The One She Needed. **complete**

Chapter 3 **Febuary 1993

" Umm Kels," Jake Cook said as if breaking bad news to a child, "Darren is at Shooters and he's with another girl. It's time for you to put a stop to this shit Kels. You're better than this."

Jake was Darren's kid brother and Kelsie couldn't help wondering how pathetic she must seem for him to feel the need to defend her against his own brother. Kelsie sighed, thanked him, and hung up.

Looking sadly at her best friend, Kelly, she said, "well. Sweet and pathetic are getting old, so I'm thinking it's time to go be a complete bitch. You wanna come?"

"Umm. Sure". Kelly said looking unsure. Kelly was probably starting to regret this girl's night.

Kelsie got in the car hoping with everything inside her that Jake was wrong and when she got to the pool hall she would find her boyfriend of three years innocently playing pool with his friends, but recent events made that seem unlikely. Darren was acting weird. Kelsie had been pretty sure for a while that he was seeing other girls. One who was always around was Erin.

Kelsie didn't know her at all, but she often seemed to be in the same place as Darren. When Kelsie ask about her Darren always said, "she's my friend Kelsie! That's all! She's not my type. Hell, you know I don't like fat girls! What is wrong with you?"

Then Kelsie would feel like she really was going crazy. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Darren loved her. He told her everyday how important she was to him. He said she was his everything. So why did it suddenly feel like she wasn't enough?

Trying to calm herself Kelsie strummed her fingers on the steering wheel. She could hear the clinking sound of Darren's class ring on the wheel. She still remembered the night he gave it to her and how she felt like the most special girl in the world......and now she was going to catch him frenching Erin, the slut, on a pool table.

"God, please let Jake be wrong" she silently prayed. Then she turned into the parking lot and immediately began to wish she had stayed home. Being clueless and pathetic was suddenly looking like a pretty good option.

As soon as Kelsie stepped out of the car she heard, "oh shit!!! Kelsie's here!" Since Kelsie was known for being a sweet, easygoing girl she was pretty sure there was some reason why her presence was something to worry about. This fact was confirmed when Darren met her at the door.

"Hey Dar!" She said brightly trying to step around him. "We thought we'd play some pool!"

Darren blocked the door.

"Why are you here?" He ask

"To play pool of course, let me in" Kelsie said wondering who had tipped him off and then realizing that she didn't recognize any of the faces around her. 'When did he start hanging out with all these people I don't know?' She wondered.

"Go home". Darren said

Ouch!! Ok. That stung. "Who are you here with?" She ask trying to keep her voice light.

"Just the guys" Darren said. "Now go home"

Kelsie rolled her eyes. "If it's just guys then me walking in shouldn't be a problem right? We only have a problem if I'm gonna walk in and find a girl who thinks she's your date right? So who is it? Erin the slut maybe?" Kelsie had been scanning the lot for a car she knew, but hadn't seen one yet.

"There's no girl Darlin. You know me better than that." Darren said oozing sincerity. Kelsie felt a pain in her chest as she realized she didn't. She didn't know this guy at all. When did that happen?

"I'm leaving Darren. This is dumb. I've been dumb. I'm standing here looking like an idiot while you protect some ho by not letting me through that door."