Pleasure

Chapter Thirty-Seven

***A/N: I just want to take a minute to thank all of you guys for reading my story. This is my most popular one and I honestly didn't expect it to get so many reads. I'm almost at 100k and that's the most I've ever gotten! Your comments are funny asf too, I love your humor guys. Tysm for putting a smile on my face and reading my story lovebugs. I try to update when I can. Here's the next chapter (: ***
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I feel the need to leave. I can't seem to catch my breath and the world beneath me seems to sink with every wobbly step I take. I can't stay here. I have to go somewhere else to clear my mind. This has to be a mistake. I know Courtney left the note, but there has to be a missing piece to this puzzle. Jacob wouldn't cheat. Right? His stories are so convincing. But there's always a story. What am I missing and why do I doubt myself on this?

I don't know why, but I dip down and pick the pictures back up. I slam my locker shut and start walking towards the double doors. I almost feel like I won't make it, but I manage to. Wind rushes against my face and my lungs immediately fill up again, making the knot that was there disappear. I put my hands on my knees and close my eyes, listening to only the silence of the afternoon and breathing slowly. The image remains in my head, no matter how many times I try to wipe it away. I didn't notice I was shaking until now, but I manage to control that.

Then I feel angry. I dig the picture back out and clench my jaw tightly. I can't stop staring at it now. Tears sting the back of my eyes as I gaze over every detail of the picture. Hatred is coming over me in ways I can't explain. She did it. She managed to break me. I can't believe she actually did it. I hate her. I hate him. I hate them so much.

I feel something come over me. My fists clench tight as every emotion runs through my body. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and see Jacob calling me back. I make a sour expression as I look down at his contact. I consider letting it ring, but my thumb swipes right slowly.

"Hey, you okay?" I hear his groggy voice through the other line. I don't know what to say. I feel anger and betrayal and sadness. I don't do much but sit there, breathing slowly and lightly. I can practically feel my emotions bubbling to my throat as a single tear rolls down my face. I'm choked up and falling apart and I feel so pathetic for it.

"Aria?" He asks after I don't answer.

"Don't talk to me, Jacob." I choke out, sounding almost inaudible.

"What?" I can hear the confusion in his voice. "Aria, what's wrong?"

"I'm done with you," I cry, as my voice cracks and goes higher. "I don't want to see you or talk to you. So just leave me alone, okay?" He's about to say something but I don't bother staying on the phone to hear. I hang up and cry into my hands for a moment.

I hate crying. I feel weak for it. I especially feel weak for doing it in public, in front of my school. I wipe my tears and walk to my car, feeling a heavy weight on my chest. I sit in there for a moment, just staring at the steering wheel.

I do it again. I look at the photos. I hold it up with my shaky hands and stare. I hate that I can't stop staring. I want to look away. Everything in me just wants to look away, but I can't. I take in every cursed detail of the picture. I flip it over and run my fingers over the words written. Another tear rolls down my cheek.

My phone rings once more. I wipe my tears and sniffle, checking who it is. Jacob. Of course. I don't answer. I don't want to answer.

I decline and begin to scroll through my contacts. I stop on Lucas' name. I gaze at the screen for several seconds before going to his contact name.

Call me, I type out through text. My finger hesitates, hovering over the send button. I finally press it and watch the screen. He calls a few minutes later while my fingers struggle to answer.

"Hello?" I voice, trying to sound happier than I actually am.

"Hey, aren't you in school?" Lucas asks. I look up at the school and bite my lip, holding back tears. I wipe my eyes and sniffle.

"You okay?" No. Far from it.

"I really need a friend right now." My lip quivers as my words choke sloppily out of my throat. There's a slight pause of silence before Lucas shifts in the background.

"I can be that friend." He offers, sounding cocky but failing to sound smooth. A laugh escapes my lungs, catching me off guard. He chuckles too, in turn making me feel a little less shitty about things.

"You want to come over? It's just me and my grandpa chilling, watching old movies."

I smile and accept his offer. "Yeah. Just text me the address."

"Sure thing, I'll see you here." He chirps. I hang up the phone and smile. I do feel a bit better, considering he doesn't hate me after the way we left things off.

I put the address in my phone and start my car. I drive out of the parking lot and head over to Lucas' house.