Chapter 12- Ditching School With The Bad Boy (Part 2)

After finishing and paying for our meal we left the little diner. I have to say Brody was completely right, the food was pretty good. As you can imagine I continued fishing for more information while we ate our lunch but unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to get anything useful. Hmm...I guess I'll just have to try harder. Once we were inside the car Brody's phone went off and he began texting someone.

"So other than school did you have any other plans for the day?" He asks me not looking from his once.

"No." I reply shaking my head.

Why? I wonder what he's up to.

"Good." He says finishing up whatever he was doing on his phone and putting it away. "Because we have plans."

"What kind of plans?" I ask as he pulls into the road away from the diner.

"The fun kind." He smirks without looking at me.

I began to feel a little worried. His kind of fun is not usually my kind of fun. What is he dragging me into? On lord please don't be something illegal. It can't go on my record. I've never even had so much as a detention on there and I don't plan on putting anything on it now.

The rest of the ride we hardly spoke. It was more of a comfortable silence than anything. While he drove I thought of more questions I could ask Brody without seeming suspicious. If he knows I'm on to him he'll hide things more and that wouldn't get me anywhere.

A few minutes later we pulled up to a woodsy secluded area. Uh...why were we here? I looked around at our surroundings and found nothing familiar to me. I don't think I've ever been here. It seems like one of those places where murders take place and no one can hear your screams. Kind of like those cheesy horror movies I watch but just because their cheesy doesn't mean they're not good though.

The next thing I know Brody is standing next to my open door waiting for me to exit the car. "Are you coming?"

"Y-you know, I'm n-not really an outdoors kind of person." I stuttered feeling a little worried.

"Why?" He smirked. "Scared of a bear catching you?"

What?!? Bears? I forgot all about them. No. No way was I going now. Over my dead body. Which is odd because if I do go that's probably what I'll wind up as. Murderers are one thing but throw in crazy hungry bears...nope. Although the first one alone was enough to make me stay planted in my seat and never move.

He continued smirking as he watched my reaction. "Well?"

"You know I think I'd like to go home."

This time he let out a loud laugh. "I'm kidding. I've been here many times and I've never seen a bear."

"Does my fear amuse you or something? You seem to get your kicks from my reactions." I state rather annoyed.

"Very much." He admits.

I roll my eyes at him and get out of the car. If I can deal with him maybe a bear isn't so scary after all. Either one could kill me. One from annoyance and the other from getting eaten.

"You just need to learn not to get so worked up over stuff." He chuckles closing my door and grabbing my hand. "Don't worry I won't let anything happen to you."

I ignore the comfort and pleasure it gives me to have his hand wrapped around mine. I refuse to let it get to me right now. I've got more important things to focus on. Like what exactly I've gotten myself into. 'Just focus on the bears Farrah. That won't make you think about Brody. Mean flesh eating bears.'

Unconsciously I squeeze Brody's hand tighter and lean in closer to him as we walk. What am I doing? Why did I ever agree to spend the day with him again?

'Oh I don't know maybe because the adventure that IS Brody Bauer excites you.'

'It does not!'

'Yes it does. Just admit that you like him already.'

'I do not!' I groan at the internal battle I'm having with myself.

"What?" Brody asks as he leads us deeper into the woods.

"What do you mean?"

"You just- never mind." He chuckles shaking his head at me.

Oh gosh. I think I just said that out loud. Great now he probably thinks something is wrong with me, like more than normal. I sigh at myself. I'm all kinds of crazy. It's a wonder I even got Blake. The thought of him makes me feel that same familiar pain again that I thought was healing. I guess I was wrong. When will I be over him already? I'm sick of thinking about him all the time. I just want to forget!

Brody and I walk for another few minutes and just as I was about to ask where we are going I hear music booming from somewhere. What is this? A party or something in the woods?

"Come on." He smiles and pulls on my hand to follow him.

Oh Brody, what are you dragging me to? About a minute later I hear people talking and laughing and see a few guys sitting around the lake. I couldn't tell who any of them were since they had their back to us but I'm pretty sure they were Brody's friends.

"Hey man." One of them shouts when they spotted Brody and me.

That seemed to get all their attention.

"Hey." Brody replies still pulling me along until we were standing right next to them.

Kyle, Jake and Thomas stood from their chairs and smirked when their eyes landed on me. I was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. What with the look? Their eyes flashed back to Brody but their expressions didn't change.

"You brought the nun." Thomas says looking between me and Brody.

Nun? What was that suppose to mean? I'm not a nun.

'I don't think he meant a literal nun Farrah. Think.'

Oh right. Wait! What do they know about me?

"Hey Farrah." Kyle winks.

