Chapter 7
"You think I'm the one causing drama? If you really cared about Aubrey, I'd be cheering you on, wishing you two a lifetime of happiness. But you? You're nothing but a piece of shit," Maya snapped.
"Maya!" Benjamin growled. "I've put up with you for long enough."
He clenched his fists, glaring straight at Maya.
"Benjamin, I've had enough of you too. You're just a selfish jerk who wants everything both ways," Maya fired back.
The Wells family was a rising star in Goldsburg, nowhere near as powerful as the Robertson family.
But Maya kept standing up to Benjamin for me, risking her family's future just to have my back.
Suddenly, the Maya from my past and the one standing here now seemed to blend together.
Back then, when she found out Benjamin was engaged to Martha, she went straight to him, slapped him hard, and threatened to kill him, swearing she'd risk everything to get revenge for me.
But what did I do back then?
I stood against her, snapping, "This is between Benjamin and me. Don't you think you're butting in too much?"
Even now, I could still see the look on her face.
Her eyes widened, stunned and incredulous, staring at me like she couldn't believe what I just said. In the end, she was shaking with anger.
She shot back, "Is Benjamin really worth it?"
I told her, "Yes."
After that, she left the country and never reached out again. That was the end of the only real friendship I ever had with another girl.
Counting it all up, I gave up my family, lost my friends, and even risked my life for Benjamin, yet I never got even the slightest bit of love from him.
Now that I was on the outside looking in, I could finally see who truly cared about me and who never did.
If someone really loved me, they wouldn't let me be hurt. The more I put up with it, the worse they'd treat me.
So when Benjamin tried to keep talking, I didn't even blink.
I grabbed a water bottle from a classmate, twisted off the cap, and hurled the water right at Martha.
Benjamin moved fast, pulling her into his arms to shield her. His white T-shirt was instantly drenched. He shot me a furious glare.
"Aubrey, have you lost your mind?" he snapped.
I raised my eyes, my tone flat and unbothered. "She threw water at me first. I'm just giving it back.
"If you want to play hero for her, that's on you. But now we're square."
With that, I turned on my heel and walked away.
Martha's eyes were rimmed with red, her voice thick with tears.
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you and Aubrey wouldn't be at each other's throats," she choked out.
Benjamin was still pissed. He kicked the white wall and snorted.
"If I'd known she'd end up with such a nasty attitude, I never would've treated her so well," he muttered.
"Let's see if you can go six days without begging me to come to your engagement party," he said.
I paused for a moment, but didn't stop walking.
Maya hurried after me, her tone cautious, almost afraid to ask, "You really don't have feelings for Benjamin anymore?"
'Nope. Not anymore,' I answered, feeling strangely calm.
'Honestly, I should've let go the first time he nearly got me killed when I was seventeen,' I thought. 'I should've never let him have another shot at destroying me.'
Check-in for the long-run race was about to begin.
Just as I got near the track, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
George, who'd been radio silent, finally replied to my message. [Look up.]
I instinctively looked up. George was holding his phone in his left hand, his messy hair tamed by a white headband that showed off his sharp brow bone.
The bruise at the corner of his mouth from the fight a few days ago was still there.
He jogged over to me.
Maya scooted to the side, but she was still eavesdropping, not even trying to hide it.
"Did you check out the poll on the school forum?" George asked.
I hadn't looked or voted, but Maya told me Benjamin, the junior, had a crushing lead over George, the sophomore.
Everyone was sure George didn't stand a chance, just like Sara, who always thought George would never be good enough compared to Benjamin.
But I believed George could win.
So when I met his expectant gaze, I just blurted it out, almost like something took over me. "You."
Suddenly, George flashed me a reckless, carefree grin.
His smile was so dazzling, I literally forgot to breathe for a second.
For years to come, I'd always remember the defiant, untamed look George wore that day.
"If you want me to win, then I will," George said.
He gave me a quick wave and jogged off to check-in.
I didn't really get what he meant by that, or why he did it.
'Was this his answer to the question I'd asked him two days ago?' I wondered.
Maya gave me a gossipy grin. "Come on, there's totally something going on between you and George."
"What?" I blinked.
"Seriously, you and George? There's definitely something up," she pressed.