Crash Course

Chapter 19

Luke was babbling about the game, and his excitement for the weekend. I was trying to come up with any possible excuses Matt would use tonight. "Do you want me to take you home to get ready?" Luke asked.

"Huh?" I was drawn back to reality.

"For the movie..? You didn't forget did you?"

"Oh, no of course not. Annabeth said she would pick me up if she was feeling better, then you can swing by and grab me from home?" I asked. Luke smiled.

"Sounds like a plan!" I grabbed my things from the now empty locker room and headed out to the parking lot. Aimee wasn't here yet, but Luke had already gone, his Jeep was no where to be seen.

"Bella." I turned around to look at Andrew, he sat down next to me on the curb. In a flash, I was standing, my hand slapping across his face. He flinched back and held his cheek, his eyes went from shocked to disinterested.

"How could you not fucking tell me?!" I snapped.

"Because I knew you would respond like a child!" He snapped back.

"Like a child?" My eyes bore into his, but he didn't waiver.

"Exactly like a child, exactly how you are acting now!" He sneered. "You talked to him, huh? Couldn't help yourself? Had to know more? See just how damaged he was?" I continued to make unbreaking eye contact with him as he berated me. "He's doing just fine without you Arabella." I tossed my hands up in the air.

"I saw him and I felt it all! All the anger and all the love and all the confusion it's not fair that you didn't let me prepare for it." I almost screamed.

"What good would that have done? You still wouldn't be ready, because you never processed it. You put him in a box off to the side to deal with at a later date. You jumped straight into a relationship with Luke to mask it all. When the truth is you still love and always will love Matt." Andrew snapped. I pulled my hand back to strike him again but he grabbed my wrist before I could. "You don't know how to process emotions healthily. You blame the world for all your problems and yeah you were dealt a shit deck of cards Bella, no one can take that from you. Life has been tough, but you make it harder on yourself." I yanked my hand out of his grip and turned my back to him. "Matt made a decision, yes you influenced his decision, but he made it and he stuck by it full well knowing the consequences. Stop letting the world be your burden." I felt defeated, drained, and empty. I didn't have the words to make myself feel better.

"I love him." I muttered.

"I know." Andrew stood and placed his hand on my shoulder, letting me lean back into him.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Let him go." Andrew said. "It's not your job anymore. We're happy here Bella. I miss him just as much as you do, but he's a part of another life. We were working so hard to move on." Andrew wrapped his arms around my neck. "Love him, and let him go."

***
"You look hot." Aimee said nonchalantly from her spot on my bed. "Stop overthinking." I stared at my reflection. I had finally settled on a pair of dark wash ripped skinny jeans and an off the shoulder white top, paired with brown booties and some gold accessories.

"Curled or straight?" I asked, pointing to my hair.

"Curled." Aimee had been ready for at least twenty minutes now. She wore a jean skirt and a green, tight long sleeve. She looked stunning, per usual. "What could Matt possibly have to say?" Aimee asked. I had filled her in on my eventful last few hours and now she was back to playing detective to find the truth.

"I have no idea." I replied from my bathroom. "I think something shady is going on. What if he tries to kidnap me? Or worse, what if he tells me everything I want to hear?"

"Do you really think that will happen?" Aimee asked.

"I don't know what to think anymore." I said. We continued in silence until I was done with my hair.

"Oh god." Aimee chuckled. "Come look at this." I left my bathroom to stand with Aimee at the bedroom window. Andrew stood outside, dressed in his frat boy best as a black Mercedes pulled up the driveway.

"That's Marissa's car." I said as we stared down. Suddenly, the passenger seat opened and Bridgette popped out, quickly hugging Drew before climbing into the back seat. Andrew looked up at the window, behind his eyes was an immeasurable amount of pain, before he climbed into Bridgette's spot and the car sped off.

"Oh poor Drew is on a three way date tonight!" Aimee exclaimed, breaking into fits of laughter. Once the black Benz was gone, Luke's Jeep took its place. "GQ's man of the year has arrived." Aimee said, tossing me my purse.

"When will Ethan be here?" I asked, putting chapstick and money in my bag as Aimee and I headed downstairs.

"Hopefully soon. It's rude to keep a pretty girl waiting." Aimee said, tossing her long hair over her shoulder. There was a ring at the door and I rushed to answer as Aimee perched on the side of the couch. Luke stood on the doorstep, a bouquet of white and pink flowers in hand. "Urg, he just gets better and better." Aimee said, falling back on the couch.

"Hi Annabeth," Luke called to her with a smile. "And hi, beautiful." He said, handing me the flowers. I awed, and kissed him quickly. Aimee jumped up and grabbed the flowers from me.

"Hi Luke, these are beautiful thank you." Luke and I both laughed at her. "I'll go put them in water. See you guys later!" Aimee hugged me and rushed off to the kitchen.

"Let's head out then!" I said, holding Luke's hand as we made our way to the car.