I can't help but blush a little. I'm not used to being flirted with. Well except for Brody. I can't believe he did that right in front of him.

Brody wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him as if giving off a silent warning. "She's with me."

Wow possessive much? That seemed to be some secret code between the guys and they backed off which made me feel a little better. Why do I feel like I just stepped on enemy territory? This was not my turf. I feel so out of place here.

Thomas bent down and picked up a beer from the cooler and opened it. "I invited Sarah." He says before taking a drink.

I wonder if this is one of their male bonding things or whatever you want to call it? I'm surprised Brody even invited me to guy hang out. I guess this is where they get together and do....whatever it is they do.

"We've invited a few people to." Jake adds.

"How many are we expecting?" Brody smiles.

"Most of the senior class and a few freshman girls." Kyle pips in. "They're so gullible."

"Yeah and Joey is bring more alcohol." Thomas says. "He's bringing a few of his college friends to."

Oh my gosh I was right before, this was a party! I'm at a party...well I will be. I can't be at a party, with what I assume will be drugs and alcohol. Oh and let's not forget the college guys. It's just not me and what if we get caught I'll go to jail. I can see it all now. Officer you see the bad boy....ok here I go again. 'Just relax Farrah. Brody's right you are uptight.'

Wait, did I just think that about myself? What's wrong with me? Am I'm already inhaling some unknown drug that's messing with my head? Oh no I'm high aren't I? My parents will kill me.

"School lets out early today. I told everyone to be here at two." Thomas states.

"Getting started early are we?" Brody smirks.

Jake nods. "You know it. What a better way to start off the weekend."

"Plus we will get the pick of the girls." Thomas smiles.

"I thought you invited Sarah?" Kyle asks him.

Yeah I did to. Isn't that his girlfriend? Or flavor of the week I guess I should say.

"There is plenty of me to go around beside we're not serious." He laughs.

I was feeling really uncomfortable just being part of this conversation. I really didn't want to be here especially when they were talking about girls like that.

"What's wrong with your girl?" Thomas asks and turn to smirk at me. "Cat got your tongue?

"Don't bother her. She's new to all of this." Brody defends me.

What? Brody just defended me? That's a first. I mean isn't he worried what his friends will think? Maybe I'm reading too much into this.

"Oh right you go for the innocent one's." He chuckles which earns him a punch in the arm from Brody.

"Aw man." He laughs.

I raise an eyebrow to him. "What's that suppose to mean?"

Brody quickly shakes his head and pulls me away from the guys. "Nothing he's just being stupid."

"Yeah right, what does it mean?" I ask again.

"Nothing." He says. "You ask to many questions."

I take it I'm not going to get an answer so I'll just leave that up to Nancy. She'll find out. Right now I just need to focus on getting through this party. I can't believe I skipped a day of school to hang out with the bad boy. I mean isn't it ironic that I missed the drug assembly just come to a party with probably drugs involved. I am way out of my comfort zone. Oh how I wish I was home right now watching Silent Hill with a bowl of popcorn. I guess I'll just have to watch it the next time my parents go out of town.

"You're over thinking things again. You need to learn to just relax." Brody states.

I stop in my tracks and turn to him. "Why did you bring me here?"

"Because you need to have some fun."

"Not the illegal kind." I state.

He sighs. "Here we go."

"What?"

"We have parties like this all the time. We're not going to get caught and even if we do Thomas's brother is on the force he'll get us out of it." He says.

'That makes everything better.' I think sarcastically to myself.

"Look." He says taking a step closer to me and placing his hands on my now crossed arms. "Stay until at least eight. If your not have the time of your life I'll take you home."

His eyes meet mine with a convincing look. He doesn't release me until I answer him. My head is screaming no but my lips are saying yes. Why do I feel the need to make him happy? Am I crazy?

"Fine." I sigh. "I'll stay....but only until eight."

He smiles at me and that automatically makes me happier. "I knew you'd say yes."

Wait...so now he's manipulating me? How did he know I would agree? I don't like that he has me all figured out like that. It makes him scary. Not that I'm afraid of him but what he'll be able to convince me to do next.

'Admit it, you like the danger. That's why you're still with him.' My subconscious shouts.

'Is not! We had a deal that the only reason I'm still doing this.' I argue with myself.

'Sure keep telling yourself that.'

Ugh I wish my mind would just be quiet for once. I am not into the bad boy nor do I like his dangerous aura.

I break out of my thoughts when I hear a bunch of new voices joining the party. I look about twenty feet way and see Sarah Griffith and her friends walking out of the woods to meet everyone. Brody was long gone by this point and already over their talking to them. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. They were all his type of girls. The really confident and fun, pretty ones. Why couldn't I be more like that? I'm always afraid to afraid to try anything remotely crazy.

