The Good Boy's Troublemaker ✓

Chapter 35 - "Are you two a thing?"

It's been two weeks since Bailey left. I've been trying to figure out the riddle she left me, but no luck.

Carter has been visiting me almost every day. I didn't complain. But for some weird reason, she and my brother got along quite well. Jasper also stayed over most of the nights.

I've been really worried about him lately.

He hasn't been eating or sleeping. I can tell from the way he devours food and the circles underneath his eyes. Something must be going on at home. Jasper almost never talks about his family.

I got dressed and went downstairs to grab some breakfast.

No one bothered me at school after I punched that guy. I got called to the principal's office, but my record was clean. The principal let me off after I told him the truth. How bad the guy spoke about Bailey, so he got suspended.

My mom was a wreck when he called her. She wouldn't stop scolding me, that was until she heard everything. My dad gave me a smile and Connor pats my back.

Carter kissed me again, but I didn't respond, just like the first time. I don't like her kissing me. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. I've never kissed a girl before and every time it felt forced with her.

Eating my cereal I tried to think about something else.

I got a text from Carter telling me to come over. I grabbed my jacket and then left the house.

Even though I don't enjoy her kisses, I enjoy her company. We can talk about anything and everything. That's almost like what Bailey and I had. I could tell her anything and she wouldn't tell anyone. I miss her.

Ringing her doorbell made her dog bark. But then it was quiet, she opened the door. "Hey!" She hugged me and I hugged her back. "Happy birthday." She whispered in my ear.

"Thanks." She let me in.

"Do you mind if I invite a few people over?" I shrugged. Let's just say I'm not a party guy. "Yay!" She clapped her hands. "I've got you something." Carter dragged me to the back door.

"You shouldn't have." When she opened the door, a tiny puppy was jumping up and down.

"It's yours." I picked him up and he licked my face. "I had to keep my promise."

"Thank you." I kissed her cheek.

"So what are you going to call-" The doorbell rang. "Looks like the guests are already here. Coming!" She yelled while sprinting to the door. The puppy licked and bit my finger.

"Aren't you a ruff one?" I pet its tummy. Mom would never allow me to keep him.

Dad would also complain and Connor, oh goodness knows what sports he would play with him. He barked and then started pouting. I picked him up.

"Aren't you two the cutest?" Piper said, with Flynn by her side. I placed the puppy down again.

"Hey, guys." They both greeted me and congratulated me. Then the house kept on flooding with more people. Jasper, Trent, and Stacy also came. There were a lot of kids I don't know.

The party was a little too much for me so I took a bottle of water and went to the patio. I just want to be alone.

"Hey birthday boy, shouldn't you be inside?" Someone said behind me.

"Oh hey, Parker." He saw my puppy and pet him. "Nah I like my company." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I can see why." He took a swig from his beer. "Why are you here? Alone?" I sighed.

"Parties aren't my thing." He nodded.

"Carter has really outdone herself." I laughed. "Are you two a thing?" Ugh, the dreaded question. I shrugged.

"I don't know." He chuckled. "Well, I don't know what I want. She's a great girl. We get along. I don't know what we are. Do you get it?"

"Yeah, and they say women are confusing." We both laughed.

"Okay, enough about me. Where's your special lady?" His eyes sadden.

"I don't know." A lump formed in my throat. I totally forgot that Parker and Bailey had a thing going on. I felt like an idiot for asking. "Do you have any news?" I gulped.

"No." I lied.

He almost looked like he wanted to cry. "She- she would always bring you up." It caught my attention. "First I thought that you were just good friends. Well- well she asked a lot about you." He was silent. "She likes you." He finally said.

I burst out laughing, "No, she doesn't. We were just friends. She also talked about you."

He looked up, "She did?" I nodded. "Really? I can't believe it." He chuckled. But what caught my eye, was the smile on his face. I haven't seen Parker smile in a really long time. "What did she say?"

"We didn't talk a lot about our relationships, but just that she also doesn't know what she wants." He nodded.

"Guess all teenagers don't know what they want." I nodded. "But she almost never knew what she wants," I remembered the time I told her that once.

"It's true, you think you know but actually you don't."

I only told her that, because I felt like we both don't know what we want. Especially her. She really doesn't know, that's the reason she is gone.

"When do we know what we want?" I ask.

"When we don't need anything else, I guess." His words rang in my head. "When you know what you want-" He continues. "You can't go without it. You need it."

We sat there in silence. Only the puppy making sounds while it's asleep.

"You're talking about Bailey, am I right?" He didn't answer me. And I didn't want to hear the answer. I was afraid to hear it. I already know the words, but hearing it would just confirm it.

I fiddled with my fingers, waiting in anticipation for his answer. His nod confirmed my thoughts and I felt my heart sink.

Why does it hurt so much? I'm with Carter. I think. I heard a pop and then I realized I popped my knuckles.

"Now don't lie to me, what do you know?"

***

Chapter dedication >> kyliawood
She made me the awesome cover on top!! Please check out her cover book ❤️