Perfectly Broken

(9) Girl Time

An eternity past while he stared at me, mouth opened slightly in shock. The whole time, my heart was fluttering furiously, anticipating his answer. Would he push me away? Would he accept my feels? Would he take a chance on me?

"Em..." he said, his voice trembling slightly. He looked down at the ground for a long second before startling me with a playful smirk. "Was my kiss that good that you convinced yourself you like me?" he jokes with a hint of laughter.

I felt my heart plummet at the accusation but I couldn't find the energy to spill my heart out to him again. So I forced out a tiny, meek giggle that matched his own feebly, looking down at the floor. "Yeah, I guess that's it. It'll be gone tomorrow." I peeked up at him to see the same smug smirk on his face but there was something in his eyes I couldn't identify. Sadness? Pain? Fear?

It was gone in a split second. "Good because I need my best friend to help me cope with this Brooke ordeal." Brooke! I totally forgot she just broke his heart. And here I was making a move when he was obviously still wounded. Good thing he didn't realize the truth, that he made such a joke before it could be divulged.

I force a smile, hoping to comfort him. "Yeah, I'll always be here for you." He pulled me in a tight hug, sighing into my hair. It felt good being in his arms and if I could only be close to him as his friend then I'd accept it wholeheartedly. I was the first to move away from him, finding water touch the rims of my eyes. Why did it hurt so much to be so close to him yet so far? He'd always convince himself that I'm a little girl, a sister figure. And it was obvious I wasn't the woman he wanted. "Let's get dinner ready."

~*~*~*~

There was nowhere to run or hide when she marched towards me in her stilettos like a bull that just saw the color red. Her blue eyes bore into me with a scowl on her face, her posy of three following her like lost puppy dogs mimicking her steps down the hall. I staggered back when she approached me, somewhat frightened.

"You b***h!" she shrieked, catching the attention of everyone walking down the hall. "I know you told Alec and I swear on every Prada bag I own that I will get you back at all cost, Thorne! You better watch your back!"

Her posy repeated the last threat sinisterly before walking passed me, them each nudging me against the shoulders brutally, causing me to drop my books. The last girl stepped on my chemistry book before kicking it harshly towards the lockers. "Oops," she giggled innocently, catching up with the group. I glared daggers at the back of her head but picked up my books, hurrying to get out the stares and gossip going around.

"Here," a voice said, handing me my chemistry book. I looked up to see an unfamiliar pretty blonde girl with a dimpled smile bending down.

"Thanks," I said, accepting the book.

"No biggie. What's their problem?" she asked, point to Brooke's crew who was turning the corner.

I released a distressing sigh, holding my books close. "What's not their problem?" The girl chuckled, pushing a strand behind her ear. I walked down the hall following right beside her as I did so. "I'm Emma."

"Tori. I just moved here from Nevada." She looked shy, looking down at the ground and I wondered what for. She was really beautiful, maybe even surpassing Brooke's beauty which was saying something. "Do you know where the French room is?"

"Sure, I'm heading there myself."

Her smile widened happily. "Perfect."

In class, Tori sat beside me and I let her use my notes from last class, she promising to return them tomorrow after she copied them. After class, we walked to lunch together, giggling about the French teachers freak out over a spider in her seat by the end of class. Walking with her, I realized I'd never had a real girlfriend before since I always hung out with Alec and he kept everyone away from me. It was nice to talk to another girl.

Not even to the cafeteria yet, my attention caught someone in the corner of the hall. I paused, staring at Ryan and Julie Carter chatting quite fondly, her hand touching his arm. She whispered something in his ear and his tongue licked over his lips, a sign that he was turned on. Didn't she have a boyfriend? Didn't he just confess to me yesterday that he had feelings for me? Why were they now flirting?

"You like him?" Tori asked, seeing where my attention had wandered to.

I shook my head, looking down at the ground. "Nope, just someone I know."

She smirked. "The way you were looking at him didn't make it seem like he was just someone." She wiggled her brows provocatively and I scoffed at her silent accusation that there was something going on between us. Well, there was but I wasn't going to tell her. I just met her. And also, I was used to Ryan flirting with a random girl. Yes, sometimes I got jealous but it was because he was my first time, it was the s*x jealousy, no the love jealousy.

"He's nothing," I muttered, taking one last glimpse. Julie was handing him something and whispered in his ear. I tore my eyes away, pace hastening towards the cafeteria with Tori by my side.

"Hello, Emma," a husky voice greeted. I stopped in my tracks to smile at Mr. Mason who was monitoring the kids in the hallway going to and from class. He gave me a handsome smile, leaning against the wall with his arms and legs crossed.

"Hi, Mr. Mason."

"And hello, Miss Ingram, I hope your first day here is going well."

She nodded. "Very well, Emma here has been showing me around."

His eyes fell on me and I felt a torridness rush through me when he did so. I looked away, suppressing the blush wanting to arise. "Isn't that nice of her."

"Yes, it is. Well, we're heading to lunch. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, girls."

