Linger

T H I R T Y - O N E

"He what?!"

"It's fine. I'm okay." I shook my head, looking out the window of Tyler's car. I texted him after I practically ran out of Tom's house and he picked me up within five minutes. He was someone I could always count on.

"Which way was his house?" He looked around the neighborhood as we slowed to a stop and he flicked on the turn signal.  "We haven't gone that far yet, right?

"Tyler," I said sternly. 

"That's messed up!!" He whirled around to face me, his bright eyes wide. "What he did is messed up, Sonnie!"

I sighed, keeping my gaze forward.

We continued down the road, driving out of the neighborhood before he spoke up. "We got a hockey game this weekend . . ." 

I looked over at him. "Ty . . ." 

"I just hate that he messed with you like that!" he huffed, plopping back in his seat as the car rolled to a stop at a stop sign.

My heart sunk, noticing the distress evident in my best friend's features. "Hey, I'm okay. Really. Thank you for picking me up." 

He swallowed hard. "I'm glad you are. He's not getting away with it though." 

"Ty--"

"It's part of the game!! I've always wanted to fight anyway."

"Please don't," I pleaded, grabbing his arm. "Please." 

"Can't make any promises." He shot me a wide smile. 

I let out a sigh, leaning back in my seat as we continued driving.

"I'm sorry something so messed up like that happened to you," he said, flicking on the turn signal before we turned on the main road.  

I gave him a look from my seat next to him. "Okay, you do not need to be apologizing for what he did." 

"Should I fight him for what he did instead?" he proposed with a cheeky grin as we stopped at a red light. 

I bit the inside of my cheek, focusing my gaze back on the red traffic light staring angrily back at me, unsure what to think about all of this. My mind was in a complete whirlwind. I didn't even know where to begin. Or how.

"Sasha and Ben were there too, right?" Tyler asked as the light blinked green and he set the car into motion again. "Maybe they'd like to join me."

I let out a laugh. "You think so?" I had left Tom's house before Sasha & Ben had returned from bringing the food they had promised. What was discussed between the three of them after they returned was unpredictable, but something inside me told me that it probably wouldn't be the truth. I reached for my bag, taking my phone out to send a quick text to Sasha. 

Maddie: call me please

"Why not?" Tyler replied simply with a shrug.

I sighed, running my hands through my hair. "I should've known. Starting with Tom actually completing his homework . . . in what world does that ever happen? It was all just weird."

"Sonnie, it's not your fault," Tyler replied quietly, keeping his eyes on the road. "He basically used you." 

His words hit me like a pile of bricks. I guess I had been used and I'll admit, it did hurt. But I felt more angry at myself for letting it get this far than anything else.

"You sure you're okay with all this?" Tyler asked, flicking his gaze over to me for a short moment before returning his eyes to the road. 

"I'll be fine, Ty," I replied with a small laugh.