Ashley's pov
Her brows raise as her friend goes silent beside her. Then a nasty smile makes its way to her lips, the sight unsettling. "Well then now you know how embarrassing you are to the boys." She said waving her hands off then later picking at her long nails.I look for a way out, a parting way out that is. I was never one to confront someone, that just wasn't me. I never had the guts to. I cross my arms and straighten my stance, trying to seem confident even though I was lacking it.
"The only one who should be embarrassed right now is you. Aren't you the girl who basically threw herself on to Blake last year and tried getting with Ryan a week later? Oh and failed at both?" I jabbed.
What the hell was wrong with me? Since when did I become a bitch? I cringed when the word popped in my head. I hated cursing.
She gasps her face reddening with a faint blush. Shame was written on her face. "How do you know about that?" She stumbles over her words.
Now it was my turn to pick at my chipped nails. I took pleasure knowing that my comeback wasn't so bad after all. But maybe that was just the anger of seeing Blake kiss Stacy.
"We're best friends, remember? They tell me everything." I smirked smugly then strutted up to her. "I know every embarrassing thing you did to gain their attention Lucy, don't make me remind you ."
With one final glance at the two girls I walked out of the bathroom with my head held high. But I didn't feel confident, in fact I felt the opposite. This wasn't the first time this happened to me. It was like a continuous routine.
It felt like my feet weighed a ton as I move toward them, the boys who unknowingly made every girl despise me. I settle down on the chair. Ryan lifts his head from the phone and stares, his brows furrowing in confusion. "What's wrong?"
Hearing Ryan's words has Blake removing his attention from his very annoyed girlfriend. His blue eyes study my face. I remove my eyes away from him, afraid that he'll see what I've been hiding for years.
I turn to Ryan. "Nothing's wrong." I mumble, feeling nervous being the center of attention. I turn to face the table, noticing they already ordered. I reach for my fries and push it in my mouth.
"You look like you were crying little Ash, what's wrong?" Ryan questions again, this time seeming to be impatient. I swallowed roughly, not wanting to answer the question. I couldn't exactly say that I was crying because Blake was kissing Stacy. So I settled for a lie, a stupid one at that.
"It's nothing to be worried about. Some girl was taking a dump in the bathroom, the smell kinda made my eyes water, that's all." I rush out, still not lifting my head to gauge their reaction.'
The smell of poop made your eyes water? Really Ashley, that's the best you could come up with?
It's silent for a few seconds before Ryan burst out into loud laughter. The sound had everyone currently inside the restaurant stop what they're doing to see what had made him laugh so. I squirmed feeling their scrutinizing eyes on me.
"You." Ryan gasps out, tears rolling out from the corner of his eyes. "You- cried because someone shit smelled bad?" Ryan laughed. His voice was loud enough to make everyone hear.
An embarrassed blush crawls up my face and settles on my cheeks. I really should've left my hair down today. "Ryan shut up." I hissed reaching for the banana and chocolate milkshake. I gulped some and almost choked when he said those next words.
"Was it her shit that smelled so bad in there?" He questions, pointing at Lucy who was just getting out of the bathroom followed by her blonde friend. They both froze hearing Ryan's loud question. It was like he was doing it on purpose.
Does he want them to kill me the next time I'm alone with them? I was thankful for my snarky mouth this once. Who's to say I wouldn't get slapped in the face the next time?
I turned to Blake feeling utterly mortified and pleaded with him using my eyes to tell Ryan to stop. He draws in his bottom lip between his teeth, biting it to suppress his laughter. He reluctantly nods when he sees my discomfort from the attention.
"Ryan man, leave it be. You're embarrassing Ley." He chuckles. Stacy stiffen upon hearing the nickname he had given me. I wouldn't admit it out loud but I secretly loved it, though I act annoyed when he called me it.
"Why do you call her Ley?" She asks Blake, her darkened angry eyes burning a hole through my head. I shifted on the chair uncomfortably and sipped more of the milkshake.
Blake laughs pulling her closer. A jolt of jealousy has me removing my eyes away from the two. "Don't be jealous Stacy, it's just a nickname and I've told you that many times."
I could hear her protest but zoned her out. I didn't need to hear her annoying voice more than I should. Blake had been with her for a few months now. After he supposedly stopped sleeping around with countless girls. Some people thought referred to her as his miracle. I admit, it hurt to see that she was the one to stop his player ways.
