The Love of My Bully

“You’re scaring me.”

“Good,” he said. “You have to be scared to know the truth. They’re not good people. Do you really think they got into this position for fun? Hell no. They got here because they’re fucking assholes.” He slammed his fist against the wall, making her jump from the force of it.

“Drake?”

“I’m sorry. I hate this.”

She put her hand on his back, trying to comfort him.

He pushed her hand away. “No.”

“Drake?”

“I don’t want to even consider this between the two of us.”

“I don’t understand.” She frowned.

“This is hopeless.”

“If it’s so hopeless, why are you we talking about this now? You can’t just give up.”

“But I want to!” He slammed his foot down.

Pru didn’t know what the hell to do. She laughed, then stopped before laughing again. “Okay, so you drag me into the boys’ bathroom to tell me we have no hope. Just because your parents have threatened mine.” She shook her head. “You know what, Drake? If you got what you wanted, fine. Just tell me.”

“What the hell?”

“I mean it. You got me to sleep with you. Congratulations, I fell for you, and I fell hard, but don’t try to make me think that your parents have this amazing hold on you that will force your hand to let me go. I know you. I’ve been your enemy for a long time, and you don’t allow anyone to stand in your way or to take from you!” She couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was all a little too much for her right now. She’d been hoping to see him, to know the truth so they could work together, but he was too scared to even take a chance with her. She didn’t know how there was even a way or any possible chance for them to be together if he was too determined to fight it.

“You don’t understand.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“My parents will hurt you.”

“So what?” she yelled and Drake jerked back. “Do you think this is easy for me? After everything that went down with your disgusting parents. The way they treated me. Do you really think I want this for myself?” She shook her head. “Of course, I don’t, but I took it because I knew I wanted you. Now you’re saying I’m not good enough to fight when all of our lives, all we’ve been doing is fighting. Just admit the truth. Tell me you used me to get my virginity. To push me aside.”

He stared at her without saying a word.

She wiped at the tears.

Still … nothing.

She didn’t know how much more she could take.

“Pru,” he said.

She waited.

They could be interrupted at any moment, and still, he said nothing.

“Being with you was the best thing of my life. You’ve made me realize what a bastard I’ve been, and that’s exactly what I am,” he said.

“What?”

“A bastard.”

“No, you’re not.”

“No, you don’t understand and I can’t tell you the truth.”

She watched as he repeatedly ran his fingers through his hair.

“Drake, what’s going on? Really?”

He shook his head. “It’s over, Pru. That’s what is going on. I’m done with this. I don’t want to feel guilty about what’s going to happen, and you and I, we’re done.”

“Like that?”

“Exactly like that.”

Neither of them spoke. She stared at him, waiting. Again, he did nothing. Just watched her, and she knew it was over between them.

“I can’t be with you and we’re fooling ourselves. You and I, we’re done. I don’t want you.”

She nodded and wiped at the tears again. “Okay. You’re going to let them win.”

“It’s not about letting them win, Pru. It’s about doing what is right.”

“Really? And you’re doing what is right?”

“Yes.”

“If that’s the way you feel.”

He nodded.

She did the same, nibbling on her lip. “Fine. Then you can stop pulling me into the bathroom. I don’t want to see you again or have anything to do with you. You and I are done.” She walked past him.

Drake didn’t stop her from leaving.

Once outside the bathroom, she didn’t know what else to do. People stood outside their lockers and all of them looked happy. She shouldn’t care. She should have expected something like this to happen, but she couldn’t have known this would. How could she have ever planned for something like this?

Drake didn’t want her. She had to move on.

She heard the door open and glanced behind her to see Drake standing there. He had this cocky look on his face, and she wanted to hate him, but she knew what kind of man he really was, and he was giving up.

There was no way she was staying in school. Not today. Not after what just happened. She had to get away from the school, from him. Without looking back, she walked right out of the main doors just as Sean entered.

“Pru, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Where are you going?” Sean asked, following her.