Chace’s party was the turning point. It changed everything. It set in motion a series of events creating some sort of butterfly effect I never could have imagined, and it all started with that fight. The fight that led to that kiss, which resulted in another fight, that led to that crazy hot make-out session, which led to yet another fight, that caused a shift in the social structure of our school. Ultimately leading me to where I was a week and a half later—sitting under the tree outside the cafeteria like we always did. Only it was still just Indie and me as Ryder was away.
“When’s he back?” Indie asked, kicking off her shoes and laying back in the sun.
“Uhm, I don’t know. After Easter sometime.” I shook my head. It was two weeks until Easter break. I started pulling out blades of grass and watched them blow away in the breeze as I thought about Ryder.
Ryder had taken off the day after Chace’s party. After our fight. After our kiss. He’d told me it was a family emergency and that he had to leave town for a few days, but he’d be back as soon as he could. He’d texted a couple of times to see how things were and to make sure I hadn’t changed my mind about our fake breakup. I just kept telling him we’d discuss it when he got back, to which he would always apologise for not being there and not being back before Easter.
Although I couldn’t help but think that something had changed between us at the party when he kissed me during our fight, I knew that I needed to distance myself from him because I would only end up getting hurt in the end. That kiss was a total contradiction, just like Ryder. It was rough and intense and passionate. I could feel his anger and frustration. But at the same time, it was sweet and gentle and caring. His tongue had swirled around my mouth hungrily while his fingertips had lightly danced along my shoulders and down my spine before pulling my body as close to his as possible. My knees had buckled, and I nearly collapsed, but his strong arms held me up as he laughed against my lips, pulling away slightly.
I’d become so lost in him at that moment, and I’d forgotten all about our fight and needing to end things and could only think about kissing him again and again. I had let myself imagine what it would be like if things were real between us, which wasn’t hard since he hadn’t let me out of his sight or his reach for the rest of the night.
“Well, I hope for Ryder’s sake Chace has calmed down by the time he gets back. He’s out for Ryder’s blood,” Indie said. I had to suppress a chuckle.
“I don’t think that will be a problem, In.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I don’t know what I was thinking. Chace is a douche and won’t do jack to get back at him.” She started laughing.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, but Ryder can handle himself pretty well. Christina, on the other hand, who knows what she’s capable of?”
“I know. I can’t believe he broke Chace’s nose. He’s been whining like a little bitch since the party. And Christina will definitely have something planned.”
“So how are things going with Jayden, and what’s Linc been like?” I needed to change the subject to something other than Ryder. Talking about everything just made me miss him even more.
“Jayden’s great. We’ve been texting. And Linc…well, he’s Linc.” Indie shrugged with a smile, but I didn’t miss the sadness in her eyes.
After Ryder and I had left the party and Indie had decided to stay, she drank way too much and got to the point that she couldn’t stand. Somehow, she’d managed to lock herself safely in a bedroom and call Linc. Like always, Linc had gone running to her rescue. He was like her big brother.
“He’s acting all weird because he let me stay the night. He’s worried that my brother or my parents will find out I slept at his house. But really, where else could I have gone? He couldn’t have taken me home in the condition I was in. He stayed to look after me and let me stay in his bed, Bailey. His bed. With him!” she squealed. It was like a dream come true for her: her knight in shining armour coming to her rescue and letting her stay the night.
“Well, I understand why he might be worried about them finding out,” I said. She looked at me, all confused. “Do you think your parents or your brother would be okay with you sleeping in a bed with a twenty year old?”
“But it’s Linc. Not a random.”
“Still.”
“Hey guys, mind if we sit?” I looked up and saw Greg and Lizzie standing beside the tree smiling nervously as they interrupted our conversation. I was never going to get through to her. No matter how hard she tried, she was always going to be off limits to Linc. He valued her and her brother’s friendship more than anything.
“Uhm.” I turned to look at Indie, who just shrugged in confusion. “I guess.”
“Great, thanks.” Lizzie smiled and sat next to me.
“So what are you sitting with us for and not with the robots inside?” Indie asked, sitting up and staring at Greg and Lizzie. Straight to the point, Indie. Well done.
“If I have to listen to Chace or Christina go on one more time about how you and Ryder will regret it, I will punch them both myself,” Greg said.
“They are driving us crazy. All they can talk about is you and Ryder, whether it’s about the fights or just you guys being in a relationship in general. It’s draining. Christina is such a bitch. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. And Chace. Don’t even get me started,” Lizzie complained, making both Indie and I laugh.
“Look, we just want to apologise to you, Bailey, for the way we’ve behaved. We knew what Chace and Christina did to you was wrong, and we wish that we’d never picked a side. We really do regret ignoring you, and we hope you can forgive us, and maybe we can be friends again,” Greg said. I was tempted to say: No, go screw yourselves. You all ditched me for them. But I had forgiven Indie, and I understood how hard it could be to go against the hierarchy in a school where social status meant everything. It would have been social suicide had anyone picked me.
“Of course.” I smiled at them. I may have forgiven them, but I wouldn’t trust them. Not yet. How did I know it wasn’t one of Christina’s plans to get back at me by making me think I had friends and then taking them from me again? I would be careful this time. I didn’t trust anyone anymore. Except for Ryder.
The butterfly effect at its finest. A fight, a kiss, a fight, a hot make-out session including sponge bath, and another fight, all leading to two more friends for me and two fewer friends, hopefully, for Chace and Christina.