Four Doors Down(56)

“I don’t care, it’s done,” I tell Jake.

He sighs, frustrated. I don’t mean to take it out on him, but he needs to stop acting like Ryan’s personal cheerleader.

“Are you still seeing Zara?” I ask suddenly, remembering the party where he hooked up with her and desperate to talk to him about something that doesn’t involve Ryan. Plus, if he’s hooking up with Zara, then he’s not getting with Bianca Gallagher.

He offers me a wry smile but shakes his head. “Nah. Don’t think it was me that she really wanted.”

I raise an eyebrow. “She hooked up with Ryan?”

“No! Becca, he’d never do that to me. I can’t believe you’d even think that.”

I scoff and his face goes hard. “He’s a good guy, Becca. The best. Just because you choose not to see it—which is what you’re doing, by the way—because you’re too pig-headed to see past what you think you know.”

My jaw falls open. Jake never talks to me like this.

“He’s my best friend, Becca. You can’t keep running him down and expect me not to say anything. I wouldn’t talk about Sam like that to you.” He has a point, but still, Sam’s not an idiot!

We stand looking at each other awkwardly; this is the closest thing we’ve ever had to a fight. Jake doesn’t fight with anyone.

“Zara’s an idiot,” I say. “And not because she likes Ryan or anything like that. Because she can’t see how great you are. Anyone would be lucky to have you,” I tell him. Quite the declaration at three in the afternoon, but I mean it, and it’s my way of apologizing.

He grins. “What are you doing now?” he asks and I know he forgives me.

“Uh, standing in the hallway talking to you?

“Smartass. I mean do you have any plans for the next couple of hours?”

“Why?” I ask cautiously.

“Let’s go to that new burger joint in town. It’s supposed to be good. Even if you’re pissed at my boy, you’re still my friend, right?”

“Um, okay.”

I’m not sure this is the best idea, but Jake and I have always been friends regardless of anyone else and he’s trying to make things right between us. Besides, I’m hungry and a burger sounds good. And Charlie has band practice…again!

“Let me just swing by my locker and dump my stuff,” I tell him.

“Sweet. We can see if Jackson’s there and if he wants to come.” This stops me in my tracks. I turn to face him. “Okay, okay I won’t ask him. But promise me you’ll talk to him? Clear the air?”

I’m about to reply when I look toward my locker and see Ryan standing there with some sophomore cheerleader. They’re kissing. Eww, gross.

“Looks like he’s busy.” I snicker. Jake looks to where I’m indicating and annoyance crosses his face. He must not be much of a fan of the girl. He strides toward them.

“Dude, what the f*ck?”

They break apart and both turn to look at Jake, who is glaring at Ryan.

“Seriously! You’re making out on her locker. She’s not not going to see that!”

“Shut up.”

I start to laugh. “Jake, it’s fine. It’s not like it’s the first time.”

Jake continues to glare at Ryan, who stares at the floor. The cheerleader links her arm through Ryan’s and moves closer to him, watching me the whole time. I almost laugh out loud. Like seriously, Ryan’s such a catch any girl would find it hard not to launch themselves at him? Ryan looks distinctly uncomfortable and tries to move away, but she’s not having any of it. She stays latched on. I vaguely wonder what happened to Jessica Murphy, but then again Ryan’s never really stuck with one girl for too long, so that must be over.

I turn to my locker, open it, shove my books inside and turn back to Jake, who is still glaring at Ryan, who looks equally pissed. His jaw is clenched and everything. Okay, there’s definitely something going on here. Maybe they had a fight over something.

“Ready?” I ask, already bored with the conversation. Jake nods.

Ryan looks between us. “What are you doing?”

“Going to that new burger joint in Henley. I was gonna see if you wanted to come. Wasn’t expecting you to be so busy,” Jake says, raising his eyebrows at Ryan, who just scowls back at him.

“Oh, he can’t. We’re actually just going to the mall. Right, Ryan?” The girl looks up at him, her grip tightens; there’s no way she’s letting him go. Ah well, at least I won’t have to listen to his shit.

Jake is still glaring at him. “That’s a shame. Just thought you might like to come to a social engagement with me. And Becca.” Ryan looks like he’s ready to punch Jake.

I look between them both, getting confused. “You’re being weird. Come on, I’m hungry.” I turn and start walking to the nearest exit. He must still be bitching at Ryan because it’s a good couple of minutes before Jake catches up with me.




A couple of hours later, I’m lying on my bed obsessing over why Charlie still hasn’t gotten back to me even though his practice should have finished by now and wondering whether Sam will want to do something later when my phone finally beeps. It’s a number I don’t recognize.