A Harsh Reality | ✓

Chapter 29

Amanda

I watched as Jack's fist connected with Noah's jaw. My mouth was opened into a silent scream as I stared at them throwing punches and kicks every which way. Before I could process anything, I was on my feet and in front of them.

"Stop them!" I shouted. Even though I got into a fight like this myself a few months ago, I hated seeing others fight. A teacher appeared out of nowhere and separated them, he grabbed their shoulders and dragged them out of the cafeteria.

Totally clueless, I went through the rest of the rainy day wondering about why they fought, what happened to them and why was everyone staring at me. The last class of the day was History. I sat down next to Noah and didn't even glance his way. As the class was coming to an end, he leaned in and placed his lips only a few inches from my right ear, making me shiver involuntarily.

"Mandy," he whispered. I ignored him, "Mandy." I ignored him again.

"Mandy," he continued, "Mandy."

"What?" I snapped and turned to look at him. He had a forming bruise on his jawline and right eye.

"I have to te-" he was interrupted by the bell. We all stood up quickly and left the classroom. Noah chased after me, shouting my name as he explained how he needed to tell me something. I ignored him because I was not in the mood to talk with anyone.

That's when I saw them.

I stopped dead in my tracks, making Noah crash against my unmoving body. He started to say something I didn't understand until he saw them too.

Aubrey leaning against her locker, her blond hair tied into a tight ponytail, her cheerleader uniform on her body and her pom-poms in her hand. Her blue eyes were closed as her lips were pressed against Jack's. His arms were on either side of her, his messy blond hair sticking upwards. His grey hoodie was zipped all the way and his sleeves rolled up. His jeans were a faded blue compared to the bright blue from Aubrey's cheerleading uniform.

The air was knocked out of my lungs, I couldn't see straight. I stumbled, but Noah caught me before I fell to the floor. I looked at him and back at Jack. This couldn't be happening again, not after last time. As I pictured Sam with Amelia in my head, I recomposed myself and all I had was a blurry vision as I walked over to my boyfriend.

As soon as they stopped kissing, I arrived and pushed Jack away from Aubrey, who had a triumphant smile on her full makeup face.

"How could you?" I asked him, "How could you? After everything I told you, you cheat on me? And right in front of my eyes?" I took a deep breath. "That's way too low, Jack."

"What are you even talking about?" he asked, "You cheated on me too, with him!" He pointed at Noah. "Don't pretend this didn't happen." He held up his phone and I gasped. The picture on the screen was Noah and me leaving the frat party on Saturday.

"I can explain," I stated, "It's not what you think it is!" I paused. "I was drunk and-"

"You made a mistake, right?" he interrupted me, "Is that what you are going to say?"

"What? No!" I replied, "Let me explain, Jack."

"I don't need an explanation," he said, "It's pretty clear to me, you deserve each other anyway." He glanced at Noah then back at me. "I should have known something was going on between you two."

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, knowing the truth but refusing to admit it.

"I'm sorry, Amanda," he practically whispered, "But we're over." The words hit me like a truck. My heart broke into two pieces that fell to the ground slowly and torturingly. I watched as if bewildered, as Jack stomped over them unconsciously. The pieces scattered away, leaving me with nothing but myself. This was the third time someone broke my heart. My brother was the first one to break it, but he was starting to pick up the pieces carefully. Sam came next, and because of him and Amelia, I tried to make myself promise to never date again. And me, being a complete and utter fool, I thought it wouldn't happen again. But it fucking did.