Page 72 of Our Forever Starts Tonight

“Gross, continue,” I said.

“But when it came to dating, we just struggled. It wasn’t that he didn’t want it or that I didn’t, I think we just both realized it wasn’t movie love. It was the kind of love that takes hard work. Constant attention. Regular tweaks and checkups, and we were still both in that romanticized place where we felt like, because things didn’t come along smooth sailing, that it meant we weren’t meant to be together. We decided not to date, and then we graduated and moved on. I actually looked him up on social media not too terribly long ago, and he’s married with kids.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me that story? Just because you looked him up? I mean, it’s not like dad is still around, or that you were even together when he was.”

“No. I wasn’t going to tell you because, to this day, I believe from the bottom of my heart that he was my soulmate.” It covered me with goosebumps and gave me a rare insight into my parents’ relationship that I wasn’t expecting. “I loved your father, don’t get me wrong, and it broke me up when we couldn’t make it work, but I think that’s why we didn’t work out and why I’ve never had any serious relationships since.” She pet her hand along my hair. “Sometimes love isn’t like you see in the movies or read in books. In fact, I daresay it’s rarely that. You and Tristan were both very fractured people who suffered a lot of trauma in your own ways. If you decide to forgive him and see past everything that’s happened—and I’m not saying you should one way or the other—I need you to know that your love can be just as beautiful even if it isn't all sparkles and rainbows. Learn how to see things from one another’s point of view and don’t be afraid of the work it may take. Hard and hard work are different.”

“Thanks mama.” I set my head on her shoulder. “He wanted to meet up tonight, but I think I’m just going to sleep on it.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” she said.

“You give really good advice,” I said.

She gave me a light swat. “Yeah. When you turn down the angst, you’ll find I’m actually quite useful.”

“I love you,” I said.

She set her head on top of mine. “I love you too, sweet girl.”

30

Tristan

Aria hadn’t called me for the rest of the weekend, so to say I was discouraged by the time Monday came around would be an understatement. There was something about the way she responded to me at her house after Hannah and I told her the truth about Lucky that left me with a feeling of unease. If I were to guess, I would say she was still second-guessing me based on how easy it was for her to believe I’d actually sent that photo.

The news about Aria being sent into the slam page wasn’t being talked about as much as I figured it would be, but it didn’t stop pretty much everyone except for my friends for giving me nasty looks as I walked the hallways. How ironic that after months of trying to keep myself from being bullied, I was still being treated like shit, and it wasn’t even for something I actually did.

Is that what they call cruel irony? Or just karma?

Capito sat down at the lunch table and pushed my lunch tray closer to me. “You need to eat. The playoffs are coming up and we’re going to be working extra hard. If you fuck it up, I’m gonna slug you.”

“Aw, I missed you too,” I said flatly, though it was enough of a motivator for me to lift the bland cafeteria food to my mouth and start eating. I didn’t want to run myself into the ground or risk football on top of everything else.

“People are dragging you for that post,” Capito said. “When are you planning on telling people it wasn’t you?”

“What’s the point?” I said. “Aria’s going to suffer for it regardless. At least this way, I can bear some of the weight.”

Capito was mid-bite, but stopped in response to my statement. “Oh wow. That’s actually really sweet.”

I twirled my finger through the air. “Yay. I’ve finally figured it out.”

Hannah sat down next to me. “Warning. Ceradi incoming, and she’s realized that a better stance to take on the Plow the Cow thing is that you’re a horrible person.”

“Of course,” I said, thinking of all of her messages of praise in our group chat. “Whatever. Let her do her worst.”

“Tristan, Tristan, Tristan,” Ceradi started as if on cue. She set her tray down on the table and sat down before looking across at me and shaking her head. “How could you do something like this? I mean it’s harsh even for you. We’re the popular kids, sure, but we’re not cruel. That was just sadistic.”

I felt Hannah rear up in her seat next to me, and for the first time, it was me sticking my arm out to stop her from unnecessarily getting on Ceradi’s bad side. I was a sinking ship. There was no reason to take the whole crew down with me. On top of that, if Ceradi was planning on just bullying me and leaving Aria out of it, that was a much better response than the alternative and I would take it without issue.

“What can I say?” I said. “I’m a terrible person. I learned from the best.”

Ceradi’s feathers were immediately ruffled and she puffed up a little bit before giving me an evil gaze. “Well, you’ll understand if we don’t necessarily want to be associated with someone who’s capable of that sort of vile behavior. I mean, honestly, how could you just blindly torture someone like that?”

“The same way you commented under it mocking her too, Ceradi,” Capito said suddenly, snapping everyone’s attention to him. “Do you honestly think people didn’t see it?”

Ceradi started to stutter and stammer. “People know I’d never—”

“Face it. Everyone in this school thinks we’re all pieces of shit. They want to be one of us, but that’s mostly because you project a very friend-or-foe type attitude, and people would rather be on your side rather than in your crosshairs.”

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