When we were far enough, heading to the cafeteria, Tori's mouth dropped in happiness. "Have you seen a yummier teacher? We don't have those back home." She looked like one of those fangirls drooping over boy bands, dramatically swoon. I soon learned her true colors appeared when she got to know someone and she displayed a rainbow to me. "And did you see that smirk? Oh, he's just temptation in a suit."

I laughed, grabbing my lunch. "Wow, didn't know he was all that."

Tori's mouth dropped, grabbing her food. "Are you saying you didn't notice that—?"

"Emma!" a sweet familiar voice chimed across the room. I looked over my shoulder to see Alec waving from the table and at the sight of his genuine smile, I felt my cheeks heat up waving back. He was trying to find the bright side of things of Brooke's betrayal like he was now free of her cheating ways and basked in it. I was happy he was though, I didn't like him sulking.

When I turned back to Tori, she gave me a knowing smirk. "So that's why you don't notice Mister sexy, it's because you have your eye on Sir Dreamy."

I faked a laugh, paying for my food. "Sir Dreamy?" I shook my head, walking her to the table slowly. "Alec has been my friend since elementary school and that's all he sees me as, a friend."

We took a seat at the table and his eyes immediately fell on Tori, making my stomach clench with jealousy. Of course, he'd notice her beauty right away, he was a guy. Even I could depict her beauty in a second. However, she made no signs that she was attracted to him whatsoever, especially when she just realized I had my eye on him seconds ago.

He gave her a charming smile when she took a seat beside me. "Did Emma meet a new friend?" he asked sarcastically, never removing his eyes from her. "Are you replacing me?" He forged a strike of pain in his heart, hoping to charm her with some laughs but she wouldn't budge.

I sighed, focusing on the horrid tuna casserole on my plate. "I can have more than one friend, you know."

"Well, would you like to introduce the old friend to the new one?" I didn't like that he was moving on so quickly with Tori now in the loop. I just made a new friend and he's already trying to make me feel like she was competition. I know he doesn't try to do it on purpose but it still pierced me to the core.

"I'm Tori, just moved here from Nevada," she told him in monotone. I could see she was trying to show him she wasn't interested. Didn't she know that'd only provoke him to get whatever reaction he wanted from her? I hate to say it but Alec was a complete player but when he was in a relationship, he was committed for the long run. I loved that about him.

My cell phone vibrated and I took it out, surprised to see a text from Jude. After the Brooke incident, we exchanged numbers so I could send him the photo in case he'd need to use it as blackmail.

'Hey, doll face, what you up to?' he sent.

I smirked, replying. 'Lunch.'

'What you doing on Saturday? I want to spend some time with my partner in crime.'

'Got plans with someone.'

'What about Sunday? And is another man rolling up on my woman? *angry face*'

I scoffed and Tori looked at me suspiciously. 'Your woman?'

'Yes, MY WOMAN, we have a sacred bond that no one could ever understand. We ratted out a cheating w***e together, now that's some real bonding.'

Smiling at my phone, Tori grew more suspicious. "Is that your boyfriend?" she asked whispering in my ear.

I shook my head. "Just an annoying stalker."

"Damn, you got a stalker? Props to you." I rolled my eyes, not seeing the appeal of this.

'Lol, whatever.'

'So you free on Sunday?'

'Maybe, why?'

"Is it the guy we saw in the hall with that girl?" Tori asked curiously. I think she was trying to make conversation to avoid Alec's attempt to flirt with her which made me happy. At least I knew she wasn't charmed by him as much as most girls—including me—have been.

I shook my head, receiving a text. 'Thought I'd get to know my partner in crime a little better...maybe over a movie and dinner? *begging puppy dog face* I'm not one to beg though.'

Another text came in from him. 'But I will.'

I laughed. 'A movie and dinner wouldn't hurt, a partner in crime, but save the begging for another time.'

'Sure thing, I'll save it for a rainy day with you...when I want you to stay. *wink*'

'*Solemn face* Goodbye, Jude.'

'Talk to you later, doll face.'

Tori leaned on her hand, staring at me sadly. "What?" I asked, hoping she wasn't snooping and reading my text behind my back.

"You have so many guys talking you, I feel like I'll get a date if I hang around you." I could have chuckled.

"What guys?"

She darted her eyes at Alec who was now occupied with figuring out why the food was grey. "Alec, Mr. Mason, the mystery guy you were texting."

"What makes you think it was a guy?" I challenged.

"Please, the way you were smiling so hard, it had to be a guy." I was smiling hard? I didn't notice at all. She leaned closer so Alec wouldn't hear. "And I think Alec was watching you wondering the same thing I was...but with a glare at your phone, like he was going to blow it up with his eyes."

I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe her so much. She probably saw it as an act of jealousy but I knew it was just his overprotectiveness of me. Looking at him now, it didn't even seem like he acknowledged my existence as his eyes flickered from his food to Tori who ignore him.

Suddenly a text came in. Expecting it to be Jude again, I snickered but frowned when I realized it was Ryan.

'Remember, Saturday. Arrive at my house by eleven.'