I punched a few weeks ago. 

"What the fuck did you just say?" She saw me and her eyes widened a bit, but she regained her demeanor quickly.

"I said, bitch." 

"I'm not looking for any problems today," I said, about to turn around.

"Heard you fucked the detention teacher. Slut," she said quickly. I chuckled.

"I don't have time for your Mean Girls anti-feminist bullshit. Just because you don't get any dick doesn't mean you should shame me for using what I got," I said, cupping my boobs and then giving her the bird with both hands. Her jaw almost dropped. I turned around and kept walking to Ronnie's locker, and then the bell rang. 8:10. "Fuck," I mumbled under my breath. I turned into another hallway, on my way to history. I saw the door was closed and I rolled my eyes. I reached for the doorknob at the same time as someone else. They had bruised knuckles. I froze and looked up at the person, and was left speechless when I looked up into those familiar green eyes.