Page 28 of Casualties

Ok I will pick you up in front of the library…it’s close to your classroom.

Me

Sounds good, night!

Jackson

Night, Toots!

I set my phone down and continue to watch the movie with a huge smile on my face.He's sweet and he likes me.Jackson doesn’t come with drama or baggage from our past.The friendship we are building is simple and honest.While Ace’s text message did not put out the fire, Jackson’s text soothes the burn.

“I know that look, and I know for damned sure Ace was not the reason for it.Did Jackson text you?”Cass nudges my arm with her shoulder, raising one eyebrow curiously.

“He did, and he wants to get together tomorrow after my last class.”I feel my cheeks redden.I can’t seem to unscrew the smile plastered across my face.

“Eeek!I’m so here for you putting yourself out there.”She's genuinely happy for me, mirroring my same gleeful smile.Cassie is my biggest supporter, and always wants what's best for me.

Shifting our focus back to our favorite movie, we recite all the lines.We know almost every word, and that is the reason no one wants to ever watch a movie with us.

I can do this.I can continue my plan to have an amazing first year of college, and forget Ace exists.My phone vibrates again.

Ace

Cool.Ignore me…

Before I forget…I’m sure Morgan didn’t tell you, but our parents are forcing us to go to the charity gala they attend every year.They can’t make it and need us in their place.Morgan, Cassie, me, and you.Car will pick us up Friday night.It’s black tie.See you then, princess.

No!Not the annual charity gala!What the fuck?I don’t want to go to a stuffy black tie event, and I especially don’t want to go with him.

Oh no!Wasn’t Tetherball Tara talking about a charity she and Jackson had to go to?Shit!

If I'm right, this is going to be bad.I’m exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions that I’ve gone through tonight.I yawn loudly, covering my mouth with my hand.It must be true that yawning is contagious, because Cass lets out a loud yawn as well.

“On that note, I think it’s time for bed.I’m wiped.”Sitting up from our slouched positions, we stretch our arms.

“I agree.Come on, let's brush our teeth and go to sleep.”I nod at her in agreement.

In bed, I snuggle under my fluffy down comforter, letting the exhaustion take over, and fall asleep.

ELEVEN

ACE

I knew tonight was going to be difficult, but I didn’t think it would turn into DEFCON 1.She was so pissed at me, and I don’t blame her.Whether she's acting like it or not, I shouldn’t have called her out for her bitchy attitude.She’s the one who said what happened between us was a mistake.How was I supposed to know she would get angry if I said it, too?

It just got worse from there.Her saying she's never thought of me in that way pissed me off.Here I am telling her it won't happen again, then at the same time getting angry she doesn’t have feelings for me.That would confuse anyone.

I run both hands through my hair to the back of my head in frustration.Leaning over to my nightstand, I grab my phone and text her, deciding to be the bigger person.I seem to be the only one wanting to fix this with us, so I doubt she'll be texting me any time soon.I pause after I get our text thread up.I have no clue what the hell I'm going to say to her.Choosing to keep it simple, I start typing.

She has to respond, I'm apologizing.It’s a dick move if she doesn’t reply.Ten minutes later, and she still hasn't texted back.Doesn’t take much to fire me up when it comes to her, because I'm pissed all over again.Fuck!I try to take a few calming breaths, to not explode on her all over again.

I keep this text simple, and inform her we're required to attend the gala this weekend in our parents’ absence.I know she won’t want to go.Not only are these events boring, but she won’t want to go because of me.I end the text calling her princess to piss her off more.I can’t help it; she's so fucking infuriating.

I know I won’t be sleeping tonight; the image of her standing in my bedroom wearing my t-shirt and nothing else is haunting me into insomnia.The way it hung mid-thigh with her toned, tanned legs on full display, while her dark hair flowed down her back in loose curls smelling of vanilla, has me in a chokehold.She must have washed her face when she got to my room; it was clean from the makeup she had on the night before, showing off her natural beauty.Don’t get me wrong, she looked so fucking hot that night—the edgy rock goddess of my dreams.And while that's hot as fuck, Ainsley is her most gorgeous self the way she was that morning.

Attention and popularity never interested her.She never hung all over me like the other girls in school did.I liked that, but at the same time, I wish she showed me she was feeling even a little of what I felt for her then.

She said it herself...She has never felt that way toward me.

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