Always You

Chapter 8

"The 'benefit' of you? Who the hell does he think he is?" Ollie rants and sprawls his legs across mine.

"Exactly! Why would he think that putting a label of just one of the girls that he's slept with would benefit me in any way possible?" I roll my eyes and turn down the volume on the tv. Ollie, Camila, and I are all sitting on Camila's couch watching Gossip Girl, although it's kind of hard to focus considering all I can think about are Ryan's words.

"He's a dick." Camila sighs and takes a chip from my hand.

"Finally you see it. For the last few weeks all you could think about was his looks rather than his shit personality." I laugh and nudge her shoulder.

"Hey! It's kind of hard to think about personality when he looks like he walked straight out of a magazine." Cammy retorts.

"If he were to walk out of a magazine, it would probably be an ad for STD testing. Who knows how many girls he's been inside of." Ollie laughs vigorously at his own joke.

"Ugh. Gross." I say before standing up to refill the chip bowl. I make my way into Cammy's kitchen and hear the laughter of my best friends behind me. As I'm walking, my phone buzzes unusually. I don't text that many people, so it surprises me when I receive a text.

I pull out my phone to see 3 texts, all from an unknown number.

Unknown: We need to talk.

Unknown: Please Jade.

Unknown: Let me explain.

Obviously I know who it is. I deleted his contact in 9th grade once he ignored me one day on the football field. I decided right there and then that I was done with his bullshit, but I immediately recognize the number on my phone.

I make sure to turn on my read receipts and then shut off my phone.

Yeah, I'm that petty.

Once I refill the chip bowl and start walking back to the living room, my phone blows up. Of course he won't stop bothering me. I don't understand how he can ignore me for years and then all of the sudden can't leave me alone.

"He won't stop." I pull out my phone and sprawl out on the couch. Before I can protest, Camila grabs my phone and answers the call.

"Hey asshole, Jade can't come to the phone right now.... Nope.... Do I care?.... No one wants your explanation.... Go find someone else to stalk.... Yup, bye bye now." Cammy says in the span of 30 seconds. Although I couldn't hear what he was saying, I can't stop laughing at her words.

She turns to me with a bright smile on her face and says, "He won't be bothering you anymore."

God, I love my best friends.

~~~

The second day of school is one of the most annoying. Since you've already read the syllabus for each class (even though you probably haven't), it's now time to hop right into your first unit.

I hate units.

So far, I've spent the whole day trying to avoid Ryan and trying not to fall asleep during classes. He's tried to pull me aside a couple of times, but I always push him away. As I walk out of my second period class, I'm delighted with the face of Ashton. It's great seeing him first thing in the morning, you know? It really just makes my day!

He doesn't say anything to me but instead gives me a malicious glare before turning to his friends. Asshole.

I ignore his look and continue walking to the cafe, considering I have a cafe study every day period 3. When I reach the cafe, I sit at a small table in the corner of the room and plug in my headphones. I plan on not wasting this period by reviewing the syllabus and instead making good use of my time by watching The Office.