Love & Ride

Chapter 13

I meet the girls for lunch and we talk about the party. Sarah sits with us today, I'm so glad to have her back. Cooper filled her in about what happened between me and Tyler from the beginning. Things should be more clear for her. Speaking of the devil, he didn't show up at school today, his friends are here, but not him.

- "So, are we going or what?" Isobel asks.

- "I vote yes, it's karaoke night guys, we need that type of energy right now."

- "I don't think so, Jordan will be there and..."

- "Oh come on." Cooper cuts me off. "You're not going to stop living because of some jerk. He'll be there and so what? You're a cheerleader, you have to be there. We're all going. End of discussion."

- "I don't..." Sarah starts.

- "You're coming too, you need to get out, have fun a little. We're with you, it'll be fine. I promise." Cooper tells her.

- "Okay." Sarah answers.

- "Great! So?" They all look at me.

- "I guess we're going." I say.
- "Yay! It's going to be amazing."

************

I wake up sweating and screaming. I look at my alarm and it's 3am. It's the third time I dream about the assault since it happened, but this time, Tyler wasn't there to save me.

Tyler.

I can't stop thinking about him. So much has been happening. When he held me the other night while I was crying, I felt so safe with his strong arms wrapped around me. He smells so good. When he kissed me, I felt explosions in my stomach. I know that he's your typical bad boy, but he's been so kind to me lately, even if he's still so irritating and brings out the worst parts of me. I don't know what to think.

I look at his black sweater, still lying on my chair, I was afraid to touch it. I leave my bed and walk towards my desk. I take his sweater and smell it. I feel safer already. I take off the t-shirt I was wearing and put his sweater on instead then go back to bed. I close my eyes and fall asleep instantly.

**************

- "Wake up!" Someone's shaking me and I groan. "Skyla! You're late." I recognize Monica's voice.

- "What the fu... Monica? What are you doing here?"

- "I came back last night. I got here late. Cooper harassed all of us, they're waiting for you at Leslie's."

- "Shit, I totally forgot the karaoke tonight." I say as I leave my bed.

- "Who's sweater is that? Why does it smell like a boy?" She interrogates me.

- "Euh, it's Jake's. I borrowed it 'cause I was cold and I forgot to return it." I lie.

- "And you slept with it? Are you in love with Jake?!" She asks, surprised.

- "No! We're just friends. I was cold last night so I wore it, that's it."

- "If you say so."

- "I have to shower, call Cooper for me please, and tell her to meet me at the mall." I say as I head to the bathroom.

I shower quickly then wear blue jeans with a grey shirt. I made sure to hide Tyler's sweater in my closet before going downstairs. I put on my black vans and head to the mall.

I find Cooper and Isobel waiting for me on a bench.

- "I'm so sorry, I..."

- "Screw you Skyla! It's been an hour!" Cooper tells me.