I went to the nurse's office hoping Andrew had time to calm down. I appreciated Jace's help, but his anger issues had made my stomach turn. Inside the unusually large medical office, the scent of disinfectant and bandaids hung thick in the air. There sat Andrew on a bed with white sheets, anger evident on his face as he looked up and saw me.
I walked over to him, and he remained silent for a few moments, clearly upset. Finally, he laid everything out, his voice laden with disdain, "Do I mean nothing to you?"
I frowned, trying to put my hand on his, but he moved it away. He let out a weary sigh, "Lucy, I'm exhausted," he said flatly. "I'm so tired of you always choosing Jace."
"It's not like that," I shook my head.
"That psycho beat me to a pulp. He should be behind bars, but it was you who begged me to say nothing," Andrew glared.
"I told my family it was a mugger, but Melody knew the truth," Andrew let out another sigh. "I want to break up."
My eyes widened, and my heart sank. "Don't break up with me," I pleaded. "I'll stay away from Jace. You're right about him." I took a step closer, but he pushed me away and stood up.
"I want you, but that's not enough. Look how he humiliated me today. I'm so tired of being humiliated, Lucy," he shook his head in disgust. "Jace will never treat you as well as I treat you. He's an unpredictable animal," Andrew told me.
"I know," I looked down at my shoes. "I know, and I'm sorry. It was just a misunderstanding." I looked up at him. "Just give me another chance, and I swear I won't hurt you again. If Jace hits you again, we can press charges. In fact, let's call your dad and press charges now." I looked at him with worried eyes. "I'll even testify about what happened before."
Andrew stared at me for a moment. "You bring out the worst in me, you know that? I've never met someone so indecisive and wrong for me," Andrew's words pierced through me like glass, each one a painful truth.
"I'll change," I told him, not wanting to let go. These past few months, I'd grown closer to Andrew than I'd ever been to Jace. I felt terrible about getting sidetracked by Jace, angry that he kept getting in the way of Andrew and me.
"You could never change," Andrew shook his head as he walked away,
I implored, "Andrew, please don't leave. Don't end our relationship... I love you." The words tumbled out, and he came to a halt.
He turned his head, "So, that was the trick? Treat you poorly, and then you'd want me? You have problems, Lucy," he said calmly, rejecting my confession. It was the first time I'd ever told anyone that I loved them.
My throat swelled, and tears streamed down my face.
The bell for class rang, and the nurse entered, asking if I was okay. I nodded, wiped my tears, and stepped into the hallway.
I absentmindedly doodled in my English book, catching the teacher's attention. "This is English Lit. If you're not interested, you can leave," he frowned. I offered an apologetic smile.
"Sorry," I murmured.
Gazing out of the window, I saw Andrew with a big smile on his face, wearing his soccer uniform. But when his eyes met mine, his smile vanished, replaced by irritation. He turned away, doing a mini jog to the field.
I sighed, and finally, the lunch bell rang.
Sitting alone, I didn't feel like eating, so I immersed myself in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Previously, I had sympathized with Darcy and found Elizabeth too harsh. Now, with a new perspective, I realized my judgment might be flawed.
"Is this your English Lit book?" Jace's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up.
"Andrew broke up with me because of you," I blurted out.
"Well he did hit you, it should've been the other way around," Jace shook his head.
"Again, an accident. But if I were to blame someone, it would be you." I accused.
"Me?" He asked, flabbergasted.
"Yes, you." I began packing my things into my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder as I walked away.
"Where are you going?" He followed me.
I turned around, "You always fight with Andrew, humiliate him. You're such a jerk. I should have taken Andrew's side and put an animal like you behind bars. Enjoy your fake reinvention where you still have anger issues and hurt Andrew. You've been hurting him since the day you met him, and you haven't even apologized once. You're a bad person, Jace, a selfish human being who only cares about yourself. You have a girlfriend," I paused, "and you talk to me."
"You don't know the full story," Jace said softly.
"I don't want to know the whole story, Jace. I want nothing to do with you. I just want you to leave me alone." I shook my head and walked off.
I went to sit by the bleachers and watched Andrew play soccer. He was pretty good, better than I'd known. He seemed to be enjoying himself.
I sighed, realizing I needed to talk to him, to apologize. Looking back in Andrew's shoes made me feel like an even worse girlfriend.
"What are you doing here?" Melody's hateful voice interrupted my thoughts.
I shook my head, "I'll go." I said agreeably.
As I got up to leave, Melody grabbed me by the hair, her grip tightened, her fingers entangling in my hair as she said. "Jace follows you everywhere," holding my scalp tightly. "Did I mention I'd hurt you if you broke my brother's heart?" Being significantly taller, she shoved me to the ground.
"Melody!" Jace's shout brought him rushing over to us. From the corner of my eye, I saw a figure charging, headbutting Jace before he could reach Melody. Jace fell, and I looked up to see Andrew, blood trickling from his head.
I got up hastily, and I saw Jace, who was now unconscious. I gasped.
I turned to Andrew, it looked like a lot of blood was gushing down his face.
Without hesitation, I took off my sweater, pressing it firmly against Andrew's head. In the chaos, I checked on Jace, seeing a teacher tending to him. Then I looked back at Andrew, who was watching me. I got lost in his eyes, and he didn't push me away. He simply watched.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
"I am now," he replied.