“Wish I could say the same about you. How does it feel to be humiliated, Tiffani? On your home turf no less.”
Tiffani scoffs as she folded her arms across her chest. “What do I have to be embarrassed about?”
Flynn pulled Kate closer towards his direction to lean in to kiss Kate on the lips. He pulls out he gives the signal to Ivanna who was holding a camera phone.
Kate took a moment to compose herself. “That this nerd outwits you. And everybody could see the downfall of Tiffani Alistair.”
Morgan got Tiffani’s attention as they saw Ivanna come around. “I cannot believe you would betray me like Ivanna.”
“Isn't this what you would do?” Ivanna noticed Morgan who tried not to smile.
“What do you want?” Did Tiffani cave?
“You know exactly what I want. And you will deliver.” Kate demanded.
《***》
Kate saunters into the women’s bathroom happy to be back. She smirked already knowing who it was.
“Katherine.” The familiar voice said.
Kate was drying her hands. “Tiffani.” Returning the matching tone. “Something you needed?”
“Came by to say congratulations. Round one goes to you. Make no mistake about it. This is far from finished.”
Kate watched her leave as she knew. But at least this time around … she’ll be ready for whatever comes her way. She follows as the bell rings for the next period.
Chapter 27
“Eileen!” Yelled out Michael who finally caught up to where she was. He didn't want her to be alone after her confrontation with Ethan. Panting as he catches his breath.
She watches him bewildered on why he even dragged behind, to begin with. “You don't need to be his lackey.”
He didn't want to say the wrong thing to get on her bad side either. “J—just calm down okay?” He pleaded with her as they stopped at the park.
Eileen sighs. Caving in defeat. “What?” What did he have to say?
“You know he isn't like that anymore.”
She wasn't too sure if he could believe him. Not like her conspiracy theory isn't wrong. “Really? Why? Because the way I see it. He's playing both of us this entire time. Think about it Michael; one…he is on the football team, two…he sees Travis weekly in advance. They could have plotted everything this whole time. Using both of us in the process. To kill two birds with one stone. Okay, what about this. In case you haven't figured it out, he's the least hurt out of you two. Tell me why you're still defending him?”
Michael remained silent trying to ponder everything. His face hardened as he was lost in his own thoughts. Why did he want to be friends from the start? Curiosity got the better of him as he stood there in silence.
She scoffs at seeing he was still skeptical to believe her. “Wow, you're that gullible, aren't you? Maybe it's time for you to learn who Ethan Ryley is.” She walked away as she couldn't deal with any of them right now.
Michael turned around walking back towards the cabin.
《***》
“Got an invitation to this party too?” Kasper figure since he knows he's on the team.
He nods wishing he didn't bring it up. “Yep,” not really talkative on the subject. “Apparently, it means that even if you are on the team and hang out with the captain everyone treats you the same.”
Kasper knew he walked into something before sitting down. “Nobody lets you hear your side of the story.”
Ethan was going to reply but footsteps interrupted him. Ethan already knew who it was as he didn't have to turn his back on him. Kasper was the only one who tilted his head sideways as Heagertigh returned.
“I see you talked to Eileen,” Ethan already knew what side he was taking. He couldn't blame him nor act surprised about this. The stupid jock always had to be the bad guy in this right?
“I did yeah.” Michael kept a rational tone right now.
Remaining quiet with a stolid Kasper looking on in case he needed to break up a fight yet again between these two. ‘Seriously, if they are going to cry ... I'm out of here’. He thought.
“How about I save you the trouble and say goodbye now. It's not like you're going to give a crap about what I have to say. Or explain.”
Michael tried to avoid any troubling confrontation. Turning his attention to Kasper who wanted nothing to do with this as he stepped back.
“Why are you letting her come between us?” Ethan wasn't going to circle around the truth about his feelings. Especially with Michael nearby. He knew what she did moments ago. Picking a fight, so she wouldn't have to let him down later. He knows how to play the game and return the favor. They deserve each other. It was time for him to step aside. “She's right man, maybe I am a snitch. You've been blinded to see it the whole entire time. I've played you, Michael. She saw right through me like everyone else has.”
Kasper was watching Ethan pace back and forth. He needed to make this work. He was going to sell it the only way he knew how. “This isn't you talking, both of you are overwrought and vexed, you aren't thinking straight.”
Michael couldn't buy this. Michael knows Ethan has been nothing but a stand-up guy. Ever since they first met unless it has been nothing but a pretense. He can't be this cruel. He wouldn't be this ruthless right?
“Maybe if you both talk it out—” Kasper tried to meddle.
“There is nothing to talk about. She's right about me. I'm working with Travis and Kelli. I've been playing you from the beginning.”
Kasper raised his eyebrow wanting to see how this plays out as it was starting to get interesting now.
