CHAPTER 45: Mommy Dearest

Two days later, you could finally conclude the end of my furious episodes at various strangers who were hell-bent on making me the center of attention at school. As promised, Caleb made sure the story in the media world immediately fizzed out but I knew it would take a long time to get these students to shut their maundering mouths. Despite all this, I walk with Maddie to the field since we have a free session and I'm surprisingly in a good mood for reasons I cannot be able to name.

"So...we have not had a chance to talk about your so-called love life." A Cheshire grin takes over her lips and she wiggles her eyebrows.

"You mean my non-existent love life?"

"Oh come on. Stop being such a grumpy cat. Did you two kiss?" I widen my eyes at that and I could feel the familiar warmth on my cheeks. Between all this, I still had not told Maddie that Caleb and I indeed kissed but that was it. We never even talked about it. I wasn't quite sure where that kiss placed both of us, but I guiltily could say that I enjoyed it a lot.

"As a matter of fact, we did." I look ahead and don on a neutral expression, aware of the fact that Maddie's eyes just turned into saucers.

"What?!"

"You heard me. We kissed."

The deafening silence worries me and I slightly turn my gaze back at her before being engulfed by her tiny body. Sure it is tiny but her sporty attitude and dance background does give her an extra ounce of strength which, suffice to say, knocks the wind out of me.

"Does that mean my best friend finally got a boyfriend?" She squeals and before I could roll my eyes at her reaction, I discern the gleam in her eyes and the blinding grin she has on, so I merely smile at her, shaking my head with amusement.

"No, we are not dating. We haven't actually talked about it. And I prefer it that way." I don't know why I actually said the last part but admittedly, a small part of me is entirely intrigued but afraid of what this could turn out to be. I did not want any complications and till now, I have had enough drama ever since Caleb and Veronica stepped into my life.

"But why-

"Wait." I hold out a hand, distractedly spotting a huddle of boys on the soccer field. I march towards the huddle, noticing everyone from the soccer team listening closely to the distinct voice of Coach Smith. As I neared them, I noticed everyone's shoulders tense and hunched back, my brain jumping to various conclusions. Right in the middle stood Jason and Coach Smith. A hand shoots up at my shoulder and I slightly flinch from all the tension in the air clouding my mind.

"Summer...Coach is uh..." Blake speaks, his eyebrows furrowed and lips tight. Noel gives me a sympathetic look while Shawn places a hand over Aaron's shoulder. My eyes fleet over to the one person that's been in my head for a few days and I don't miss the stoic gaze, the tight jaw or the penetrating glare he was shooting at god knows who. My mind pulls me back to reality and I notice Jason's gaze on the ground, his fists clenched while coach Smith continues to...berate him?

"I trusted you. We all did. You let us down, Jason. I cannot believe my own captain could do that." Coach scoffs and continues glaring at Jason. "So, as of now, you are no longer the captain of the soccer team. You are not part of the team as well."

Jason seems astonishingly unfazed by his words like he is expecting this. His harsh words, although, hit me like a brick and before I realize, I'm in the middle of the huddle. "What the heck, Coach?"

Yup. Crazy sister jumping in the middle too.

"Why would you do this to Jason?" I shout, not caring about the judgy gazes I'm receiving from everyone.

"Summer. It's good you came. I assume, from your reaction, you haven't heard what your brother has done."

"What has he done so grave that you decided to kick him out of the damn soccer team?" I grit my teeth, gaining proximity to where coach stands.

"I found drugs on your brother. Knowing how strict our school is, you know how much of a disgrace that is. And him? A respectable captain? I have no other choice than to kick him out of the team." He blabbered some more words but the first five words that escaped his mouth are still taking their time to register in my mind.

Drugs? Jason?

"That's not true. You said it yourself. You trust him. Is there any evidence to prove this?"

"Well, of course, there is. His bag." Now pointing to the ground, lying next to Jason's feet is his sports bag and a white pouch rests on top of it. No. No. He cannot.

"This is a huge misunderstanding, Coach. No...no. Jason cannot do this. You can't do this, Coach!"

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to watch your tone, Summer. You very well know what happened to Zander when he was found with drugs. Be glad Jason hasn't been expelled." He glares at Jason for a few seconds but turns his gaze back at me. "And as for you, I advise you to keep some of your words to yourself. You were selected for this team for two reasons. And you just lost the first." With that, he stomped away from me, leaving my mind blank and a whirlwind of emotions hits me with force. I watch him as he saunters towards Caleb and mutters a few words to him, causing Caleb's eyes to widen.

