Forever (Friends #3)(69)

"What my parents do is none of my business. Or yours," I say once Lauren is gone. I take a step closer to Amanda, grabbing hold of her arm so she can't escape. "Their marriage has been in trouble for a long time, Amanda. I can't stop them from doing anything to hurt each other."

"You could tell your dad to leave Candace alone, but you won't, will you? Because you don't care. You'd rather focus on yourself and screw everyone else." She jerks out of my hold, her eyes blazing with anger. "Lauren's right. You haven't changed at all."

"You're right. Is that what you want to hear? That I haven't changed? That I'll never change, despite us being together?" I glare at her, frustration bubbling up and bursting out of me like an erupting volcano. "You can't turn me into a different person, no matter how hard you try. Lauren's right. I'm not nice, just because you are. And that's something you're going to have to deal with if you want to be with me."

Her lower lip trembles like she's going to cry and I immediately wish I could take back everything I said. 

"I don't want to change you," she whispers, wrapping her arms around her middle. "I just hoped … " Her voice drifts and she shakes her head before she slowly turns away.

"Amanda. Wait-" I start, but my words are meaningless.

She's gone before I can say another word.

And like the asshole I said I am, I don't chase after her either.





It's been three weeks. Yes, you heard that right, it's been three long, painful, miserable weeks since I talked to Jordan Tuttle, and I feel like I'm slowly dying with every single day that passes.

Dramatic, right? Yes, I am in full blown dramatic mode right now and it freaking sucks. No one wants to be around me, and I can't blame them. Thank goodness the football season is over so I won't have to be around the team and see Jordan on a daily basis.

Stupid Jordan Tuttle and his big mouth and sullen attitude. He's not been in school much. Too busy being courted by the various universities who want him to go to their school in the fall. His options are endless. He's a freaking local star, and someday he'll probably become a national star too.

Me? I'm doing my best. Going through the motions. At night, after I finish my homework, I work on my college applications. I can only apply to five because that's the limit Mom and Dad will pay for application fees. My SAT scores are strong. My extracurricular activities are a plus and my grades are excellent. I can probably get into plenty of good colleges, but can I get a scholarship too? There's not enough money to take care of my education without me having to contribute heavily.

I don't know how I'm going to do that.

The hours at Yo Town are pitiful, so the weekend after the big game, I go on a job search and find one at a small gift shop in the mall. It's not the best job-the hours are going to suck since I'm working mostly the closing shift and the mall doesn't close until nine most nights. But I can't complain. It's money. My parents were able to get George's car fixed and they gave it back to me, so I'm able to drive to and from my job.

They see me trying, which is a hell of a lot more than what they're getting from George, who's barely passing his online courses, so right now, I'm winning in the Winters household.

Plus, Mom knows I'm hurting. She doesn't ever say anything mean or awful. Doesn't tell me Jordan Tuttle doesn't deserve me or that I'm better off without him. For those first couple of nights right after we argued over those crappy things he said to me and to stupid Lauren Mancini at his party, Mom came into my room, sat on the bed with me and held me without a word while I cried into her shoulder. It was just the comfort I needed.

In gossipy news, Cannon and Em are going strong. They're an official couple. They walk all over campus with their arms looped around each other, and they look kind of funny. Big ol' Cannon and tiny Em. But they're so happy when they're together. You can see the happiness radiate from them both. It's downright magical.

Yes, I'm still a romantic. Jordan didn't totally kill my vibe.

Ryan and Livvy broke up. Yes, they broke up. Can you believe it? It was for the best, though. Those two were fighting almost every day, and during one of their infamous quad arguments, when she threw out the words, "Maybe we should just break up then and get it over with," Ryan finally agreed.

I think his answer shocked her, but they ended it then and there with little protest.

And trust me, they didn't mourn the relationship for long. Ryan found someone new-a pretty girl on the drill team who's a former gymnast and has really long legs. Supposedly Ryan has found a new appreciation for girls who can do the splits and backbends.




 

 

Gross, right?

Livvy and Dustin aren't together, but they're not with anyone else either. They've fallen back into that "just friends" mode they were in before, the one that got them into so much trouble in the first place. But I think one of them is going to make a move soon, and make their relationship official.