Decoding You *Watty Awards 2012*

Chapter 36

After an hour of fighting with my mom about going to school I'm in the car with Carter. Abigail had chosen to take the bus.

As we pull up in the parking lot I glance at my brother, "Thanks for the ride."

He nods, "Yeah. Sure. Um have you talked to Ryder?"

I shake my head, not bothering to tell him about the Skype call. That had been for Izzy, "No. I don't want to. It's too hard."

He sighs, "You care about each other. Why can't you just forget what the two of you set out to do?"

I gulp, "I can't. I trusted him and he was lying to me the whole time. He lied."

Carter looks at me for a second, "You had sex with him didn't you."

The way he says it tells me it's not a question but I answer anyway, "Yes."

He sighs, "You knew Audrey wanted him back and you slept with him anyway?"

I nod and burst into tears, "I'm just glad there's only a month in a half left of school. I can't even talk to Audrey and Harper is on her side because she thinks I should've told them the truth."

He pats my arm, "You should have."

I sniff and wipe at my eyes, "I know."

***Ryder***

When I see her in the hallway I notice the circles under her eyes. I noticed the way her pink lips looked chapped from her nervous chewing habit. I noticed the way she had her hair covered in a hat, how she was trying to cover herself up with a cardigan over her favorite tank top and how she was wearing the skinny jeans I had bought her the day I accidently spilled coffee on her. I also notice she's covered the faint bruise with makeup.

She opens her locker up and throws her bookbag in before grabbing her books and slamming it shut. I watch Harper walk up to her and I decide to listen.

"You know she'll forgive you eventually. It's not your fault you fell for him."

Rory shakes her head, "It is my fault. I should've told her. I knew it would hurt her. I just couldn't stop."

"Why?"

Rory bites her lip and looks right at Harper, "Because I thought I was in love with him."

Harper sighs, "Thought or still are?"

Rory shrugs, "I don't know."

Harper shakes her head, "The only reason you don't know is because you're mad at him. Just like he's mad at you. But the only people you're really upset at are yourselves."

Rory nods but I don't hear what she says. I feel a hand grip my arm, "Watching her isn't going to help you man."

I look at Preston, "It's kinda hard not to. How much of that did you hear anyway?"

He presses his lips together in a grim line, "You love her don't you?"

I gulp, "Yes. I do. But it doesn't matter. She was using me. She uses everyone. Plus I was doing it for Trace. He doesn't need to know about any of this."

Preston sighs, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

***Rory***

After my first class I look up to find Trace, he wraps his arms around me, "Are you okay?"

I pull back, "Shouldn't you be laughing with Preston and Ryder about all of this? It's payback right? Payback for hurting you. For unintentionally hurting you."