I dread going to school the next day. I haven't seen Sophie since Halloween night. I'm not prepared to see her at all.
"Are you okay?" Aiden asks me on the way to school.
"Not really. I'm dreading first period." he knows exactly what I'm referring to.
"Yeah, I'm an ass. I'm sorry I made everything so awkward." he sighs, owning up to his actions from the other night.
"It's okay, I mean it's not okay but it's something we've already dropped. No point in bringing it back up." I admit. I really just want to let all that mess go, and move on. I hope Sophie does too.
"Well on a good note, I should be hearing back from A&M today or tomorrow on my tryouts." he changes the subject, and I'm thankful for it.
"Yay! I've been praying all week about it. I really hope you get it babe." I confess to him. I don't know what I'm going to do if he can't get into the school.
"Me too."
After breakfast, Scarlett and I walk to class together. "You think Sophie will be here today?" She asks.
I respond "I hope not." and she looks over at me.
"Me too!" she says at the exact moment we walk into the classroom. Sophie and Sierra aren't there yet. I wonder if she even came to school today. "Maybe you're in the clear." Scarlett says as we set our bags down under our desk. The bell rings a few seconds later and as soon as I think we're good, the two of them come running into the class.
The teacher yells from her desk. "Girls, you're late." she whines, and Sierra speaks.
"Sorry Mrs. Thomas." her breath is heavy, and I can tell they ran to class to try to make it on time. I look over at Sophie from the corner of my eye, and she doesn't look like herself. Usually she's dressed cute, and always in makeup. Today her hair is in a messy bun, and her face is naked, under puffy, tired eyes. I can tell she's been crying. Even though I can't stand her, the thought of her hurting because of me makes my stomach sink in guilt. I feel sorry for her.
I can tell that Scarlett shares the same thoughts because she just gives her a small smile, but stays quiet because there's a clear line drawn between the two of us, and Scarlett will always choose my side right or wrong. That's one reason I love her.
Mrs. Thomas stands up now in front of the class. "Today we're going to have a free time class. I'm behind on grading some tests from last week from being out sick, so today as long as you're quiet you can feel free to catch up on homework. Also, phones are permitted, but for today only. Tomorrow it's back to work." she says and today is seriously the one day I wish she would teach until the bell rings. I know Sophie agrees because she doesn't cheer like everyone else.
"Thank God! I didn't study for my last period quiz today. I finished my flash cards, but haven't had anytime to actually read over them." Scarlett says and I just pull out my phone to get on social media. I get bored after scrolling through the news feed after about twenty minutes. I just sigh and finally look up from my phone. Scarlett is in deep thought studying, and it looks like Sophie and Sierra are online shopping on Sierra's very large cell phone. Finally I decide to break the awkward silence at our table. "Sophie, are you okay?" I ask with real concern, and Scarlett jerks her head up shocked that I spoke to her first.
"Don't talk to me." she snaps at me, and even though I shouldn't be, I'm shocked at her response, and a little embarrassed. Suddenly Sierra gives out a light sarcastic laugh, shaking her head.
"What's so funny?" I ask her, and Scarlett nudges my leg with her knee.
"What's funny is that you actually have the nerve to talk to her after stealing one boyfriend away, and hooking up with the new one." now she's staring at me while Sophie just stares into her phone. She has no idea what she's talking about and it's making me want to explode.
"I never stole anyone from her, and I never hooked up with Ross!" I'm louder than expected because Scarlett hits me again.
"Shhh." she responds in a tiny voice, and looks around the class to make sure we don't have an audience.
"No, I'm not going to Shhh. I'm sick of being the bad guy in all of this when I didn't do crap to you." I direct my comment only to Sophie.
She shoots her eyes up at me. "Are you serious?"
"When I started seeing Aiden he was single. Not to mention that he told me you two were never a couple, and Ross and I have been friends longer than you've been at this school Sophie..." I try to continue, but she cuts me off.
"Aiden and I were hanging out. Yeah maybe I wasn't his girlfriend, but there was a possibility there, and you just sweep in and don't consider me at all."
"Sophie, how many times do I have to say it. He was not talking to anyone, and if he was I was not aware of it. I'm sorry but even if you were his ex girlfriend which you're not, I didn't owe you anything. This is the first year I've ever even spoken to you and that was after I started dating Aiden." I'm pissed up at this point, and for a moment it seems she can't find her words. Her battle over Aiden couldn't be won, and she knew that so she chose to move on to Ross.
"So it wasn't enough to have Aiden, you had to have Ross too?" she snarls at me, and I can feel my face heat from her glaring eyes at me.
"No, I never had Ross, and never wanted him." I sit back letting out a small breath "How many times do I have to say that he kissed me, and when he did I told him to stop, and that he had a girlfriend! If anything I took your side in the whole situation!"
"Well thanks to you, he broke up with me." her voice is starting to break, and the real story is finally coming out. Even though I feel like I shouldn't feel bad for her, I do. Scarlett does too because she finally breaks her silence in all this.
