“Or he’s going to be busy with his friends and not even notice that I’m there,” I counter, knowing this is the more likely scenario to play out. “Besides, I don’t want this week to be about him. I want it to be about us.”
“Amen to that,” April chimes in. “I’m so over boys right now.”
“Since when?” Camila cocks a brow.
“Since I saw Marco making out with Olivia next to his locker.”
“He what?” Camila draws back. “You guys just broke up and already he’s rubbing another girl in your face?”
“Apparently that’s a man’s M.O,” I mumble.
“Well it’s bullshit. You want me to say something?” she asks April. “Because I will. You know I will.”
“No.” April shakes her head. “I’m over him. I mean, yeah, it was a little bit of a shock to see he’s moved on so quickly, but at the end of the day, I’m the one who broke up with him.”
“Yeah, because he treated you like shit.”
“Doesn’t matter. He has every right to make out with whomever he wants.”
“Well fuck him. Or better yet, fuck with him.”
“I know that look, Camila. And no, I’m not into playing games so whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”
“You’re no fun.” Camila pouts out her bottom lip dramatically.
“What about you? You haven’t dated anyone since you and Darren broke up months ago.”
“I’m currently playing the field.” She grins widely.
“Yeah, as in sneaking into the janitor’s closet to make out with Quinn Peters.” I laugh.
“What can I say, he’s a good kisser.”
“But the janitor’s closet, Cam. Really?” April turns her nose up.
“Don’t judge me. If I recall correctly, you and Marco got it on in the media room during prom last year.”
“That’s the media room. Not a smelly old closet full of cleaning supplies.”
“You make do with what’s available.” Camila giggles.
“You two.” I shake my head.
“Now you can judge. I’ll allow it.” Camila looks my way.
“Why is it okay for me to judge?” I question.
“Because we all know you would never do anything with a boy on school property.”
“That’s not true. I just... I just haven’t had the opportunity.”
“Yeah, because you’re too damn scared to go after what you want. You know, for someone with your mouth, you’d think you wouldn’t have such a hard time saying how you feel. Maybe if you’d own up to your feelings, you could have been making out in the janitor’s closet with Ethan this entire year.”
“That closet is taken,” April interrupts.
“Ha. Ha.” Camila flips her off. “You know what I mean.”
“Okay, I got it. I’m a chicken shit. Anything else?” I ask, ready to move on from this conversation.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to help you.” Camila pats the back of my hand.
“I’m not sure I want your help,” I tell her jokingly.
“Ouch.” She grabs her chest dramatically. “You wound me, P.”
“Oh shut up.” I laugh, shoving at her shoulder.
“Um, guys.” April pulls our attention to her. Her gaze is locked on something across the cafeteria, and I quickly follow her line of sight. “Looks like shit is about to go down.”
I don’t realize what she’s talking about until I catch sight of Annika standing in front of Callum. He’s sitting on top of the table like he always does, that same smug look on his face. At first I can’t hear what they’re saying, but then Callum must say something to piss Annika off because seconds later her voice explodes through the room.
“You’re a real piece of shit,” she explodes, her arms flapping wildly as she yells at him. “Is there anyone you won’t stick your dick into?”
I can’t hear his response, but he seems completely unaffected by her words or the countless sets of eyes all trained on him.
“Go suck a cock, whore,” one of the football players sitting at the table hollers at her. I see her head swivel in his direction, and I can only imagine the look that’s on her face right now. With her back to me, I can’t really gauge the situation.
“Whore?” Her voice shoots up an octave. “I’m the whore? What about him?” She gestures to Callum who still appears to be as cool as a cucumber. Man, what I wouldn’t give to have even a semblance of his composure when put under this kind of spotlight. I’d be a blubbering mess.
“He’s the man,” another guy yells, only fueling Annika’s anger.
“Whore,” another person joins in.
“What the hell?” Camila hisses under her breath as she pushes to her feet.
“Camila, don’t...” I’m not able to finish my sentence before Camila is stomping across the cafeteria.
“You guys are childish pieces of shit,” she says, addressing the entire table. “Call her a whore one more time, and I swear to Christ, I will stick a fucking fork in your eye socket,” she threatens.
Everyone at the table falls silent, probably because they know she will. Camila is not someone you can mess with. And even though Annika and her are not really friends, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that she swooped in to save the day. She doesn’t take lightly to a man calling any woman a whore.
The silence in the room is eerie.
I watch Callum push to his feet, say something directly to Annika so that only she can hear, then quickly exit the cafeteria. Not long after, Camila walks out into the hallway with Annika, probably to make sure she’s okay. And then, like nothing even happened, chatter once again starts to fill the room as people go back to their regularly scheduled program.
“You think that was over Sarah?” April asks.
“Oh I’m sure it was.” I nod.
“Wonder how she found out?”
“If I had to guess, he probably spread the word. It was obvious he was doing it to fuck with Annika, so of course he wanted her to know.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. What an ass.”
“What happened to two sides to every story?” I remind her of her earlier comment.
“I still stick by that. Annika is a piece of work. I doubt she’s innocent in all of this. Still, she didn’t deserve that bullshit.” She gestures to the table of guys that have started to disburse.
“Agreed.”
“Anyway, we should go find Cam.” She picks up her half empty tray as she stands.
“Yeah.” I mirror her actions, grabbing my tray before following her to the trash.
I briefly wonder where Callum took off to, but then quickly realize that I really don’t care. He made his own bed, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to feel bad that someone called him out for it.
“Hey.” I’m surprised to see Camila heading toward us as we exit the cafeteria. “How’s Annika?”
“Don’t know, don’t care.” Her nostrils flare. “You know, after I stood up for that bitch, she had the audacity to tell me that I made it worse by embarrassing her. What the fuck!” She throws her hands up.