The Curse of Betrayal (14 page)

“Ryder, you’re just confused.” She tries to make me feel better, but it only upsets me more.

“That’s the thing, though. I’m not confused. I really do love them both.” My voice turns steely with each word, because I hate that excuse. I believe I love them both, but in different ways.

“But you can’t. One is your soul mate. Deep down you
have
to know,” Kara says, stroking my hair the way Ari does after taking my helmet off when we’re riding his bike. I pull back, not realizing how rude I’m being.
 

“That’s the thing. I really, really don’t,” I confess, shaking my head back and forth. “You know what’s really bothering me? I want to have sex with Ari. The connection I have with him is unbelievable and electric, and I feel like now is the only time for us to be together, but my feelings for Ollie are holding me back.”
 

“Well, don’t let me hold you back,” Ollie spouts venom from the doorway. My eyes dilate in shock, wondering what he’s doing here.
 

“Ollie?” I ask to make sure it’s not a dream or me hallucinating. I look over at Kara who looks just as astonished as I do, and I know it has to be real.
 

“Don’t worry, I’ll go.” He retreats from the doorway and slams the door shut behind him.

“What the hell?” Kara turns to face me, her body rigid like she’s been stunned right alongside of me.
 

“Oh my god. I’ve got to go find him.” I jump off of the bed and look around the floor for some shoes. I throw on my sneakers and run out the door towards where he went. I rush down the stairs and out the door of my dorm, looking in every direction for him. I think I spot him by the entrance of the student center, so I sprint that way, hoping my senses are on target.
 

Giving up when I can’t find him, I grab my cell out of my pocket and dial Ollie. The phone rings but eventually goes to voicemail. “Shit,” I mutter, hanging up the phone. I dial the next person I think of, hoping he knows something.

“Hey, Eury.” Ari answers the phone, his voice light.

“Have you seen Ollie?” I ask him, still searching with my eyes around campus, walking in different directions, not really knowing what to do next.
 

“Why would I see Orpheus?” he asks back, confusion in his voice. He actually sounds kind of mad at just the mention of Ollie.

“He came and heard me talking to Kara about wanting to have sex with you and then stormed off,” I explain to him, running back towards the woods near the front of the school since he may have left.

“You want to have sex with me?” Ari asks back, hearing only what he wants to hear.

“Ari, please! He was upset. Where could he be?” I plead for him to help.

“Where are you, Eury? I’ll come find you.” Ari sounds out of breath as if he’s already started coming to my aid.

“I’m near the front woods. Just help me find him,” I whine into the speaker.

“Hold on, I’m—” The line cuts off, and I yell into the phone, wondering where Ari went. I hang up and redial his number, but it goes straight to voicemail. I get this sense of dread and a heaviness forms in my stomach, making me feel glued to the ground, so I make a split second decision and head towards Ari’s house.

I sprint across the front of school towards Ari’s house, ignoring the greetings people yell at me as I blur by. I just have this sinking feeling in my stomach that something is wrong. As I near his house, a group of people swarm the entrance where the walkway is, blocking off what I can see.

“What’s going on?” I ask a guy who’s standing on the outside of the herd.
 

“A fight with Professor A and some other guy,” he answers, sending awful wave of nervousness through me. I push past him, ducking between people as I try to get to where I can see Ari. When I break through the crowd, a show down between Ari and Ollie erupts—of course, it has to be them.
 

“Stop!” I shout, rushing over to the two of them standing off.
 

The scene is horrific, and it looks like the fight has already started. Ari’s eye is swollen and turning purple. It’s swelling to the point where he can barely see out of it. I look from Ari to Ollie, and it only gets worse.

Ollie has a deep cut on his lip, or maybe his mouth, that’s gushing blood in a thick mess. I look between the two as they prepare for round two and frown at them. I position myself in the middle, hoping that they’ll stop, but instead, they maneuver around me in a circular motion. “What’s your problem?” I shout towards them, hoping at least someone will answer me.

“Stay out of it!” Ari calls out to me, his good eye never straying from Ollie.

“No.” I rush towards him and put my hands on his chest to stop him from advancing. “Please, stop,” I beg him, wanting him to stop this fight already. This is childish and stupid.
 

“He started it.” Ari points over towards Ollie, who’s strafing back and forth, his arms in fists by his sides.
 

“You’ve created a crowd. Let’s all go inside and talk,” I tell him. I reach for Ari’s hand, but he pulls away from me. I stare up at him until his eyes lower and hook onto mine. I beg him to come with me. I reach out my hand, and after a second, he takes it. I lead him into his house. “I’ll be right back,” I tell Ari as I shut the door behind me on my way out to get Ollie.

