One By One (editing)

Chapter Three

Edited by: EDIT0RR

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"No. No way. Mandy, you have it all wrong," I retaliated. "I would never do that to you and you know that."

"I know," she admitted, stepping on the gas. Worry lines creased her face, this situation was clearly stressing her out. "But you guys were both away the same weekend and met up at the beach."

"I was on vacation and saw him there! That was a complete coincidence!" I protested.

"Then last week, you guys both can't hang out with me because you're hanging out with each other." She pulled into the neighborhood and parallel parked on the street.

"That was a Friday." I unbuckled and turned in my seat to look at her. "After the football games on Fridays if there aren't any parties or anything, everyone goes to somebody's house to hang out. I was watching the game and Luke invited me to go with them. Liam just happens to play football so he was there too."

"You were the only girl there?" She peered up at me, unbuckling too.

"No, there were cheerleaders there too. Ask Lauren, she was there." I paused before going on in a quieter voice. "Mandy, I can't believe you'd accuse me of something like this. I thought I was your best friend. I thought you trusted me."

"I'm sorry, Carter, I'm just so paranoid. I don't know what to do, if Liam really is cheating on me or not. When Lauren told me all of those things, everything just lined up and I just needed to ask." Her look was apologetic but something inside me clicked.

"But you didn't even ask, you accused me!" My voice cracked. "You know what, I shouldn't even be convincing you right now. This is ridiculous. Whether or not Lauren is your friend, I'm your best friend and I can't believe you'd accuse me of this." I could feel my face flush with anger and I got out of the car.

As I slammed it I heard, "Carter, wait!" But I just stomped away to the house. The nearest parking spot had been a couple houses down so I had a little ways to walk. I could hear Mandy's heels click frantically as she tried to catch up to me. She finally did as I was walking up the front stoop.

"Carter!" The music was so loud she had to shout. I pretended to ignore her.

"Carter!" She shouted again, grabbing my arm.

"What?" I snapped, jerking back my arm.

"You know what? I said I was sorry, but you shouldn't be getting so upset."

"Are you kidding me? You accused me of sleeping with your boyfriend! Of course I would be upset!" I took it back a notch. "Just leave me alone right now, okay? Unless you want to keep an eye on me to make sure I don't cheat on you." I narrowed my eyes at her, watching her desperately trying to figure out what to say. After a few seconds of silence between us, I decided to join the party and leave her on the porch.

****

I should not have come here. I was in the corner talking to a couple girls from school feeling awkward and uncomfortable with a glass of water in my hand. I laughed along with Brianna, Maggie, and Drew at a joke that Gabbie made. I watched everyone around me dance, drink, and kiss. I unconsciously made a sour face as one couple sucked on each other's faces in the hallway next to me.

"Carter wanna come dance?" they asked, looking eager to move away from the corner.

"Um I have to go to the bathroom," I offered a lame excuse but Gabbie pouted and I immediately backtracked. "But I'll come find you guys after."