Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt
Rory didn’t call me back last night, or this morning. I have checked my phone over and over all day. I’m starting to drive myself nuts.
“Will you sit down? You’re driving me crazy.” It takes a lot to drive Rocky nuts.
“Sorry, he just said he would call me last night, and then that wench answered when I rang him instead. Why would he lie to me? I’m not that crazy person.” I start pacing again.
“I hate to break it to you, JD, but you are kinda looking crazy right now.”
“Shut up, Levi, you were there and heard him. Something is wrong.”
We’re sitting in our own little group, eating lunch. Maximus is on his phone, headphones over his ears, blocking us out. Levi is bouncing his basketball, Rocky is seated on top of the outdoor table, Mercer straddles the bench seat and I’m walking around the table in circles like a crazy person.
“Fine, I’ll try to call him,” Mercer states. “You’re making me dizzy.” I watch as he holds his phone to his ear.
“Hello… Can you put Rory on, thanks… Hey, man, what’s up?” There’s a pause as Rory speaks. “Yeah I would say so. Yeah last night… If she isn’t, I am, it’s not cool…but Cindy, really? It isn’t me you need to explain this to. We don’t lie to each other and that is what’s upsetting her. She doesn’t give a shit about Cindy or what you two are doing, can you believe that? Because if she were with another dude, beside you guys, I would skin him alive. All she cares about is why you would lie…I don’t want to hear it, Rory…” He listens to Rory for a minute and ends the call.
“So, what did he say?” I ask.
“He will call you and explain.”
Now I’m mad, but I try not to show it. I know Rory and Mercer have known each other for way longer than he has me, but I feel like he is intentionally shutting me out. I don’t understand how Cindy fits into all of this.
The rest of the day drags by. I never stop checking my phone; the only messages I get are from Maximus making sure I’m okay.
Savannah corners me after school and drags me to the girls’ toilets.
“What’s wrong?” I ask her.
She checks to make sure all the stalls are empty. “This,” she says, holding out her phone. There is a picture of Cindy wrapped around Rory. I blink in hopes that I’m not seeing what I think I am, even though I feel my heart sinking in my chest.
“I don’t know why he would lie to me.” I feel the tightness in my chest.
“Cindy is a piece of work, I wouldn’t trust her,” she says, clicking her phone off and shoving it in her bra.
“Still, he could have told me,” I whisper, trying to catch my breath.
“They have been friends since diapers. If she thinks she is under threat of losing him, I don’t know what she could be capable of.”
I nod and gesture for the door. When we walk out, the guys are staring at me, they can tell something is wrong. Mercer stands there clenching his fists, he does this when he is trying to remain calm, Rocky looks like he is about to throw me over his shoulder and run away, Maximus has removed his headphones, Levi steps in front of Savannah blocking her path.
“What just happened in there?” Levi demands, looking at Savannah. She huffs at him, removes her phone again and hands it to him. He swipes the screen, his brows furrow as he takes in what he is looking at. “Why would you show her that?”
“You knew!” I snap. He nods, and I look at the rest of them. “You all knew he was with her and didn’t bother to tell me?” I take them all in one at a time. How could they not tell me? What happened to not lying to each other?
“It’s not our place to tell you,” Rocky says, taking a step forward as I take half a step back. He falters, hurt displayed on his face from my reaction.
“I don’t give a shit; this is not how honesty works. It seems the only open one here is me, the line blurs for you guys because you’ve been friends a long time…You know what? I can’t even right now.” I storm off and I don’t bother looking back.
I don’t have a clue where I’m going but I head towards the car park, hoping I see someone I know with a car.
“Hey, pretty girl, where are you rushing off to?” Mac sidles up next to me. At least he’s someone I know, I can ask him for a lift.
“Anywhere but here.” I continue to walk and he falls in step with me. Mac is harmless.
“Do you need a lift somewhere?” I nod and he leads me to his car. He uses a beeper to unlock it, and we slip inside,
“We need to be quick, the guys won’t be far behind and I’m pissed at them right now.” I know it’s childish racing off with Mac when the guys clearly have some kind of issue with him, but they have an issue with anyone that isn’t one of them.
