Tangled Strings

Chapter 18

Bryan

Ouch. My head hurts. I don't remember drinking last night, or getting hit. I blinked my eyes once, twice, thrice, till my vision was clear, and looked around myself. The last time I checked, I was sleeping on my bed not beside my bed. Oh! That's why my head hurts! But, on a serious note, who pushed me?

I ran down the stairs, and ran out of the room with a toast in hand, and then ran to my car for school. So basically, my morning started off running. Good start!

I went in for my first lecture of the day. Biology!!

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Finally, I was free from the clutches of the teachers. My basketball coach caught me midway between the school and the parking area and said he had something to tell me.

"What is it, coach?"

"There is this kid, Allens something. He is great at basketball. You've got a tough competition there. I saw him play with your team mates this week when you weren't coming for practice. He's too good. I'd better watch my back if I were you." he smiled but there was pity in his eyes. I don't want pity. No. I marched into the parking area in hot fury, when I saw Ashley talking to a boy. My anger flowed away. She saw me and motioned me to come over.

"Hey, Bryan. Meet him. He is Mike Allens. I told you about him. And Mike, he is Bryan Harding, my best friend. He knows me better than I even know myself." she said once I came and stood with them.

All my previous anger rushed into me as I heard his name Mike Allens. His name left a sour taste in my mouth. Putting pieces wasn't that difficult as I heard his name. I clenched my fists. He was the one trying to overthrow me. He was the one who was trying to win over Ashley. One look at him and I could tell that this boy was more than what meets the eye. One sniff towards him and I could tell he smelled like trouble. It was clearly written all over his face or maybe I saw everything with shades of anger over my eyes. But if it was true why couldn't anyone else see it? This boy was a walking, talking trouble-maker. The way he looked at Ashley, I wanted to punch him right in the gut.

The filthy human brought his hand in front of me; I wasn't going to shake hands with him. Never. I say never! So I did the most common thing I could do at the moment. I glared at Ashley.

"What is he doing here?" I asked, closing my eyes shut to try to keep my voice normal.

"Well, I was going out with him this weekend. So he just wanted to ask me if I was free." she said forcing a laugh.

"Why would you even go out with him?!!" I shouted, failing miserably to keep my calm.

"What?! Stop shouting Bryan. Everyone can hear us!" she said. Here I was freaking out and all she cared about was others to not hear our conversation.

"Well, I don't care!" I said, stubbornly. Ashley tugged my arm and dragged me to somewhere away from the crowd and Mr. Filthy Eyes.

" What was that, Bryan?" Ashley asked me once we were out of earshot.

"I. Don't. Like. Him." I said without twisting my words.

"What?? You don't even know him!" she dropped her hands to her sides, frustratedly.

"Oh, I do know him. He's been here for like what, four days? And he's already started to pull me down from captaincy!" I faked a laugh. But when I realized what I had said, I was so full of regret. Anger does that to you, I guess. I didn't want her to think I hate him just because he is trying to take my position, although it was one of the reasons why I didn't like him. I don't know, it was just the way he looked, his eyes spilled trouble.

"So this is what it's all about? Why don't you say it clearly that you are jealous of him! And your captaincy is in danger just because he is better than you. Don't you understand? He's good looking, he's good at basketball, he's not a jock, he's good to me. Isn't that good?" She didn't understand what I was saying.

"I'm not jealous and why don't you understand? He's just faking it so that he can use you. Can't you see the way he looks at you! It's disgusting, Ashley."

"Enough!! I've heard enough. I don't want you badmouthing him. I-I-... Urghhh. I'm going out with him this Friday to Melissa's party. Say what you want I don't care."

"I don't care either." she turned around hearing this. I grabbed her hand and jerked her back to look me straight in the eyes.

"Don't come crying to me, once he gets bored of you."

"Let me go, Bryan. You're hurting me." I realized I had been holding on too tightly and as soon as I let her go I could see red marks forming there already. I cursed myself for hurting her. He didn't deserve her if I kept hurting her this way.

"You're an asshole, Bryan. I don't want to talk to you. Hell, I don't even wanna see your face again!"

Saying this she ran away. Ashamed, I lowered my gaze. What have I done? She doesn't even want to see me! I can't go after her. She may even slap me. Well, she could slap me, kick me, punch me, but please she has to talk to me. How will my day end without talking to her?! I lifted my gaze to see where Ashley was. She had left Mike where he was and had gone towards her car. As she sat inside the car I saw her wiping away some stray tears on her face. I made her cry! I was awful. How could I do this? I ran my hand through my messy bed-hair, making them even messier. I took a glance at Mike and there he was watching me with an ugly smirk on his face. As far as I know smirking in a situation like this wasn't considered appropriate. Ashley had left when I looked back to where her car was earlier.

Fred came from behind and put his hand on my slouched shoulders. I instantly straightened up. Hardings never show their weaknesses. I turned around and looked at Fred in the eye with a smile plastered on my face.

"Dude, show your pretence to someone else. I heard everything." And just like that my walls came crashing down. I'm sure the colour must have literally drained from my face and left my skin pale. But then I broke into a fit of laughter. Fred had a confused look in his face like he didn't understand why I was laughing. Honestly, I think, maybe because I was too tensed and was freaking out. When a person breaks into a fit of laughter here is what he is trying to hide:
1. His emotions
2. That he is freaking out
3. He had some awe-freaking-some plan that just went very well
4. Or he might genuinely be crazy.

Well, in my case option 1 and 2 were the best reasons.

"Bro, I just want to go home. I'll go crazy if I stay here any longer. I can't handle what just happened here."

"Sure bro. Do you want me to drop you home?" he offered.

"Naah! I'm fine. I can manage." I assured him.

"You sure? Because I can really dro-"

"Dude, I'm fine, I'll go."

"Okay. If you want some company. Come over. Or call me. We can have all the beer in the world. Okay?" This was the manly way to handle things. Drink until you forget. And yeah, I could use some company.

"Sure, bro. I'll come over. Call Harold too. I wanna talk to you both about something important."

"Sure. And take care." I gave Fred an assuring smile and started walking towards my car.

There was something really important that I wanted to talk about to them today itself, or it'll be too late.

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A/N Hehe *cue evil laugh*... I'm back peeps... Hope you didn't miss me much!

By the way, I'm so sad Bryan and Ashley had to fight this way... Over someone else... It's totally stupid yet necessary for the future of the story... You get it, right? Please don't kill me!!

So, tell me what you think about this chapter and don't forget to press that little star down below!! :)

Dedicated to the author of The Bad Boy And The Tomboy... Seriously I love Caleb... He's so adorable!!!! 

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Love,
Anshara.❤