Chapter Nine Surprises

Nolan cheated on Cassidy?

My mind couldn't wrap around it. No. It wasn't happening. Cassidy and Nolan were the golden couple. They completed each other so...perfectly. So Nolan cheating on Cassidy sounded like the definition of unbelievable. No, actually, it was the definition of unbelievable. There was no way in hell he would ever do that to her.

But here she was, crying her eyes out on my shoulder as I tried to figure out an explanation to what might had happened.

"Are you sure?" I asked her.

She lifted her head up and looked at me with her tear filled eyes.

"Kinda."

"What do you mean kinda? You either know or you don't."

"I know what I heard."

"And what's that?"

She sighed. "I was heading up to room when I overheard Ember telling one of friends about her incredible, unforgettable night with Nolan. She said it was one of Nolan's best nights and he couldn't wait until they met up again tomorrow night."

I stared at my best friend. "You're choosing to believe her words over Nolan's, aren't you?"

She looked away from me. "Well...."

"What reason does Nolan have to cheat on you?" I crossed my arms over my chest, lifting my brow as I wait for her to answer.

"I did tell him to do it earlier today." She said, sheepishly. "But I didn't think he would actually do it." She added in a rush.

"And he still wouldn't. It doesn't matter if you did tell him to do it. So don't worry about it. It's a rumor Ember wanted to get to you and screw with your head."

"But she explained it with so much detail. It was explicit. I could picture it in mind."

I shrugged. "She has a great imagination. She probably been dreaming about that moment ,that will never happen, for weeks now. Even she knows that it won't happen. She saw an opportunity to ruin what you and Nolan have and she took it."

Cassidy wiped her tears away. "I hope you're right."

"I am but you should call him anyway."

She shook her head. "No."

I frowned. "No?"

"I can't call him right now. He's beyond furious with me. I need him to cool off before I can talk to him."

I rolled my eyes. "He's only mad because you're mad at him."

I sat down on my bed and picked up my phone.

"Is Levi still blowing you up?" Cassidy asked, plopping down on her bed.

I shook my head. "Not since we got to the mall."

I stared at my phone reading what Jayce sent me. I think he thought I didn't respond back to him because I was angry at him for not telling me what happpened between him and those girls.

I know you hate it when I interfere with your battles cause you think you can handle them but I told them to leave you alone.-J

I knew there was more than what he was telling me but I wasn't going to pull it out of him. He told me enough so I wouldn't freak out about what he said to them. I smiled a little.

My fingers hovered above the keyboards before I replied back to him.

You're right. I do hate when you interfere but thank you.-C

"Speaking of Levi" Cassidy started. "do you know why he and Hailey are having problems?"

I shrugged. "I don't. Levi might be my brother but he doesn't tell me everything. Same for Hailey. But whatever it is, I hope they'll get over it."

It silence for a few minutes before Cassidy spoke.

"Do you ever feel like this is the end of our group?"

I arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean everyone says, once you get into high school everything changes. You stop hanging out with the group you hung out with in jr. high and find a new clique to hang out with. I know it didn't apply to us then but now...I think it did."

"We're still together." I pointed out.

"Yeah barely. I remember in high school we were always together. And now, it's like we're going in different directions." She sat up and looked at me. "Just look at you and Jayce, you were always so close and now you've grown apart. Me and Nolan are fighting more than ever. Hailey and Levi are having problems."

"It's just a bump in the road. It'll smooth out soon."

She looked at me with sad eyes. "I hope so."

She left to take a shower and I pondered over what she said. She was right. We were heading in different directions and our little group was falling apart but I had faith that whatever the future held for us, we would all be together. But in the back of mind there was a hint of doubt.

A week passed by and Cassidy and Nolan were finally talking again. At first it was awkward but as soon as I excused myself, they started conversating.

Later on in the day she explained everything that happened last week. She said after she yelled Nolan, he left his dorm room and walked around the campus. He bumped into Ember and they talked about random things.

He promised Cassidy that he never cheated on her with Ember and he was sorry for saying he was going to cheat on her. They worked everything out and now they were okay.

Even Levi and Hailey seemed to work out whatever problem they were having too. They were talking and laughing again. We were our usual selves again minus the whole Jayce and I thing.

For some unknown reason, Jayce and I still weren't back to our normal selves. Even after all the texting and occasional talks we would have. By this point, I figure we should be best friends but yet we still weren't there yet.