She'd been the new girl and every guy wanted her except for Ryan. And to this day I still didn't have a clue as to why he resented her. Stacy had instantly caught Blake's attention the moment she walked in those halls of Western High. And she hated me the moment she set her eyes on my 5’2 self.
"So we're going to the party tonight." Ryan states.
I raise a brow drinking the last bit of my milkshake. "Tomorrow is a school day Ryan." I stated. I clearly didn't get why teenagers enjoy getting drunk, it's not a pleasing sight to see.
He rolls his eyes in exaggeration. "Oh come on Ashley, live a little."
"My dad wouldn't allow it." I shrugged . I actually loved that dad wouldn't allow me to, it's a good excuse. I could enjoy my time reading.
"Sneak out." He suggested.
I laugh, one empty of humor. " Yeah no."
"But we need a designated driver." He pouts.
"My hand hurts, I can't drive." I say dryly and push another fry in my mouth.
"Who cares if she comes, the girl enjoys her boring life. She can't handle a party." Stacy declared. I look at her, not liking the way her eyes were mocking. My fist clench on my thigh, hidden by the table. Anger course through my body wanting to show her that I could definitely handle a party. I can, couldn't I?
"You know what, I'm coming." I snap, fixing my glasses. Was this considered peer pressure?
Bailey's pov~ Nine months later ~ I stood in front of the mirror, my gentle fingers brushing over my huge bump. I could barely see my toes now. I giggle as I felt a firm kick. " You're playing football in there little Sam?" I joked, rubbing where I could still feel his little foot stretching my skin. I turned a little sideways, the gleam of my wedding ring on my finger catching my eyes as a ray of sun strikes over the stunning diamond. My heart melts, remembering how Sam fit it on my finger when he stared at me deeply while he said I do with his whole heart. I sighed and flushed when I recall our wedding night. Let's just say if I wasn't already pregnant then, I'd surely gotten pregnant that night. We officially tied the knot two months after we got engaged. Sam wanted to speed it up and have it the exact same month, but I didn't want to rush it too much — even though we both clearly didn't want to wait any longer. Our wedding had been small and intimate, only our family and clos
Bailey's pov~* five years later *" And do you know what he got me yesterday?" Mira huffed, her face flush as she glares at me through the screen." Hmm let me guess, a dildo?" Kristina joked. We were in a three way facetime call. Mira was yapping for the last minute about Ryan who apparently left his socks in the kitchen yesterday.Mira rolled her eyes. " No Kristina, worse. He got me cheetos. Fucking cheetos! I hate cheetos!"Both Kristina and I giggled. " I think that's romantic for an apology gift," Kristy jokes. Five years has gone by yet we all were the same. Mira with her dramatics, Kristy with her sarcasm and well me being the grounded one I suppose. The one who is the emotional glue." Romantic my left asscheek," Mira snorted. " This man loves getting on my nerves."" But you love him so much," I pointed out, making her roll her eyes, yet I see that ghost of a smile on her face." Enough about me and Ryan, I think I have distracted you quite enough now. So......what does it
Bailey's pov~ Graduation Day ~The morning sun filters through the windows, casting directly over my frame where I sat on the edge of my bed. My fingers twiddle with the hem of the graduation gown. It's navy blue and neatly pressed by mom. I stare at my reflection in the mirror and try to smile. But I only manage to carve out a little one that didn't quite reach my eyes. My lips line into a frown. I dreamed of this day and I know I should be happy to even see it....however, a lingering feeling of pity weighed on my chest. Juliet would never see this day and Stefan would also not be here today. Two individuals I should hate to the core, although I can't seem to find any resentment toward them but instead, pity. One was dead and gone and the other was rotting in jail for the next twenty-five years. Both not going to walk across the stage today and accept their diploma. Yet I would. A little part of me felt guilty, because perhaps things would've turned out differently if I paid e
Bailey's povShe offers a small smile and gives me a gentle understanding nod. " We will tell them to call him too, I promise." Her hand gently presses against my back to help me into the ambulance and I fix myself to sit on the edge of the stretcher. Another of her colleagues come over to wrap a thin blanket around my shoulders and I cuddle into the material as I sort for any bit of warmth. The night was cold, the heart of Juliet's just as cold. I swallowed and looked down, my body shaking as I replay the events of the night over and over in my head. The chaos around me seem to blue into nothing but silence. It feels like I was in the eye of a hurricane.....the calm, trapped in my mind. I know I should be grateful to be alive. Grateful to feel my legs, to feel every breath enter my lungs. I should be grateful. I should. And I am. However, it is strange to feel such emotion when I have just stared death in the eyes not too long ago. When I've just watched someone die with their