"Oh Sophie, are you okay?" she asks and I shoot my eyes at her. She's supposed to be on my side here. She shrugs her shoulders and gives me an apologizing look. "I'm sorry Mor, but she's crying." she responds to me with a whisper. I sigh loudly and stop talking for a moment to let Sophie take her breath.
Once Sophie has calmed down I speak again. "I did not know that Ross broke up with you, because I haven't spoken to him since that night we all went out. Before then I hadn't seen or spoken to him since the kiss. I'm sorry he broke up with you, and if it had something to do with me, I had no idea because the feeling isn't mutual." I say, and I'm still upset because I'm being demonized for someone else's feelings. I can't control how Ross thinks or feels, and it's not fair that I have to keep getting blamed for her relationship issues. "Sophie, everything you are upset with me over is one hundred percent out of my control." I'm as honest as I can be because I'm out of ideas on how to resolve our issues. "And I've come to realize there's nothing I can do to resolve what issues you and I have, but you need to stop throwing my name in the dirt and stop pointing fingers at me. It's not fair." my voice is tired, because I'm tired of defending myself against someone that isn't even my friend.
Sierra rolls her eyes at me, and Sophie just sniffles and looks back into her phone. She knows that she has no battle here. I want to be honest because I know she probably only went after Ross because she was jealous but I don't want to add a puncture to the wound.
All my things are gathered before the bell rings, and once it does I jump out of my seat and dart for the door. I'm so glad that this class is over, and that it's the end of this semester. I can't handle another three months dealing with Sophie and her friend.
I'm out the door when I hear Scarlett's screech my name. "Mora! Wait on me!" She's still trapped in the classroom trying to get out through the students so I wait on her leaned up against the lockers across the hall. "Are you okay?" she asks once she makes it where I'm standing.
"No Scarlett. I'm tired of being blamed for things that are not my fault. She should be yelling at Ross and Aiden if they are the ones that hurt her. I didn't do anything to her." I snap because I'm just so tired of all this drama.
"I know, and she knows that too but right now it's all so fresh to her. She needs someone to point her fingers at because she's not prepared to blame it on Ross."
"Honestly Scarlett why do you even think she chose Ross?" I ask, and she knows what I'm referring to but chooses to not feed into my accusations, and I can't help but respect her for that. Usually she's the gossip and I'm the one that has to put her in her place.
"I'm sure she really likes him. I know she does now because she wouldn't have been in there sobbing. I know the blame is on you, but just let her grieve the only way she knows how to. Her opinion about you shouldn't matter anyway." she says and it's the truth. I shouldn't care what Sophie thinks about me. I barely know her.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." I still roll my eyes out of frustration when we turn around to start walking down the hall. A few seconds later I see Josh with his arms high up in the air, and Aiden is by his side.
"Scarlett Jansen!" He yells so loud that all the students stop to stare at him, and Scarlett laughs. I don't know how he doesn't embarrass her, but I always thought the same thing about my brother. Sometimes I see my brother in Josh.
Josh is in his baseball jacket, and his backpack sits high and tight on his back. Aiden is just in his plain grey t-shirt, and is holding his binders in his hand. "Hey ladies!" Josh wraps his arms around the back of mine and Scarlett's necks where he's in the middle of us, and Aiden just laughs giving me a kiss before turning around to walk by my side.
"Aiden, where did you find Josh at, and is it too late to return him?" I ask sarcastically, causing Aiden and Scarlett to laugh loudly.
"Hey!" Josh looks down at me and gives me a hurt look. "Not cool Andrews!"
"I'm sorry. Just a little joke." I laugh.
"I forgive you Mora. Just this once though." he winks at me, then let's me go. "Want to walk me to class?" he asks Scarlett.
"Yes, I guess. Mora are you okay?" she asks one last time.
"I'm fine. Go. I'll talk to you later." I answer, and Aiden looks at me confused, but I ignore it.
"Aiden, are you still going to the movies with me and Shawn tonight?" Josh asks as they start to walk away from us.
"Maybe. I'll let you know later on." he responds, and turns around so he can walk me to my next class.
"What's going on?" he asks in response to Scarlett checking on me before leaving.
"It's nothing. Me and Sophie just got into it a little. It's over now."
"Are you sure?" his tone is hesitant.
"Yes. I'm just so sick of talking about it. I'm over all the drama Aiden." I wish I would have never even told Aiden and none of this would even be happening.
"Okay okay. Well on another note, I wanted to know if you wanted to go to our spot on the lake to hangout after school today?" he asks, and I raise an eyebrow.
"What about the movies with your friends?"
"I told them maybe, and that's at seven anyway." he answers me.
"Sure, I guess so." I'm still in a bad mood from class and he can tell so he just kisses me on the cheek, and grabs my hand until I'm at my next class.
"See you at lunch." He says, and kisses my forehead before walking away.