Of course we would argue and say some hurtful things to one another and he was still being a complete arrogant, cocky player that he was.

Lately, he has been getting closer with Arianna and that stung. I tried not to let it get to me but I failed. Arianna and Jayce weren't the couple you want together like everyone wished they would be. I didn't know maybe it was just me.

You're jealous.

Maybe I was. Yeah I was. I was jealous because Arianna took away my best friend. He was growing closer and closer to her and we were falling apart. We already fell apart weeks ago but now it was....worse.

It was like having something you wanted so badly in your reach but there was always something in the way blocking you from getting it.

My mind was always on him and I didn't know why. I known him for a very long time and I never felt like this before so why now?

So why did my world revolve around him?

You're in love.

No. I didn't love Jayce. I knew that for a fact. There was no way I could be in love with him. It had to be something else. Something more reasonable. But what was it?

I didn't have time to come up with something because I ran into Arianna Peyton.

"Sorry" I muttered before I walked around her.

"Colby?"

I glanced behind me and she was smirking. It wasn't a pleasant smirk. No it was I'm about to tell you something that will ruin you smirk.

"I just wanted to be the first one to tell you before you hear it from someone else. In case you think it was a rumor or something."

I waited for her to continue.

"Jayce and I are together."

I laughed. They weren't together. They couldn't be together. I laughed until I realized she wasn't joining in.

"Are you being serious?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He asked me out last night."

"Are we talking about the same Jayce? The Jayce I know doesn't do girlfriends."

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "You mean the Jayce you knew. I know you have a thing for him but I'd appreciate it if you would stop trying hit on him. He's not interested in you. He told me himself."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Oh really?"

She nodded her head.

I wasn't going to say anything but the words came out before I had the chance to stop them.

"Is that why he's always defending me, kissing me whenever we're together, flirting with me. If that's what you called uninterested then I'll take it."

She stared at me as if I slapped her then she recovered. "He was only doing that because I wouldn't give him a chance but trust that will stop."

She looked behind me and a huge smile spread across her face. She race past me and my gaze followed her. She jumped into Jayce's arms and he stumbled back by her unexpected weight and she kissed him hard on his mouth right in front of me.

But the worse part was he kissed her back. I felt like vomitting in my mouth. He set her down and she glanced behind her and grinned.

Jayce looked in the same direction Arianna was looking and our eyes locked. Something flashed through his eyes and I didn't know what because I quickly looked away.

So Arianna wasn't lying. They actually were dating.  Keeping my head down, I quickly walked past them and head to my last class of the day.

I looked at the broad as soon as I took my seat and Mr. Dalson had our new assignment already written. Opening my notebook to a new page, I began to write about friendship.

I wrote random things down. Mr. Dalson once told us that he didn't care about punctuation, incomplete sentences or run on sentences. He said he wasn't grading us on that. He was grading us on what we wrote. He understood when we expressed our feelings we tend not to write the correct way and he was okay with that.

"Just write." He told us.

And that's what I did. I wrote until it was time to turn in our essay. I didn't even look over what I wrote, I just handed the jumbled up paper and walked out the class.

I opened the door to my dorm room and to my surprise Cassidy was gone. She was probably with Nolan. Again.

I was about to fall asleep when my phone rang. Sighing, I answered it.

"Hello."

"Colby. I know it's your day off." Wes, my manager, began. "but you can you please come in today?"

Even though it was a question, I knew there was only one answer he would accept.

"Yes. I'm on my way."

"Thank you." He said before hanging up.

Getting up, I head to my closet and pull out my work outfit. I put on the white button up shirt, black slacks and my black shoes. I threw my hair into a ponytail as I'm walking out the door.

As soon as I'm walked out the door, I realized I didn't have a ride. I really needed to talk to my parents about getting me my own car. A new car.

Mom kept trying to convince me to drive the old rundown truck we have in our garage but I wasn't gonna give in. No way was I riding that smokey, wheezing truck. It wouldn't last five minutes out here.

I unlocked my phone and called my brother. He answered on the third ring.

"Levi. I need you to drop me off at Cheddar's."

"I can't." He said. "I'm kinda busy right now."

Rolling my eyes, I told him. "You can get back to Hailey later. Now I need you to pick me up."

I heard him groan and movement on the other end before I heard him grab his keys.

"Be ready, I'm coming."

I headed downstairs and waited for him outside. Not five minutes later, Levi pulled up and I hopped inside.

