Page 125 of Scrimmage

Why the fuck was she with that fucking sniveling prick? She could have shown up with Penny. I settle onto the cool metal bench and let all of that shit bury me. I let Ashland haunt me for a little while. I don’t know how much time passes while I stare into space, at least a few hours, but I’m brought back when the door squeaks open.

“You made bail,” a woman in uniform says gruffly.

I didn’t call our father, or anyone. I didn’t even think about it, and I know Alexi won’t come for me. Not after this.

I follow her out, collecting my things, then head toward the lobby to be released, and I see who it is that bailed me out. Her pink hair has since been thrown into a braid and she’s in a band tee covered in paint, obviously Penny’s, and my fucking sweatpants.

She doesn’t even look at me. She just leaves. I can’t help myself. I chase after her. We’re in the courtyard by the time I catch up. Her hands are clenched in fists at her side.

I grab her arm and pull her back. “Don’t fucking walk away from me.”

“Get your hand off of me,” she says calmly. There’s fire in her eyes. Being this close to her is debilitating. I can smell her, and it fills me with fucking sorrow. I let her go, only because there are officers hanging around watching us.

“Why were you at that party with Cole?”

“Fuck you. I don’t owe you an explanation. Penny told me not to come get you. I should have fucking listened.”

“Did you bail him out, too?”

She takes a deep breath and glares at me. “Cole is the victim. They’re trying to get him to press fucking charges.”

“Why did you leave?” It’s the question I’ve been wanting to ask.

“Because we weren’t a fucking thing. We agreed. We weren’t supposed to fucking talk, and you pushed it. We are nothing alike. We never will be. We’re nothing.”

“Cole was fucking wrong,” I blurt. “He was wrong. I should have said it then.”

“I know, but you didn’t. You called Stephanie instead.” She said her fucking name. She fucking said it. “You didn’t say anything until you saw Cole with me, and you fucking hit him in the face. Goodnight, Armory. I won’t do this again.”

She turns and storms off in the direction of her house. I yank on my hair pacing in circles. I have royally fucked up, and I don’t think I can undo this. She’s making me fucking crazy and reckless. My career is now on the line. I might get suspended. She manipulated me as much as I manipulated her. She effectively has ruined my life, too, and I try to hold onto that as I head home.

Stephanie is waiting at my condo, sans friends, when I get back. I ignore her, unlocking the door and going inside, leaving it open behind me. I might as well fuck Stephanie since Ashland made it a point to tell me she knew. That’s all my future will be, anyways.

“Did you take me to that party to get back at that slut?” she asks in her winy voice. Guess we won’t be fucking.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I grab a beer from the fridge and open it, gulping it down until I crush the empty can and toss it into the bin, grabbing another. I’m going to clear this fridge tonight. It’s the only way I’ll be able to bring myself to bang Stephanie.

“Something about ‘you’re just a replacement’.” She glares. “Is that what I am, too? Am I just a replacement?”

“You can’t possibly think you’re the only girl that I see.”

“Is that why you dropped me? You were fuckingher? She’s beneath you, Koda. Look at her. She’s trailer trash,” Stephanie goes on.

“Jesus, Stephanie, do you ever shut the fuck up?”

“Wh-what?” Her eyes widen with surprise and immediately fill with emotion fueled tears, per fucking usual.

I give her an angry chuckle. “You sure have a lot of shit to say about Ashland, but you won’t even look inside of yourself. You’re shallow and goddamn annoying. Why is it that you come to me every time I ask? It can’t be because you’re orgasming, because I won’t even touch you. I know I’m not. You’re more of a slut than she ever will be. All you do is chase fame. How many guys on the team have been inside of you? ‘Cause I know it’s more than half. You want a fucking meal ticket."

“That’s not true,” she cries.

“You want to know something about Ashland? She’s got real fucking thoughts in her head. There’s a real person in there. She’s fucking funny, and she stands up for what she believes in, something people like us are afraid to do. She speaks for people who can’t speak for themselves, and not because it’ll help her trophy wife status someday. So don’t talk about shit that you don’t know about. It makes you look stupid. Don’t ever fucking talk about her like that again.”

“What is wrong with you?” she sniffles.

“Right now? You. Now get the fuck out. I’ll call you when I’m bored.”

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