"So, it is decided. Caleb Anderson will be your new captain. Jason, report to the principal's office now. The rest of you are dismissed." Ending on that horrible note, Coach Smith walks back to his office and then, all I could see is red. Aaron, Shawn, and Blake start conversing with Jason. My head snaps towards Caleb and I slowly connect the dots. Why he hated me at first, why he decided to befriend me all of a sudden, Veronica's frequent jabs at me.

It was all a goddamn plan.

Ignoring Maddie and Noel's concerning protests, I stomp off towards Caleb who is currently trying to walk away from everyone as well.

"Caleb!" His eyes widen at my outburst and his lips are set in a straight line. He refuses to meet my eye but when I pull him by his collar, his conflicting eyes are a dead giveaway to my thoughts.

"This is what you wanted, didn't you?" I whispered, aware of our close proximity but right now, my fluttering feelings and the butterflies refuse to emerge. Maybe even they are afraid of his confirmation of his plan all along.

"What are you talking about?" His fresh breath almost knocks my senses but the fury in my heart, burning against it, refuses it to be docile.

"You very well know what the hell I'm talking about, Caleb!" I let him go, all the while shouting like a maniac who finally lost the last screw. I reckon I'm clearly not thinking but all my mind can register is how I've been played.

"You wanted to be captain. Obviously. You're considered second best after Jason. It's not surprising."

"Summer, I don't-

"That's why you hated me at first. You clearly hated the fact that now the captain has his own way, his sister is also joining the damn squad."

"You need-

"Oh, and let's not forget your psycho bitch. This was all a plan, wasn't it? I know for a fact that Jason would never do such a shitty thing. You and your bitch set him up!" By now, I feel like I'm on the precipice of losing my damn mind and all I need is a little push to go fully over the edge.

"What the fuck? Do you realize what you're saying?"

"I do! And it is correct. It absolutely explains everything. Girlfriend insults me, you play hero and come swoop me right off my feet and then plan all this, right? Then Jason is kicked out of the team and at the same time, you let down his damn sister. Great plan you made there!" I pretend to applause for him when in reality, a gnawing feeling in my chest begged me to stop but I refuse to pay any heed to it.

It just got me and my trust in trouble.

"Summer, you need to calm the fuck down. Veronica-

"I don't care about that fucking girl. Okay? I don't. And I no longer care about you." His eyes widen and his jaw tightens at my words.

"Congratulations on being captain." I move past him, hitting his shoulder in the process. Suddenly, it feels like a ginormous load just fell on my shoulders, rendering me weak to the salty water in my eyes. It's like a tsunami hitting you with full force, the waves drowning you while you flail your body crazily despite knowing that you are not going to survive.

Everything I believed until now was true. No one took feelings seriously so there is really no point in having them at all. I locked my feelings when I got to know my mother left my dad. I locked my feelings when dad died. I locked my feelings when all those years, my brothers and I didn't bother consoling each other. I locked away my feelings when Caleb grew closer to me. But as he came, he broke my walls and even retrieved the most sensitive information out of me.

I take the long route from school towards Snowflakes, eager to distract myself with work and hopefully banish all the stupid feelings from my head. How could he be so selfish?

No.

How could I be so naïve?

He coaxed his way into my life – I don't know how. And now, my brother has been dragged down with me. My fists clench at the thought of Veronica and her sick games and I cannot help but think that she is, indeed, behind all this bullshit.

***

Walking back from Snowflakes, I sigh in exhaustion from the extra shift I took up, promising Albert I have all the time in the world. Admittedly, I did manage to distract myself from whatever happened today morning, but somehow those grey orbs returned to my mind every so often, taunting and haunting my conscience for being so weak and submissive.

I open my phone as I perceive the ding from it, noticing two messages from Aaron.

AARON: You need to get home NOW.

AARON: IT'S URGENT!

Summing up today's events with the tone of urgency in Aaron's text messages, I pick up my pace and sprint straight home. I bolt up the stairs, a stitch forming on the side of my ribs from my flash-like speed. I breathe heavily as I turn the knob of my door, walking in and sensing the heavy silence. Aaron leans on the counter, his arms crossed, a wary expression on his face as he turns towards me. For the very first time, I notice the look of apprehension on Draven's face but he turns away towards the window. Jason sits on the couch, his elbows resting on his shaking knees.

"Summer, dear. You're home."

I think I inhaled some marijuana if I'm seeing...mommy dearest. On. My. Couch.