I looked at him and noticed his lips were swollen and his hair was all over the place.

"Please tell me, I didn't interrupt you while you were doing the unmentionable with Hailey?" I asked in horror.

He looked at me in disgust. "Ew! No! If I was, I wouldn't be here right now. I might be a guy but there is a line I do not cross."

I sighed in relief. "Oh thank God!"

Ten minutes later, Levi pulled into Cheddar's. I unhooked my seatbelt as I told him again to pick up at 11.

"I know. I'll be here."

"You better be." I said as I got out the car.

I walked inside and headed to the employee's room to recieve my apron and my nametag. I scanned in and Miss Diana, one of my older co-workers, was relieved when she saw me.

"Thank God you're here!" She gushed. "At first it was a slow day and then all of sudden it was like a hurricane just hit us. A flood of people came."

"I'm glad to help." I smiled, grabbing my tablet.

"You know what sections you have?"

I nodded. "Yep."

"Okay." She jerked her thumb behind her. "I have to seat them."

I looked over her shoulder and noticed how many people were waiting. I scanned the restaurant to see we were super packed.

Putting my best award winning smile on, I headed to my first table with my tablet in my hand.

I saw their drinks already placed in front of them. Markus, another co-worker, must've gave everyone in my section their drinks. I'd have thank him when I saw him.

"Are you ready to order?" I asked, getting ready to place their order in.

"Yeah." The mid-age man said, glancing at his menu. "I would like the steak. Medium rare and bake potatoe."

I quickly tapped his order in before he gave me his, I was assuming, wife's order. Once I got their orders, I collected the menus.

"You're order will be right out." I told them before asking. "Would you like any appetizers while you wait?"

The woman smiled at me. "Sure. I would like those croissants things."

I nodded. "The honey butter croissants?"

"Yes! Those!"

"I'll be right back with them." I said, adding their appetizer to their bill.

I headed to the back to grabbed their croissants and brought them to their table. I moved on to my next table and repeated the same thing over again.

Hours passed before things finally began to calm down. I was refilling a glass of wine when Miss Diana informed me she seated new people in my section.

"Alright." I told her as I set the wine down. I looked at the two people I was waiting on. "I'll be back with your bill."

Heading to table seven, I pulled out my tablet from my apron.

"What can I get you to drink?" I asked, looking at the bright screen.

"Water." A familiar girl's voice told me.

"And a strawberry lemonade."

I nearly dropped my tablet when I heard the second voice. I would know that voice from anywhere. Whether I was alive or death. There was only one person whose voice made me calm yet furious at the same time. It was him.

Jayce.

If that voice belonged to Jayce then the another whiny voice could only be Arianna. Glancing up from my tablet, I looked at the newly couple.

Jayce's blue eyes widen when he saw me. It looked like he wanted to remove his hand from Arianna's but maybe it was just me who thought that.

"Cole, what are you doing here?" Jayce asked.

I arched an eyebrow. "Other than the fact I work here, I don't know." I said, sarcastically.

Arianna rolled her brown eyes. "He knows. He's not stupid. Cassidy said today was your day off so what are you doing here?"

Two things popped into my head as soon as Arianna finished. First of all, why did they talk to Cassidy about my work schedule. Secondly, why did it mattered if I was here?

I ignored their question. "I'll be back with your drinks."

Walking away, I went to my next table. I tried to stall as much as I could before I had to go back to Jayce and Arianna's table. I set their drinks and appetizer down.

They ordered and I all but rolled my eyes when Arianna order a salad. She said and I quote "had to watch her figure".  I took their menus and checked up on my other tables before finding Miss Diana in the back.

"What is it, honey?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

She looked at me with her dark eyes. "Sure..." She dragged the word out. "Your mood changed drastically in the past half hour. So what is it?"

"It's nothing. I'm just tried."

She didn't believe me. "Maybe you are but I think it has something to do with Mr. Hotshot and his salad eating date over there." She nodded in the direction of Jayce and Arianna.

"It has nothing to do with them."

"I might not be the youngest person in the restaurant." She started. "but I do know jealousy when I see it."

Miss Diana was in her late fifties but she had the heart and soul of a teenager.

"If you're implying I'm jealous, I'm not."

"Darling when are you gonna quit lying to yourself?"

"Miss Diana, I'm not lying. It's just...it's just complicated."

"Why's that?"

