Heartbreakers

-8-

I woke up the next Monday with the metallic tang of my emotionally draining weekend still in my mouth. I brushed my teeth nearly four times trying to get rid of it, but the irritability lasted far after I had finished. It was hard to believe my girls night with Carter had only been two days before. I searched through the remaining few boxes then threw on a tight, a-line, red and black plaid skirt from Brandy Melville; and I paired it with wide net fishnet tights underneath. I decided on a Calvin Klein bralette and a loose black top. The top had a wide neck that fell off one shoulder. I tied the shirt up in a knot over my navel, then I traced on my favorite red lipstick and more eyeliner than was probably appropriate for the occasion, but I didn't particularly care. I was in an edgy mood.

I had been trapped at home helping my mom prep for her campaign, and if I had to stick poles into one more sign, or put a stamp on one more letter, I might actually rip my eyes out. Although, it was also my fault, I hadn't made plans with anyone. I didn't feel like it. I was just tired, I guess. I grabbed my school bag and my homework and attempted to stuff all of the papers and notebooks into the pack. The dark grey canvas likely wouldn't hold if Mrs. Bransen decided to give out any more Bio assignments. Our poor developing backs must be so disfigured by the weight of our backpacks... On the way out the door I grabbed a browning banana from the counter and pulled out my car keys.

When I got to school I made sure to park away from the other cars, I didn't want any rowdy boys accidentally scratching the car doors with their own vehicles. My car was like my baby, and it was something that I had to fight for to get. I walked into school with SZA still blasting from my earbuds. It felt like one of those scenes in the cliche high school movie where the fake girl characters slo-mo walk into school in a bitchy mood. Their lip gloss is always perfect and their hair is blown back. Mine was less dramatic, more like a feeling of nonchalance, like whatever happened I wouldn't care anymore. I felt secure with my place at the school, I felt in control. If I had been paying more attention I probably would have noticed Ivy and Jase in a corner fighting. If I had been paying more attention I could have maybe heard a snippet of what they were fighting about. But I wasn't, instead I was focusing on my nonchalance- my security.

_____

"Jaseeee," Ivy whined, "that bitch is with Carter, like, allllll the time now! It's not supposed to be that way! I see her sit with him at lunch, like, every day! And did you hear what she said to me in the bathroom?! The. Nerve. On. That. Girl! I swear! She deserves to get her ass handed to her, I can't believe she's taking Carter from me!" Ivy seethed, breaking their kissing for a minute to rant. Her mind had been elsewhere the entire time, so even Jase's celebratory hook up, for winning the basketball game against RHS, wasn't fun anymore.

"Babe, I thought you weren't on Carter anymore? Besides, I saw her with Elias in the park, he was, like, totally feeling her up. She was into it too, they were smoking and everything. They even slept together a week or two back. On the first day of school actually. Apparently, if you do stuff for her she'll sleep with you. I saw her totally give Elias and Carter a lap dance the other day too. It was actually pretty hot..." Jase said. He was rambling, his thoughts moving from one topic to the next. He knew he and Ivy weren't long term, but he wanted her attention on him, not his best friend.

"Jase! She's not hot. She's weird... And new... And why didn't you tell me any of this earlier? That little slut. Well, at least I know she's with Elias and I don't have to worry about Carter," Ivy thought aloud.

"But you have me? I thought we were a thing? Aren't we a thing, babe?" He said looking at her, searching for some semblance of commitment, "I don't know if I want to be involved with someone who's still stuck on her boy-toy from last year," Jase said as he pulled away from their makeout sesh. Ivy panicked a little, fearing the loss of yet another boy-toy, and flipped the switch from annoyed-bitchy mood to sweet and flirty.