Chasing Astrid Malone

16. LATE LAST NIGHT

Cameron's POV

I need to get to her. If I just explain the situation, she will forgive me for not telling her. She has to. Now that it's over with Molly, maybe she will even go with me to prom.

I walked back through the house, asking everyone I passed if they were parked in the driveway to move their cars. Dan was sitting in the back yard with a now crying Molly.

"Dude I need to leave, help me get people to move their cars." Dan looked up at me annoyed.

"Beck, maybe you should give Astrid some space. You could help me out here." He motioned to Molly, who was sobbing.

Maybe I should feel bad for Molly, but fuck her, she brought this upon herself. I hooked up with her one-time and she's been obsessed with me ever since.

"Fuck her! This is her fault. I had every intention of taking her to prom and fulfilling my end of the deal, as a friend." Molly's face looked at me with disdain.

"No fuck you, Cam. You knew it was more to me. Oh, and by the way, my car is parked behind you, and im not going anywhere now." She stormed off into the house.

Dan was shaking his head. "Beck, just take my Bike. Be careful, keys are hanging in the garage."

I walked Dan's motorcycle down the driveway, before starting it up. Of course, it needed gas, just my luck.

...

Looking at Astrid's house, the living room lights were on and the T.V. was playing inside. I recognized the white SUV and the other car must be her mom's.

That means he's still in there with her. Fuck it, I need to talk to her, I need to explain.

I knocked on the door. Please let her be the one to open it. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs, too heavy to be Astrid's. As long as Josh's friend doesn't answer it will be fine.

The door opened and there he was. Seeing him boiled my blood, but I have to keep my cool.

"I need to speak to Astrid," I said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, that's not happening. I just left her room and she's pretty worn out." The grin on his face was implying he did something with her, but I know better. Even drunk and mad at me, she wouldn't hook up with him. Right?

"Move out of the way, I'm coming in!"
Instead, he stepped out and closed the door behind him. He was about my height and size, but if he stands in my way much longer, I'm pretty sure I can take him.

"I don't know what you did, but you blew it. She was all too willing to let me comfort her and pick up the pieces." His words cut into me.

"So she cried over me, to you, and now you think you have a shot?" I scoffed.

"Oh I know I have a shot. She may have been crying when I picked her up, but she was far from upset the rest of the night. Giggling while I tickled her, flirting with me all night. Hell, she fell asleep in my arms." That was the last straw.

I swung at him and hit him in the jaw. He lunged at me, pushing us both off the porch and onto the ground. We got up and eyed each other, waiting for the next move.

"You wanna hear the best part? I knew I had a shot before you messed up tonight. When you were in a rush to get her away from me, she couldn't take her eyes off me. Then you made it all too easy.." I couldn't let him say another word.

I punched him in his smug face again, with more force, and he stumbled backward. As I approached him expecting to knock him out this time, he surprised me.

All the air left my lungs, taking a hard blow to my gut, but I managed to push him away. I could see the blood on his face, and I knew he was worse off than me.

"Sounds to me like your bragging about taking advantage of a vulnerable, drunk girl. My girl."

He stepped forward and swung, but I saw it coming and dodged. Just as quickly I hit him in the side, and he fell to the ground.

Headlights pulling in the driveway distracted me, it was Josh. Maybe I could reason with him to let me speak to Astrid. He jumped out of the car fast and was headed over.

My feet were pulled out from under me as this little shit pulled me to the ground, and then kicked me in the ribs.

"Whoa, Tristan cool it! What's going on?" Josh's voice was getting closer? I tried to get up but he kicked me again, this time in the stomach. Josh pulled him away and slowly I got back on my feet.

"THIS SHIT ENDS NOW!" Josh yelled.

"So what, this is about Astrid? Do you think you can fight for her? If either of you knew her, you'd know she will be pissed at both of you for this." Josh was making sense, there's no way she's going to be happy when she sees Tristan's face.

Tristan spit blood in my direction. "Ask this punk what he did to make your sister call, crying to get picked up." Josh whipped his head in my direction.

"What did you do?" He wasn't mediating anymore, now he was pissed.

"It was a misunderstanding." I don't want to have to explain this to them.

"Enlighten me then, because if I don't agree that it was all a simple misunderstanding, you will never step foot here again." Fuck. Fine.

I glanced at Tristan, "does he need to be here for this?" Josh nodded at me and turned to Tristan.

"Tristan, go home. I don't want my sister to see your face like that in the morning." Josh was protecting her, but I was grateful because he's right, she's gonna be pissed when she sees what I did to him.

"I protected her from this piece of shit, and you're telling ME to leave? She should see my face, let her be mad. She won't go running back to him when he gives her whatever worthless explanation he's about to give you." I wanted to hit him again, but my only chance right now is to explain myself to Josh.

"GO! I'll be by tomorrow to help set up for the party, you'll see her then." Tristan seemed satisfied with getting to see her tomorrow, and he left. Fuck, another thing I have to worry about.

I sat on the porch, feeling the pain in my ribs from being kicked, and told Josh the whole story. Starting a few months back, before I even met Astrid, and finishing with tonight. I left out the detail of Astrid drinking, no need to get her in trouble.

"Look, man, I think you should have told her sooner, but I also think she'll understand. Don't get me wrong, im not taking anyone's side but hers. Whatever she decides, it's her choice. I will say this, I don't want to see you at our party after the prom. Tristan is my friend, and im not going to deal with you two going at it again tomorrow night."

I'm supposed to just accept her going to a party with Tristan then?

"Can you tell him to keep his hands off her?" I'm sure he won't but it's worth a shot.

"As I said, Astrid can make her own decisions. She's a smart girl. Now get off my porch and go home, I need to sleep sometime tonight." I stood up and walked to Dan's bike. Hopefully, the party has cleared out, I don't need another run-in with Molly.

Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think in the comments. I do want to give one more shout out to a really talented writer. shelbylynnx14 is writing an addictive romance called UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES. Go check it out!

Find out the story behind Cameron and Molly in the next chapter.

Do you think Tristan has a shot?