Fallen Crest Alternative Version (Fallen Crest High #2.1)(22)

She clung to me and buried her head in my arms. “He’s never going to like me, is he? He’s never—I’m not good enough for him.”

I patted the back of her head as Adam and Logan watched. Tanya had teetered off somewhere and Mark yawned before he held a cup of beer to his girl. She curled in his lap, and he stroked her back. Everyone was waiting.

I sighed. “I’m taking her home. Adam, give me your keys.”

“What?” His mouth fell open. “I have no ride.”

“Logan will give you a ride.”

“I’ll what?”

I glared at him. “You will. You’ll give Mark a ride home too—”

“Nah. I’m good. I’m going with my girl here.”

“You’ll give Adam a ride home, and you won’t punch each other.”

Logan rolled his eyes but a cruel grin appeared. “I can’t promise about Mason.”

I sighed as I stared at him. Becky jerked on a sob, and I knew I could only make one decision. I swiped the keys from Adam and led my friend away. Whatever the guys did, I hoped it wouldn’t end in the hospital or jail.

“What do I tell Mason?” Logan hollered at my back.

I didn’t answer, but I heard Adam respond, “Becky’s drunk. This is ridiculous.”

Someone patted him on the back. “Never care about a chick, man. Never. Look where it’s got me. I’m giving you a ride home because of it.”

I rolled my eyes, but Mark snickered and then I couldn’t hear anything else. It was quiet as we wandered around the cars. A few moans were heard, followed with a slap and a giggle. When someone swooned in a car near us, I wanted to reach out and smack them. It made Becky cry harder and then I spotted Adam’s car. He had parked farther away than I remembered, and as we got closer, my heart sank. He was boxed in between a tree and three other cars.

“Sam?”

We weren’t going anywhere.

I dropped my arms and groaned. “I’m sorry, Becky.”

“What’s wrong?”

“We can’t move his car. We’re blocked off.”

“What?” Her voice rose, nearing panic. “Why? Why not?”

She was glancing around and hugging herself. A crooked grin came to me. “The boogie monster’s not going to jump out and scare us. We’re at a party, you know. A public party.”

Becky wiped some of her tears away and gave me a shaky grin—tried to give me a shaky grin. “You never know. I heard public girls are scary.”

I shuddered. “They are.”

“He’s not going to ever date me, is he?” A sob hitched in her throat.

I took a deep breath. Adam was right. He was making her face the reality. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “No, he’s not, Becky. I’m sorry.”

She sat on the car closest and pulled her legs up on the trunk. Then her head dipped down. “I’m so stupid, aren’t I?” She wiped at her face some more. “Of course he’s not going to date me. Who am I? He’s interested in girls like Tanya and Jill and…” She peeked up at me but looked back down. “I’ve been such a moron.”

“Becky. Come on.” I sat beside her.

“He wants you, Sam. I’ve always known that. I tried to push you two together before, but I still…” She whispered, “I still wanted it to be me. I wanted the fairytale.”

“I know.” I patted her leg. “And I wasn’t lying when I said I think you’ll get it.”

“Come on.” She choked on a sob and brushed at her face. “Stop making it worse.”

“I do think you’ll get the fairytale ending. I just don’t think it’ll happen in high school.”

She snorted as tears continued to slide down. “That’s right. You said Adam wasn’t mature enough for me.”

“He isn’t.” I threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “But he’s getting there. He stopped playing the charade tonight, you know.” I felt her shoulders droop and something folded inside of her. She seemed to crumble beside me. The arm I had around her shoulder sagged down an inch. “Becky?”

“He’s stopped for a while.”

I was struck. That sounded like a confession from her. “What are you talking about?”

She looked up with tears still on her cheeks. They were at the rim of her eyes and clung to the corner of her lips. She let them all remain as she held my gaze. There was a stricken look to her. “He’s been honest with me for a long time, Sam. I just never wanted to admit it, but tonight—I dunno. I couldn’t let it go anymore. Especially when Logan called him out. He wanted just to have sex with Tanya. I knew that. Adam told me that one night. He was really hurt and I think he was mad at you. He’s always mad at you, you know. But he’s slept with other girls before, in front of me.”

“When?”

Her shoulder jerked up. “When hasn’t he? He’s always had another girl with him. He never chooses me, Sam. He never will. I just didn’t want to accept that I was a loser. I am a loser. I’m never going to be good enough for him.”

A curse rushed from me as I pulled her close. “Don’t think that. Don’t ever think that.”