HEARTLESS [bws]

Fifteen

---
"This time, don't stare." I wiggle a finger at Brad and he smirks and turns around as I begin to climb back up the pipe. I reach my window and lift it up, then tumble through onto the floor.
"You alright?" Brad shouts.
I ruffle my hair and pick myself back up before throwing a thumbs up sign to him.
"Yeah, I'm cool." Yeah, Jane, you're so cool. "Thanks."
"No problem." Brad smirks and puts his hands in his pockets as he looks up at me.
"B-Brad?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to be like this at school? This nice to me?" I ask.
He doesn't answer. He just turns around and walks away.

Somehow the next few days pass without me and Brad contacting. It's almost as though we've shared a piece of each other that night we hung out at the arena, and we're too awkward to talk about it. We do see each other at school though, and share the occasional glance. It isn't until end of fifth period when we finally bump into each other, although it's not in the way we're expecting it. I'm walking down the corridor, casually chatting with Kirstie about some stupid essay we're set, when someone hits their shoulder against mine as we walk past. Lauren. She pouts and crosses her arms as we stop and confront each other.
"What was your childhood trauma?" She moans, tutting and shaking her head.

{A/N: if you get that quote, please be my best friend forever. Like srsly}

"I think maybe seeing your face has gotta be the best part of my incredible day so far." I smile sarcastically, roll my eyes and turn to walk away, but she taps my shoulder again. I look back.
"You need to stay away from Bradley." She threatens, her eyes squinting so that her slutty pewb-like eyelashes lock together.
"Please. Brad couldn't give a shit about what girl he hangs around. Only what he does with them. And since all you do is fuck and never have a conversation with him, I'm pretty sure I'm on the winning list so far." I'm about to walk away but she suddenly spits at me. What. The. Fuck. Did this hoe just do that? I turn around and flare my nostrils, but Kirstie tugs on my arm.
"What?" I say, turning around to see a black leather jacket crowding my eyesight. I look up to see a pissed off Brad.
"Lauren. You're coming with me." He manages to growl from his clenched teeth. I just bow my head and step aside as he storms forwards, grabbing her arm and yanking her down the corridor.
"Looks like someone's getting killed tonight," Kirstie leans in and says in my ear. "She wouldn't be the first person."
I turn around and glare at her.
"What? Yeah, I know, 'innocent until proven guilty'," she rolls her eyes and we continue down the corridor.

About thirty minutes and one coffee later, I'm waving good bye to Kirstie and flipping out my car keys as I stroll across the pavement to my truck. Before I can even unlock the car, I notice Brad leaning against the door on his phone. I sigh and rush over.
"Hey," he says and steps forwards.
"What do you want?" I ask, exaggeratedly exhaling deeply.
"A ride home?" He asks politely.
"Yeah," I nod once, kind of annoyed at him for no apparent reason. I unlock the car anyway, get in and start the engine. Brad slips in beside me. For the journey to his house, we don't talk, just put on the radio. It isn't until we pull into Brad's driveway that he says something.
"I'm sorry about Lauren." He apologises, though I don't know why he's saying sorry and not the actual bitch who threatened me.
I don't look at Brad when I respond.
"Okay, I'm fine."
I don't feel his gaze leave my face, so I drag my eyes to lock with his.
"Why do you even like her?" I ask. "She's just a desperate slut."
"I don't like her, I like the fact that she's easy. You can't blame me." He looks at his hands.
Silence.
"You should go." My voice is shaky. For some reason, I feel a sense of... unease. Betrayal?
Why the fuck do I feel like this?
Ugh, just get a life, Jane. Stop feeling stupid things over stupid guys.
"Elizabeth-"
"My name is Jane." I cut him off. My voice is now trembling. "And you should really go."
Brad nods once and gets out of the car.
Why does he make me feel like this?
Like I'm worthless.
Like he doesn't even care.
He doesn't.