Where Do We Go From Here?

Sipping down the last of my coffee I pulled into the scarcely packed student parking lot after dropping Callie off at her photo shoot. I offered to wait for her since her mom was using her car, but she waved me off saying that she’ll catch a cab back to campus. I jumped out of my small Audi that my father got for me on my sixteenth birthday and slung my bulky backpack over my shoulders. I groaned in slight frustration since I hadn’t done any studying for my calculus test this morning. The guilt from not doing this last night was weighing down on my shoulders—to be exact though, the weight specifically came from my Calculus text book.

Bulleting straight towards the library, I discarded my empty cup into the trash bin located directly outside of the building. I walked into the back of the library where there were desks lined up alongside the back wall and a collection of bookshelves managed to block out the surroundings, making you feel utterly secluded. I would usually come here whenever Callie was absent from school.

I opened my textbook with an aggravated sigh and flipped through my notebook in hopes that maybe by glancing at it just briefly it would somehow become embedded into my memory. However, studying was never like that for me. Glancing at the time, I noted that I had 45 minutes until the warning bell would ring. I placed my earphones in my ear and turned on the musical styling’s of Radiohead. I stared at my notes with a growing headache.

f”(x)=2

f’(0)=2(0)+C

3=C

It was bothering me that just yesterday we were going over these conditions but somehow, during the detour which was Austin’s party, I somehow forgot how to do my work. I groaned again.

“Hungover?” A voice asked from behind me.

Turning my head slightly, I found Tara Lindsey standing behind me. She was Clairemont’s Barbie doll—a social butterfly who thrived on gossip and frivolous hookups. Most of the time she was the one involved with such things, but it’s only what I’ve heard through the grape vine of the girl’s bathroom.

“No, just studying.” I replied stoically.

Tara tossed back her perfectly curled burgundy colored hair before proceeding with the conversation; which I really didn’t have time for. “It’s Verity, right?” She asked.

I nearly rolled my eyes in frustration. “Yes.” I answered deadpanned.

Tara’s eyes lit up as if she had hit the jackpot. “So you were the girl that hooked up with Tony last night?” She asked incredulously.

“What?” I countered harshly.

“People were talking last night, saying that you and Tony hooked up in the pool. Totally not what I would’ve done, but kudos babe.” Tara answered with a knowing expression on her face. “Honestly though, I never thought you were his type.”

My expression twisted into a scowl that formed into a look of disgust. “What?!” I repeated, but this time my voice escalated.

“Yeah, it’s hot gossip.” Her voice popped the ‘p’ while smiling brightly. “Apparently Mike or maybe Derek heard from Tony that you guys did the nasty.”

I was upset and partially in the mood to hit something, and right now Tara Lindsey’s face was becoming a tempting target. The news spread through my brain like fire set to a dry field during a typical California summer.

I rolled my eyes before saying “Excuse me.” I got up and threw my things in my bag before bolting out of the one place I thought I wouldn’t be bothered in.

My options for escape were small and the only place I could think of at the moment was the tree in the back of campus. Passing by gawking stares, I walked with quick steps to avoid overhearing the whispers that followed close behind me. I was upset but not broken; it’s just that I didn’t like lies or liars, and right now Tony Perry was the only person I wanted to tell off.

We didn’t hookup! We didn’t even kiss! Hell, our conversation last night wasn’t even flirtatious to say the least. We barely spoke and sat at least six inches apart from one another!

I plopped myself in the grass by the tree and just let my anger simmer. I was contemplating ways to tell off Tony for even spreading those rumors. I didn’t know what to do with myself and the thought of studying was merely just that: a thought. I couldn’t even bring myself to actually do it because I was utterly mad at Tony. Scenarios where I’d slap him harshly across his cheek flashed through my mind as if it were on repeat.

The urge to smoke a cigarette was high, so with a quick glance around my surrounding I pulled out my dwindling pack and slipped one into my mouth. Without wasting any time, I lit up my cigarette and inhaled deeply.

“You okay?”

I knew whose voice it was before I even looked up. The ember on my cigarette burned quickly through the tobacco as I inhaled another long puff. My eyes narrowed as I met his gaze. Tony stood before me with a wary expression on his face.

“What do you want Tony?” I sneered. Before he could answer, I spoke again. “Would you like to explain why Tara Lindsey thinks we hooked up? Or why anyone for that matter would even think that for a second I would participate in such a crass and stupid hookup.” I was breathing heavily towards the end of my sentence, and for the record I felt immensely better for yelling at him.

Tony blinked at me with confusion. His brows furrowed before he spoke; a hint of agitation in his voice. “Haven’t you ever thought that the people in this place like to make shit up?”

I was much too upset to reason with his explanation and decided to scoff. “Or maybe you just wanted another notch in your bedpost.” I spat.

Tony’s eyes narrowed at me before snaring out “Listen, I don’t need to make up stories like this. I don’t need to start rumors claiming that I slept with some girl, and if I was to do something like that I sure as hell wouldn’t have done it for you.”

It was like a bitch slap of some sort, but with words. It was probably the truth and at the moment the truth tasted like thick acidic cough syrup. I wanted to slap him or even cry, but I held on tough. No tears or energy would be further wasted on him.

Tony’s face softened just a little. “Verity, I’m—“ He began but I was too hurt to hear anything else.

“Don’t apologize.” I said sternly. “Just don’t say anything.”

The bell rang, interrupting the both of us from saying anything. I stubbed out my cigarette and hoisted my bag over my shoulder and walked past Tony. If this were some cheesy teen flick, then this would be the part where I would break down in tears while rushing to the girl’s bathroom. However, I headed straight to English class with an impassive expression masking the fact that Tony’s words stung with truth.

Notes

Welp, that happened.

Let me know what you think! :)

Thnx for reading <3