Revenge & A Stream of Broken Hearts

For Real?

Am I hallucinating? Am I in some kind of trance? Did Cole really just admit his feelings for me?

'I... I... think I still like you...'

'I... I... think I still like you...'

'I... I... think I still like you...'

My brain kept replaying those words like a skipping record.

But of course, my train of thought and staring contest with the floor, was interrupted by the deadly culprit, "You better not tell anyone! I will ban you from..." His search of a specific word didn't last long, "something..."

"Nice vocabulary, genius." I smirk. I do not want to actually believe that Cole still likes me, so I'm distracting myself with humor.

"I'm being serious, Bethany."

"I told not to call me that! And you are the one who broke up with me. How could you say that you still like me?!"

"Have you seen yourself, since the break?" I punch his arm, furiously. He holds it in pain, "Ow!"

Then, I remember something. Cole and I used to be entitled, 'the cutest couple'. That made us grow more and more popular. We rose to the top of the Shanhay High School Food Chain. That's probably what Cole wants again. Except, this time, everybody will be praising my recovery. Which will cause even more popularity. I am not going to fall for his mind games. They break me. I can't do that again. Plus, I have Percy. And now, I'm friends with Marianna and Kara. What more could I want?

"Beth, are you ignoring me?"

I shake away my thoughts, "Huh?"

"I asked you, if you like me back?"

I shake my head at his idiocy, "Are kidding me?! Heck, to the no!!! After those months of torcher, you expect me to date you? Think again, pretty boy! Plus, I am in a relationship at the time." I sass like one of those devils from the movie Mean Girls.

He slides down the wall, head in hands.

Great! Now, I feel guilty! "Cole, can I ask you something?" I kneel beside him with my hand on his back.

"Yeah..." He mumbles.

"Why were you so mean to me, if you just said that you still like me?" I ask, confused.

"Be- because... I was always jealous of you. You had the perfect family, the perfect life. Everybody loved you." He paused, raising his head to face me straight in my eyes, "Then, when you... gained weight, I wanted you to feel how I felt. I used to be bullied all the time. I thought that you needed to know how I felt." He looks back down.

I rub his back, "I- I I'm sorry.. I didn't know..." Then, I realize something, "But that is not an excuse for how you treated me!"

His voice cracks, "I kn-" He is interrupted by a click from the doorknob. I turn around, hastily and wiggle the knob, kick it and pull every bump on the door. Until, Cole wraps his hands around my waist and pulls me down to his lap, "You aren't going to get anywhere. It's locked."

"Thank you Captain Obvious. What do we do now?" He shrugs.

I stand up, and scan the room for a thin wire to pick the lock. I can't believe that I forgot that, Number 1: It's the end of the day and we're in a janitor's closet, and Number 2: The janitor locks the door at the end of the day!

I give up on the search party, and bang my head on the cluttered shelves, causing everything to fall. Right now, I am beyond upset.

Then, Cole's recent confession comes to mind, "I'm not perfect. Far from it."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"My parents are divorced. What does that tell you?"

"Lots of kid's parents are separated."

"You don't know why mine are..."

"Tell me, then."

"And why would I do that?"

"We're stuck in a janitor's closet. With nothing else to do."

"My dad cheated on my mom."

"Okay?"

"I knew about it for years before my mom found out. And I didn't tell her that I was well aware of his affair, until last year. And that's why she's an alcoholic." By this time, I was sobbing. Cole hugs me tightly. I pull away though, "But you want to know the rest?" I sniffle, "My dad came to my house last week and beat me up, because I refused to live with him and his 24 year old fiancé! And that's why I have this stupid brace on my leg!"

Now, I'm angry. I breathe in and out slowly, "And I never see my mother. Because I turned her away, and onto beer! I live off of my dad's child support and my best friends hand-me-downs. And... and my new boyfriend is the only reason why those popular, rich chicks want to be, 'friends' with me!"

I walk over to the brick wall and punch it with all my strength. Like I've said before, I can be very stupid at times. And impulsive. I hold my hand against my chest, "Ow, ow, oww!" I screech.

Cole rushes over to examine my nuckles. They're bleeding, and look bruised.

"We need to get out of here." He states. I'm in so much pain, that I can't even say, 'Duh!' without crying.

Cole pushes me back and runs full speed into the door. As soon as he comes in contact with it, it's unlocked and opened from the outside. Cole accidentally tackles the poor janitor.

Cole brushes himself off, and helps up the janitor, "Sorry Melvin. We're in a hurry! Bye!" He says as he leads me out the door to his truck.

As soon as we get buckled, Cole speeds towards the hospital.

I wrap tissue around my hand, "Slow down Cole, it's not a life-threatening situation." I hold in my tear. Ow, this really stings! "Plus, if I wasn't hurting so much, I'd be laughing at you for running over the janitor!"

"I didn't mean to."

Soon enough, we're in the Emergency Room. When the doctor takes me to the x-ray place, I stray a little bit, to walk next to Cole, "I told you I'm not perfect." I give him a light smile.

"I believe you." I giggle. "Beth, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"Is going to the hospital part of your weekly routine now, or what?" He snickers, I shove him into the wall, "Maybe..." We both laugh.

---

Cole drops me off at my house, "I had a fun time, but I just can't forget what you did to me. I'm sorry, Cole." I rub his arm before entering my house.

"I know. I'll just have to work hard to get you back." He smiles lightly. I return the grin.

I stand on my tip toes and peck his soft lips with a kiss. Before I can get back on my feet, the headlights of a car blind us.

Once my eyes adjust to the brightness, the driver comes into focus.

Percy.

*****

Cliffhanger, again. Sorry guys, but I had to. I never expected the story to end up like this, and I'm the author! See you in the next chapter. Byee<3

~FreeStray