Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 16

I was at Monet's reading because I didn't feel like being at home. It's been a couple of days since Zach and I talked and he's been trying really hard to be a good friend in hopes that I change my mind. I was slowly cracking, knowing life is too short to stay mad at him forever.

"Hey pretty girl." I looked up as Monty sat across from me

"Hey Balboa how's suspension?" I said and he laughed

"Like a vacation." He said

"Your parents weren't mad?"

"My mom was but my dad understood."

"He understood you beating the crap out of another kid?"

"I told you Alex flipped out for no reason."

"You almost ran him over Monty."

"It was an accident and I said sorry and he flipped out saying he was going to kick my ass and well you saw what happened." He said with a smirk, that just read trouble

"You are too much Montgomery." I said rolling my eyes

"You could've walked away, Alex is going through a hard time right now...we all are." I added and he nodded

"How are doing with it?"

"It's still hard, she was my best friend and I feel like I could've done more to help her but I didn't."

"I wasn't exactly the nice to her either."

"You're talking about what you did to her at the winter formal?"

"Yeah not my finest moment." He said holding his head down

"That's big of you to admit that."

"Yeah well Hannah's gone, so what's the point off acting like we all didn't do something at one point."

"Justin is."

"We'll have you met Jessica that bitch is mean." He said making me laugh

"She can be, but she's dealing with a lot of guilt as well, so give her a break."

"You know you are too nice."

"I don't know about that, I'm just trying to be more conscious of other people's feelings." I said as Clay's words played though my head again

"Perri?"

"Huh?" I said pushing those thoughts away

"I said let's go out this weekend."

"Like a date?"

"Yeah."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Monty I just broke up with Zach."

"Come on just for fun, it'll keep your mind off things.' He said with a smile and I thought about it

"Alright nothing serious just hanging out." I said 

"Alright." He said taking my hand

"So how does tomorrow night sound?"

"That's fine."

"Well isn't this cozy." We turned to see Zach and Justin standing there I pulled my hand away from Monty and got out

"I need to go, I'll call you later Monty." I said moving pass Justin and Zach, who reached for my hand but I pulled away and left the café.

Zach

I felt like someone punched me in the stomach when I saw once again Perri with Monty. I watched as he held her hand as she smiled at him, like she used to at me. When she saw us she got up and left

"Really Monty of all the girls in school you just have to keep going after her." I said

"Yeah dude that's a party foul." Justin added

" Perri is the hottest girl in school, and you fucked up. Did you really think she'd stay single forever?" He said

"She's not single, we're back on."

"Really?" He asked with a smirk and I wanted to punch him

"Really."

"Ok then why did she agree to out with me this weekend?"

"You're such a fucking liar."

"Am I? Then you should ask your 'girlfriend' about it." He laughed then he left

"Damn man."

"There's no way their going out Perri wouldn't do that." I said ....
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But Perri did, I was once again feeling like I got punched in the stomach as I watch her walk into Bryce's backyard with Monty's arm wrapped around her. She stopped and turned to him and they were talking, and he cupped her cheek and I turned away

"You alright man?" Marcus asked nodding in their direction

"I'm gonna go." I said pulling out my keys, I looked over there again and caught Perri's eye and she gave me a small smile I just glared and left.