“But people change.”
“Some do, some don’t, but most don’t. And as long as we’ve known Briggs, he’s been a self-centered, attention-seeking, power-hungry asshole who’s only interested in people who can benefit him in some way. And if they don’t agree to his demands, he goes after them. He threatens them. A guy like that is never going to change.”
She sets her cup down. “What are you saying? Did Briggs threaten you?”
“Not directly,” I say, not wanting her to know the truth. I almost told her last night what was going on, but then changed my mind. This is between Briggs and me, and it’s going to stay that way. “It doesn’t matter if he threatened me or not. He’s a bully and he can’t be trusted.”
“But he hasn’t done anything to you in over a year. Maybe he’s changed.”
“He hasn’t changed. He still makes fun of me, calls me names, lets his girlfriend be a bitch to me. Why would you defend someone like that?”
“I’m not. I just think there’s more to him than what we see at school. I think there’s another side to him.”
“And you think this about Parker and Finn too?”
“No, just Briggs,” she says in a dreamy tone, a faraway look in her eyes.
What the hell? When did she get such a huge crush on Briggs? And how did I not notice this?
“Charlotte.” I reach over and grab her shoulders and shake her a little until she looks back at me.
“What?”
“Repeat after me. Briggs Chadwick is evil. And always will be.”
“He’s not evil. He’s just . . . misunderstood.”
I sigh and sit back. “Okay. If that’s what you want to believe. But I’m telling you, you’re going to regret it if you keep letting Briggs play you the way he did yesterday in the parking lot.” I pause, wondering if I should tell her some of the stuff Briggs has done to me since we got back from break. She already knows about the drugs, but she blamed Finn for that, even though I told her Briggs was behind it.
“It’s not like I’d actually go out with him,” Charlotte says. “It’s just nice to have a guy like him notice me.”
“Not when he’s only doing it to—” I stop, realizing I almost told her what’s going on. I don’t think I should. It’s better if she doesn’t know.
“He’s only doing it towhat?”
“Make fun of you. He wants to see if you’ll believe he really likes you and then he’ll turn it into a joke. If you’d gone to the party last night, he would’ve made fun of you in front of everyone.”
She slumps down in her chair, looking down at the floor.
“Charlotte, I’m not saying this to make you feel bad. I just want you to know the truth about him. I know deep down you do, but there’s a part of you that doesn’t want to believe it. And I get it. Briggs is really hot and really popular so when he gives you attention, you want to believe it’s because he actually likesyou, but we both know that’s not him. He doesn’t work that way. I mean, look who he’s dating. Aubrey is one of the meanest girls at school and he chooses her as his girlfriend. Evil attracts evil. The evidence is there, Charlotte. You just need to accept it.”
“You’re right,” she says, looking back at me. “I guess I just got swept away by those blue eyes and that perfect smile. And the way he looked at me. There’s something about Briggs that when he looks at you, it’s hard to look away. It’s like you’re drawn to him, even if you don’t want to be.”
It’s true. Briggs has this energy to him that draws people in. It’s why he’s so popular, and why people want to be around him. I’m one of the few people not affected by his so-called charm and allure because I know it’s all an act. I just have to keep convincing Charlotte of that.
“I should go,” she says, getting up. “Dinner is at six and I have to get ready.”
“I’m glad I don’t have to go to fancy dinner parties,” I say, walking to the door with her.
“They’re not that bad.” We go out to the parking lot. “And after dinner we’re all going to a movie. The guy hosting the dinner party rented out the whole theater for us.”
“That sounds fun. I haven’t gone to the movies in forever.”
We stop at her car. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I’m not sure. Probably just watch TV and then go to bed.”
“Sorry I’m never around to do stuff.”
