Teachers Pet

25: One Big Misunderstanding

        "He still wants to talk," she told me. I shook my head, knowing I couldn't face him now.

       "He must hate me."

       "He could never hate you. Dean loves you. We knew you needed your space- "

       "I needed to listen." I covered my face again, feeling ashamed. If I had just given them the chance to speak and explain... But no, I was too stubborn to even realize the truth. This was just one big misunderstanding.

       "And you have," she whispered to me. Nothing was making me feel better. Things would be so different. I would still be with Dean and me and Jill would still be friends. I would have never let myself feel anything for Nolan or-

       "Jake." I looked at the booth and saw both brothers staring at me. Neither looked away, not ashamed to be watching. What have I done? What am I doing? I... I ruined everything, but that doesn't change the fact that I still cared for Jake. I can't let myself regret him. Choosing to be with him wasn't a mistake. I can't think it ever was.

       "Who's Jake?" Jill asked. I looked back to her and put my hands to my chest. I felt my heart pounding hard and painfully in my chest. The hate I felt for both of them was gone... It felt like a relief, but that relief was short lived.

       "I need to talk to Dean. I have to apologize, I have to- " I started to get up, only to be seated by Jill. She shook her head with wide eyes.

       "No, Blair. You can't. He's with Bailey now. They might not be dating, but- "

       "They're not dating?" What were they? Friends with benefits?

       "No. And that's exactly why you can't say anything. If you tell him you know, if you apologize... he'll want to be with you again. You weren't the only one hurting." He was hurting too. I had hurt him and let him continue to hurt because I was dumb. I'd done so much damage. "If you tell him you know, and you don't plan on being with him again... you'll only hurt him."

       "But he has to know..."

       "Think it through. You'll hurt him. You'll hurt Bailey too." Screw Bailey. I didn't care about her. She was nothing to me. I only cared about telling Dean that I was sorry and that it was all my fault.

       "I don't care about Bailey- "

       "But you care about Dean." She was right. I did care about him. Even after I thought he hurt me, I still cared... Deep down I always cared. Jill was right. I couldn't tell him I knew. He was happy with Bailey and I had to leave it that way. He was moving on and I couldn't intervene. I nodded to Jill, letting her know I was agreeing with her. She sighed and looked past my shoulder with a small smile.

       "What?" I was still sad, but I could feel the atmosphere change.

       "So Nolan, huh?" I guess now that she was back in my life, she deserved to know my dirty little secrets.

       "Yeah... His brother too... " I can't believe I was actually telling someone. If I had to though, I would choose Jill over everyone.

       "He has a brother? Blair Harper, are you brother jumping?" She wiped away dried tears and smiled at me. I did the same, only I couldn't really smile.

        "Sort of... I was supposed to meet his brother here, but Nolan picked me up and came with me. I couldn't really say no to him." I was a little nervous to tell Nolan no. Afraid that it would upset him. Jill looked at Nolan again, making a face as she noted who was sitting across from him.