“Come on, Iz. She was bound to find out.”
“Why’d you do it?” I ask even though I think I know the answer.
Dylan backs away, my grasp on him loosening. His hands are in front of his chest. “I am not needed here. Got biology in ten. Gonna go.”
Izzy rolls her eyes, and when it’s just us, I ask her again.
“Because I’m jealous! Sutton had you, even after I set her up with Dylan. All the boys like her, but she’s oblivious to it.” Her hands flex into balls at her side. “She’s athletic, and smart, and good at anything she does. Gets perfect grades and then goes home to her perfect family.”
“And kissing Dylan? That was jealousy?”
“That was an accident. He kissed me first and I didn’t know how to stop it. I do feel bad about it.” I level her with a look. “Okay, fine. He wanted me and what was I supposed to say? No?”
“Yes. She’s your friend!” At least I thought so.
“I feel bad about the kiss.” She slumps into a bookshelf.
“Because you were caught. What about the rumor? Do you feel bad about it?” She shrugs. “Izzy?—”
“Yes. Okay, Cooper, yes. It was terrible of me, but there’s no taking it back now. It’ll eventually fizzle out; and Sutton never needs to know. It’ll alllll be fine.”
“This is not fine. You put an end to the rumor today. Fucking squash it, and then you need to tell her the truth.” I don’t knowif I’ve ever been more angry than I am now, or had a deeper urge to protect Sutton.
“It’ll destroy her.”
“Tell her today, or I’ll tell her tomorrow. You decide.”
“Is that a threat?” A mocha brow arches.
“I guess you’ll have to see. I’ll be waiting.”
I resume pushing the cart to the next section, when Izzy calls out, “You know she’ll never love you back.”
Sutton pushes at me again,tears welling up in her eyes. I had a dentist appointment this morning and it ran long. We were supposed to meet during lunch.
“Admit it,” she demands. “Did you start the rumor?”
Izzy.I seethe internally.
She convinced her it was me.
“Yes,” I lie.
The word is pungent on my tongue. A poison that I swallow down and will have to live with forever while it slowly kills me.
I swallow harshly, gaze tipping from the sidewalk to hers. The answer to why that came out of my mouth isn’t chalked or pressed into the concrete. I don’t think there is a valid enough answer or reason for why I said it.
Izzy was right about one thing: no matter what, this was going to hurt her.
Sutton has wanted a group of friends more than anything, people to be her family. I think that’s why I do it. I don’t want her to be disappointed in Izzy, lose everything she’s searched for.
I’d rather her be upset with me. We’re young. We’ve been friends for a decade…she’ll forgive me, just give it a couple months.
“I knew it.” Tears stream down her face, and I can feel the fissure going through my heart. “I told you how I felt in confidence. How could you do that to me?”
“I’m sorry—” What a loaded two words.
“You’re sorry?” She takes a step away from me. “Screw you.” She takes a deep breath and then three words I never wanted to hear her say roll off her tongue, smooth, like a puck on fresh ice. “I hate you.”
