Chapter 23

"You could at least look me in the eye when you say that." Madison looked up and met my eyes with her sorry-looking ones. "I don't know what to say." "Why didn't you tell me?!" "I wanted to tell you in person. I waited until I could tell you face to face." "Oh, well, I guess I forgive you then." I said sarcastically.

"I know I shouldn't have done it but it took two people to do it and I'm the one who insisted on telling you. He refused. I know it doesn't mean that I'm a good person because I'm not, I'm a horible person, but I couldn't stand the fact that he was going to just lie to you forever. You're my best friend an-" "And you fucked the guy I'm in love with." I glared.

"I'm sorry." She looked like she was about to cry. "As soon as it started happening it felt wrong but he insisted. He said that the damage was already done." "You should of told him to stop being a jerk and to get the hell off you!" "I know. I'm sorry but he's really convincing." "Oh yeah? I hadn't noticed." I rolled my eyes.

"Are you going to break up with him?" "No." I shook my head. And stared at the ring on my finger. I started to spin it around and then I slid it up and down my finger. "You want me to come with you to confront him?" "I don't know." I sniffed. "Please don't cry." She begged. "Shouldn't I be more mad right now?" I looked at her.

"You're not that mad?" "No. Well not like I should be. I don't know why though." I looked back down at my ring. "Maybe you expected something like this?" "I guess I did." I shrugged and pulled the ring off my finger. "He's always going to be a bit of a jerk, ain't he?" I asked. "It wasn't just his fault. I'm not blaming him." "You told me. He only said he'd slept with someone else, he refused to tell me who." "I'm so sorry." "You don't have to keep saying that." I looked at the sky.

"I am though. I don't know how to make it up to you." "You tell him no next time." I laughed lightly, Madison matched my laugh. "There won't be a next time." "Good." "Please stop crying." She stood in front of my swing and wiped my cheeks before pulling me up and hugging me. "This is why he was so worried about me coming to see you." I realized.

"I told him I was going to tell you." "Don't tell him you've told me." "I'll let you do that." She wiped my cheeks again. "I didn't even realize I was crying." I laughed and sniffed. "Keep this safe." Madison put the ring in my back pocket. "Don't put it back on though. He doesn't deserve for you to wear that like nothing happened." "No he doesn't." "But please don't break up with him." She begged.

"If I was going to do that I would break up with you too." I smiled. "I'm here if you need me." She held me tightly. "Once again, I'm so sorry." "It's going to be okay though, isn't it?" "Of course it will be. Why did you ask that?" "Because I'm not that mad. I don't feel anything. I'm numb. Maybe I don't love him enough to be mad?" "No. There's no way that's true."

We spoke for a little longer before I decided to go home. I didn't eat that night or speak to anyone, I just went straight to bed. I fell asleep as soon as I was in bed which was surprising because I didn't realize I was that tired. The next morning I went to school as usual and kept a smile on my face so I didn't have to talk to anyone about things. When I got home I realized everyone was there. Oh great.

"Hi, honey. How was school?" Angie smiled. "It was good, thank you." I forced a smile back. "Good." "I'm going to go upstairs and pack now. I don't wanna do it in the morning." I went to my room. After a few minutes there was a light knock on the door and Cody came in.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly. I nodded. "I don't buy it." He spun me around and hugged me. "Cody, I need to pack." I unwrapped his arms from my body. "Have I annoyed you?" "No." "Once again, I don't buy it." I ignored him and continued to fold and sort my clothes into different piles. "You wanna talk about it?" He moved my hair off my shoulder and placed his warm lips on my neck.

I took a deep breath in before pushing him away with my butt. "You playing games?" He smirked and wrapped his arm around my waist. "How was she?" I suddenly asked. "What?" "How was she?" I repeated. I moved his hands off of me and faced him. "How was who?" "Madison." I stared at him.

Cody looked like he'd seen a ghost. He was trying to speak but continued to stutter and stumble over his words. "How?" He finally managed to breathe. "How the fuck do you think I found out?! She told me! You see, that's the difference between you guys. She noticed her mistake and dealt with it how a best friend should. You on the other hand?" I was fighting back tears.

He stared at the ground looking sorry for himself. "When were you planning on telling me?" "I don't want you to go." He finally looked up. "Go where?" "Away from me." "So you decided to lie?" "I can't let you walk away from me. I can't let that happen again." "Why would you do it? She's like my best friend." "You guys have such a similar personality, you're so alike. You even look similar." "So you used her?" "I wanted you." He moved back every time I moved forward.

"Why aren't you shouting at me?" He seemed so confused and scared. "I'm not mad." I took another step forward. His back hit the wall as he stepped back. "I'm disappointed. She's my best friend and you slept with her. My best friend, Cody. My best friend." I finally approached him. "I didn't mean any harm. I wasn't thinking. She was being really nice and I just kissed her. She kissed me back and I guess we just lead on from there." He shrugged.

"But she told you no, am I right?" "It was already in." He said which made us both laugh a little bit. "The damage was already done so I said there was no point in stopping." I looked down at the ground. Cody lifted my chin but I moved away before he could kiss me. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." "I'm done with your promises." "No, don't say that." He shook his head.

"Are you going to help me pack or are you going downstairs?" I went back to my case. "I'll help." He pushed himself off the wall and came over to me. We packed most of my stuff and put away the rest of it. We did. everything in an awkward silence. "Lastly, can you put those in the laundry basket?" I pointed to the shorts I was wearing yesterday. "Yeah." He picked them up.

