CHAPTER 21

Frankie stared at me. I looked down at my hands on my lap. I just spilled everything to Frankie and now wiping away my tears. Urgh, I'm such a sap.

"Ok, so let me get this straight. You and Wes hung out in the summer, coz he was staying with his cousin, who's your neighbour. And you guys got close.. Somehow. Then he started climbing up to your room through the window and even slept in your bed with you. After that he even kissed you. But now, he's acting like he doesn't know you." Frankie said as he pushed his dark glossy hair from his eyes.

"That's about right." I said with a sigh.

Frankie pulled me into a hug. I clung to him, trying not to cry anymore. I finally had to accept that me and Wes were never a thing. And I have to live my life as usual. I don't care anymore. At least I have Frankie. And dad's here for the time being.

We hung out at Frankie's until almost dinner time. When I went home, Shelby was playing the doting mum, cooking dinner. It almost made me laugh. When Dad's on the road, I would be the one in the kitchen, cooking dinner after soccer practice and before I go to my part-time job in 7-eleven. But with Dad around, it's Stepford Wife all the way. I sighed and ran to my room. Layne was in her room, too, doing God knows what. I never knew if the Satan's spawn had any hobbies other than staring into the mirror.

Dinner was a treat. Shelby made lasagna. It wasn't bad, but nowhere near as good as mine. Only Dad and Shelby talked at the dinner table. I spoke only when Dad asked me questions. Layne hardly uttered a word and when she did, it was only to answer Dad's question while she just glared at her mum. I had a feeling Layne kinda liked Dad and hated her mum's guts. I don't know, probably because Dad always treated her nice and gave her an allowance like me when he's around. I've never seen Layne be rude with Dad. But she always lost her temper with Shelby and ignored me like I didn't exist. Whatever, as long as she never bothered me, I was ready to leave her alone.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. This weekend, Shelby and I are going to Boston to meet my client. We'll leave on Friday afternoon and come back on Sunday night. So, we want you girls to behave yourself. And to keep safe, alright? And the curfew stands. And no boys." Dad said and Shelby giggled annoyingly. Layne snorted. I glanced at her.

"Well, no danger there." Layne said to herself and then took a drink of her water. I frowned at her.

"What do you mean by that?" I demanded as I stared at her. She ignored me like she didn't hear me. I fumed.

"Now girls, stop it. It's only for the weekend and we want you to be in your best behavior and take care of yourself." Shelby twittered, pretending to give a shit. Layne rolled her eyes and pretended to shove a finger down her throat and gag. I almost laugh but I stopped myself.

After dinner, I went to my room and just lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I had finished my homework at Frankie's, so my mind was free to obsess over Wes. Yeay me...

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The next morning, I went to school as usual and wade myself in the hallway with the rest of the kids. It was a very boring day. I saw Wes at lunch again, but of course he acted like I didn't exist. I didn't give a flying eff about Wes. He can go to-

"Excuse me, can I sit with you guys?" A very British voice spoke up suddenly, interrupting my thoughts. I looked up and saw the clearest hazel eyes on a human face before in my life. I stared and no words came out of my mouth. A brunette guy smiled expectantly at us. I was struck dumb.

"Sure, man." Frankie said, saving the situation. He smiled gratefully and sat beside Frankie. I continued to stare at him.

"Thanks. Um, I'm Matt. Just transferred from Surrey, England." Matt explained in a very friendly manner. He was still smiling. And he had such pouty sexy lips. Like a cupid's bow. Pretty weird, but totally worked on him.

"Hi Matt. I'm Frankie and this is Addison. Addy." Frankie introduced us. I moved on from my drool phase and smiled as I nodded at the introduction.

"So Matt. What brings you to this part of the world?" Frankie asked. Matt just smiled as he poked at his pasta.

"Well, my father just married a trollop who decided that I was in the way to his millions, so she made him choose. Her or me. Guess which one did he choose?" Frankie said a little bitterly.

" What's a trollop?" Frankie asked.

"Umm, a skank, right? No brainer there. So, how do you like it here?" I asked.

"Well, it's not wet and dreary. And girls are very friendly. Guys too. So I'm sure I'd be very happy here." Matt said with a chuckle. Well, when he looked like Douglas Booth's brother, girls.. and guys were bound to pay a lot of attention to him.

We talked over lunch and got to know each other. Wes was empirically forgotten until Matt suddenly looked at Wes' general direction.

"Addy, who is that delicious male specimen? And why is he looking at you like he wanted to eat you up and like he wanted to hurt me very badly?" Matt said as he kinda smiled and waved at Wes. I looked over at him. He was scowling at Matt. Then he looked at me. His face was unreadable. I turned away. I wasn't in the mood today.

"Well, well, well. I could sense something there.. " Matt said as he looked pointedly at me. Frankie scoffed as he glared at Wes who was scowling at his bottled water.

