Please Don't Tell (23 page)

             
             
             
             
             
Chapter 22

             
I avoided everyone, including my own family for the next few days. Ethan tried to catch me several times, but I managed to evade each move he had made. Val still wasn’t talking to me, nor Ava and Kelly. They took her side and chastised me every chance they got. The only person that seemed fine with what went down had been Jason. I must’ve let twenty calls go straight to voicemail. And, when he discovered I’d been eating lunch alone outside he found me the day before break.

             
The sun was out and I’d been propped up against my elbows on the lawn with my eyes closed. Ethan gave up trying at school, only at home would he attempt any kind of communication. And even then I wouldn’t listen.

             
“I heard you were out here.” Jason said.

             
I looked up. “News travels fast these days.”

             
“You okay?”

             
“Just peachy, Jason.  None of my friends are talking to me. People are whispering things when I walk by them and I feel like shit. How ‘bout you?”

             
He sat down beside me and threw his arm over my shoulder. “Soph, don’t worry about them or him. He’s a total asshole.” I couldn’t argue there. He was a total asshole in my book at this moment.

             
“Listen, break starts tomorrow. Why don’t we do something tonight?”

             
My heart had been broken into a thousand pieces and he just smugly thought we could pick up right where we left off. Men! I unwrapped his arm from my shoulder and stood up about to say no way, when I noticed Ethan watching us from the cafeteria window.

             
“You know what Jason that would be great. Pick me up around seven.” I leaned down and pecked him on the cheek. I glanced through my hair to see if Ethan had still been there, but he had already gone.

             
Back at my house and having left Ethan to walk home again, I quickly made my way inside. I hadn’t needed the brace on my knee for the last two weeks, and chucked my crutches in the foyer. I was positive I didn’t need their help, either. I took the steps carefully to get ready for my impending date of doom with Jason.  I never really cared what I wore around him or anyone for that matter, but tonight I wanted to look hot. I wanted to drive Ethan crazy.

             
I ransacked my closet until I found my skinny jeans crumpled up on the floor and pulled out my favorite cashmere sweater. Once showered and changed, I hit play on my radio and waited. After an hour or so, I heard Ethan in the bathroom. I bit down on my lip and pushed myself off my bed and away from the newest US magazine to work my magic. He’d already been in his room once I got the courage to walk out. I opened the drawer loudly and slammed it shut. While I was leaning into the vanity and dabbing on lipstick, Ethan cleared his throat.

             
“You’re really doing this?”

             
I gave him a quick sidelong glance. “Doing what?”

             
“You’re actually going out with that fucking arsehole to get to me, aren’t you, Sophie?”

             
“At least he never lied to me, Ethan, or made a fool out of me. Val still won’t talk to me or anyone else for that matter. The only thing he ever did was try to get me into bed.” I shouldered my way past him. “Big deal. Isn’t that what every guy wants?”

             
“If you would just let me explain instead of,” he gestured by pointing from my toes to my head, a disgusted look on his face. “All this.”

             
I was about to scream at him when the doorbell rang. “Well, gotta run. My date’s here.”

             
Ethan grabbed my hand forcefully. “Wait!” He shouted. “Sophie, please...don’t do this. Not like this,” he pleaded.

             
I slowly turned around and studied him before letting out a deep breath. “Bye, Ethan.”

             
I ran out to Jason as his car idled in the driveway. I shook my head and wondered why on earth I kept letting him get to me. An hour later and sitting at the food court in the mall, I wished I hadn’t come. Jason couldn’t stop questioning every so called rumor that Ethan had written down on his English essay. “Jason,” I yelled out. “Stop!”

             
He placed his burger down and wiped his mouth. “Oh, sorry, Soph. I was just curious if it was all true.”

             
“Honestly, I think this was a huge mistake coming here with you.” I stood up.

             
He reached out and grabbed my hand. “I said I was sorry. Just forget about it. The movie starts in like twenty. Let’s go.” I didn’t want to go, but I didn’t want to let Ethan see me walk in after only an hour.

             
He’d actually picked out a movie I’d been dying to see with Val. After ordering a large tub of popcorn and soda for the two of us to share he guided me to the back row. I shot him a look and then he moved a few rows forward.

             
After the movie had been over I’d been dying to go home. What I really wanted to do was just flop in my bed and cry myself to sleep. Was that too much to ask? But Jason wanted to park and hash things out about “our relationship” as he put it. I reluctantly agreed and found ourselves at the back of an unfinished housing development being built.

             
He leaned over and brushed the hair off my shoulder. “This is more like it. I missed you, Soph.” His lips puckered as he got closer, but he hesitated. “Is this okay? I mean, I really want to kiss you right now.”

             
I stayed silent for a minute and then forced myself to lean in. As soon as our lips met, I felt sick to my stomach. I just wanted to go home. I couldn’t be here. The kiss continued until I felt his hand reach under my sweater and he slowly reached up my sweater. I slapped his hand away and he looked at me surprised. “What?”

             
I swallowed hard. “Just take me home, Jason.” I demanded.

             
“Are you serious? You want to go home or you want to go back to him?”