"Lauren?" Cody came back into the bedroom. "Mmm?" I looked up at him. "Give me your hand?" I did as I was told and he put something in there. "I can't say that finding this didn't hurt." He let go and stepped backwards. I opened my hand to find my ring. "I hope it hurt a lot." I glared at him. "You found a piece of metal. I found that you slept with my best friend." I said and left the room.

"Come back, I didn't mean it like that." He came after me. "Dad, I'm going to see Marcus." I grabbed my jacket. "Dont be lon-" "Don't even think about taking another step." Cody's voice changed. He said it in an alarming tone with a angry-dad touch to it. "Watch me." I smiled and left the house. "Lauren!" Cody shouted. "Leave me alone!" "If you take one more step, I swear I'l-" "You'll what? You'll end it? Go ahead." I started walking again.

"I wasn't going to say that." "Well I am." "No, you can't." He held onto my hands. "I'm going to see Marcus. Be happy it's not Jake." I pulled myself free of him. "Please, Lauren." "Cody.. Just let go." "Don't end this. We worked too hard." "Let go of me." "Please." He begged as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Fine, we're gonna work through this but I'm still not putting that ring on and I'm still going to see Marcus." "Don't let him talk you out of our relationship." Cody's grip tightened.

"Don't let him get to you. I'll do anything to make you stay with me. We can go anywhere, I'll take you any place you want. We can go talk about it or we can go get a coffee and not talk about it. Anything. I just want you and your smile." "Cody, I don't want to be with you right now." I struggled in his grip.

"I'm begging you to stay with me. I need to know you're safe." "Don't worry about me." I looked up at the sky. "Guys, dinner's ready." Alli said from the front door. "We'll be right in." Cody said without looking away from me. "I want you to sleep with me tonight." I proposed. "Are you sure? I was convinced I was sleeping in a different bed for the next few months." I laughed at him.

"I get bad dreams still." "You do?" "Mhmm. And I need you to keep me safe." "Let's go get some food." "I'm not hungry." "You can have some of my noodles." "But I'm not hungry." "You're having something." He said and lead me into the house. "I'm not hungry." I repeated. "She says she's not hunrgy." Cody said to Dad.

"You didn't have dinner last night, or breakfast today so you're eating." Dad said. "When did you find out about Madi?" Cody asked. "Yesterday." I mumbled. "You can't not eat because of me." Cody sighed. "I'm just not hungry." "Okay then." He put a plate in my hands. "Go eat it." "I-" "Now." I scoffed and went to my bedroom. I put the dish on my dresser and then say with my laptop on my window seat. Thankfully I was left alone for a while.

"Why are you hiding up here?" "I'm not hiding." I looked up at Cody. "And why aren't you eating?" "I'm not hungry!" I almost shouted. Cody didn't say anything. "Just go downstairs." I leant against the wall and let out a sigh. "Alright. Don't eat it but please, eat something?" "Why?" "Because I love you." "How can you lie to someone you love?" Cody sighed and picked up my dish. Without saying anything he left the room with the food.

I shut my laptop and went to get in the shower. After the shower I dried my hair and then came out of the bathroom with my towel wrapped around my body still. "I got you your favorite." Cody held up a box of pop tarts. "Eat as many as you want." "But Cara forgot to guy some, we ran out." "I got them from the store." "When?" "Just now." I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Thank you." I laid on the bed. "You don't wanna get dressed?" "No." I got up and locked the door before dropping my towel and getting into bed. Cody stood at the end of the bed. He passed me the box. "Aren't you getting into bed?" "Are you sure?" He looked slightly worried. "Why not?" "Because you're- Well, you're um- You have no clothes on." He watched as he kicked the ground.

"You want me to get dressed?" "I just think that you might be a little more comfortable." He shrugged. I laughed at him. "You could pass me your shirt." I sat up. Cody took it off and passed it to me. "Thanks." I threw it on quickly. "Why are you so scared?" I crawled towards him. "I don't deserve to be with you tonight." "But you can't sleep without your teddy bear." I smiled.

"I don't wanna cross any boundaries. I don't want to touch you, I feel terribly guilty." "Just come to bed with me." I pressed my lips against the warm skin on his chest. "I'm not sure.." "I am." I trailed my nails down his stomach. Cody watched my hands. I unbuttoned his pants and pulled the zip down. "Come to bed?" I asked again. Cody kicked his pants off and cralwed up the bed with me.

"You want a pop tart?" I offered. "You're sharing?" "Mhm." I nodded. "You seem so uncomfortable so I'm gonna be nice and offer you a pop tart." I smiled. "Feed me." He opened his mouth. I sat on his lap and did as he told me to do. "Thank you." He finished his last mouthful. "It's okay." I smiled again. "What am I gonna do with you, Mr?" I tapped his nose.

"My naughty boyfriend." "I'm very sorry." "I know you are.." I looked down and then met his eyes again. "But you could prove it to me?" I smiled. "And how do you propose I do that?" A smile appeared on Cody's face within seconds.

"I think you know." "I do know." He sat up and pushed me onto the bed. I giggled and wrapped my legs around his waist. "I'm gonna prov-" "What are you guys doing?" I heard Brad's voice. "What?" I answered. "You heard me. Why is this door locked?" Cody quickly got off me and picked up his jeans on the way to the door.

"It must have locked itself." He shrugged while opening it. "I'm sure it did." Brad looked between us. "We're going now." "Can I stay?" "No, you both need a proper night of sleep." "We're going to sleep." "I don't believe you." He said and pulled Cody out of the room. "Good night, Lauren." He smirked at me before closing the door. "Night." I giggled and rolled onto my side.