Tangled In Blue

Second Fiddle

CORBYN’S POV

Tomorrow is career day at school and I was hoping and praying that Kyle Kinley graces us with his awesome presence again. I heard from Terrel, that his smoking hot wife was going to be coming; and was offering an internship at her prestigious company. Terrel and some girls from the fashion and beauty club were beside themselves with excitement.

Mrs. Bell was being tight-lipped-more than usual-and wasn’t giving anything away. She knew most students skipped school on career day so she withheld the information.

Blue hadn’t shown up and Levi had sent me a text telling me that he was taking her to the police station, then to the ER. He said she was still in shock and wasn’t talking or eating. Fortunately, her brother AJ was at his grandparents.

“Good morning hottie...” Zara snaked her arms around me as I closed my locker.

I smiled as I leaned into her hug and slowly turned around, then pressed my lips on her forehead. “Hey, snowflake.”

“Mood killer....” She mumbled as she pulled me along the corridor. “We’re going to be late for class, c’mon.”

As we turned the corner we bumped into a very pissed off Gemma and Elena.

“Well if it isn’t Princess Elsa and my hot date for the spring dance...” She snickered at the unintentional dig and Zara frowned, her gaze an unspoken question.

“Gemma...” I shot her a warning look.

“We had an agreement, Coleman,” her arms were folded across her chest and a dangerous look was in her eyes.“You are going with me-”

“No. I’m not. I’m going with Zara,” I ground out.

“Back off Gemma. He’s all made his choice,” Zara interjected.

“You weren’t his first choice you know? And neither was I actually,” she said with a smug smile. “But a certain blue-haired creature probably was...”

“Gemma stop stirring up trouble..I already told you I’m going with Zara.”

“We’ll see about that now...won’t we?” she growled in a deep, menacing voice before she whipped around and stalked down the hallway.

I turned to Zara, an apologetic look on my face. “I’m sorry about that-”

“Don’t worry about it.” She tried to look away but I turned her by the shoulders until our faces were inches apart.

“I should have warned you about her-”

“Is she a bitter ex Corbyn? Is that it?” she snapped, pushing me back.

“What?!”

“I didn’t sign up for any of this drama okay?!” Her voice was low and ice cold.just like her eyes.

“She’s not my ex!” I exclaimed. ”How can you even think that?!” I asked, taken aback.

“Then why is she being all territorial?” Eyes of blue ice turned on me her voice was almost a growl. “She did say you had a ‘deal’ after all...” she all but spat the words.

“Zara...why are you behaving like this? This is so out of character-”

“Just because I’m speaking out for myself? I’m not going to let you use me Corbyn. And I’m definitely not going to play second fiddle to Blue... You’ve messed with the wrong girl.”

“Zara-wait-you’ve got it all wrong-”

“Do I?” She crossed her arms and looked up at me, meeting my steady look with a challenging one of her own.

When I remained silent she narrowed her eyes. “Thought so...”

I stood, frozen as her small figure moved past me. She was right, in all aspects that concerned Blue.

I slammed my head on the locker, trying to grapple with what just happened.

“Trouble in paradise loverboy?” Torren punched my shoulder as he crept up from behind.

I sighed and raked both hands through my hair. “Something like that dude.”

He laughed and slapped me on the back as we walked down the corridor. “I knew this love triangle would catch up with you sooner or later.”

“Shut up T. I don’t need to hear this right now man.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” he chuckled as he strode beside me. “Corbyn Coleman has girl trouble. Man, oh, man!” He adjusted his bag and pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head.

“Just what I need huh?” I said as we stopped in front of the Math class.

“My little baby is all grown up,” Torren pretended to cry as he wiped fake tears from his eyes.

“Get out of here,” I pushed him away and he laughed as he walked backward.

“See you after school. Movie night tonight,” he called out. “Bring a girl...or not...”

“Whatever jerkface,” I replied before I stepped into the classroom.

The rest of the day passed by without any further altercations and as I walked over to my car I found Zara waiting for me.

“Hey...”

I stopped in front of her and maintained a respectable distance between us. “Hey, Zara. I wasn’t expecting to see you-”

“I want to apologize Corbyn. I’m sorry for my behavior earlier today-maybe I’m PMSing or something,” she clutched her books against her chest and shrugged. “Besides, I had no right to-I’m not even-you’re not my boyfriend-you don’t owe me anything and I don’t own you...” She was clearly disconcerted, as she glanced furtively at me and again lowered her eyes.

“Then maybe we need to rectify that...” I stepped closer and she backed into my car, where I caged her in with my arms.

“H-how?” She ran her tongue her lips and glanced up nervously as my fingers brushed her soft, flushed cheek.

“The only solution to this is-”

My blasted phone chose that exact moment to interrupt this crucial conversation. And by the look on Zara’s face, the moment was lost.

“We can ignore it?”

“Don’t...it could be important.”

I pushed myself back and fished my device out of my back pocket. 

“Yeah-”

“Coleman-it’s Levi-Listen man it’s Blue...she’s-uh-I don’t know man-she’s just flippin’ out and I don’t know what to do with her-she’s just a mess. I don’t know man...Can you please come over to her place like now?!”

“I’m on my way. Just try and calm her down-”

“Get here man! I don’t know how to even do that...please Coleman!?”

“Let me guess? It’s Blue isn’ it?” Zara winced her eyes.

“Yeah-she’s having a breakdown and Levi doesn’t know what to do.”

“But you do obviously,” she retorted.

“Zara don’t-she's my friend-”

“Just go Corbyn.”

“Can I drop you off-”

“No. I’ll find my own way home. I’m a big girl.” Her look was one of frigid anger as she stormed away.

“Zara!” she marched on, without so much as a backward glance.

As much as I wanted to make things right with her, there was someone that needed me more and I had to get to her..fast.