"Nope, not today. Messy and boring." I said as I sighed. Matt shrugged and smiled curiously.

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I stretched as I groaned. It was pretty sunny. Coach Evans was barking at us to finish our warm ups and start practice. All of us started to run to the field in a row. As I was kicking the ball to Ally, the forward, I caught sight of Wes in football garb, clearly having football practice. He was looking at my general direction. Why, I don't know. I ignored him and kicked the ball with all my might to get him out of my head. I was like a bulldozer for the whole practice hour and even scored quite a number of very good goals. Just then, Coach Evans blew the whistle long and hard, signaling that practice was over. We stopped and I stood with my hands on my waist, trying to catch my breath.

"Okay, ladies! Good practice today! Now hit the showers and I'll see you all tomorrow! Morgan, a word!" Coach Evans barked and I jogged towards her. Then I stood in front of her, catching my breath.

"You did really well today, Morgan. I like your energy and your tackling has gotten a lot better. Keep this up and I just might put you as the starter in the first game next month." Coach Evans said with a smile. I was bursting with happiness. Yes! I guess my anger at Wes is pushing me to be real good in soccer. Well, at least he's useful for something.

"Wow, thanks, Coach! I'll keep at it." I said with a huge smile on my face.

"Let's hope so. If you work a little bit in your kicks, you'll be good to go. You might just get that soccer scholarship." Coach Evans said. I felt so happy and relieved.

I went to shower and changed. When I got out of the girls's changing room, the school was almost deserted. It was already after 5:30 and I had to walk home. I had to get my homework before I started the long track home. Just as I rounded a corner, I ran smack into someone. I gasped and lost my balance. Before I lose my balance, a pair of hands grabbed me by the arm. I looked up into a pair of golden brown eyes. I regained my balance and tried to struggle free from his grasp.

"Hey, stop it. You'll fall down." Wes said trying to keep me upright.

"So what? What's it to you?!" I said as I glared at him. Wes sighed as I stepped about a few feet away from him.

"How've you been?" Wes asked suddenly. I glared at him then looked away.

"Super. No thanks to you. Now get lost, I gotta go back home." I tried to walk away but he caught my wrist. I looked at him in annoyance.

"What do you want? We have no business together, so just let me go." I said, anger seething in my teeth, although the feel of his hand on my wrist sent tingles and electric shocks all over my arm like nobody's business.

"Look, we gotta talk." Wes said gently, probably a little scared at my angry expression.

"We have nothing to talk about. We don't even hang out together, so there's nothing to talk about. Now get lost before I hurt you." I warned as I pulled my arm from his firm grasp.

"Please, Addy, just hear me out." Wes said pleadingly. I looked at him, annoyed. Shoot, he's using that soft, melting voice..crap.

"Fine! What!" I said firmly while I tried to look really angry and unfeeling. It was really hard with Wes looking at me with his face full of guilt and something else. I don't know what but it made me back off and gave him a chance to speak.

"I'm sorry. For not calling you. I just..it's complicated." Wes explained. Or at least he tried to. I looked at him, thinking that it was not enough.

"What's so complicated? Look, Wes, I am not so naive as to think that we are anything. Whatever happened in summer, stays there. You're not obligated to just drop everything and suddenly embrace me into your life. I know I don't fit in anywhere. So, do us both a favour and just forget everything." I said, lying through my teeth. Everything I said was the exact opposite of what I wanted but I knew better. We're too different and we don't make sense here in real life. In the rosy-tinted glasses of summer, everything seemed possible. But not here. And here was what matters most.

Wes looked at me, a little taken aback. He was probably surprised that it was so easy. He thought he'd be stuck with a clingy summer fling who thought a kiss bonds them for life. I took a deep breath and walked off, pulling my arm out of his grip.

"Wait!" He said and I stopped. I looked over my shoulder and looked at him. He looked at me with a weird gaze.

"Are you sure? You're okay with this?" He asked a little unsure. He was probably wondering how lucky he was to be let off so easily and why was I such a chump, a pathetic push-over.

"Yes. Good bye Wes." I said with a finality in my tone that even worried me. Was I really accepting this readily. I guess I have to. I have my pride and crying and begging for him to love me wasn't an option at all.

I walked quickly towards home. All the way home, I let loose and cried my hearts out. I just realized how much I missed Wes from the summer. He was the guy that I fell for and I thought he liked me. It was foolish and I got carried away. Although I kissed him, I was so proud of myself for resisting him just now and making him see how unaffected I was by his rejection. Yeah, it was a rejection. I don't belong in his world. I guess when he was hanging out with me, he was bored and desperate. ANd now he has a choice. Of course he would go back to the Wes who's unfeeling and a selfish ass. Why would he bother with a loser like me?