He throws his car into reverse. “You know, when they find out you left with me they will be pissed.” I look over at him. He screams player, from the way he moves, down to his charm.
“Probably, but that is on them for lying to me. I just want to hang out with someone who doesn’t think they know what’s best for me.”
He smiles, as if he is happy that he can help me out. “How about I take you to get a coffee or milkshake and you tell me about it? Would be nice to have company, I feel like I train so hard I have missed making friends.”
I always see Mac with lots of people so I find it hard to believe he doesn’t have friends. “That sucks.”
“It sure does.”
He takes us to a small café down by the beach. Mac goes to order our milkshakes, and I go find us a seat. My phone is going crazy in my pocket. I take it out and read the messages, all in the group chat.
Maximus: Plz don’t leave with him
Levi: JD, come back right now
Mercer: She just got in the car
Rocky: I will call Mac, JD, and make him drag you back.
Rory: What is going on?
Mercer: JD saw the pics of you and Cindy
Levi: And found out we saw the pictures and didn’t tell her
Rocky: Thanks a lot Rory, screw up the one good thing we have.
Rory: Baby please, it isn’t what it looks like, let me explain, I’m almost there.
Levi: You need to grovel better than that asshat
There are some other messages but I’m too angry to read them. I put my phone away when Mac hands me my milkshake.
“They’re blowing up your phone?” he asks, taking a seat across from me.
“Yeah but they can just give me a minute to breathe.”
So much has happened. This is overwhelming. I love being around the guys and they have made me feel like I’m part of their group, but then something like this happens and it makes me realise I’m really not one of them at all, and I never will be. They have their history, a bond that is so tight they automatically look out for each other first. I understand it, but it doesn’t mean I like it.
He takes a long sip of his milkshake. “They care about you, and I’m probably the wrong person to hide out with.”
“Why? You seem nice enough.”
He laughs, making me feel like I’m missing a huge joke. “Being nice isn’t the issue.” He sighs.
“Care to elaborate? If you don’t tell me I will just ask them.”
He puts his glass on the table and sighs. “Last year, I had sex with Savannah.”
I snort, milk coming out of my nose. I grab a napkin to clean myself up. “I would be grateful you’re still alive.”
I expect him to laugh but he gives me a half smile. “I really liked her, but I was too afraid to tell her. We hooked up at a party. We were both virgins, but I had a reputation of being a player because I tuned a lot of girls. In my defence, who doesn’t like messaging girls? Naomi made it seem like her and I were more than what we were, and Savannah hates me now, so the guys don’t trust me. Rocky tolerates me because of his dad but if I try to explain, he tells me to drop it and move on.”
I nod, knowing this makes it abundantly clear he’s lucky he is still able to do any kind of training. As much as she annoys them all, like a little sister naturally would, they are very protective of their own.
“Have you tried to explain it to her?”
He runs a hand over his head and leans back against his seat. “What’s the point now? I have dreams of going to the Olympics; she doesn’t need to compete with my sport. She deserves someone who will put her first and that isn’t me.”
I never imagined there would be more to Mac than what he shows on the surface. I figured he was one of those transparent guys; what you see is what you get. How wrong was I?
“Aww, that is so damn sweet.”
His face screws up. “Don’t tell anyone, you will ruin my street cred.”
I laugh before finishing off the last of my milkshake. “I don’t know if I would be proud of your street cred, especially if everyone thinks you’re a player.”
The old Mac is back now, I can tell by the look on his face. His armour is back up. Little does he know, he can’t take it back now. I will never unsee that part of him.
“Oh, it’s very much true, I just wasn’t back then. If I can’t have the girl I want then I will just go through the motions until I graduate.” He makes a fair point; no point putting down roots when he plans to leave.
“Fair enough, I can’t judge you.” I rub my temples. How selfish am I? Dating the guys when I could very well leave at any time.
“So it’s true? You’re sleeping with all of them?”
My eyes whip back to his. “No, I’m not sleeping with anyone. We’re having fun, living. You never know when that will be taken away from you.”
He laughs at me, and I realise he just wanted the damn goss and my reaction told him everything he wanted to know. “I think we should be friends, JD.”
