Page 22 of Learning to Love

Jaxon grins. "Georgia, you're so innocent and cute!"

"Not to quote Britney, but I'm not that innocent. I am cute, though!"

Jake laughs. "Yes, you are. And thank you, Sweet Cheeks."

They all laugh at his pet name for me. Sasha gets a phone call, which she quickly excuses herself and takes leaving Dallas to stare after her. He's been giving her looks all night. They can say what they want, but I think he likes her. "She's mighty interested in that phone tonight. We must not be good enough company."

I like Dallas, but once someone is officially in my inner circle, I'm fiercely loyal. His comment was a little too sarcastic for my taste. He could have had her, but he's the one that chose to continue with his man whore ways. "Yeah, she's got a date this weekend! I'm super excited for her. He seems nice."

I haven't even met him yet, but he doesn't know that. His face falls, but I said what I said, and I have no regrets. Next time maybe he won't let the best thing that's ever happened to him slip through his fingers. Everybody goes quiet and Dallas is staring me down. Not in a mean way, the boy is just shook. I don't think he's even blinked in a good couple of minutes. Maybe I do feel a little bad. Was I not supposed to tell him? I can't remember. Will Sasha be mad at me? I might have kicked a hornet's nest. I wish he would say something so I know what he's thinking. Why do I have to be so socially awkward and always put my foot in my mouth? This is why I can't have nice things!

"What's his name?" Finally, let me think. Dear Lord, what was his name?

"I...um-uh...It's Baldwyn! They have government together." I sound like a stuttering buffoon.

I turn my eyes to Jake, and he takes my hand. I don't know how he knows, but he understands my distress. "Well, good for her." He adds quickly. Then he stares Dallas down.

Dallas scoffs. "Well, I think he sounds like a dick."

"Who sounds like a dick?" Sasha asks as she takes her place beside me at the table.

I silently plead that he will keep his mouth shut until I can tell her what I've done. But of course, his big-mouth-jealous self doesn't. "So, when were we gonna talk about Baldwyn the dick?"

She looks at me, but I turn away. I'm so ashamed. I stare death daggers at him, but he's looking at her with fire in his eyes. "I guess the rumors are true; you do get around."

What did he just say? I jump up and grab her hand. We're leaving. She looks heartbroken. My heart clenches in my chest. "The only DICK I see at this table is YOU!"

I am beyond pissed. I walk out but quickly go back and pick up my half-eaten plate of Alfredo. I fling the food off my plate at him, and I say a phrase I've never said in my life but remembering what Sasha's defeated face looked like seconds before, it is well warranted. "Fuck you!"

We turn and quickly leave. Jake will not have anything to do with me now, and I'll have to be okay with that. At least, I hope I will. I'll cry when I get back to my room, but for right now, I'll be strong. I hold my friend tight as we walk back to our dorm. Dallas was lashing out because he was hurting. That doesn't make it right. It just is what it is.

Sometimes things are just not meant to be, which makes my heart ache for us both. I whisper, "I'm sorry," for the hundredth time. She squeezes my hand, and I pray that she's forgiven me. I had no right to tell Dallas her secret. It wasn't mine to tell. I hope I can make it up to her one day.

Chapter 12

Making Up is Fun

Everything Fearless 24/7

I've heard from a reliable source that Dani and her new bestie left the Fearless Fives house in much distress. Shortly after, said source revealed that Dallas and our darling quarterback ran with their tails between their legs, begging for forgiveness. Is there trouble in paradise

already? #AllTheHeartEmojis

I turn off my phone and then do the same with Sasha’s. She's taking a shower, and I don't want anything else to upset her. When she gets out, she can turn it back on if she chooses to. Jake probably won't ever text me again. I half hoped as we left that he'd follow us out and offer to take us home, but he didn't.

I guess he's a firm believer in bros before hoes. I get it, though. I wouldn't choose a guy over my friend either, even if that friend had been in the wrong. I can't believe I’ll have to see him in class tomorrow. I don't want to go now. Is it too late to switch our classes? I need to change Bio, too. It'll be super awkward around Jaxon now. I have to admit I'll miss his friendship.

I hear Sasha before I see her because she's still crying. She started sobbing right after we hit the door. My stomach feels queasy. I helped cause this so it's partly my fault. I stand and rush over to hold her. She goes limp as soon as my arms encase her and we fall to the floor. Seeing her in this much pain makes me mad all over again. At him, at myself, at boys in general. I wish I would’ve punched Dallas in his freckled face instead of throwing my food at him.

I whisper things like, "You're going to be okay," "He didn't mean it," and "I'll go and punch him in the face right now, if you want me to," and that's the one that got her to stop crying.

"Thank you for being such a good friend, Dani."

"I'm a terrible friend. I should have never said anything. He just said something sarcastic about you taking the phone call, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I told him because I wanted him to realize what he had lost. I'm so sorry."

"Ideally, I didn't want him to find out like that but I don't care that you told him. I know he said it out of anger, but I won't allow anyone to talk to me like I'm a dog. He's such an ass!"

"Yes, he is! I can't believe I told him FU. I've never done that in my whole life, but it had to be said!"