Chapter 11
Brooke
Pain...
An immense pain invades my heart when I wake up the next morning. At some point in my stupid journey, I fell in love with Ryder and only realized it the night before. Out of sheer stupidity or illusion, I thought he felt something too, but I was wrong. It was just a thing of the moment.
- How could I have been so stupid? - I whisper with tears in my eyes.
The way Ryder kissed me the first time at the club, had left me confused, but yesterday he had made me melt in his arms. When he held me in his arms and made love to me, I surrendered to him no matter what. I didn't think he'd treat me like the girls he was used to having sex with and then discarding. Unfortunately I was treated like nothing and that anguish consumed me every minute.
I'd been crying all night, so I barely slept. I wanted to stay in bed, because I did not have the strength to go out and face the world outside, but there was a thesis to finish. Some idiot wouldn't make me give up on my dreams. No, at this point in the championship. I intended to do as Ryder had asked and be just friends, but this time it would be very different. There wouldn't be so much intimacy with him anymore. I sigh when I get up to take a bath. It was Friday and I end up remembering the meeting with Parker tonight at Six. Jane had disappeared again and I did not know what fraternity she was in this time.
I arrive early in the classroom and there were already some people inside who don't look at me or notice my presence. I didn't know if it was a big relief or not, but for now, I felt comfortable with people ignoring me. I hold my breath when Ryder walks into the room with his arm around a brunette. He sits away from me without looking in my direction. I didn't know if I'd been ignored, but that hurt.
Grabbing my ipod, I put the headphones in my ear and call a random song and try to ignore Ryder. A few minutes of distraction later, Ash sits beside me, making me take a fright with her presence. Still, I smile taking off my headphones and start talking to him. He tells such a funny story that it makes me forget why I'm sad and I start laughing compulsively. A chair squeak echoes through the room, followed by a grumbling. I hear heavy footsteps walking up the auditorium and see Ryder withdrawing from the room, leaving everyone perplexed, including Mr. Keller. At the end of the class, I confirm the meeting with Ash and he leaves the room all excited. I'm walking down the hall with a slightly more animated face, heading towards my closet to pick up my backpack. I was just finishing locking up when I came across Jace's bright and welcoming smile. He was very nice and charismatic and intelligent.
- Hello, gorgeous! - he said taking my hand and kissing.
- Hey, stranger! - I say smiling.
- How are you? - Jace asks in a worried tone.
Ryder had already told him about it and Jace came to know how I was doing.
- I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. - I answer with a sigh. - Feeling like crap, but I'm fine.
- I know it! Ryder's worried about you.
Jace leaned back in the closet pulling a cigarette.
- Yeah! I saw how worried he was when he walked into the room with a girl on his lap. - I answer with sarcasm. - Ryder's not worried about me, he's worried about your thesis. You can tell him I'll finish the job on time, like we agreed.
- Brooke, Ryder knows you made a mistake letting her drink so much last night. - Jace says sighing. - He knows how bad a hangover can be.
- What's that? What's that? - I ask you confused. - What are you talking about?
- Hey! From your drunkenness! - he says by frowning. - Ryder told me that you danced and drank all night, but he woke up late and didn't have time to call to see how he was doing.
I let out a laugh, but not because I think it's funny, but because I'm nervous about it.
- Ryder said that?
- Yeah. Isn't that what happened?
- No, Jace! Unfortunately, your friend is a liar, but you should know by now. - I say in a cold voice. - We had sex.
- Seriously! - he says cheerfully. - I knew there was so much more than just friendship between you two.
- I thought so too, but I was thrown out of the apartment five minutes after it was over.
- Ryder did what?
- Don't worry! I should have known it would be this way. - I say in a hurting voice. - That's just his face, and I shouldn't expect too much. I was just too dumb or naive, but that's not his fault.
Turning around, I start walking down the hall. Jace comes after me and stops me.
- Wait! That's not possible! - he says holding my arm. - Ryder wouldn't have done that to you. He knows you're different than the others.
- I thought so too, but don't worry
