The World is Ugly, but You are Beautiful to Me

Chapter 25

I walk into school expecting a normal day, minus the hate I used to receive from Chelsea. As I anticipated, the day went by as every other has. It's not until lunch that I sense things are different.

Chelsea- surprisingly alone- walks up to the table I share with Logan. "Katharine! How are you? Can I talk to you alone for a second?" she says in her sugary voice.

I exit the cafeteria and follow her to the girls' bathroom.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but you deserve to know," Chelsea gives me a look with her wide sympathetic eyes. "When we went out for your birthday, I saw Logan. He was all touchy with this girl. You guys seem to have a thing, but you should know what type of guy he is before you really start to like him. I've seen him at that club before, and he always ends up grinding on some chic. I'm sorry."

I have no idea if she's telling the truth. Logan had told me that Ryan took him to the club, but I never saw Ryan or any of his friends. And he did confess to being with a girl.. But at the same time, it seems too suspicious that the most popular girl and the most popular guy would take us to the same club on the same night. And now she's trying to fill my head with disgust for Logan. I'm stuck between the possibilities, but either way I need to have Chelsea on my side.

"Really?" I fake my best shocked expression. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know. And, uh, not to make this worse, but he left the club with the girl he was hanging around with. My guess is they went back to her place."

I hope with all of my being that that is false. Is Logan really the type of guy that would go home with a girl whose name he doesn't even know?

"Thanks for telling me," I smile sadly at Chelsea as we exit the bathroom.

She returns to her table and I return to mine, but my appetite has disappeared.

"What did she tell you?" Logan asks.

"Nothing," I say. If what Chelsea said actually is true, I can't bring it up to Logan.

"Bullshit."

"She just said that you were with some girl at the club, but you already told me that so it doesn't matter."

He bites his bottom lip as I say the words, as if they make him uncomfortable. Maybe there is something he isn't telling me. I decide to ignore it for now, however. I don't want to let Chelsea ruin our friendship.

**

Friday arrives, along with an unexpected text from Peter asking me to dinner.

I want to accept his offer, because Peter is a nice guy, but I also want to decline it because I'm not sure how deep my friendship is with Logan. We don't talk about our feelings for each other, but I can't say that I want nothing more than a friendship with him. Sometimes I feel like he likes me in that deeper way too, but I don't know.

In the end, I agree and prepare myself to go out with Peter at four o'clock. He said we weren't going anywhere fancy, but I still want to look good.

I know that if Logan was aware of this he would most likely be pissed, but I also know that neither him nor Peter is my boyfriend. I would like to have Peter as a friend, but considering our three year age difference I'm not sure if we could work as a couple.

UNKNOWN POV

I'm walking down the sidewalk, window shopping as I stroll past the strip mall. Nothing catches my attention until I pass the diner on the corner of the street. Two familiar faces- but not familiar as a pair- are seated across from each other.

I pull out my phone immediately to compose a text.

To: Ryan

"I'm outside of iHop and Katharine and Peter are eating together?? Idk if they're together but this could be helpful."

This is exactly what I had hoped for. It's like Peter is a part of our plan, except he's not. He just happens to do what I want.

With Peter (unknowingly) and Ryan on my side, there is no way for me to lose.

My phone beeps as I get a reply from Ryan.

"Great. I'll text Logan."