Julien: I have soccer practice after until 5. Meet at bleachers then?
Me: I don’t have to get Liz until 6. Sounds good to me.
Ryder: Got it.
Ryder
I should have known Maria would act out against Elizabeth. I lied to Jayson when he asked me about our breakup. Yes, I did try to end things amicably, wanting to try and save Elizabeth’s friendship with her. I should have known that to Maria, there was nothing left to salvage. Asking Maria out was another one of those stupid mistakes I tend to make when not being able to have Elizabeth becomes too much for me.
I thought Maria was funny, she made me laugh, provided me short reprieves from my thoughts of Elizabeth. I knew Maria wanted more from me and I figured, what the hell, so asked her out. Almost immediately after our first date, Maria started talking dropping subtle comments about Elizabeth. It was like she wanted me to turn on Elizabeth, to hate her. I never said anything about it, not even to Julien, especially not to Jayson or Elizabeth. Maria also kept pushing for sex, and after the Jacinda incident, I was not going down that road again. Was I tempted? Yeah. Did I love Maria? No. And I made a promise to myself after Elizabeth saw me with Jacinda at the bonfire party that I would never be that guy again, the one who uses a girl just for sex.
So I kept my hands to myself, which only made things worse with Maria. I’m an idiot for not ending our relationship sooner. Now I have to fix the mess I created. To say I'm pissed at Maria after watching the video is an understatement.
I know exactly where Maria is when I get to school, but we’re not having an audience for what I need to say to her, so I call her when I get to the front office doors.
“What?” she answers tersely.
“Come outside,” my tone letting her know that it’s not a request. She looks over and sees me through the window. Her eyes narrow.
“Now, Maria.”
“Fine.”
As soon as she walks out the doors, I grab her elbow and pull her down the hallway and into the empty A/V storage room. Once inside, she jerks her arm out of my grasp.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Maria?”
“What, did Liz come running to you all damsel in distress? Figures.”
“No. Your little tirade was posted online.”
“I know.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
Maria stares at me, unblinking.
“That was a shitty thing to do to your best friend.”
“She’s not my best friend.”
“Yes, she is. She’s been your friend since the third grade.”
“No. I hate her.”
My head jerks back like she just slapped me. “Maria, what the hell is going on with you? How can you say you hate her? You two have been inseparable for years. She’s your best friend.”
Maria scoffs at that. “You are so fucking dumb. You know nothing.”
“Well, then, explain it to me.” She’s starting to really piss me off and I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep my temper in check.
“I only started hanging out with her to get close to you.” Maria must see the confused look on my face. “You really think I wanted to waste my time hanging out with her? She had the monopoly on what I wanted, so I used her as my in with you.” She folds her arms across her chest. “All the good it did me,” she mumbles.
“That’s the biggest pile of shit you have said to me. You’re going to stand there and tell me that all the years you and Elizabeth were friends, it was because you wanted me to, what, notice you?”
Maria comes closer, invading my space. “I want you, Ryder. I have wanted you for a long time. You want me too. I know you do. You wouldn't have asked me out if you didn’t feel something for me. For me, not her. Don’t throw away this past year we’ve had together.” She slides her hands up my chest. “I’m better than she is. I can make you feel so good if you’ll let me. Please let me.”
I watch as Maria begins to slide her hands down to my belt and I grab her wrists. “Maria, what the hell? Stop.”
