The engine of my Camaro screamed as I pushed the gas pedal to the floor. The speedometer needle climbed past 100, then 120, finally settling at 130 miles per hour. The world outside became a blur of green and gray. The wind whipped through the open windows, roaring in my ears and drowning out my angry thoughts. I drove like that for a long time, letting the speed burn away my frustration until I felt numb.
I finally pulled into my driveway, the tires crunching on the gravel. I killed the engine, and the sudden silence was heavy. I shoved the car door open and slammed it shut with a loud bang that echoed in the quiet evening. I didn't even look back, just marched straight into the house and up the grand staircase, my footsteps loud on the wooden steps.
I went straight to the bathroom, tearing my clothes off and dropping them on the floor one by one until I was standing there completely naked. I yanked the shower door open, twisted the knob to the coldest setting, and stepped in.
A spray of icy water hit my skin, making me gasp. I lifted my hands and pushed my wet hair back from my forehead, then turned my face up into the stinging spray. The cold drops kept hitting my face, washing away the sweat and the lingering anger. As I stood there, my breathing slowed. I realized there was no point being mad about Matt. I'd already handled him without a scratch. The only problem left was Caroline. And I was just so tired of her games.
I got out, dried myself with a rough towel, and wrapped it around my waist. In my room, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a soft, grey t-shirt. My hair was still damp, but I didn't care. I went back downstairs, my bare feet quiet on the cool marble floor.
The kitchen was huge and silent. I opened the massive refrigerator, the light spilling out into the dim room. I grabbed a dark glass bottle and a heavy, shiny glass from the counter. I poured a generous amount of the amber liquid. I took a sip. It tasted like wood and smoke, burning a little on the way down. I carried the glass into the living room and dropped onto the large, plush sofa.
I took another sip, then reached for the remote and turned on the stereo system. A rock song filled the empty space. I leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and just listened. I made a decision right then. I wasn't going to think about any of it—not Matt, not Elena, not Caroline—until tomorrow. For now, I would let the music and the drink end this terrible day.
***
The next morning, the sun was too bright. I parked my Camaro in the school lot and got out, squinting against the light. My pocket started vibrating. I pulled out my Blackberry Bold—it was still 2008, after all, no fancy touchscreens yet.
The screen was flooded. Twenty-three new messages. Ten missed calls. All from Caroline.
I scrolled through them, my annoyance growing with each one.
"OMG I heard what happened! R U ok??"
"Matt's such a jerk! Did he hurt u?"
"Y aren't u answering???"
"Call me back ASAP!"
"I'm so worried!!!!"
"Pls just text me that ur ok."
She knew. Of course she knew everything that happened in school nothing can be hidden from her.I had turned my phone off last night after I got home, completely disconnecting from the world. I'd only turned it on this morning out of habit. Big mistake of mine.
"What a terrible way to start the morning," I muttered to myself. I switched the phone to silent mode and shoved it back into my pocket.
I started walking toward the school's main entrance. And guess who was standing right by the gate, waiting?
Caroline.
She stood with her arms folded tightly across her chest. She was wearing a stylish blue top with long sleeves and tight black jeans, her black bag slung over one shoulder. She looked beautiful, like she always did, but all I felt was a deep sense of trouble.
I kept walking. Her eyes, which had been scanning the crowd, locked onto me. She immediately strode forward, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement.
"There you are!" she said, her voice sharp and demanding. She didn't ask if I was okay. Her face showed no care, only anger. "Why are you not answering my phone? Why didn't you reply to a single message? Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
I stopped walking and looked at her, feeling tired already. "I turned my phone off, Caroline," I paused, then said the words I knew would change everything. "I can handle Matt myself. He's not a problem. The problem is our relationship, and I think I can't continue anymore."
Caroline's mouth fell open. Her eyes widened in shock. "What did you say?" she asked, her voice louder than before. "Say it again!"
I didn't want this scene to be in the middle of everyone. I reached for her hand to guide her to a quieter spot near a large oak tree. "Let's talk over there."
She snatched her hand away from my grip. Her face, usually pale, was now red with anger. She looked like she'd never been rejected before. She pointed a finger at me, her hand shaking.
"Fuck you!" she shouted, her voice ringing across the school grounds. A few students turning to look. "You are nothing but a loser simp! And listen—it is not you who dumps me! It is me who dumps you, loser!"
Anger boiled up in my own chest at her screaming. It was unbearable. I was about to curse back at her, but she had already spun around. She walked away so fast it was almost a run, her back straight with fury.
I breathed in and out slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. Despite the anger, a heavy weight felt like it had been lifted from my shoulders.Finally, I was free from that damn master-servant relationship.
I walked to the school building alone. As I entered the bustling hallway, I saw Caroline at her locker. She turned and saw me. The look she gave me was pure disgust, like I was a piece of trash she'd stepped on. She slammed her locker door shut with a deafening BANG that was so loud it made my ears hurt.
The noise was so sharp that the entire busy hallway stopped for a moment. Everyone wondered who had made such a loud sound. Caroline didn't care. She turned and walked to her class without a backward glance, and the bustling noise slowly started up again.
I also saw Elena and Bonnie at their lockers. They were both looking in the direction Caroline had gone. I could tell from their faces they had guessed something big had just happened between me and Caroline.
Elena happened to open her locker and her eyes met mine. Her expression was confused at first. I tried to give a small, hesitant "hi" with my eyes. But then her eyes turned cold and deeply disappointed. She shut her locker door, turned away, and walked off without a word.
I turned to Bonnie, hoping for something different, but she was also looking at me with cold eyes. She shook her head slightly and turned to follow Elena.
I knew why. They had heard about my fight with Matt yesterday, and now, seeing Caroline's drama today, their impression of me had gotten even worse. A bitter thought crossed my mind. Go to hell, Elena, Bonnie, Caroline. I also don't give a damn about you.