Scars

Chapter Three - New & Old Faces

Chapter Three - New & Old Face

Time seemed to come to an abrupt halt as Cori met the confused gaze of the man before her, the guy who built her up then tore her straight down further than she had ever thought possible. Of course she had fantasized this moment of casually bumping into him but she never imagined it would be like this or that she would hesitate; she never even imagined that he would look so different. The last five years had been kind to him as he looked much more mature with a perfectly defined jawline and short tousled hair, it was evident that his body had become much more toned under his white button up shirt, he had even managed to get a few inches taller as he stood at least a foot taller than her. This was not at all how she had imagined their reunion, she nearly found it humorous that now that she had started to overcome her past and move forward, he had returned to tear her down again just by appearing before her. However, she found no humor in the situation seeing as she was far too shocked; it hadn't even occurred to her that he existed outside of her past yet here he stood fully matured and even more attractive.

“Wait, you two know each other,” Liv asked looking from Colton to Cori.

“I, um . . .” Cori found herself at a complete loss for words.

Colton tilted his head curiously. “Didn’t we go to high school together?”

She felt a sting of pain in her chest. That’s all he remembered?! “Um, yeah, maybe.”

He frowned and leaned in towards her causing her to hold her breath as she suddenly felt immensely insecure and her anxieties began to flare up. “I know I’ve seen you before but I can’t put my finger on it.”

She resisted the urge to turn away to avoid his gaze. “Probably just in passing.”

He slowly shook his head as he stared at her in deep concentration. “It was more than that, though I can’t imagine how I’d forget such a pretty face.”

Anger sparked within her as she scowled at him. “Excuse me,” she muttered before turning on her heels and pushing through the crowd of party goers hearing Liv call after her but she refused to stop. How could he have forgotten her? She knew she had just been a pawn to him but she had at least expected him to remember her.

She felt a hand grasp her shoulder and spin her around.

“What the hell, Cori,” Liv demanded. “What just happened?!”

“That was Colton Hanes,” Cori snapped much more harshly than she intended.

“Yes I kn- Wait . . . You mean . . . You mean your high school boyfriend.”

“The one who tore me apart, used me and dumped me? Yes,” she muttered coldly, feeling her head spin more painfully causing her vision to blur from the alcohol.

“Shit, I’m so sorry, Cori. I wouldn’t have- If I had known I wouldn’t have . . . Oh my god,” Liv seemed panicked as she rambled.

Cori sighed. “Look, who Jeremy friends with doesn't effect anything. Alright? I . . . I just want to go home. Okay?”

She nodded. “I’ll take you home.”

“That isn’t-”

“I’m taking you home. You are way too drunk to be driving anywhere. Let me just tell Jeremy,” she insisted before rushing off into the crowd.

Cori sighed and leaned her back against the wall. She was well aware she was in no condition to be driving but as much as she loved Liv, she was also in no mood to be talking to anyone. After a few moments of waiting, she felt her temper boiling over with impatience, the music was making her even more dizzer as the beat pounded on her mind and the heat radiating from the sea of people was suffocating, with a huff of frustration she left out the back door and stormed out angrily. Where exactly she intended to go hadn’t crossed her mind as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it without hesitation and walked along the road breathing in the crisp summer air to clear her mind. She wasn't sure how long she had been walking but she soon found herself in downtown Boston, balancing herself on the curb of the sidewalk while on her third cigarette.