Bailey's povThe gunshot echoed through the entire room like the roar of thunder. For a moment everything stood still as I watch her body jerk back violently from the impact of the bullet hitting her on the shoulder. Her hold on the gun loosens until it hit the floor with a clatter, right beside Stefan's unmoving body. Juliet stumbles back and she whips towards me, her knees buckling as she kneel to the floor. " You," she choked in shock, her eyes wide and wild with disbelief. Then she does something incredibly stupid, she reaches for the gun again despite her shoulder staining with crimson. " Juliet don't-I tried to warn her but her fingers wrap around the gun and she aims for me with trembling fingers latching onto the weapon. " Hands where I can see them!" " Drop the weapon!" The officers yelled. " You!" She snarls just as she pulls the trigger. Another bang clears through the air, this time louder than the first. I clench my eyes tightly shut, my heart stopping as I waited
Bailey's povJuliet's face twisted into many emotions all at once. Confusion. Then disbelief. And then.....rage. Pure raw rage that turned her face ugly. The hand that held the gun tremble, however she remove the aim towards me and aimed it at Stefan who still held the phone up. " You backstabbing asshole! You-" It wouldn't matter if you kill me now Juliet, they're on their way and you won't get away with this." Stefan cuts in her words just before a loud bang shot through the air followed by his painful groan. A scream tore through my throat when I watch the phone fall from his grasp and clatter to the floor, screen still lit up with the 911 dispatcher on the line. Blood smeared across it while his body slumps to the floor unconscious and unmoving. My entire body became numb. It felt like I couldn't breathe as I stare at Stefan's unmoving body. Beneath him is a pool of his own blood. A lump forms in my throat and vomit crawls up threateningly. Juliet rushes over to him and t
Bailey's povMy throat hurt, tears roll down my cheeks as I stare in complete terror as Stefan, who moments ago had gripped my chin so harshly was now to his knees clutching his stomach. I could see his back tense as his head tilt down clearly because he was eyeing his wound. A gurgle sound pushes out of his throat followed by a harsh cough that seem to shake his entire body. My heart thuds loudly, prickles of goosebumps dot across my skin as fear stilled me in my place. A few feet away from us is Juliet who still kept the gun aimed at Stefan. " This is all your fault by the way, Bailey," she harsh out, her angry eyes striking me across the slight distance between us. Satisfaction. That's the gleam that pierced into me as her gaze remain on mine." See what you made me do?" She tilt her head mockingly, eyes glazing with contempt. She was blaming me being the reason she shot Stefan.......she had officially gone insane. Stefan groans, coughing and this time something came out of his
Bailey's povThe smirk on her face grew until the girl who was one of the most gorgeous girls in our school transformed into one of the ugliest. It's crazy how one's heart can change their features so drastically.Stefan chuckle makes me turn to face him. "You're going to be my little plaything sweetheart. You're going to be mine like you were always meant to be."His words caused a disgusting tickling sensation down my spine. Bile so horrid crawls up my throat as I stare at the guy I once considered a friend. Someone I once trusted with my life now looks at me so coldly. I mourn the feeling of safety I once felt with him and look away, my heart shattering even more. He clicks his tongue, moving closer until his fingers pinch my chin harshly. I wince, forced to look back at him. " Don't look away sweetheart," he mocks, eyes glinting with a shade of something.....feral. His breath warm against my cheek, the harsh puffs intensifying against my skin. "You can't force someone to be you
Bailey's povThe emotions I tried to keep at bay came crashing down. Juliet leans closer, her breath hot against my face as she lets out a louder cackle. " Our little naive Bailey, always so gullible to believe anyone would fall for you." Her words hit me right across the heart even though I wish they hadn't. Protecting myself now felt impossible. They had the upper hand, and it was stupid for me to think that they didn't. Her eyes glint, cold and calculative, flashing like the conniving fox she is. " You have a face only a mother could love," her snort was loud and the laughter that followed was even more deafening. My stomach churns, and helplessness weighs heavily in my body. If I was being completely honest with myself, it were not her words that was getting to me, it was the fact that I felt like they were the words of Kaleb. It was true, he was not in the room with us, it was her voice. It was her. Yet. Somehow my mind clung to believing that was what he wanted to tell me. T