“Why do you think I was there the first day we met? Ryder and Christian bumping into the new kid? You thought it was a coincidence?” He could see the frustrations growing inside Michael’s mind, giving him time to process this.
“So ...” Michael walked up to him as he figures this out. Placing the pieces together. “Y—you, pretended to be my friend? Going behind my back? For what? I never did anything to you! Why the hell did you—?” Wow, she was right after all? I am that gullible. Michael said to himself.
Ethan knew it was working. ‘There it is, now to sell it home’. Ethan told himself. Taking a few deep breaths to calm his jittery nerves. Hating he had to sell himself out in the end. He had no choice and if Michael didn't like him before. He sure as hell wasn't going to forgive him for this. “True you may have done nothing to me. But she was right. I was the golden boy until you came along. I had everything going for me. You messed everything up when you bumped into her. Screwing all my hard work for months to win her back. I meant what I said about her, she is a one in a million kind of girl. But, guess you could say, I needed a decoy. To make my masterpiece complete. The guy that every story needs. A gullible, naive, poor sap, who'll do whatever it takes to be friends, who will have your back no matter what you try to do.”
Michael was stunned. He scoffs in disbelief. Kasper was even lost to see how this ended.
“You had that. You told me to trust you. Shame on me, right?” Michael rolled his eyes at Ethan's disgust. Why did he bother coming back to fix this?
Ethan was vile as the students in his old school.
“And shame on me for thinking I could count on you. Should have had Ryder and Christian beat your ass alone. It's not like she tried to warn you right? Why did you think I tried to push you two together? So, you can see what kind of bitch she is. The reason why she doesn't care about anyone or anything? Is simply because nobody is worthy of her. She's a tease and deserves to be—”
Michael heard enough. Ethan noticed how aggravated he became. Feeling a fist form on the side. Squeezing it tightly by each insult. Michael couldn't take it anymore as he swung a punch at Ethan's face! After a few connecting, successful punches he tackled him down.
“Goddammit!” Kasper said looking for a way in.
Moments later Michael released his grip. Ethan coughs on the floor spitting blood out. From
his mouth
“Get off me!” Michael yelled at Kasper who was seconds away from holding Michael. He was huffing and puffing wanting to keep going.
Kasper had a good grip on him despite his effort to break free.
“You badmouth her one more time Ryley, so help me, I'll finish what you started with or without your boys.” He needed to get out of this house. Michael couldn't stomach looking at that pathetic face anymore.
Michael didn't want to go home after his confrontation with Ethan. He couldn't face his father, the one place where he could go? To rant? To see his late aunt who passed away from a car accident when he was five. His hand was still shaking, tingling for fighting Ethan. His head was swimming with questions that he couldn't get answers to right now.
“H—hey Aunt Lisa, I know it's been awhile since I last talked to you.” In fact, it was the day before school started. He was nervous about going back to see his father after his uncle told him about his condition. It was his choice to make, and surprisingly it was a good one, hmmm give or take a few good things in his life. “I'm sure you've been watching me this year. I know you're disappointed in me for the bad choices I made. Believe me, I'm trying to do better. It's becoming so damn hard to figure out who I can and can't trust.” Michael sighed out of frustration.
Little did he know he was being watched by someone. “I need advice, I need to know if I'm doing the right thing. High school is a confusing roller coaster with no way off. The only good thing in my life?” He felt his cheeks blushing red from thinking about her. His eyes narrow the snow on the ground. A smile formed on his lips. “I met a girl who has completely turned my life upside down. The only difference? Is that I actually like her, but I can’t admit it. I want to make sure I'm making you proud. Because, as of right now all I feel like I'm doing is failing you.” He lowered his head in shame.
Footsteps startled him as he was getting ready to strike in case it was Ethan. To his surprise, after turning around the spots. “D-dad?” Breathing out of relief. Glad it was him and not Kasper or Ethan.
“Figured I'd find you out here sooner or later.” Collin said looking down spotting the bruised knuckles on his hand. That Michael failed to hide behind his back in time.
“Should you be out here in the cold?” He was worried about his condition.
“I'll be fine son, a little cold never killed anybody yet, but you seem to be having doubts. Did you manage to get any questions answered?” Collin knew when his son was ready he'd come to find him.
Michael laughs, shaking his head. “Nope, thought Aunt Lisa would be able to help, didn't go as planned.”
Collin smiles patting his back. “The thing about life son, you never know what you're going to get out of it when you're in the moment. Life is like chapters out of a book, there is always a beginning, a middle and an end. You're always going to find some plot holes and parts of the book that never make sense. There's always a part when you can't even figure out how to charm the opposite sex. At the end of whatever book you read, you'll grow. You'll learn things in a new light and you'll always expect the unexpected.” Collin hoped that got through to him.
