Chapter 12 - And do you think I care? (1)

How long has this been goin' on?

You been actin' so shady

I've been feelin' it lately, baby

— Charlie Puth, How Long

T Y L E R

I just dropped the second package that day when I saw Faith walking down the road with three massive books in her hands. I watched her closely as a girl accidentally knocked her off, causing her to drop all the books she was carrying. I ran towards her and picked up two books off the ground.

She looked up and smiled once she saw me. "Hey. You again." She shook her head in disbelief as she continued, "what's wrong with me today? I met both of my exes at the same day."

I frowned. "What?"

"I ran to my brother's friend which I dated last year a few minutes ago and now I met you." She held the book close to her chest and adjusted the bag's strap on her shoulder. "What are you doing here? Do you go to NYU as well?"

No, I dropped a pack of weed to one of the students behind the Engineering building. There was no way I could say that. "No. I was running an errand."

Faith nodded. "So where do you go to school? We spent hours talking about your family and your life in D.C. that we didn't have a chance to talk about New York."

"Columbia. Biochemistry."

"Nice!" She widened her eyes and added, "Rich."

I chuckled. "No, I got a scholarship."

"Wow, really?" She put one hand on her chest, the thing she always did whenever she was surprised. "I didn't know you're that smart. I mean, Ms. Lambert used to ket you mark our assignment but I thought that's because you're a teacher's pet," said Faith jokingly.

"Hey, I'm not her pet. She came to me asking for my help, she said she barely had time for her twin babies, I couldn't say no." Ms. Lambert was our Science teacher. She was also the reason I loved Science.

Faith rolled her eyes. "Always be the good boy." She held the book in one hand and held her other hand out. "Give me the book. I gotta get to Third Rail now if I still want a place to study."

"Third Rail?"

"Yeah. It's the cafe on Sullivan Street. All NYU students go there. Well, not all. Some of us go to Mud for their chai tea but that place is too pricey for me," explained her. "Come on. Give me those books so I could get there fast."

"You will walk faster if I help you carry your books." Judging from her sigh of defeat, I knew she couldn't say no.

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Fine."

I smiled. "Lead the way."

* * *

J E S S

I felt horrible. So terrible that I couldn't put it into words. I hated fighting with one of my girlfriends but most of all, I hated the feeling of guilt that made me feel even worse.

I shouldn't have drunk that much. I should have kept my promise to Colton to stop drinking. But it was all too late now. The only person I considered as a sister was now mad at me and I couldn't do anything to make her feel better.

It was stupid. I was ridiculously stupid. How could I even ask her if she did it? She was my best friend, I knew her for years, I should've known that she would never do such things. Although for that stupid split second, I thought she would. She loved Tyler so much and I thought she'd do anything to be at the same school as him. It was stupid and I couldn't believe I thought of my best friend like that.

"Babe," said Colton as he held me a little tighter. "Ssshh, stop crying. Everyone in this cafe thought I was being a jerk and made you cry."

I giggled in the middle of sobbing which ended up making a weird gagging sound. "No one thinks you're a jerk. I'm the biggest jerk here." I grabbed the tissue and dabbed it on my eyes. I knew I probably looked like a clown right now, considering how much mascara and eyeliner I put this morning which probably ruined by now. Yet I could really care less. "I can't believe I said those things to her. What is wrong with me?"

"Nothing," answered Colton as he kissed the top of my head. "Nothing's wrong with you. You're human and you make mistakes."

"A stupid mistake. God, she's right. I'm retarded and medically stupid." The hurt look on Autumn's face still lingered on my mind.

Colton pulled away to look me properly. "You're human and the fact that you're regretting it right now proves that you're not made of stone. Stop crying about what's done, and try to think of what you can do to redeem yourself. You've been best friends for years, you must know what you need to do to get her back."

In his eyes, I could see that he meant every word. I knew Colton by heart and I knew he would do absolutely anything to defend me, but I also knew that I could count him to tell me the truth. "Do you think I'm a horrible person?"

He let out an exhaustive sigh as if he was tired of answering this but he answered anyway. "No. You're just a human. Human makes mistakes, babe. Don't beat yourself up for what's done."

I raised one hand and cupped the side of his face. "Okay." I took a deep breath and gave his lips a light peck.

He smiled like he just scored an NFL contract. "That's my girl."

We finished our coffee and the New York cheesecake we shared. "Are you ready?" asked Colton as he held my coat.

"Yeah." I grabbed my bag and stood as he pulled my chair back. He held my hand and we walked towards the front of the cafe.

I froze. There, right in the counter, was Tyler and he wasn't alone. A blonde girl who looked like a model stood beside him and they were both laughing. "What the hell." They didn't see me since we were about a few meters away.

"What's wrong?" asked Colton, noticing that I stopped walking and turned into a statue. His gaze slowly followed mine and I knew he saw them too.

"This is why Autumn looked so broken. They broke up." I couldn't believe my eyes. Why didn't I think about this before? Autumn looked like she was about to crumble anytime when she sat there right in front of me. "I'm gonna go there and give them a piece of mind. There's no way he could break my girlfriend's heart and walk down the sunset with that bïtch."

I took one step and Colton held my arm, holding me back. "Don't."

I looked at him in disbelief. "What? Why?" I slid my gaze at the blonde girl then back at Colton. "Do you know her or something?"

"Yes." He nodded. "And she's been through a lot. She doesn't need your rant." Colton put one arm around my shoulder and led me to the door. "Come on. I'll tell you on the way, babe."

I held my ground for several seconds before finally let it go and followed him. All I could think about was Autumn and how she was probably feeling right now. If Tyler was Colton and I was in her place, I would break down and cried my heart out.

"I need to go to Autumn's place now," I informed Colton. Every time Colton and I had a fight, I always ran to my best friends for comfort. I was the only best friend who lived in the same city as her considering Norma was back in D.C. and Mey was all the way across the world in Taiwan. Plus the fact that we just had a fight made me even worse. I had to go to Autumn, I had to be there for her just like she has always been there for me.

Colton glanced at his watch. "Now? I have football practice in thirty minutes."

"It's okay. I can get there by myself." I just prayed that she'd be at home. I've sent her a text but she didn't reply. After what I've done, I wouldn't reply to myself either.

He looked at me in the eye. "Are you sure? Are you gonna be alright? No more crying?"

I laughed and nudged his arm playfully. "Yeah. No more crying." He gave me a hug and kissed my forehead. "Hopefully more hugs though," I added as we pulled away.

"I give you more hugs." He pulled me into another tight hug.