I sigh nervously, passing my hand over my head and giving my cigarette another drink. Jace and Amanda were right. If I didn't open up to Brooke, I couldn't stop her from living her life.
- I love her! - I say facing the void. - I'm in love with my best friend and I don't know how to act on it. Satisfied?
Jace and Amanda smile. He slaps me on the shoulder and congratulates me on finally admitting it out loud.
- That wasn't so hard, was it? - says Amanda. - Now you have to go to that little blonde and say what you just admitted to us.
- What if she doesn't feel the same way?
- Patience! - she sighs. - I'm sure you won't die because of it!
I turn my eyes and face Brooke without her noticing. I would have put an end to that clowning at that moment, so I stand up ignoring Jace's protests. I would kill anyone who played Brooke again and I needed to make that very clear to Ashton.
- I'm gonna kill him, Parker! - I grumble when Jace holds me back.
- You're not gonna kill anybody! - he says. - You're gonna sit here and calm down. That's what you're gonna do.
I sit on the lawn again and snitch like a pyrrhic child, folding my arms. Taking a deep breath, I count to ten, doubting whether this would have any effect. After so much thinking and breathing, I'm getting up off the lawn. This time Jace can't stop me and I'm heading towards the banks.
- Brooke? - I shout her name as soon as I get close. - Can I talk to you?
Brooke was already standing to get out. Her smile disappears as soon as she faces me. Brooke wore jeans shorts, a thin silk t-shirt with a light neckline, black ¾ socks and a high square heel. She was sexy and it made me swallow dry. She looks at me from top to bottom, showing all her contempt. Throwing his backpack in, and without saying a word to me, Brooke says goodbye to Ash. She walks out in the opposite direction to mine. With a shout, I follow her and, reaching for Brooke, I hold her arm tightly making her turn to face me.
- What do you think you're doing? - he asked. - Are you thinking that acting that way will get my attention?
- First of all, I don't know what you're talking about. - she says by gently pulling her arm so I can let her go. - Second, if you touch me again, I'll break your face.
The threat makes me laugh.
- I'd love to see her try! - she snorts without patience and tries to punch me, but I'm holding her fist. - Try one more time, only with more determination.
I whisper in Brooke's ear. I feel her skin creep and she holds her breath. With a tug, she releases her hand from mine.
- What do you want?
- I want to talk about that night after the show!
- I have nothing to talk to you about! - she says harshly. - Everything's been cleared up.
- Is that so? Why are you going out with Parker, then?
Brooke gives me a frown that freezes my spine.
- My life is none of your business, Ryder!
She walks back towards where her car is parked. I follow her with my hands in my pockets as I evaluate that tucked-up ass through that tiny skirt.
- I don't think that way! - I answer with sarcasm. - I think it's become my business from the moment we exchanged confidences and fucked in my apartment.
Getting red, Brooke, stop. Turning to face me, she jumps towards me and covers my mouth.
- Talk down, you asshole! - ...she's ragged. - I don't want anyone to know that I was part of your retinue of whores.
- First of all, you're not a prostitute and you should never compare yourself to those girls. - I say it in a harsh tone, as if I'd reprimand her. - Second, I'm very concerned about the way you've been acting. Yesterday I saw you with Chase and that's not right. I know you're acting like this to make me angry...
Brooke lets out a laugh that makes me look at her scared. She faces me with a coldness that makes me feel shivery.
- You really think the world revolves around you, don't you? Only he doesn't spin! - she says in an ironic way, while putting her hands on her waist in a challenging way. - As for that night, that was a mistake. You yourself said and asked me to forget, so I suggest you do the same and leave me alone.
- Brooke, I...
- If you say the pronoun "I" again, I swear I'll throw up on your beautiful shoes. - she threatens between her teeth. - Your ego is so big, that for the first time, a girl you've fucked is not trying to hang yourself around your neck and it bothers you.
I keep looking at her while Brooke walks to her Mercedes. My words, now coming out of her mouth, made me see what a tremendous idiot I was and how Brooke was hurt, just like Jace had said. Making a face, she touches her nose, maybe because she felt a hook. She was still recovering from the surgery and, although there was no longer a
