It's Not You, It's Me (Book Two) #Wattys2018

Acidents

POV ZIGGY

"She what?" I ask.

"She cheated on your brother, with Avi." Ace tells me, over the phone.

"Is this a joke?"

"I wish." He adds. "They had a terrible fight and I think Theo said that he maybe wanted to brake up but wasn't sure, or something, and then he left and she needed a ride and then Avi came to pick her up and... Well, the rest you already know."

I sigh, irritated, surprised, confused, all hitting me at once. "Still, I can't believe she would do that." I tell him.

"Well, believe it—" suddenly he gets interrupted by cars honking and people shouting. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He shouts back to them. "God, I almost got run over. I'll call you back later." He hangs up.

I look around the restaurant and try to decide how I feel about this. Whoever had the great idea of letting your best friend date your brother was a real jerk, that's for sure.

I stand up: Determined and angry, feeling pretty sure of how I feel, leave a five dollar bill on the table and go out the door, pissed.

So I get in my car and start driving. I put on loud music so that my thoughts can flow better.

I drive fast, and furious, just me, my space buns, my loud music and my anger.

That's when a guy comes out of nowhere and ends up in front of my car. I step on the breaks so hard that you could hear my tires squeal. Luckily, I had my seat belt on, and luckily, the boy's instincts helped him deviate from my car just in time.

I turn off my music and get out of the car to see him.

"Oh my God, do you not look before you cross the street, you massive idiot?"

"I'm great, thanks for asking." He replies, and looks at me.

"No one passes by here. This is a shortcut, it's basically deserted, how could you not see my car?" When our eyes meet, I immediately slap him multiple times, all around his arm and back.

"Ouch! Can you sto— stop!" He says, and grabs both of my hands. "You almost run me over and then you hit me?"

"I know that you kissed Toby. You're a dick, you're a dick!" I swing my hands out of his, setting myself free.

Avi looks ashamed. "I'm sorry."

"Maybe you should say this to my brother."

"Maybe I will." He replies, and sighs heavily.

He looks at me and then at the ground, his eyes filled with regret. He sits down on the crosswalk.

"Why did you do it?" I ask, curious. Looking down on him. "My brother is a good person."

"I know." He tells me. "She loves him, trust me. I just— I loved her, and she loved him, and... She was vulnerable and sad... ARG! I am such a dick!"

I sigh, understanding him a bit more. "The heart is a weird, weird place, my friend." He looks at me, thankful for my kindness. "This doesn't change anything. You're still a dick." I add.

He laughs, and then sighs, and then digs his hands in his face, crying.

"I think I'm not over her." He admits.

I chuckle. "Ya think, Sherlock?"

"Have you ever been in love?" He asks me, and I stop having fun with his pain.

"This is not about me." I reply.

"Ah. I see."

"No you don't, okay? You know nothing about me."

"I know you get mad very easily, and that you like to listen to music on the loudest volume possible, which is just ridiculous and can't possibly be good for your hearing. I know you like fashion, I'm guessing, 'cause.. I mean look at you. And I assume you're not scared of many things in life. Also, I know I wouldn't like to see you holding a sharp object anywhere near me." I observe the man full of tattoos and opinions, and feel disappointed in myself for having understood why Toby loved him. "Now are you going to sit down with me or are you just going to stand there and scream at me?"

"Oh, I'm not sitting there." I tell him, taking a step back. "I know how you and Toby met. I'm not making the same mistake."

He laughs. "Ouch!"

I look at the empty street and at my car. "Look, I have to go." I say to him, he stands up.

"Was there any damage in your car?"

"No, it's fine."

He smiles. "I like your accent. Where in England are you from?"

"We're from Birmingham."

"Cool." He says, and I get in my car. "Drive safely." He adds, dipping his last word in irony.

"Thank you." I pause, and smile sympathetically. "You know, I'd offer you a ride but... You're still a dick."

I start driving and just hear him laugh.

I decide to talk to Toby about it tomorrow, because I want to spend the rest of the day thinking about what had just happened, and plan a better way to deal with all of this.