“I think you’re right. I could use a friend who isn’t afraid to hurt my feelings and tell me how it is.”
He nods. “I need one who won’t let feelings cloud my judgement, to keep me on track for my dreams.”
I hold out my hand across the table. “Let’s shake on it, friend. We’ll keep each other in line.”
He shakes my hand, and as he pulls his hand back, his phone rings. I watch as he answers. “Yep, sure am.” He ends the call. Within a minute, I know who it was. All four guys storm through the door, Mercer leading the pack. He looks like he wants to murder Mac. Heads turn as they move through the café. I stand and move in front of him.
“Don’t even think about it.” I use all my force against his chest. “He did nothing wrong. Mac is my friend, so you can all deal with it.” The scene unfolding must look insane.
“He is not your friend,” Levi says, taking a stance next to Mercer. If they think having a united front will change things, it won’t.
“Yes, he is.” I fold my hands across my chest now that Mercer seems content to stay where he is.
“You don’t know him, JD, he has done some shady shit,” Rocky adds.
“Thanks, man,” Mac says to Rocky, looking slightly hurt by his comment, and I don’t blame him when all he tries to do is be friends with him.
“Hey, we’re cool, we train together, but when you mess with my girl, shit changes.” This is the first time I have seen a change in Rocky, the fun-loving guy now a protector. As much as this situation is agitating me, my heart melts that he called me his girl.
“He isn’t messing with me. I know about Savannah; how about you all just back off.” Rory hasn’t spoken yet, him and Maximus are standing back, he is smart not to say anything after being with Cindy. “I can pick my own friends. All Mac is guilty of is cheering me up after you all lied to me. He bought me a milkshake and obviously told you where we were. If he was up to something, he wouldn’t have answered your call.” Levi goes to say something, but I stop him. “Thank you for a nice time, Mac, put your number in my phone and I will text you.”
He takes my phone and types in his number. I call his phone, so he has mine. None of the guys say anything, they just watch the exchange between Mac and I.
When I’m finished, I turn and walk out, hoping they all follow me and not turn on Mac.
“JD, wait up. We need to talk,” Rory says from behind me. Standing between all their cars, I turn to face him, my hands on my hips. Seeing him just reminds me of how angry I am.
“Oh, so now we need to talk? I thought before you left yesterday would have been a good time to talk. Oh wait, we did, and you know what you said? You said you would call me. I was worried and then when Cindy answered your phone, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, because I knew there had to be an explanation and that you would tell me. Then…then I have to see a picture of you two all dressed up? It isn’t even that you were with her that’s the problem Rory, it’s that you lied.” I have worked myself up so much that tears start rolling down my face.
“I’m so sorry, I can explain, please just let me explain.”
The other four guys stand slightly back, to give us space.
“Well explain, because from where I’m standing, all I see is lies, and the one thing you guys said was no lies, it’s how your relationship works.” But you’re not one of them.
“Can we go somewhere and talk about this?”
I want to say yes, let’s go, but I can’t.
“I don’t trust myself to be alone with you right now.” I’m defensive and have reason to be. I hate feeling like this. A lone tear pools in my eye and slides down my cheek. I wipe it before he gets a chance to.
“We can take Maximus with us, he is the least likely to choke me out if you cry.”
My heart sinks, if he thinks I will cry then he royally screwed up. I can’t even think about what I will do if he says he slept with her.
“Fine.” I can see in his eyes he is struggling. I need to hear him out.
Mercer steps forward. “Are you sure you’re okay? He can wait if you’re not.”
“I’m fine. I need to know, and if he has been struggling, we need to know and help him through it, even if my heart breaks in the process.”
“We don’t deserve you,” Rocky says, coming up behind me, his large arms going around my mid-section. “I will text you later, dad found out we were at a party and now I have weight training with Mac and Mercer and this will be fun for a change.”
“Mercer, do not smile. Be nice to Mac, I was serious when I said we are friends now.” Judging by the smirk on Mercer’s face, they are going to ride him hard at training.
“I promise not to physically hurt him.” Mercer even makes a cross over his heart. Rocky laughs. Those two are up to something.