             
I shook my head not even knowing how to answer, but I did. “I need to go home. I have to pack for break.”

             
He gave me a whatever look and started the car. When we rounded the corner and my house came into view, he left the car idling on the street. “I guess I’ll see you when you get back.”

             
“Yeah. I’ll call you. Thanks for the movie.” I opened the door and got out of the car. It would be a cold day in hell before I picked the phone up to make that call.

             
“Anytime, Soph.” He waited until I was inside and then I heard him speed off.

             
I hauled ass upstairs. Ethan had left his door open so I peeked inside since it was dark. He wasn’t home. I walked over and flopped onto his bed, lying there for a while. When I heard the front door open, I hoisted myself and into the safety of my room. I heard Austin and my mother as they headed up the stairs.

             
“Time for bed young man,” she said.

             
“But, I want to wait for Ethan. He said he’d play Xbox with me,” he whined, all the way up the steps.

             
“It’s eleven at night. Time for bed.”

             
I stuck my head out of my room. “Hey, guys.”

             
Austin started, “Do you know where Ethan is? He promised me a game.”

             
“Sorry, I haven’t a clue. Where were you guys?”

             
My mom walked over to me and stared at me. “We were just out to dinner and had to grab a few last things for Austin.” She stepped forward. “Have you been crying? Your eyes are puffy.”

             
“No. I’m fine.”

             
“You sure?”

             
“Yes, Mom.”

             
She studied my face for another second before she asked, “You all packed?”

             
“Almost.”

             
“Well, I have to drive Austin to the airport first thing and then I’ll swing back and grab the two of you, okay?”

             
“Yep. See you tomorrow. Tell Dad I said hi, Austin.”

             
Austin shoulders slumped in defeat as he stalked toward his room.

             
I couldn’t sleep. I had looked at my clock every few minutes trying to figure out when he’d get home. I needed to talk to him. I wanted an explanation and I wanted it now. It wasn’t until two in the morning when headlights streamed through my window, arousing me from my thoughts.

             
I heard him as he sneaked into the house trying to be quiet, but he wasn’t doing a very good job of it. I waited outside my door with my lights off until he came into view. He didn’t glance my way or try to see if I were here. I’m sure he knew that I was. After all, it was very late and I never stayed out past midnight. Mom’s stupid curfew. Apparently, Ethan didn’t have one. He moved inside and I heard him slam into something. That something sounded like it hurt.

             
“Fuck,” he screamed out.

             
This caused me to move. I tiptoed over so I didn’t wake up my mother and crept into his room. He was face down like he had done a belly flop onto his bed. “Ethan,” I whispered.

Nothing.

             
As I moved closer, he had begun to snore...and snore loudly. As I bent over to make sure he was okay I could smell the alcohol dripping off of him. “Jesus, you smell like a brewery,” I mumbled. He flipped over and his phone fell out of his pocket just as it started to vibrate. I grabbed a hold of it and flipped it open. Heather texted him.

             
It read. Great time tonight. Let’s do it again. Real soon:)

             
I threw it back onto his bed and just stared at him, wondering how I could have been so stupid to trust him. As the tears rolled down my cheeks, I realized I should have listened to my instincts. Why did I ever trust Ethan Chapman?

             
I knew that me going out with Jason was going to piss him off, but I couldn’t believe he’d stooped to this level. But then again, I couldn’t believe I did either. I should’ve expected this from him. Ever since we were little he’d been able to make me cry, and even now he was still able to do it.

             
I didn’t get a wink of sleep that night. Mom and Austin were already on their way to the Airport when I settled into a chair and sipped the coffee she’d brewed before they’d taken off.

             
Ethan joined me twenty minutes later all showered and looking like hell had washed over him.  His hair still wet from the shower.

             
I glanced up. “You look like shit.” I was determined not to falter.

             
“How was your date?” He asked sarcastically.

             
“It was great. How’s Heather?” I retorted.

             
He sighed loudly and ran his and ran his hand through his hair. “What?”

             
“Heather. I know you were out with her. She called last night while you were passed out.”

             
“I was pissed last night, Sophie.”

             
“I know you’re mad at me for Jason, but really Heather?” I yelled.

             
He raked his hands through his hair, again. “No, Sophie I was pissed drunk last night, not pissed at you. Well, I was a little pissed at you too.”

             
“Obviously. You still reek. I can smell you from here.”

             
“Nothing happened. We got drunk--talked. That’s it.”

             
I stood up and slammed the chair against the table. “You expect me to believe that?”

             
He walked over to the cupboard and took out some aspirin. “I have a bloody headache. I can’t do this with you right now.”

             
“Why do you even drink so much,” I yelled.

             
His body tensed and his hands gripped the counter. “It helps me forget how much my life sucks sometimes, Sophie. That’s why,” he screamed back.

             
“Whatever,” I whispered, breaking the moment of silence and walked out. Once inside the family room I turned the television on. I sat there and chewed on my pinky nail until I thought it was going to bleed. I knew he’d been hurting from the loss of his father and I felt horrible walking out on him just then, but I was hurt, too. He had to know that. If he weren’t so damn adorable, none of this would have happened.