Five

"Bry, he's gay, you don't have to worry about it." Summer groans at me getting worked up over a guy who was clearly getting too close.

For all I know, this River guy could be faking it. He was straight as a needle just before he proclaimed to be full on gay this year. So pardon me for being wary about him for getting too close to my girlfriend.

"I just don't trust him, my mind is set on this, Summer. I don't want him around you." I raise my hands to her, she throws her head back in frustration. She was so oblivious to this guy, it irks me deep down.

"Do you not trust me?" She looks down at me now. I raise my eyebrows at her. Was she literally switching this around on me?

"I do, I just don't trust him." I keep my calm against her accusations, breathing slowly as I pull her closer. "I just love you so much, I'm not ready to give you up to some guy who claims he's gay that was just with a girl last month."

"I only want you. And even if he was trying to get me, which he isn't." She stops to make sure I heard her. I roll my eyes causing her to sigh but continue, "I love you. Only you even if you are difficult sometimes."

"Promise?" I look up from my seated position. She steps closer between my legs and bends over to get on the same level as me. My heart races faster every inch she gets closer.

"Promise." She whispers, brushing up against my lips before pressing them to mine. I loved her too much for my good, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

---

I slam my locker shut after grabbing my necessary things for class. This weekend was all over the place making me frustrated.

My mom had scolded me Saturday morning for showing up smelling of alcohol and weed. She told me that acting out wasn't going to solve anything. We got into an argument after that because I know she meant drinking wouldn't bring Summer back.

I had stormed off to my room, fed up with her. I knew that she wasn't coming back, and I didn't need to be reminded. She later apologized for implying that about Summer.

I didn't pay attention to her and was glad when she saw that I wanted to be alone. If only she knew that I drink to get rid of her, the residual her that haunts me when I least expect it.

I cut my last corner before my class, but I'm stopped abruptly when I see River chatting up Kylie away from everybody's view. I tread carefully to not have either one of them notice me spying.

"River, how many times do I have to tell you, I'm dating Ryland." Kylie stops her foot impatiently. Thank god it wasn't what I was thinking. He just smirks down at her.

"You know you want me." He reaches out to her but she slaps his hand away.

"Why did you tell everyone you were gay when you're fucking straight?" She asks, moving farther away, giving me a better view of her.

"So what? I had a sexuality crisis." He shrugs as if it isn't a big deal. "It let me get closer to the ladies." He smiles devilishly as if he had planned it from the start. It was a smart but very stupid thing to pull. Yes, it may let you closer to girls because they don't think you want them. But when everyone finds out, you're fucked.

"You're such a pig!" She exclaims at him, practicality spitting the words at him before making a hasty exit.

"I'll get you eventually." He smiles after her, she scoffs as she walks to her class.

I always knew there was something off about him. There's was a very small percentage he would actually be gay, and now I have proof he's a fake. I wonder if Ryland knew about River going after his girl.

The bell goes off signaling the start of class. I curse under my breath for getting distracted as I try not to be any later than I already was.

I momentarily lock eyes with River and I groan at the look he's giving me, I know that he knows that I overheard the conversation. When he starts toward me, I move again. I wanted to avoid him at all costs. He had a bad habit of going after girls who are clearly already committed to someone else.

I walk in my first period not caring about the look the teacher is giving me for being late. I take my spot in the back as the teacher picks up on the lesson today.

I simply place my head on my arms against the table. I didn't have the energy to learn this early in the morning. I never do.

After hearing the bell go off I raise my head. I guess I must've fallen asleep.

"Bryson, I would like to have a word." The teacher calls out to me as students file out. I internally groan, I did not want to stay behind at all.

I pull my bag over my shoulder as I walk up to her desk. I wait as patiently as I could for her to get to the point.

"You're not going to be able to graduate at this rate. You need to put some effort into your schoolwork if you actually want to walk with your class." She says turning to me. I stare blankly behind her. I knew that my grades weren't the best and figured something like this would happen. "I could arrange for you to get a tutor if need be." She starts but I stop her by holding my hand up.

"No, that's really not necessary." I sputter out quickly. "I best be going now." I say pointing out the students who are now arriving for second period. She nods at me, letting me go.

I try my hardest to not be late for my second class as well. My grades weren't the best I have to admit. In that particular class, I have an f but my others consist of d's and a couple of c's. I used to have immaculate grades, but I've lost all interest in keeping them all that way.

I guess I could try to bring them up for the sake of graduating with the rest of my class.

Lunch rolls around slowly and I'm thankful to finally be with the boys for an hour.

"How's your day going?" Reese asks after I sit down.

"The usual, teachers saying I need to get my grades up." I shrug.

"You should really work on that, there's less than a semester left." He nods, stating the obvious. Of course I realized that.

I stare at Kylie as she makes her way to the table after fifteen minutes into lunch. I had a feeling she met up with River again. She pulls out the chair beside Ryland as always and apologizes for her absence. She makes up some justification about her friend wanting to talk, and I eye her suspiciously. So Ryland didn't know about River going after her.

The rest of lunch goes by more quickly than I would have liked. I only hoped the rest of the day would follow suit.

♡