Page 11 of My Best Friend's Bully

Jordan

It’s a light day, with a short reprieve before my makeup exam tomorrow, so I head to my parents’ place for an overdue visit. I can get some studying done there.

“Oh Jordan, leave the books for a minute,” Mom says, lifting my bag from my shoulder and placing it on the floor. “You’re home, just relax.”

Guilt replaces the weight of the textbooks but I do as she asks, following her into the kitchen where Dad is sitting, coffee in hand.

“Well, this is a nice surprise.” He stands to hug me, and I give him a big squeeze back. With Cole’s dad in the hospital, I’m all too aware of how quickly things can change.

“I missed you guys.” I sit down between the two of them, Mom’s cookies on a plate in front of us, and for the next two hours, I don’t even think about school.

Jordan

It’s nine hours later when I finally put down my pen and close my notebook. I put in a good study session after stuffing my face full of Mom’s cookies. After which she finally relented and let me grab my bookbag before she went to bed. My phone has been oddly silent all day, and I’m worried about Cole. so I schedule an Uber and wait outside. I pull up the neck of my coat to block the biting wind while I wait. Once the Uber arrives, it’s a twenty-minute ride out to Cole’s place, and I bounce the box of cookies I wrapped up for him on my knee to burn off my restless energy.

What if the jerk is there?

My skin flushes hot under my scarf. I yank it off and toss it on the seat beside me, wishing the driver would play some music to distract me. Before I know it, we’re pulling up the driveway to Cole’s place. I’ve been there so many times it feels like a second home to me, but tonight, I knock on the door instead of barging in. FaerieBeast’s barks echo from inside, her paws thumping against the door as she jumps on it. Then, heavy footsteps.

“Hurry up, Cole. It’s freezing out here!” I bounce on my toes, waiting for the door to open. Really, I should’ve just barged in.

The door swings open and I’m about to step in when I notice it’s not Cole at the door.

Chapter 6

Tyson

Thepoundingatthedoor tugs me begrudgingly away from my laptop. I pinch my temples between my fingers and groan. My train of thought is broken, severed by the knocking and now fervent barking of FaerieBeast. What kind of name is that, anyway? I get up and pull on a T-shirt before bounding down the stairs to investigate this intruder of my thoughts. I hadn’t noticed how cold and dark the house had become, as I lost track of time working while the sun set around me.

“Easy there, killer,” I say to the little dog, scooping her up in my arms. Immediately distracted from guard duty, she licks my cheek and I have to fight back a laugh. “Let’s see who it is, then you and I can get some dinner.”

Dog in hand, I yank open the door, ready to tell whoever is on the other side that ‘we’re not interested’. Snow is beginning to fall, the first of the year. It swirls in the porch light, lazy, fat flakes drifting down and melting before they stick. Before I can shoo the intruder, who do I find standing there? Cole’s bimbo. She nearly bowls me over before looking up, and I get the pleasure of watching her face turn white, then pink. She seems stunned and at a loss for words, so I start.

“Why don’t you ever call to check before coming over here?” I ask. “Cole’s not here. So, you should probably go home.”

She looks back out through the door as we both watch the Uber drive away, its tail lights disappearing around the corner. The lumpy backpack slung over her shoulder looks well worn, and the fraying strap looks like it’s going to snap under the heavy load of whatever is inside.

“Before you started squatting here, I didn’t need permission to come over and wait. I didn’t even have to knock. I have my own key.” She pulls a ring of keys from her pocket and thrusts it toward my face.

“Fine, you can come in while you schedule another ride home. Just don’t get too comfortable.”

“Thanks,” she says, kicking off her boots in the entryway.

I set FaerieBeast down on the floor and she’s immediately all over the girl, jumping and licking like they’re best friends.Traitor.She hangs her coat on the hook by the door and flicks the light switch on, bringing the room to life.

“What are you, some kind of vampire?” she asks, padding off down the hall toward the kitchen with FaerieBeast at her heels.

So much for not making herself comfortable. I follow her into the kitchen, unable to deny myself the thoughts I’ve been having about her in the hours since I met her. Seeing her again, I am reminded why. She’s a beautiful girl, and the fire crackling behind those chocolate-brown eyes emits a liveliness that brings her beauty to life. Such a shame that she’s Cole’s.

“I’m making coffee.” She doesn’t offer me some, but she sets out a second mug and I’m the only other one here, so I get the message. It’s obvious she’s spent a lot of time here as she moves around the kitchen finding everything on her first try. In a moment, the coffee maker is bubbling and the smell of fresh coffee fills the air.

“How long before your ride gets here?” I cross my arms over my chest. It’s not my house, so I can’t kick her out, but I can make it awkward enough that she wants to leave.

She shrugs. “I’ll just wait for Cole to get back, I really need to see him. You’re welcome to go somewhere else, though.”

We stare at each other, neither looking away until FaerieBeast lets out a whine.

“Well, FaerieBeast and I need to eat. Don’t we, girl?” FaerieBeast, the betrayer, does not deign to notice me, too rapt with the adoring attention from the bimbo. Deciding to be the bigger man, I get a bowl from the cupboard and fill it with kibble and set it on the floor. For the first time since the knock on the door she notices me. “You’re welcome.”

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