Chapter 83 - Carla And The Fight.

Lance. 

''Baby,'' I try to pull him closer, but he grabs me by my waist. He is upset, he only pushes me off him when he is upset. 

''We are in front of my school,'' he reminds me. 

Oh, and also when we are in public. We can't be seen as a couple. I keep forgetting that major detail. I missed the rest of his game because I was sorting out some Jack problems. 

Yeah, I know I used that as an excuse. That gym was choking. I hate being involved in his outside life, knowing I am not part of it. 

''You didn't want to come in the first place, just be honest about it,'' he interjects. 

Yeah I know he is upset. Jack left us to sort it out. He probably didn't like being the third wheel and everything he dumped on me today must be overwhelming too. I don't know how I feel about Patrick and him, but I am not upset. From the dinner, I could sense something was up with them. They tried to hide it but I could tell and now my assumptions were right. I can see the love that is about to bloom. They are still in the denial stage. Soon enough they will realise that they are perfect for each other and I will tell him I told you so again. 

Jack is stubborn. 

He doesn't think he deserves to be happy, but I will make him see that he could be—if I have to be the matchmaker that pulls those two together. 

''You're not even paying attention to me right now,'' he rolls his eyes. Students storm out of the building suddenly and I have to take another step away from him. this is why I didn't want to come. I didn't want to be the stepbrother he dragged to one of his games. I was rooting for him but I didn't want to be reminded that we are nothing on the outside. 

''I am sorry, can we go home and talk about it?'' 

He sighs ''There is a party to celebrate our win,'' he mutters. His eyes looking everywhere but me ''I have to go.''

Uh ok. 

Now he is acting weird. 

Why is he acting so weird? 

''Without me?'' 

He shrugs ''You don't have to go. I mean you didn't even want to be here in the first place,'' I hate when he has this nonchalant attitude. I know he cares, so why is he acting like he doesn't mind if I am with him or not. 

I don't like this.

''Babe—'' I am cut off before I can complete my sentence by someone jumping on his back. It is a girl, someone else asides Lisa. This one is not a cheerleader—at least. 

''You did it,'' she screeches as her legs wrap around his waist. 

Okay, wait. This is a little too up close and personal. I thought he didn't have friends. 

''Hey Carla,'' he says without even turning around. She jumps off him immediately and he finally turns around, his back now facing me. this Carla girl is dressed in a pair of black high waisted shorts and a purple made in Jersey crop top with white sneakers. Her black her is up in a ponytail. It looks so tight, almost like her head is about to explode. She is pretty, all the people he hangs around are pretty. Her eyes are hazel, her nose is pointed in a button shape—almost too perfect. She has little makeup on, the kind that is subtle, makes her even more beautiful. 

I am jealous. 

So fucking jealous, even though I know he is mine. I have nothing to worry about because I trust him completely. 

''Nate and the rest are waiting for you. You haven't even freshened up,'' she scolds him with the cutest glare I have ever seen. 

They don't even acknowledge my presence. I don't know if I am pissed or sad. I mean, I am his boyfriend. The least he could've done is introduce me. He is acting like I am not even here in the first place. 

''I just came to talk to my stepbrother.''

Finally, I get some acknowledgement. Not the kind I wanted but it is a start. I can't count how many times he will have to introduce me as his stepbrother. It makes this thing we are doing seem very wrong. I hate it so much. 

''Oh, I didn't see you there, you must be Lance. God Brad never stops talking about you. We are all so tired of hearing Lance, Lance, Lance,'' she giggles with a twirl of her hair. 

I smile even though I don't believe her words. I didn't even know he had friends and now I find out he has been talking about me.

Ha. 

''Oh, really?'' she nods and walks closer to me. suddenly she jumps and wraps her arms around me for a hug. This is the most awkward I have felt in a long time. She is hugging me—a stranger that she just met. I guess that means the hug she gave Ford isn't a big deal. She is probably just a hugger. 

After a couple of seconds, she lets go of me and her cheeks are red. ''We have all been dying to see you. He didn't mention how cute you are,'' she faces Ford ''Why didn't you tell me your brother was a hottie?'' she raises a brow at him. 

Ford shrugs, he doesn't seem to be interested in this conversation, but he is pretending to be. He is still upset with me. he hasn't looked at me once since this girl showed up. 

''You're coming to the party with us?'' she asks with hopeful eyes. 

If I didn't know better, I would think she was flirting with me. 

''He has to go home,'' he speaks for me. 

Why doesn't he want me to go to this party? Would he rather go without me?

''No, come on. It'll be fun. We can all get to know you and you get to meet the crew,'' she smiles. 

Crew. So now Ford has a freaking crew. I feel cheated right now because I have shown him every part of me, and he has kept his life hidden from me. This girl seems close to him. she seems like a good friend and he can't even tell his good friend about us. I have told the people that are important to me. I welcomed him into my life, and he doesn't want to do the same with me. 

It hurts. 

It fucking hurts. 

''Please come,'' Carla, bats her eyes lashes. Her hazel eyes never wavering from mine. She is pleading with them and the only reason why I want to accept this is not because of her. I want to go to the party because I need to know how he is outside our bubble. I want to see him when he is with his friends. I want to know more about him even though he seems to want all those parts to remain hidden from me. 

''Sure, I'll be there,'' I smile at her. 

She jumps into my arms again, this time I look at Ford and see the jealousy in his eyes. Slowly, I move my hand to the space between her shorts and shirt. the part that reveals her skin. His darts his eyes to my hand. I see him watching and I want him to feel as hurt as I feel right now. I want him to see how important I am and how in the blink of an eye he could possibly lose me. 

Begrudgingly, he looks away from us and Carla lets go of me still smiling, our whole mental conversation unknown to her ''So I'll see you there,'' she says before skipping away from us. 

''What are you doing?'' 

I shrug ''Nothing.''

He sighs ''We are not going for this party.''

He said he was going before but now that I have shown interest. He doesn't want to anymore? I can smell his bullshit from a mile away. There is no way I am missing this party. 

''Are you still upset with me for missing the game?'' 

He sighs again ''I am not upset with you, I never was.'' 

''Stop lying, why does it feel like all you do is lie to me.'' 

I am going too far. I know but I am upset now.

''Wow, Lance. You are using my mistakes against me. Great,'' he walks away from me and I stand there in the middle of the parking lot. I don't know why I just did that. I watch him as he disappears into the building. I know I need to follow him but I want him to cool off. Maybe then he will forgive me faster. 

The crowd outside reduces as people around enter their cars and leave—probably to get to this after-party. I walk back to the building and head for the direction of the gym. There is confetti on the floors, for their victory. I don't know how important this game was, but it seems like it was very important, and I get why he is pissed. 

I need to apologise. 

First, I have to find him.