My biggest fear just came true. I’d screwed up everything. It felt like I’d swallowed a boulder. I leaned against the wall and slid to the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks. Why hadn’t I opened my eyes sooner? Why didn’t I realize how much Trey meant to me until it was too late?
I rubbed my eyes with the backs of my hands. My stomach churned. This isn’t how things are supposed to be. I’d lost Trey. Not just a potential boyfriend, but one of my best friends. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I should’ve—well, done things different. Too late for that now.
The halls emptied for lunch. But I sat there for long minutes before deciding to go to the office. When I got there, the secretary looked up.
“Delyla, can I help you?”
“Can I use the phone to call my mom? I’m not feeling so well.”
She nodded at the large, black archaic phone sitting on the counter. “Dial nine to get an outside line.”
When Mom picked up, it was all I could do not to break down crying. “Hey, Mom, I’m sick. Could you come and get me?”
“Are you okay?” she said.
“My-my stomach hurts.” And so does my head. But most of all, my heart.
“I’ll be right there.”
Once she signed me out at school, we headed home. We didn’t talk on the car ride, but Mom kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye. When we got to the house, I went right to my room and flopped down on my bed. My shoulders shook as I sobbed.
I never should’ve opened my mouth. Trey would probably never talk to me again. Not only that, but I’d hurt Portia’s feelings too. Things were so screwed up. I squished my teddy bear against my chest and buried my face in its fur.
Mom knocked on my door and I wiped my eyes on my stuffed animal. “I brought you some tea.”
She sat down on the edge of my bed, handing me the cup of steaming liquid. I took it from her and she brushed strands of hair from my face. “Do you want to talk?”
I took a sip of tea then set the cup on my nightstand. “Boys are stupid.”
“Yeah, they can be.” She chuckled. “I’ve got years of knowledge in this department.”
“Are you calling Dad stupid?”
“Sometimes.” She smirked. “But mostly, the guys who came before him.”
“I hurt so bad,” I whispered.
Mom lifted my comforter and climbed into bed next to me. She tugged me into her arms, then rubbed my hair. “I know.”
I curled up against her and told her about Rex and Trey and Portia. And I even broke my promise and talked about the Romeo Club. “Now, Trey will probably hate me forever.”
“Oh, honey.” She kissed my head. “He’ll come around. This is a big shock for him. But he’s a nice boy. And if he decides not to be your friend, then he’s not the person you thought he was. You’re so beautiful and talented. Someday the right boy will come along. Maybe it’ll be Trey, maybe it won’t. But don’t be in such a hurry to settle down or grow up. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. You’ve got soccer and school, not to mention after next year, you’ll be picking a college.”
“But it’s hard.”
“Yes, it is. But you’re strong. And you’ve got great friends. You’ll get through this. I promise.”
I hiccupped, and laid my head on her shoulder. The familiar scent of her perfume wrapped around me like a warm hug. It comforted me. Maybe she was right. But right, now, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
***
Sometime later, I woke up to the sound of my cell buzzing on the back of my headboard. I must’ve dozed off. My eyes were crusty from crying earlier. My throat raw. With a sigh, I scooted up and grabbed my phone.
“Hello?”
“Del? What’s going on? I went to find you after lunch, but you weren’t there,” Kenadi said.
My eyes welled again. “Trey doesn’t like me back.”
“I’m so sorry. Listen, I’ll be right there.”
“What about soccer practice?”
“Screw it. My girl needs me,” Ken said. “Be there soon.”
Fifteen minutes later Kenadi showed up armed with ice cream, chick flicks, and her overnight bag.
“Hi,” I said.
She set her stuff down and hugged me. “This totally sucks.”
“S’okay.”
She released me, grabbed the half gallon of double chocolate fudge ice cream from my desk, along with two spoons. She popped the top open and handed me one of the utensils.
“So, what happened?”
I shoved a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. Holy cold. I waved my hands around my face as brain freeze set in. Once I swallowed the chocolate dessert, I went on to tell her what transpired in the alcove. Every. Last. Embarrassing. Moment.
“I feel so stupid,” I said.
“Don’t. It’s his fault. If he would’ve come clean years ago, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
I laughed. “Nice. Way to redirect the blame.”
“You know, we could TP his house or something. Oh, I got it. We can feed his underwear to Jimbo.”
“How in the world would we get his underwear?”
“Well, it’d have to be a covert operation. We’d have to go in all stealth like. Or you could just wait for him to leave and tell his mom you left your Trig book in his room.”
“You’re awesome, you know that?” I nudged her shoulder.
“Yeah. But seriously, give it some time. He’ll come around.”
My teeth scraped against my spoon as I stared at the soccer calendar on my wall. “Oh. My. God. You realize I won’t have a date for prom? An-and C.C., Kevin, Drake, and Trey do? It’s like I’m in some horrible alternate reality.”
My life was over.
“I told you, we can hook you up with Deandre.” Ken wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“He’s too young for me.”
“Or you can go stag. You don’t need a guy to go to prom.”
But I wanted one. Day one of life suckage underway.
Chapter 29
My car glided into the student lot, and I found a spot a few rows from the entrance. Mom had given me gas money this morning, so I actually got to drive. Although, I think it’s just because she felt bad for me. But hey, I’d take it. I took a deep breath. Yesterday’s behind you now, just go in and act like nothing ever happened. With a sigh, I grabbed my backpack and headed inside. The main lobby was already filled with students. My gaze darted to the trophy cases then to the hallway in front of me.
“There she is. I can’t believe she has the courage to show her face,” some girl said.
“At least we know why she’s so popular with the guys.” Another chick giggled.
What the hell’s going on?
Patrick Clayburn smirked as he fell in beside me. “So, Delyla, what will you do for me if I give you money?”
My eyes narrowed. “Get lost, Patrick.”
He chuckled as he rejoined his buddies.
Geez, why’s everyone staring at me? Self-conscious, I hurried to my locker. When I got there my mouth dropped open. My fingers trembled as I took a poster with my face on it off the door. Pay me—I’ll make your dreams come true. Join the Romeo Club now, it read.
Oh, God. Who told everyone?
I looked down the hall and saw the same posters on C.C.’s, Kevin’s, and Trey’s lockers.
“So that’s how you landed Liza,” Martin Stevens said to C.C.
The guys glanced at me, eyes wide. I shook my head no. At that moment, Trey came down the hall. When he got to his locker, he ripped the poster from it and tossed it on the floor. But, he wouldn’t look at me.
From behind me, I heard more giggles then Jasmine, Portia’s BFF said, “I can’t believe her. No wonder she and Rex broke up. I mean, would you want to touch her after they did?”