Brooke:
1037 Words
“So, how did the date go?” I study Delilah, trying to read the expression on her face. I can’t tell if it went well, and I feel awful for hoping it went horrible. We’re in the school corridors, heading for our lockers.
She smiles dreamily, and my heart plummets. “Oh it was so great. We talked a lot, he’s super funny and cute.”
I groan inwardly. Unless Asher does something really bad Delilah won’t stay away from him now. “That’s great,” I lie.
“And he asked me out on a second date!” She grins.
Oh no no no. “And you said yes?” I already know the answer of course, but I can’t help hoping I’m wrong.
“Well duh!” Delilah says, looping her arm around mine. We turn the corner, and my feet skid to a stop. Asher is leaning against my locker, looking annoyingly handsome. Delilah brightens, walking to his side, a spring in her step. I follow reluctantly, hands balled into fists. We reach my locker, and Asher steps aside so I can open it. This chivalry is new. I pass him with barely a glance, turning to my locker. I’m expecting him to talk to Delilah, and I want to listen in, so I’m surprised when I hear him say:
“Hey Lilah, I’ll catch you at your locker ok? I want a quick word with Brooke.”
Okay, first of all, Lilah? Since when did they enter the nickname zone? And second, why the hell would he want to talk to me? Oh no, this must be about that night. Dread coils in the pit of my stomach. Please go away, I mutter silently, closing my eyes for a second. I open them to hear Delilah’s retreating footsteps, and grimace, realizing Asher’s still here.
I turn, leaving my backpack in the locker. Asher is standing with his hands in his pockets, expression unreadable.
I sigh. “So. What did you want to talk to me about?”
He shrugs. “Just wondering how you’re doing.”
I raise an eyebrow and stare him down. “Yeah, right.”
“Is that so hard to believe?” He grins, “I’m not always the heart-of-stone bad boy you think I am, you know.”
I smile sarcastically. “Oh, I know that all right.”
He studies me. “Brooke,” my heart clenches at the use of my name, “do you want to talk about that night or-”
“No.” I cut him off sharply, unease filling me. I look away, trying to hide the fear and anger in my voice. “I never want to talk about that again.”
“Hey,” he reaches a hand out, brushing my arm. “Look at me.”
I shake his hand off, rage filling me so suddenly and harshly I almost recoil. Instead, I steel myself and take a step closer, until we’re standing almost nose to nose. Or we would be, if he weren’t so tall. I look up at his blue eyes and lower my voice to an almost-whisper. “Asher. That night was one of the worst of my life. When I say I never want to talk about it, I mean never. I don’t know what exactly you thought you were doing, but that night could ruin my life. So please, stay out of my business from now on.”
Asher has gone completely still, and a hundred emotions flash across his eyes, so quickly, I can’t identify them. I’m honestly surprised. He looks nothing like the bad boy he’s supposed to be. He’s still looking at me, and it starts making me uncomfortable. I realize exactly how close we are, and take a self-conscious step backward.
He gives me a small nod. “I promise, we don’t have to talk about it.” I breathe a sigh of relief as he continues, “And I’ll stay out of your business from now on.” Unexpected sadness flashes across his face.
I expect to feel triumphant for getting him to back off, but instead I feel strangely...disappointed. I try for a smile. “Thank you.”
Asher finally pulls himself together, and in the blink of an eye he becomes the Asher I’m used to, arrogant, egocentric and sarcastic.
He smirks back. “You’re welcome. Now that that’s over, I wanted to ask you something else.”
“Oh?” I begin taking my stuff out.
“Would it be okay with you if I asked Delilah to be my girlfriend?”
I go still. Why would he ask me that? And no, it would not be okay with that. But I don’t want him to think I’m jealous or something stupid like that.
“Why should I care?” I answer quickly.
His eyes have a mischievous glint in them when he says “I think you do care.”
Arrogant prick. “Well I don’t. It’s entirely up to Delilah.” I grab my stuff and push past him. “Now if you’re done asking stupid questions, I have a class to go to.”
I walk away quickly, my mind spiraling. He cannot ask Delilah that. I’m not completely sure why I hate the idea so much, but I do know I need to stop it.
I ball my hands into fists, wishing I could punch Asher for everything he’s done. He has anything he wants, and still he wants to take everyone from me. Already he’s replaced Josh in the band, I won’t let him try to take Delilah too.
I need to do something, and I need to do it now.
What I need is revenge. I need a plan.
- Writer