I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket and pulling it out. Olivia's name flashed across my screen. 

"Hello?"

"Enjoying your day off?" She asks.

"I'm with Brody." I reply. "Does that answer your question?"

She sighs. "Well it has to be better than school. Hey, Grace and were thinking of catching a matinee at the theater, wanna join us?"

I instantly felt awful. I knew I was going to have to skip out on them. I had obligations today with the bad boy that I knew he wouldn't let me out of. 

"I'm so sorry. I can't. I've got other plans." 

"Oh?" She sounds curious.

Then I got an idea. "Hey, why don't you join me? Anyone up for a party?"

"Party?!?!" Graces voice over the phone is ecstatic. Olivia must have had me on speaker. "We'll be there."

"Fare, I'm afraid I have some bad news," Grace says sadly.

I'm cautious. "What?"

How much worse could it really get? I mean after Blake cheated on me I thought things couldn't be any worse and really they haven't.

"It's about Blake," Olivia says.

Of course it is. It always is? Bad news and his name seemed to go hand in hand. 

"What about him?"

"He's dating Megan now. It's official," Grace answers.

My heart drops. What? No. That can't be right. I heard what Blake told her the other night at the game. He wanted nothing to do with her. How did that change so quickly?

"I'm sorry, Fare." Olivia says sympathetically.

I chuckled humorously. "You must be wrong. He doesn't like her like that. I heard him say so myself."

"It's true Farrah. They were all over each other in the hallway today." Grace interrupts.

My heart drop even further now. He's really with her? Why? Is he trying to hurt me more than he already has? I don't get it.

"Where's this party? We're coming to find you."

"Olivia, I'm fine." I lied.

"No you're not, Farrah. I know you." Olivia replies. "Even though he hurt you, you still love him."

I didn't know what to say. She was exactly right. It was killing me that he was with her. It was enough that it happened behind my back now he's going to be all over her in public to? I don't know if I can handle that. The only reason I've been making it so far is because I didn't have to see it every day but now it will just be a constant reminder of what happened and I can't act like it doesn't bother me. I'm not even supposed to know they were going behind my back in the first place.

"Well at least now I can be mad at her to her face." I state.

"No you can't because technically, as far as they know, you cheated on him not the other way around. You will have no reason to be mad if they think you really like Brody." She says.

Oh crap. She was right. I still have to be ok with it. No. No I can't. I won't. I can't keep this a secret anymore. I need to tell him I know. I need answers from him now. Why he did it and how he thought he could get away with it.

"I have to tell them the truth."

"Are you sure?" She asks. "I think they might be doing this just to get a reaction out of you."

"I'm pretty sure."

"Look don't so anything stupid ok? Just think about it for the rest of the day before you confront them. Then if you still want to lash out, and come clean, we'll be there with you." Grace says.

Well...I suppose that will be ok. It's just thinking. Besides Brody is better at dealing with this kind of thing than I am. Maybe I should ask him about it first. He'll know what to do.

"Okay." I reply.

"Good. Now where are you?"

I look around at the scene before me and realize how true that was. Even more people had began to show up and I didn't know any of them very well. True I had seen most of them around school but that was about it. A few people had come with sleeping bags and were setting them up and I knew what those would be used for and no it wasn't sleeping. Oh well as long as I don't wind up in one of them I'm fine.

"Brody and his friends planned this party at the lake. I'll text you the directions okay?"

"Ok. Send them over and we'll be on our way."

I hang up and quickly send her the directions, the best I remembered, and hoped she didn't get lost. Let's just hope she didn't wind up in the middle of nowhere. Well technically I guess this was in the middle of nowhere but I meant somewhere else in the middle of nowhere, if you know what I mean. 

"Hey." Brody says walking over to me just as I'm putting up my phone.

"Hey." I reply with a forced smile.

"What's wrong?" He asks watching me.

"What do you mean?"

"The fake smile." He hints. "I saw right through it."

I sigh, nothing gets by him. "Our plan is failing. He's with her now."

He doesn't look the least bit phased. "Of course he is. He's trying to make you jealous by getting with your best friend. He'll stop at nothing."

"Ex best friend." I corrected.

"Yes, but they don't know that. Although she is probably suspicious since you've pushed her away." He states.

"What?" I say rather irritated. "Are you suggesting I let her back in?"

He holds his hands up in defense. "I'll I'm saying is you need to be convincing on all counts."

He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand how hard it is to be nice to her after what she's done. Every time I see her I think of that video. It's like it on replay the whole time.

"I'm trying." I state.

"Try harder."

"It's just now that every time I see them I want to rip some ones head off or cry." I say trying not to break down at that very moment.

