Her Possessive Heartbreaker

Chapter 2

Riley

Freshman Year Second Semester

"Seriously? Keep taking my fries and I will slice your hand off." I narrow my eyes at the gigantic pain in my ass sitting next to me. Tommy does the unthinkable and snatches three more from my tray and I sit there astonished at his audacity. The fries and pizza here are the only decent edible things in this god forsaken school. I am now down to two freaking fries left. It's official. I'm going to kill him.

"That's it. You better sleep with one eye open tonight Mathers." He smiles and I can't help but cave. F!ck me. Ever since my first day here, Tommy has been my rock. True to his word, he has got me with anything and everything. Now I know how it feels to have a genuine friend. We have shared our inner most desires and secrets with one another. We hang out almost all the damn time. He comes over to study at my house and I sneak over to his whenever home life gets to be too much. He accepts me and all my crazy just like I do with him.

Ever since moving here, my parents have been at each others necks. Mom feels neglected because dad is always working whether it be in his home office or at his actual office. He has started traveling more and mom can only take so much. She took it upon herself to have such faith in my dad only to selflessly give up all she had in California to move here. She had friends, a decent job, a life back in California. Here, she is trying to find her place but I can see how torn she is. The only thing that makes her happy is knowing that I am happy.

Tommy watches as I am in deep in thought and takes my hand in his. He knows everything that is going on and since I don't keep anything from him, he doesn't even need me to say anything. He just sits there in silence with me. There is this unbreakable connection between us and it almost feels like the universe created us for one another. He is my safety net. If I am being truly honest with myself, he is beginning to mean more to me. I am scared as hell at the thought because if I move out of the friend zone and lay my heart out on the line to him, what happens if he doesn't feel the same way? I can't lose my friendship with him. The bell rings and we get up and head to our next class.

"You going to be okay Ri?" I nod my head and smile.

"Nothing I haven't gone through before. I'll see you after school. Still going to the movies right?" I ask trying to put myself into a better mood.

"You bet. I've been waiting eons for this movie. Ain't missing it for sh!t." I roll my eyes.

"You do realize you are getting all hyped up over a kids movie, right?"

"Not just any kids movie. It's Sonic. That was my favorite game on SEGA. Don't disrespect the blue hedgehog." He boops my nose and I smack his hand.

"Whatever, as long as you are buying the snacks. I wouldn't care if we were watching Super Mario as long as I have my goodies." He smiles widely.

"Another great game that deserves a movie." I shake my head at him.

"Get to class you giant kid." He smiles at me and walks in the direction of his next class. I walk into mine. Chemistry 101. I hate this class. I don't dislike this class because of the subject even though it is a double period, but because there is this one kid, a jock named Dylan, who makes it his mission to have me be his lab partner, all the time.

I mean, he isn't bad looking. He is actually pretty cute. He is also nice but he tries way too hard to get my attention. Like now. I see him waving his arm and pointing to the seat next to him.

"Hey Riley. Hope you don't mind. We are doing a lab experiment today and I thought you could be my partner once again." All I can do is smile.

"Thanks Dylan. What kind of experiment?" He shrugs. Of course. I should be flattered but for some reason I can't reciprocate the feelings. I sit down and take out my binder waiting for the teacher to come back inside. I begin to tap my pen on my binder becoming increasingly anxious and bored.

In the corner of my eye, I can see Dylan wanting to say something to me but he keeps stopping himself every time. I get the feeling he is nervous so I decide to help him out. I write on the blank page in my binder and slide it to him. He seems shocked but smiles.

How's your day going so far?

Not too bad. Coach has got us running drills and plays more and more. I've never been more sore in my life.

Is this your first year playing football?

Nope. Been playing since JHS. It is just that this team is tough and being the new player on the team with those that have been in sync for years is kind of rough.

Haha. "In sync" N'SYNC. Sorry, had to. Anyway, don't be too hard on yourself. You'll be the rising new star once the other players graduate.

Lol. My mother was in love with that band. Thanks for the vote of confidence though. I do appreciate it.

You're very welcome. And I like your mom. She has good taste in boy bands.

Not anymore. She is stuck listening to BTS and ONE DIRECTION with my sisters. They absolutely hate her music. My mom hates theirs. It is a mutual hate I guess. Lol.

Ew. Lol.

The teacher walks in and begins talking and Dylan and I have absolutely no idea what she said since we were too engrossed in writing notes to each other. Thankfully, she repeats herself and we begin the experiment. Dylan is not your cliche jock. He is actually pretty smart. Maybe it is a good thing we are paired up all the time.

Since two great minds think alike, we were both done before the entire class and we scored the opportunity to leave class fifteen minutes early. Dylan and I head towards the athletic field and sit on the bleachers since it was the last class of the day.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Dylan asks.

"Going to see the new Sonic movie with Tommy. I swear he is a five year old trapped in the body of a fifteen year old." I notice the blank stare when I mention Tommy's name.

"Are you two together?" He asks without any hesitance.

"Me and Tommy? No. Just friends." I say firmly however when I say it aloud, I can hardly believe it.

"Oh. So. I was wondering, would you like to go out with me sometime?" I can't say no to him, nor can I string him along because he is a decent guy. I continue to weigh my options but then I remember that I will do anything to not mess up my friendship with Tommy so I nod my head. Maybe, I can find some sort of feelings for him. Ugh. I am such a messed up person.