“Gotta say pop, this bonding thing between us, it's getting weird.” They both laugh. For the first time in a long time. Their relationship has been getting better. He was glad to come home. “But, in a good way.”
Collin rubs his sons back as his eyes spotted Lisa's grave once again which made him think. Promising he wasn't going to meddle unless he needed to. “By the way, I saw your friend here. The one that you were telling your aunt about.” Michael raised his brow bewildered.
“Really?”
Collin begins to walk as they start to leave the graveyard. “She had the same idea you did, to seek some advice. A pleasure to see you again Angela. This is the one I was telling you about.” He tipped his head at her grave.
Michael was confused looking around. “Uh, pop what are you mumbling about?”
Collin laughs. “Listen, son, I know your aunt is watching over you. Whether you believe so or take it with a grain of salt, she is proud of you. Of all the choices you made. The good and the bad. I know we might have some work to do in a short period. But, I'm grateful to share the rest of my days with you before it's too late. If there's anything you remember me by kid, it’s this, don't waste your time on 'what ifs' in life. You'll never predict how much you have left. You want something, you go for it. Whatever happens, it's your story son. You won't muck up the courage unless you try.”
Michael nods taking everything into heart. They share a hug.
“Thanks pop,” he released the hold.
Leaving Collin alone once more. Looking back at Angela's grave one final time. “I told you, Angela, all they needed was a push in the right direction. They'll get there.” Collin says with a smile walking away back home again.
《***》
A couple days after the big fight between him and Ethan, Michael walked towards Eileen's house as he caught his breath, panting, as he banged on the front door.
To his surprise, Torrie opened it figuring it was Kasper who was coming back for his clothes. “Oh, new kid?” Torrie blanked on his name for a moment.
He chuckles nodding. “Yeah, my name is Michael, is she home?”
Torrie thought for a moment on whom he was referring too. “My sister?”
He nods again while she lies to him. Whatever happened between the two of them. He seemed to be willing to sort it out.
“Not too sure, want to leave a message or anything? I can let her know for you?”
A downhearted expression formed on his face. “Just tell her next time you see her I need to talk to her?”
Torrie nods watching him leave. She sighs closing the door behind her, spotting Eileen sitting down on the couch. “You heard?”
Eileen heard the sadness in his tone. “All I need is a break. From everything, I'll talk to him when I'm ready.”
Torrie wished she could help with her dilemma. Sometimes even being a good sister, she needs to let her tackle her own battles and drama. She joins her on the couch sitting next to her. Wrapping her arms around to comfort her. “It seems like my little sister is growing up for a change. I know you're going through a lot now, but, trust me, it does get easier.”
Eileen scoffs finding it hard to believe. “How does it get easier?”
Torrie laughs as Eileen resting her head on her sister's shoulder. “Maybe I exaggerated a bit. Love and high school drama never mixed well, but that's the thing. Everything is crazy and hectic. Sometimes you love it other times you dread it's a never-ending mystery. But it's the memories you put into it that you treasure forever. Whatever happened, Michael seemed like he was sorry."
Flynn saw an abstracted Eileen who was pensive in her own thoughts. Not even his footsteps broke her concentration.
“Eileen?” Flynn snapped her back to reality.
She blinked hearing his voice. Seeing the concern on his face. “What are you doing out here?”
He took his coat off for her to warm up. “I—uh,” Eileen laughs forgetting the reason. “Kind of forgot. What are you doing out here?”
Flynn sighs joining her. “I needed a drive. To clear my head. Everything has been pretty messed up lately.”
Eileen could relate to that. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”
He had a rare idea. “You want to come with me? I figured both of us need to vent about things.”
Eileen was surprised that he wanted her to come. Maybe a change could help her? “You know I'm not Torrie, right?”
Flynn laughs. Yes, he could tell the difference between the two. Torrie may have her moments. Whereas, Eileen has always been the warm-hearted one out of the two. “That's the last thing I need. Come on.” Flynn helped her up as they headed to the car. To enjoy their day on the road. “So? It seems like we haven't had one of our talks in a while. What's up?” Flynn asked out of concern as they stopped at the local diner for a s
nack, once arriving in a booth. He gave her his full undivided attention.
Eileen sighs as she was unsure where to start first. “Everything is a complete disaster. I'm screwing it up left and right.” Eileen fought the urge to cry in front of him. She lowers her head in shame on the table.
Flynn can tell she was keeping a lot bottled inside. He switched seats and sat next to her. He was glad to have this distraction. “Hey, you aren't screwing everything up. You just need to figure out what you want.”
Eileen scoffed as she lifted her head back up. Like it's that easy? With a snap of a finger. All your troubles wash away. Ha! She wishes it was. “It's not that simple,” she told him.
True Love:Follow Your Heart Page 22