Brody puts his hands on my shoulders and faces me away from him to show me the scene before us. Some people are in their swim suits playing chicken in the water, some are drinking, while others are dancing. All in all they looked like they were having fun, especially the screaming girl with the costume tiara on.

"This is a really good excuse to go out there and have some fun. You need it. Forget about them for one day. You can go back to sulking tomorrow if that's what you want." He says with hands still on shoulders from behind.

"What about if I see them? After all the whole class was invited here." I remind him.

"Then grab a drink." He smiles handing me a red solo cup. "And forget your worries. If you it really starts to bother you then I'll be close by you the whole night. Just find me."

Well I guess I could try to have some fun. It's better than being sad about something I can't change right? Although the drinking I think I'll do without. I've never had a drink in my life but I hear it makes you act stupid. Well that's what I gather from the movies and shows I've seen anyway.

"And don't forget you can use me to forget them to." He smirks.

I smile at his attempt to cheer me up. I know he's trying so I guess I can do the same thing as well.

"Perv." I laugh while slapping him on the shoulder.

He laughs and turns away from me in an act to defend himself."You're not even drinking and you've resorted to violence."

I roll my eyes at him and hand back the cup."Is there anything non alcoholic to drink?"

"Yes miss no fun ever. It's over there." He says pointing to a cooler of drinks.

"Thank you." I smile walking off.

I find a blue cooler full of sodas just as Brody said and pulled one out and opened it. The cool liquid streamed down my throat quenching my thirst. I didn't realize how thirsty I was. As I continued drinking it I watch everyone around me. Some girls are screaming and laughing from the water and the guys on the other side of the lake are drinking and making jokes about something. Just one time want to have fun too. Act care free like everyone here. I want to do something that doesn't include studying or school. I want to have fun like they do on those "so called" reality shows.

"Aren't you Brody's girlfriend?" Sarah asks walking towards me after getting out of the water.

She opens the cooler and takes out a drink. I guess she wouldn't know me. We are in different crowds. She hangs out with the bad boy crowed while I'm....well not.

I smiled politely at her. "Yeah, I'm Farrah."

"Sarah." She introduces herself and chuckles. "Our names Rhyme."

"So they do." I laugh.

I didn't really know anything about her other than her rep with being with a lot of the guys but she really didn't seem that bad. I've only known her for about five seconds and I already like her better than Megan. Well I like just about anyone better than Megan but I've never heard of her going behind one of her friends backs with the guy they were with. If she can refrain from that why can't my ex friend?

"Are you getting in the water?" She asks.

"No I didn't bring a suit."

"Well I have and extra if you want it. I brought it for a friend since it's her birthday but she already had it so I'm getting her something else. I've still got it in the bag if you're interested."

I guess that would explain the girl with the birthday tiara on I saw earlier.

"I don't know."

"So it's better to stand around looking like you're puppy just got ran over?" She laughs. "Come on it's a party."

She waits on my answer but I'm still unsure. I wasn't even prepared for this thing. My eyes scan the area and see Brody smiling at me. 'Chicken' he mouths. Did he put her up to this? That would explain why she came to talk to me when she never has before.

My phone goes off before I can answer and I see It's a text from Olivia.

Olivia: Hey, we're just getting our swimsuits. Want me to bring yours from my house?

I quickly typed back a reply.

Me: Yes please!

"So you want the suit?" She asks.

"Actually a friend is bringing mine but thanks." I smile.

"No problem." She smiles.

I notice her flash a smile at Brody and instantly wonder what that was about. Does he know her? Well that's a dumb question everyone knows her but does he know her like most guys know her? Something about that bothered me.

'Snap out of it Farrah. Don't go there. You probably won't like it.'

My minds right. I don't need to know nor do I want to. If I did I would be able to think of anything else. She's nice but I have a feeling I would like her a lot less if they had been together.

'Now who's jealous?'

'Am not!'

Forty-five minutes later Olivia and Grace finally show up but they don't look to happy. Ok what's that about? I walk to meet them but neither one of them smiles.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Once we are out of ear shot from people Olivia answers. "Blake's here."

"H-he is?"

Grace nods. "Yeah with Megan."

That stung in my chest. He probably brought her here knowing I would be here.

"He's the reason we knew it was a lake party. He saw us at the service station when we stopped to get gas and asked if we were going." Olivia says.

Then he knew if they were coming I would be here. He is using Megan to get me back, I just know he is.

"I'm sorry Farrah do you want to leave?" She asks.

Do I want to leave? Won't that just send out a message that I'm too weak to handle them being here together? Yeah I think it would. Plus I promised Brody I would stay so no way was I leaving. I'm not letting them get the better of me.

"No." I say shaking my head. "We're going to have some fun."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Brody's right. I need to enjoy the party."

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