"Yeah, sure. Why not?" He smiles.

"Great. I have a by week soon. Maybe then?"

"Sounds good to me." I hear someone clearing their voice behind us and see Tommy with an expressionless face. If I didn't know any better, these two seem to not really like each other.

"You ready, Ri?"

"Yeah. I'll see you Monday Dylan." I get up but Dylan halts me.

"Wait, here." He hands me a folded piece of paper.

"See you Monday Riley." He walks off and I watch as Tommy and Dylan glare at each other. Here comes the testosterone levels soaring.

"Thought your weren't into airheads." Tommy says.

"He is not an airhead. He's actually pretty smart. He's a good lab partner." He just stares ahead while we walk out of the school.

"Wait. Should we leave our backpacks here for the weekend?" I look and he doesn't even have his on him.

"Did and done Ri. Guess you were too busy with the jock to even remember our plans." He says mockingly. I roll my eyes.

"We were just talking. Nothing serious Tommy. Besides, what's it to you anyway?" I walk back into the school not waiting for a response from him. He manages to keep up with me.

"It sure did look serious to me. I heard him asking you out and you saying yes. Don't lie Ri."

"Oh for sh!t sakes Tommy. Why are you getting all bent out of shape over this?" I open my locker while I watch him mull over a suitable answer because for the life of me, I don't understand the possessiveness exuding from him.

"Forget it. You ready?" I slam my locker closed.

"Not until you tell me why you look so angry over me saying yes to Dylan." He runs his fingers through his hair.

"Because I am looking out for you. Dylan is a player. I've known him since JHS. He thinks he is better than everyone and acts as if his sh!t don't stink. I don't want him hurting you because I will hurt him if he does. So if you value his life, do not go out with him." Well, sh!t.

"Thanks for the heads up but I am a big girl. I'll be careful." He releases a breath and I take his hand in mine and we walk out of the school.

*****************************************************

"You can't tell me that that wasn't the funniest movie ever." Tommy says filled with full blown happiness.

"Yep. You are definitely a five year old trapped in a fifteen year olds body." He ruffles my hair and I narrow my eyes at him.

"Seriously. First my fries and now messing with my hair. You are looking for a death wish." I push him and fix my hair.

"You know you liked the movie and you love when I irk you." He smiles and we walk slowly towards my house.

"You are so lucky I can tolerate you Mathers."

"Ditto, Scott."

"You really going to go on a date with Dylan?" Tommy says softly managing to halt me in my steps nearly colliding with him.

"Not this again Tommy. I told you I would be careful. You need to stop being overprotective. Did I get all crazy when you asked Bethany out?" He just stares at me like he is trying to take a deep dive into my soul. I gulp. He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear and cups my face.

Before he does the unthinkable he immediately removes his hand and starts walking again. Half of me wants to know what the hell that was all about and the other half decides to go all WWE on the debate and body slams it deep deep down.

For what seems like forever, he finally speaks.

"You're right. I shouldn't have acted like that. You are free to date whoever you want just like I am." I grimace at the thought but I manage to hold it together. Something flourishes inside me and I come to realize that deep deep down, I might love Tommy. No no no. I cannot go there. I won't go there.

We manage to break through the awkwardness between us and discuss everything else that comes to mind. We are about half way up my driveway when we hear voices by my door.

"I thought your dad was working and your mom was volunteering at the shelter today." Damn this boy knows everything. I shrug.

"Maybe they came home early." We begin to walk towards the door when I see it open. My dad walks out hand in hand with someone who you would think would be my mother, but......isn't.

Tommy wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me behind the bushes we have on our lawn. I scurry away from him wanting to see what the high hell is going on right now. I take a peek and my heart falls to my stomach. My dad has wrapped his body around a tall brunette and is sucking face with her. It continues for what feels like a millennia until they part from their embrace, only to pull together again and he slams her into the door blocking her from moving. She laughs and giggles at what he is doing and they finally break free from each other and I watch as he walks her to her car.

He looks at her like she has hung the moon and I watch as my hands form into fists and I search beside me for anything to use as a weapon against this heathen. This family destroying woman. This b!tch.

Tommy notices and stops me by bringing me into his chest. My breathing is erratic and I can't help but cry my eyes out, soaking his shirt with my tears. He just holds me, never letting go, until I have cried every last tear out. Not even knowing that we were walking, we arrive at his house and I am in his room. I crumble into his bed and he tucks me in like a child. I could care less at this point because I am like a child. I am completely broken knowing that while my mother has endured everything for my dad, my dad doesn't give two sh!ts. He would rather take a deep dive in someone else then show any kind of love to the woman that dropped everything for him to fulfill his dreams.

Tommy slides into bed with me and holds me close to his chest, whispering in my ear that he is here and he will always be here. I manage to cry myself to sleep knowing I had not just lost my father today, I had also managed to lose my best friend because deep down inside, I am falling head over heels for him and I could never tell him.

He had the opportunity to demand that I not go out with Dylan but he made it clear that he didn't mind what I did. He told me that I was free to date anyone I chose and he would do the same.

Yep, my life officially sucks.