How could I tell her or anyone for that matter when I was having a hard time trying to understand it myself. Yeah there was something stirring between us but I didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

It probably was a bad thing. Yeah it had to be a bad thing. Nothing good could come with kissing Jayceon Ryder.

"I don't know."

I stood up when I heard Tom, one of our chefs, hit the bell, signalling one of the orders were ready. I grabbed a big black round tray and placed the food on top.

The order belonged to table seven. Jayce and Arianna's table. Taking a take breath, I walked over to them.

I walked straight into an uncomfortable, awkward moment. Arianna was leaning across the table sucking Jayce's face off. I was pretty sure I was blushing but I quickly hid it.

I cleared my throat and Arianna slowly leaned back. She looked at me and gave me a smile anyone else would think was innocent but I knew better.

"Sorry Cole."

"Um, yeah, okay." I said. "Well here's your food."

I was placing Arianna's salad in front of her when she quickly gasped, making me jump. Luckily for me, I didn't loose grip of the bowl.

"Jayce!" She grabbed his hand. "This is my song." She smiled, widely.

I listened to the song as I set Jayce's ribs down. It was actually a pretty good song. And it had nothing to do with the fact I was a Justin Beiber fan. Okay maybe it did.

On the inside, I was freaking out because I loved the song but I tried to stay calm on the outside. I felt Jayce's eyes on me as I refilled Arianna's glass with water.

He knew I was a major Beiber fan. He used to be my best friend so of course he knew. I think he could see straight through my facade.

As soon as the lyrics flew out of Arianna's mouth, I knew I had to leave. I knew I wasn't a good singer but I didn't think Arianna knew she wasn't either. She was ruining the song.

I stared at her dumbstruck for a few seconds before I realized I was staring at her.

I was about to leave when Jayce said my name. I turned around.

"Thanks."

I didn't say anything but nod my head. I walked away. Half an hour later, Jayce and Arianna left. After I gave the bill to another table, I head to table seven. I picked up the black bill holder and opened it.

And my eyes widen. I was gonna kill Jayce when I saw him.

Their total bill was only thirty dollars but that bastard left me with a fifty dollar tip and a note.

Don't ever try to hide your Beiber self, Mickey
X
-J

I put the unnecessary and unneeded tip in my back pocket. He was so gonna hear it from me.

Two hours passed before it was time for me to leave finally. I texted Levi a few minutes ago and he was already outside waiting for me.

I hopped inside the car and immediately pulled out my phone.

You're dead, Ryder- C

I glanced at Levi and he was smiling.

I frowned. "What's wrong with you?"

"Oh nothing. Don't mind me."

I rolled my eyes. "Stop acting weird."

"I'm not. Can't I not be happy?"

I shrugged. "Sure you can but you're never this happy. So what happened." Before he could say anything my eyes widen. "Hailey's pregnant, isn't she?"

"What the hell, Cole!" He said. "No she's not pregnant. Don't say that."

"Well..."

He rolled his eyes. "It's a suprise. I can't tell you."

"So... it's for me."

"When did you get so smart?" He said, sarcastically. "Yes it's for you."

"When can I get it?" I asked, excitedly.

"Tonight, actually."

My phone vibrated in my hand and I looked down.

What did I do?-J

Oh, you know exactly what you did.-C

No I don't so humor me.-J

I rolled my eyes but texted him back.

Why did you leave me a $50 tip?-C

His respond came back in less than a minute.

Cause I wanted to.-J

Well I don't want it.-C

Why are you being so stubborn. Just take the money.-J

No! I DON'T want it!-C

We go back and forth like that for over five minutes before I gave up, rolling my eyes. Levi dropped me off but before I got out the car he informed me about my surprise.

He smiled. "Your surprise is in your room."

I grinned. "Aw thank you, Levi. You didn't have to give me anything."

"I know, I know but I wanted to."

I leaned over and gave him a hug. I stepped out the car and all but ran to my room. The last time I saw Levi so happy was when he pranked me back in the fourth garde. As I'm walking down the hall to my room, my phone rang.

I glanced at it and it and it was Jayce.

"What do you want?"

"Still in a fiesty mood, I see."

I rolled my eyes again. "Yeah thanks to you."

He chuckled. "I told you just take the money, Mickey."

I pushed the door open and walked inside the pitch black room. "Yeah well I don't wanna- AAAHH!!" I screamed and flinched.

This was so not the way I thought I was gonna die.