Wanting Winter(37)

“Yeah, well, I kind of want to forget about it and move on. They deserve each other.”

“I should have told you first thing in the morning and maybe, I don’t know, things could be different for you,” Drake says, looking down to the ground.

I stop moving, standing in front of him, lifting his chin. “I told you yesterday: you were put in a bad position—you were protecting your best friend—and they told you it was over. I don’t blame you. I’m just happy that you’re still my friend.” I hug him, and he hugs me back.

I really am glad I have him; he has been amazing and has helped me to not think about the assholes a floor above me.

“Of course I’m still going to be your friend; I do like hanging out with you. Plus, it's nice having a friend that’s a girl.” We laugh. I notice his hair is how it was on our night out; it really does suit him.

“I am going to need you all as I know it won’t take people long to find out what happened when they see Candice and Trent together. That’s when it's going to get hard. The whispers and rumors I’m not looking forward to.” I link my arms with Drake’s and Patrick’s.

“We got your back,” Patrick says.

We are walking through the court when I freeze on the spot. I see Trent and Candice making out against the statue, the same statue where Trent asked me to be his. I cried enough yesterday, but it still hurts. I notice people whispering and pointing and when they spot me.

I keep my head held high and I walk by them, keeping my eyes forward. “I guess I spoke too soon,” I say with a shaky voice.



I avoid being anywhere near Candice. I hate that I am in a few of her classes. At one point I do look over at her, and she had that smug look on her face making me almost lose it. I want to scream and punch her in that perfect nose of hers.

Lunchtime can’t come quick enough. Walking down the hall, I feel everyone watching me, hearing their whispers; I even get some sympathetic looks. If only they knew what really went down.

Walking in, I don’t have to guess where Trent and Candice are as everyone is staring in their direction. I am tempted to turn around and leave when I hear my name being called. Everyone turns to face me, their mouths dropping open when its Joshua who is calling me.

He waves me over, and I give him a smile heading to his table. Once I’m in front of him, his arms go around me, pulling me in, like he knows that I need to be held—to be hugged. I wrap my arms around him, snuggling into his chest.

I don’t know how long I stay there for—I don’t want to move—but eventually, I move away. When I look up, all of Joshua’s friends are gawping at us with surprised looks.

“Hey, guys.” I give them all a small smile.

“Am I dreaming?” I hear one guy saying.

“This, I never thought I’d see. The Ice Queen and the campus womanizer being civil,” one guy chuckles, shaking his head.

“I heard what happened,” another guy says, looking at me softly. I look to Joshua. “He didn’t say anything. It's just all over campus. I don’t know the details, but it doesn’t take a genius to guess what went down. That’s just cold coming from your best friend. If you need us to beat Trent’s face in, just ask.”

All the guys nod.

“Thanks, I will keep that in mind.” I bite my lip. “I’m going to quickly grab something to drink.” I stand and so does Joshua.

“Want me to come with you?”

I smile at his protectiveness. “I think I can manage, but if I get lost, I will send smoke signals,” I joke.

“You really do think you’re funny, don’t you?” he chuckles.

“I think I’m hilarious.” I wink at him, my old self finally coming back.

I stand up, getting in line and grabbing myself a can of Coke. I’m waiting to pay when I feel my body shiver and it freezes knowing he’s near me. I turn my head to see Trent watching me, his eyes focused on me.

I have tried hard to cover the dark circles and swollen eyes with my makeup, but I can’t hide the sadness that’s present in my eyes.

“How are you?” His voice vibrates right through me. Stupid voice.

“How do you think I am? I caught my boyfriend doing my best friend less than twenty-four hours ago.” I pray for the line to hurry up.

“I know I don’t have any right to ask, but maybe one day when you can forgive me…”

I turn, stopping him angrily. “I will never forgive you. I am praying for the day when I no longer feel anything but hate for you. Once I graduate and leave this town, you will be dead to me. You will be nothing but a bad memory. Funny that, once again, the next boyfriend I get, they want someone else.” I laugh but its hollow. “I am going to be stronger; I am going to be better, and it will be you that will always remember me, thinking I could have been the one. We both know deep down you and Candice won’t last, but we could have. Enjoy the good sex while you can, before she gets bored and starts fucking about,” I say. I pay for my drink before heading back to my table, but once again I’m being stopped.

“Winter, please. I don’t want it to end like this,” Trent pleads with me, cupping my face. “I need you in my life Winter.”

“You fucked up, not me. You need to deal with the consequences. You lost me.”