one sin.

38) Beware Replacements

I find myself eating lunch at Eastern for the first time in a while. Without my truck, I'd been reduced to riding the bus to NCT, which didn't come until after the lunch bell.

Beck, Nat, and I have a table to ourselves in the back of the lunchroom. I'm not hungry, so I crack open another energy drink. The fizz burns all the way down, but I don't want to eat anything.

"So what's your plan to get her back?" Nat finally stops whatever she was talking about and asks.

"What---"

"Don't 'what' me, Parker," she rolls her eyes, "You're obviously not paying attention. You're obviously thinking about something, so you're obviously thinking about her. How are you gonna get her back?"

"Am I supposed to?" I question. Honestly, I'd never considered it, "I wasn't sure what I'm supposed to do."

She hits me on the head and Beck chimes in, "Bitch if you don't get you coulda had a V8 ass on somewhere, what do you mean you don't know what to do? You were just gonna sulk until she finds someone new to replace you?"

"You think she'll replace me?" I question.

"Well you said she doesn't need you to drive her anymore," Nat shrugs, "Fine as she is? She probably has a lot of people who wanna give her rides. Bet she come to school via a new nigga."

"Nat shut up," I grab my stuff, "You're making me late anyway."

I grab a seat at the very back of the bus by myself, sulking. No Layne meant no joking, no kissing, no flirting. Just me, my exhaustion, and my music. I slump into class at the bell, taking my seat next to Lori. I feel the whole class look between Layne and I, before reverting their eyes back to Graves.

"Something happen between you and Layne?" Lori whispers.

"What makes you say that?" I respond.

"She came here with another guy," Lori says, "But that's none of my business."

My neck heats, "You're right. It's not."

Lori sits straight in her seat and I risk a glance at Layne, who's staring at the table. She doesn't look good. A part of me is brightens at the fact that she looks to be suffering as much as me. Then I immediately scold myself at the thought.

"Alright, class," Graves hands us all recipes for gnocchi and white sauce and we head to the kitchen, her lecture over. "Parker!"

She beckons for me to stay behind and I do. I mean, we seem over do for her to harass me anyway. As soon as the classroom is empty she asks, "What did you do to Layne?"

I'm taken a back. "Why are you assuming I did something?" I question.

"Because she looks like death. You look like you, which isn't better," Graves gives me a once over, "but it's expected."

Ouch. "I don't know what you want me to do about it," I shrug, "Ask her what's wrong."

"I did and she said ask you," Graves narrows her eyes, "This is why we don't date our brothers and sisters," She whacks me on the head with her clipboard, "Now stop wasting time Parker and get cooking."

In the kitchen I pick a spot as far away from everyone as possible, turning my back on anyone hoping to talk to me. But most importantly, turning my back on Layne, to avoid the discomfort of looking at her.

I feel someone touch my shoulder and jump, "Of course its you."

Wren seems mildly taken a back, "I was gonna be a good friend and comfort you, but now, you can suck a fat clit," she walks away and I turn back around, pulling my gnocchi from the water and starting on my sauce.