A/N: Uh, short and pretty much pointless :DD. Wrote this in one setting too ^_^
If you likey, you know the drill.
I slapped him.
Behind him, Carmen gasped disbelievingly.
"Dani! What do you think you're doing?" she breathed.
I glared at her, my cold stare furious and betrayed.
"Shut the hell up," I hissed dangerously.
Her eyes widened dramatically. I never spoke to her that way before.
I turned my attention back to Ben whose cheek was swollen raw. His jaw clenched, and a vein protruded from his neck. Swallowing, he turned his head to face me.
"I guess I should've listened to what everyone else was telling me, huh?" I said icily. Carmen flinched from my tone.
"But noo, I trusted you two too much," I drawled sarcastically. "My mistake."
I bent down to pick up my bag. I started laughing quietly to myself suddenly.
"I can't believe I was going to tell you I love you tonight," I said quietly, my tone no longer harsh but rather defeated and vulnerable. Hurt.
I turned for the door.
"No, Dani, wait! Just let me explain!" Carmen pleaded.
But I slammed the door in her face.
-
-
I swallowed thickly before slamming my locker shut. When I turned around, I was face to face with Carmen.
My so-called best friend.
"Oh. It's you," I said bitterly before continuing on my way.
"Dani, please, wait."
I kept on walking, not caring.
"Damn it, Dani! Why won't you listen to me?"
I stopped and turned harshly to face her.
"Why should I, Carmen?" I sneered, mocking her name. "Why in the world would I want to talk to the backstabbing bitch who made out with the guy I supposedly loved?"
Her hurt expression did nothing to soften my defensive walls.
"You don't understand."
"I don't understand? Me? Well, enlighten me if you're so wise."
"I love him too!" she screamed. "I really do, okay? In fact, I've loved Ben long before you did! But since you took an interest to him, I stepped aside and let you have your way with him."
I cocked my head to the side, staring at her indifferently. "Oh, really?"
"Look," she swallowed," I'm sorry about what happened on your birthday, okay? I'm sorry I ruined it, but I just couldn't take it anymore! Ben and I were both alone and—"
"And sucking each other's faces seemed like a good way to kill time? I understand," I rolled my eyes, ignoring the pang that made my chest ache.
"He's hurting too, you know."
Like I care.
"Well, today's your lucky day, isn't it? Ben's single, and there's no friendship standing in your way anymore, is there?"
"What?" Tears started flooding down her cheeks.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to get to class. We're dissecting a pig's heart today."
-
-
I sat with the tennis team during lunch.
I spotted Carmen sitting with Ben two tables down from where I was sitting. Bitch moves real quick, doesn't she?
I scoffed and rolled my eyes at the sight.
Ben must've heard me because he turned his head in my direction, eventually finding me.
We stared at each other, holding each other gazes unblinkingly. His curly black hair seemed even more tousled and messy than usual, and dark circles took residence underneath his brilliant grey eyes.
Since my heart couldn't take anymore, I turned away first.
"You okay there, Dani?" one of my teammates asked.
I forced a cheerful smile on my face. "Why wouldn't I be?"
The girls are gave each other uncertain glances. "Well, we heard what happen."
I waved my hand dismissively at her. "Eh, it doesn't matter now. Shit has to happen to all us eventually, right?"
"Uh, yeah, I guess."
"Right, so anyways, about that party. It's at Conner's right?" I said, changing the subject.
Their moodiness suddenly shifted.
"Let's just all get wasted and laid, okay? It'll be a nice end to the season."
-
-
Tipsy. Drunk. Intoxicated. Dizzy. Wasted.
This is just what I needed. This is just what I needed to escape.
Refilling my cup clumsily from the keg, I suddenly felt clammy hands groping me.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Danielle," a guy slurred.
I spun around, smiling lazily at Conner. "Hey there," I said indistinctively.
"So I heard about you and Ben…"
I laughed, taking a gulp from my cup. "Why does everyone keep bringing that up?"
He grinned at him. "Well, since Benny boy is no longer claiming you, mind if I…"
I pulled his head down into a rough kiss. We were both drunk, so it was rather sloppy and messy, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get away, get my mind off of Ben.
"God, you're so hot," Conner breathed in my ear.
He hoisted me up and set me on the kitchen counter. Wrapping my legs around him, I continued to kiss him again. I sighed, happy that my plan was working. Happy that I'm moving forward.
Conner's hands were everywhere: my face, my arms, my legs. Eventually, his hands slowly traveled under my shirt, working their way upwards. His hot hands felt good on my bare skin.
It felt so good. It's been so long since I've felt this way.
I leaned towards him, encouraging him.
Before his roaming hand could move any further, he jerked away from my. My eyes fluttered open.
"…the fuck?"
Before I could process anything, before I could think, Conner was on the ground, his nose bleeding. And someone grabbed my hand roughly and dragged me out of the kitchen, out of the party.
When we were outside in the cool night air, I pulled my hand free.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I struggled to stand properly. The alcohol was affecting me.
Ben grabbed my hand again. "Taking you home," he replied.
I laughed humorlessly. "You're funny. Go home yourself. I'm staying."
"You think this is funny?" he said, his tone dangerous. "You're drunk, and you're letting some sleazy douche bag feel you up? Shut up. I'm taking you home." He reached to grab my hand again.
I stumbled out of his reach.
"Fuck you, Ben. We're done, over. So what makes you think you have the right to manhandle me right now?"
"Jesus, Dani. I'm not manhandling you. Come on, let's go."
"Fuck you," I repeated. "I'm not coming with you."
I might've pissed him off because somehow I wasn't on my feet anymore.
"Wha…put me down, Ben! Goddamn it, I mean it!" I was hitting him everywhere.
Apparently I was too drunk to do any real damage to him.
He literally dropped me in the passenger seat of his car. He shut the door before I could escape. He hurried to his side of the door and quickly locked the doors before my brain was smart enough to reopen it. God, I hate beer sometimes.
Tired and exasperated, I fell limp against the seat and started…crying? What the hell?
"Dani…"
"Shut up, Ben. I don't want to talk to you right now."
We drove in silence. And before I knew it, I was asleep.
-
-
Cotton. Soft, loveable cotton. I knew immediately that I was on my bed.
I felt the bed shift, and my hand reached out, grabbing his hand, holding onto it like my very last breath depended on it.
"Don't go," I whispered.
Ben obeyed without hesitation and laid himself down next to me. I wrapped my arms around him, and he did the same to me. His very warmth numbed the pounding agony in my head.
"Can you…can you stay?"
"Yeah…yeah, I can," he whispered back.
I sighed, burying my face into his chest, breathing in his unique scent that always spun my head in circles. I began to cry.
He tightened his hold around me and let out a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry, Dani. I'm so, so sorry…" His voice trembled.
"I love you," I whispered, barely audible.
"I…I love you too, baby."
He kissed my head.
"We'll make this work somehow."