Is This Real

31

Ethan and i slowly walked to the table where Ross sat. once we sat down we fell into an awkward silence. "so..." he began.

"what the fuck is wrong with you?! i can't believe you'd go around telling lies about me-" i began with rage but Ethan cut me off.

"Ari...calm down..."

"no! i can't calm down!! he fucking ruined my life and-"

"I'm sorry." Ross whispered.

"what?" i asked totally dumb founded.

"I'm sorry." he said a little louder. "i never meant to hurt you. i would never do that. i just...people think of me as cool and a player and you know...people would make fun of me because i was you know...tied down so i made it look like i got action but i didn't even want it. i just wanted you. ask Ryland he knows the truth. at first...yeah i did just want some action but then i really did fall in love with you." i was at a total loss for words. i couldn't find the words to say. "I am so, so, so sorry for what i did to you and I'll tell everyone the truth. i promise you. I'm sorry for making your life hell and I'm sorry for making everyone hate you when they should hate me." i looked at Ethan not knowing what else to do. he just nodded.

"we should go." he said quietly. i nodded and as we got up Ross spoke.

"Ari, please forgive me." he asked with sorrow and hope in his voice. "please." he whispered.

"give me some time to think. i don't know if i could ever forgive you for what you did." i said honestly before turning to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*2 weeks later*

so, i haven't exactly forgiven Ross yet. he told everyone the truth though and i almost instantly regained my popularity and respect from everyone. things kinda blew over but i wasn't ready to forgive Ross. i don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive him. i got my schedule changed and now i have no classes with Ross. i have 3 with his brother Ryland though. Ry and i became instant bestfriends. i put aside the Ross drama and focussed on being friends with Ry. he doesn't talk about Ross and i don't either. i hangout with the lynch's a lot. well minus Ross, plus Ratliff. I'm actually REALLY close to all of them.

"hey, you're coming over today after cheer right?" Ryland asked me as we walked to the locker rooms.

"depends..." i said as i put my hair up into a high pony tail.

"Ross won't be there. he's going to Kyle's house."

"k, then I'm there." i said as we reached the girls locker room. "oh and why is it that i got so much hate for the lies and Ross gets nothing for the truth?" i asked with sarcasm. Ry shrugged and smiled.

"don't know, princess, I'll be at the field when you're done."

"kk." i quickly put my arms around his neck before going into the girls locker room.

after i got changed Ky, Jess, Kris and i were talking when another girl on the team came running into the locker room.

"GUYS! THE NOMINATIONS FOR HOMECOMING QUEEN IS IN!!" she yelled. we all crowded around her and her phone. the cheerleaders take this super seriously because, surprise surprise, a cheerleader, usually a senior, always is homecoming queen. shallow. i know.

1. Margie Beth. ew. she's a senior and a total slut.

2. Brette Thompson. she's sooo pretty and super nice!! she's a junior so she probably won't win though.

3. Karissa Jacobs. shes the biggest looser ever. she's a sophomore, like me. total geek though. she was obviously the joke nomination.

4. Rebecca Firman. oh, Rebecca. ex-friend. bitch.

5. Ari Birch. oh- wait...WHAT?

"Ari! you were nominated!" said Kylie.

"well...I'm probably not even going. i don't have a date and...i don't know.." i said as i began to play with my fingers. Jess grabbed my hands.

"you're. going." she said. ha. no I'm not. i didn't reply because i was really too tired to put up a fight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i was walking to Ryland's car as i put on his hoody that i stole. yes. stole. i danced around the empty parking lot as i pulled Ry around my his hands. he laughed.

"what are you doing?" he laughed as we reached his car and he unlocked it.

"don't know. I'm hyper." i said as i climbed into the car.

"i can tell." he said as he began to drive away. we talked a little as he drove to his house. about 5 minutes later we pulled into the Lynch's driveway. we walked in and saw Riker, Rocky, Rydel and Ratliff in the living room.

"hey we were just about to go swimming, wanna come?" asked Rydel.

"sure." said Ry.

"i uhm...don't have a bathing suit..." i said awkwardly.

"you can borrow one of mine!" rydel said as she dragged me upstairs. i giggled as the perky blond pulled me up to her room. she threw me a hot pink strapless bikini with the matching bottoms. after i got changed we ran downstairs and outside to the Lynch's pool.

"so, Ari, i heard you got nominated for homecoming queen." said Riker as he walked over to me.

"yeah but I'm not going. no date no dance." i said dully.

"oh well... if you want a date then... I'll go with you." he offered sweetly.

"thanks Riker," i smiled. "that means a lot."