Letting Go *Completed*

Chapter 7

"Ow..." I groan as my butt slams into the the cold metal of the bench. My back throbs from the impact, the pain increases when I feel a slap across my face. 

"Are you even listening to me?" My attacker, Clare, asks incredulously. I rub my cheek where the sting of the slap has not faded yet. We are outside of school, enjoying the last moments of freedom before the bell rings.

"Sorry," I apologize, without an ounce of sincerity. "But you didn't have to slap me!" I say in disbelief. She shrugs as an apology, then continues her accusations. 

"If it wasn't for you and Tristan's unprofessional relationship-" I snort when she says this, "-then I wouldn't be caught in this constant tug-of-war between which of you I like better."

"You don't have to chose." I say quietly, but she just ignores me. 

"You guys have both known me as long as each other, so I can't judge based on time. And you would expect me to chose you, since you're a girl, and would be a better friend, but have you seen Tristan?!? I mean that boy..." She fades off while nodding approvingly at the thought of him and I can't help but glare at her. 

And before you ask, no, I do not  agree with her. Okay I might a little bit, or a lot, but you can't blame me! If you saw him then you would agree.

"Do you have a point here?" I ask her, getting bored of her talking. 

"Yes, I do," She says hotly, before continuing, "If decided that you will be my best friend," I smile at this, "But I'm making a move on Tristan or Ryder." My smile fades as quickly as it had appeared, 

"What?" I say in disbelief. She pauses to see my doubtful face, but then continues, "Well you lost them, fair and square," She says in a childish tone. Acting like Tristan and Ryder were just things, not human beings.

"But don't worry, it will be a strictly out-of-school-relationship." She assures me, then stops to correct herself, "Or an out-of-school-relationship-with-the-exception-of-if-you-aren't-in-school." She takes a deep breath after saying this, since she had lost it all while making the words.

I wordlessly glare at her, then look around to make sure no one is listening before I talk. "If you even try  to treat Tristan like your other boyfriends, and by that I mean fawning over him for a week before breaking up and moving on, then you better watch your back. Because I will come for you, and I will hurt you." I growl in a low tone, feeling like James Bond after capturing an enemy. 

Clare looks at me with wide, frightened eyes before nodding, showing that she understands my threat. I smile at her and walk into the school building just as the bell rings. 

I go to my first class, which is history, and sit in my usual seat, not failing to notice that Ryder sits in the back of the room, instead of next to me. 

"Hey Anna." I hear a soft voice say behind me, and I turn around to see a young junior with long brown hair and a shy face. 

"Hey...Mark?" I say, not sure if I said the right name, he eagerly nods and I smile. "So, what can I do for you Mark?" I ask in a polite, upbeat tone. 

"Um... well, I was wondering if you were free Saturday night." I continue to smile, until a few seconds after when I realize that he is asking me out. 

"Um, no sorry."I tell him with an apologetic tone. Of course I was free Saturday night, but wasn't looking for a date, and if I was, I knew he couldn't replace Tristan. I don't think anyone could. 

Sorry, I lied, as I look up, I see a junior standing at the front of the room, talking to the teacher. He has longer, brown hair and dark blue eyes. He is taller than most boys in my class, and I can't help, but notice his muscles showing through his black shirt.