Scarlett White (50 page)

"Oh, my God. Scar, what is that?"

"Tristan gave it to me. It's a promise ring. Kind of like an engagement ring, but not quite. Since we're still young, we thought it was appropriate that we didn't go too far as to get an engagement ring. Huh, my mom and Timothy would freak. So, we thought that a tangible sign would be fitting, but an engagement ring was going too far. But, I'm going to marry him. I swear on my father's grave, I will." Scarlett's voice got serious at the end.

"Hey," Zoey said. "Did you know that Chris is planning on going to Yale next year?"

"No, why?" Scarlett asked.

"Well, aren't you and Tristan going there?" Zoey pressed.

"Yeah, Zoey, where are you going with this?"

"Don't you think it's going to be awkward with the three of you together in one school?"

"No, why?"

"What with his crush on you and all. And I mean, you did kiss him in the car and then at Chloe's party—"

"Wait. Hold up, how the hell do you know that, Zoey?" Scarlett asked.

"Honey, I know everything. Anyhoo, have you even told Tristan yet?"

"Not exactly. I...um...wasn't going to. It was just a kiss. It didn't mean anything."

"And what about what happened at Chloe's party?" Zoey asked.

"We were broken up; it doesn't matter anymore."

"Then why don't you tell Tristan?" Millie asked.

"Because it didn't mean anything."

"Well, it certainly meant something to Chris because he doesn't stop talking about it in Physics."

Scarlett put her head in her hands. "Shit. I knew that was going to come back to haunt me."

"Don't worry, kiddo," Chloe patted Scarlett on the back, "Tristan will totally understand; he loves you way too much to ever get mad at you."

"GINGER!" All four of the girls looked up and saw a blonde haired girl in the opponent's cheerleading uniform heading off to her side of the court.

"Why was
she
over here?" Millie asked.

"Who knows?" Chloe replied.

"Well, we have to get back to the squad," Zoey said.

"See you after the game." Scarlett waved as they headed back to the edge of the court. And then she turned towards Millie. "What's wrong?"

"I miss him," Millie whispered, her hand resting on her stomach.

"Raphael?" Scarlett asked, indicating Millie's baby.

"Yes."

"He went to a great family. They had a little girl and everything. And Ariel seemed like a great sister. And their father is a doctor. He will have such a great life with the Brooks family."

"I still miss him."

"I know. And when he turns eighteen, you can see him again."

"That's a long time."

"It'll go by in a flash, I promise," Scarlett said, patting Millie's hand.

"What did Zoey mean by 'what happened at Chloe's party'?"

"Oh…um…" Scarlett took a deep breath. "After Tristan and I had that fight at Chloe's party, Christian walked in on me while I was getting redressed. I was mad, horny, and wanted revenge on Tristan for calling me all those names, so in my drunken state I had sex with Christian."

"You…You…" Well, Millie should have known. All the signs were there: the awkwardness between them; the blush that always crept up on Scarlett's face whenever Tristan and Christian were in the same room.

"I know, I know. It's bad, but we technically were broken up," Scarlett tried to reason.

"Well, if that helps you sleep at night."

"It doesn't," Scarlett replied miserably.

"So…do you think it's going to be awkward with the three of you all in college together?" Millie asked.

"I certainly hope not."

"Are you going to be able to live with that on your conscious?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't know."