The Summer That Changed Me

Chapter 9

"Well what's her problem? Why'd she slap you like that?!"

"I called her a slut...you heard what I said to her."

"Yeah I did. You really don't like her do you?"

"No! She's so annoying.....God I can't frikin stand her."

"You're 17 right?"

"Yeah, why?"

"How old is Paige? She looks younger."

"She's 15. Don't ask why I dated her because I'm stupid and I regret it. But I still dated her and I can't take it back now."

A little bit later Cory comes walking over and stops in front of us. I talk to
him a little bit, but stay beside Braden.

"Hey Cory. What happened to Paige?"

"I got her to go home."

"Where's your crutches?"

"On Sandy's porch. I saw you over here and I saw her slap him so I jumped over the porch railing and ran over here."

"Do you need your crutches?"

"No. The doctors told me the sprain wasn't that bad and I needed the crutches but I can walk without them. I'm okay."

"Okay. We should go back to Sandy's she needs us for work."

"Yeah. We should."

Cory starts to walk away.

"I'll be over in a minute."

I look at Braden and frown.

"I don't like Paige."

"I know you don't, I don't either but I still have to be nice to her."

"No you don't Braden! She hit you! She fucking hit you in the face!"

"I know that Olivia. Chill I'm okay. I don't need you telling me what's right and wrong."

I start to tear up a little bit. I'm just trying to help him. I don't wanna fight.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help you."

"I don't need your help Olivia. Just don't worry about it."

"Why do you still hang around with Paige?"

"Maybe I want to."

"Well maybe I don't wanna see her. She hurt you Braden."

"Then don't come over here when she is. Simple as that. I can take her hits."

"Fine. Whatever. I have to go anyways."

"Get out of here. Don't worry about me or Paige ever again. We don't need you."

I start to bawl my eyes out and look Braden in the eyes on last time.

"Oh my gosh Olivia. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do it. It's just....."

"Save it Braden. Go tell Paige."

I walk away from Braden and cross the street to Sandy's. I run past everyone on the porch and go up to my room. Cory yells as I'm running through the house.

"Olivia! What's wrong?"

I go up to my room and slam the door and look out my window and see Paige standing back on Braden's lawn. I scream at the top of my lungs and belly flop on my bed. If there's one person in this world I hate, it's Paige. A couple minutes later, Cory comes flying in my room and sits on my bed.

"What is wrong Olivia?"

I ignore him and hide under my covers. Cory puts his hand on my leg and scoots closer to me.

"C'mon talk to me."

I ignore him and push his hand away from me.

"Is it Braden? I'll kill that son of a...."

"Shut up Cory. I need to be alone."

"No. You need to talk to someone about this."

I throw my pillow at Cory and sink further into my bed.

"Sandy wants you to come down."

I come out from my covers and look at Cory.

"LEAVE ME ALONE. I JUST NEED TIME!"

"Okay. I'm here for you though."

Cory walks away and leaves me alone. I get up and lock my door so no one else can bother me. I can't believe that Braden would say that to me. He doesn't mean it, he was so nice until Paige showed up. All of a sudden I hear tapping on the roof. I look out and see Braden sitting on the roof outside my window tapping rocks against the shingles. He spots me and smiles but I frown. I open the window and sit on my bed.

"Olivia listen to me."

"Why? I thought you didn't want me to worry about you anymore."

"I'm sorry. I tried to explain but you wouldn't listen now would you let me talk?"

"I don't want to talk right now."

"My temper and anger just got the best of me. Paige made me angry and I wish I took my anger out on her instead of you."

"Well...you didn't."

"Yeah I know. I don't know how many times I have to say that I'm sorry. I won't let Paige come over anymore if that's what it takes."

"Well she already came over once after I left."

"Yeah I know. She was apologizing to me from when she...."

"I know what she did Braden and it made me mad."

"You have to understand that I don't like her anymore Olivia."

"I understand that, but that doesn't make what you said to me okay. It really hurt me Braden."

"I told Paige I never wanted to see her again."

"What?"

"After you left, when I saw you walking away crying, and I realized Paige was the one that made you be like that so I told her I never wanted to see her anymore."

"Well thanks....she's your friend. I don't care if you hang out with her I just don't like it. I'm not gonna stop you."

"I've been needing to tell her to buzz off anyways. She's way too clingy for me."

Alright, his apology has me sold. I forgive him. I guess.

"So you're saying if I was needy you'd tell me to buzz of too?"

I smirk at Braden and he climbs in my window and sits on the edge of my bed.

"Well that...would be a different story my dear."

I smile and something catches my eye out the window. It's Dawson standing on the lawn, but he's not alone.

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