“I’m off, call if you need me.” Levi gives me a quick hug.
Rory unlocks his Mustang, Maximus gets in the back and I take the front seat. We drive in silence back to Beth’s. Damien gets excited when we walk in thinking Mercer is here. He storms out of the room when Rory tells him he isn’t with us.
“Are you boys staying for dinner?” Beth asks.
“Yes please, if Maximus wants to stay.” Maximus gives Beth a thumbs up. She smiles at him and calls the kids to help her prepare the food. The three kids run past us and into the kitchen. Maximus and Rory follow me straight to my room; I try to keep as much distance between us as possible.
Maximus sets himself up on the couch, pulling on his headphones and taking out a chemistry book. Rory takes a seat on the opposite couch and I follow.
“I’m sorry, JD.” He places his hand on my knee.
“I believe you are but sorry is just words.” A phrase runs through my head; If you were so sorry you wouldn’t have done it in the first place.
Where the hell did that come from? It’s my own voice.
“Are you all right?” he asks me. “You zoned out.”
“Sorry, I don’t know where I went.”
“After I came to see you yesterday, Cindy called. We had an event, a charity thing. Our parents are close and have tried forcing us together. I tried to date her because it’s what made my mum happy but you’ve met her, she is impossible. Image means everything in our life. Stupid things like these events come with the lifestyle. I should have called, but I felt terrible. Cindy got wasted, and I couldn’t take her home; her father is an asshole, so I took her with me. When we got back to the hotel she passed out, so I went to shower. She must have woken up to answer your call.” He pauses, his eyes pleading with me. “She threatened to tell my mum I was in a weird relationship with you and my friends. I panicked. Mum is already unstable, and finding out I was sharing you with my friends would send her into a total meltdown. She wouldn’t cope knowing how it would make her look.”
“You should have just told me, Rory, because that wasn’t a big deal, honestly. I don’t want to push her out of your life, even if I can’t stand her. I was mad that you lied.”
“I know, I messed up, I’m not used to having a girl who gets it. When I dated Cindy, if I even spoke to another girl she would go mental. She was even jealous of Savannah and tried to ban me from going to visit Maximus, even when I told her Sav didn’t like us like that.” His thumb rubs my knee.
“No, she is in love with Mac, but you buttheads interfered with that.” His face drops and his light strokes on my knee stop. “Yeah, he told me about that.”
I feel better now he has explained himself. Maybe I’m letting him off easy, but this is new to all of us; they need to learn how to function as six, and I need to show them that I’m here for the long haul. That they can trust me, and trust isn’t something they give out easily.
“You have to understand, Savannah was pure. She had a sheltered life. She was around four when we all met her, and she idolised Maximus, so excited to have a big brother. She was the first girl that never judged us for our past. Mac is a player; always has been, no matter what he says. He isn’t good enough for her. He plans to leave next year, and she deserves someone who will stick around and treat her like the princess she is.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “Did he tell you that Maximus beat him up so badly?”
My mouth falls open in shock. I don’t know the details from Maximus’s past, but I know he hates violence. In their group what one person finds a trigger, is how another of them copes. When you put all their pieces together they are one whole.
“He didn’t, though I can only imagine how pissed he was when he found out his sister lost her virginity to an alleged player.”
“So mad. Maximus is the placid one until he isn’t. He hates violence. Savannah didn’t talk to him for a month after finding out he hurt Mac.”
I change the subject back to us since we strayed off topic. “I need you to promise you will be honest with me. I accept there are times you can’t share everything but this isn’t one of those times.” One thing I have found is for some strange reason, I feel like I know every single one of them, so much so I knew Rory was lying, it was this feeling deep down in my gut.
“I promise, from today onwards, I will be open with you. Promise when I do tell you things, you won’t think any different of me? I will always put your needs first, JD, just know that.”
I take his hands in mine. “Nothing you have done in your past or will ever do in the future will make me think any different of you as a person.” I want him to know how much I mean that. He beats himself up about coming from a wealthy family, always feeling like his problems are not as big or as important as everyone else’s.
“Promise.” He looks at me with watery eyes.
“Promise.”