Bent. Not Broken (On Hold)

Chapter 16

The ride to school the next day was the same as it had been for the last week. Remy and I, mostly Remy sang along to Halsey. I couldn't get over how good his voice was. It was deep and smooth and beautiful. Once we got to school he did his typically gentlemanly thing and opened my door for me. I couldn't help but smile every time he did that. Tanner only did it on occasion, mostly when we first started dating.

We walked inside together. I had started getting used to the stares that followed me. The rumors that had started when I first rode to school with him had begun to die down. When we got to the end of the hallway we parted ways for our classes.

I really wished he had stayed with me when I get to my locker. Taped to the door was a crystal clear picture of Tanner and Vanessa making out in his car. The sight makes my blood boil and eyes water. I pull the picture off and run into the nearest bathroom.

I lock myself into a stall and lean back against the door. The tears soon start to fall and I'm sobbing into my hands. Who was mean enough to put this on my locker. As if him dumping me and finding out he was cheating wasn't hard enough.

I put my hand over my mouth to muffle my tears when I hear the bathroom door open. There are the click of heels and the sound of girls laughing. I couldn't leave my stall and risk them seeing my tear stained cheeks. Instead I stay silent and hope they don't notice me.

"Did you see him the other night at practice with his shirt off?" One girl, who's voice I recognize to be Maddie. She was on the cheerleading team so I figured she was talking about the football game.

"Do you really think he's sleeping with that Natasha girl?" Another girl asks.

Remy. They were talking about Remy. I find myself leaning towards the door, trying to see though the crack.

Before they could say anything else I push open the stall door. All three girls turn and stare at me. Despite my tear stained cheek I hold my chin of high. "You know it's not nice to talk about people behind their back." I say flatly as I turn on the faucet. "I'm sure Remy wouldn't be happy to hear what you r been saying." I finish washing my hands and dry them off. "Oh and to answer your question. No he's not sleeping with me. But he's not sleeping with you either." The look on their faces before I left the bathroom were priceless. Mouths open and eyes wide.

I moved through the first half of the day holding onto those shocked faces. They were the only light in my dark world.

Sammy could tell something was off with me, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. I normally told her everything. But in this case I seemed to already know what she'd say. 'You're to good for him. Someone's just trying to get under your skin. You're stronger than that.' I didn't feel strong. So I shrugged off her concerns and counted the seconds until lunch.

The bell rang and I shot out of my seat and ran out of the room. I could faintly hear Sammy calling my name. My feet carry me to the library where Remy say at our usual spot. He looks up when I approach and his eyebrows instantly furrow as a look of worry crosses his face.

"What's wrong?"

It's funny how in the span of a few short weeks he could tell I was upset just by looking at me. My eyes weren't red anymore and my cheeks weren't tear stained, but he could tell.

I pull out the photo of Tanner and Vanessa  and set it on the table. He grabs picks it up and looks it over for a moment. "Is that?"

"Yep." I sit down across from him.

"Where?" His eyes looks up to me.

"It was on my locker this morning. I don't know who put it there." I tell him before resting my head on the table.

There was a long moment of silence. I swear I could hear each of our individual breaths.

"Wanna see a movie tonight?" Remy asks causing my head to snap up.

"What?" Was he really asking me out.

"You need to get out and have some fun." Remy explains. "Otherwise I'm sure you'll sit at home and dwell on this." He waves the cursed picture in his hand.

He was right, as much as I hated to admit it. "What movie?"

"Whatever you want."

"What time?" I counter.

Remy rolls his eyes. "How about six?"

I narrow my eyes at him, trying to read his mind. "Fine. But you have to pay."

"Kind of implies." He says it so nonchalantly I almost don't think twice about it.

Was this a date? Was Remy Collins asking me or on a date? Or is it just a way to cheer me up? Just two friends hanging out.

I couldn't bring myself to ask him.

*****

(It's late and it's short and I'm sorry! Forgive me? I'll work on getting the next chapter posted by the end of the week. Fingers crossed.)