“That fight was so sick,” some kid says in the distance.

“Leave!” I yell at the students who are loitering around, hoping to catch another fight. Most of them turn to walk away but some stay out and watch. “Go,” I say again, and the last few walk away slumped over themselves in disappointment.
 

I look around and spot Ollie eying me with disdain in his eyes. I walk to Ollie’s side and take his hand in mine, letting my love show him.
 

“Please come inside and talk,” I clench his hand tight.

“Why? So I can watch you two make out?” Bitterness fills his voice, and I know it’s my fault. I have to try to get through to him.
 

“No, Ollie! Please, just talk,” I beg him, holding onto his hand for dear life, refusing to let him drop me.
 

“Fine,” he relents. I don’t know whether he’s wounded or not, but he lets me lead him into the house. Once we get inside, I bring Ollie to the living room. Ari’s already in there and sitting on the sofa, visibly stewing.
 

After getting both boys situated on opposite sides of the room, I rush into the kitchen to grab the necessary supplies. “Don’t move or even talk,” I tell them as I retreat. I find a pack of hamburgers in Ari’s freezer and grab one, shoving it into a zip lock baggie.
 

I have to maneuver my way around the kitchen since I have no idea where anything is. Luckily, I come across a pantry, which has a first aid kit. I grab an ice pack, crack it, and then wrap it in a towel so it doesn’t freeze Ollie’s face off.
 

I make my way back into the room and hand Ari the hamburger and Ollie the icepack. They glance at each other quickly before putting them on their ailments and staring the other way. Ari looks so stupid with the hamburger over his eye, and Ollie looks like a beat up little boy with the ice pack on his lip, but they’re equally cute. I sit on the coffee table in the middle of the boys as an overseer and mediator to, hopefully, avoid another fight.

I don’t know how to even begin the conversation, so I sit quietly and wait for someone else to begin. The muteness is booming, and I squirm in my seat, not liking it. What would Professor Onassis say?

“What happened?” Last time I checked, they had some sort of peace treaty going on. They both start to talk vehemently and at the same time. Ari’s pointing over at Ollie while Ollie spits in his face. I hold my hand up and try to create some sort of civil conversation, but ultimately, the boys stop when they know that neither is getting the upper hand.

“I started it.” Ollie bows his head down, being the bigger man.
 

“Is it because of what you heard me say?” I ask him, meeting those icy blue eyes head on and loving the way they sparkle. I’m pulled in until he breaks the contact, looking down shyly.
 

“Maybe.” He crosses his arms defensively.

“I’m sorry you heard that, but I was just upset and venting,” I explain, not liking the constraint in his eyes. It kills me to torment him like this, but I’m stuck. This curse is screwing with me, and I don’t know how to deal with it. It’s not fair. I don’t want to hurt either of them, but lately, it seems like that’s all I’ve been doing.
 

“It’s fine,” he mutters to himself.

“Wait, so you don’t want to have sex?” Ari instantly upsets Ollie again. Ollie lunges up off the couch towards Ari’s neck. I jump up to block him from getting to Ari, but he gets a nice punch on the arm that I’m sure will leave a nice purple bruise.

“Why are you antagonizing him?” I scold Ari, holding Ollie back, but just barely. Ollie pushes on me like a bull getting ready for a match, wanting to get to Ari again. Using my strength, I shove him back just enough, so he knows I’m in charge here. I turn so I’m facing him and stare into his eyes, willing him to understand. I plead without using any words until I know I’ve gotten to him.
 

Reluctantly, he sits back in his seat, but his body language tells it all. He sits up straight, his hands clenched, his knees pressed against each other. I let out a heavy sigh and then sit back on the table.

“Ollie…” I pause. “What are you doing here?” I try to keep my voice unaccusatory so he knows it’s not a bad thing. To be completely honest, it’s nice to see Ollie. I’ve missed him in our months apart.

“I have some news for you,” he explains.

“What?”
 

“I’d like to speak with you alone.” His eyes narrow towards Ari with hatred.
 

“All right, let’s go,” I say. Ollie exits the room first, and I drag behind, hoping to have a word with Ari. “Try being nice, will you?” I smirk as I pass by him. He just smiles up at me from his seat on the couch and spanks me as I pass him. I squeal, but it only makes him laugh—deep and throaty.

CHAPTER TEN

diner girl

I lead Ollie back to my dorm room, which makes me relive the moment when he walked in on me talking about sex. Honestly, what are the odds of him coming in at that exact same moment? Fate really hates me—it’s unfortunate because I could really use some luck lately.

After letting him into the room, I grab my chair from under the desk and pull out Kara’s as well. I sit in my chair while Ollie uncomfortably takes a spot in Kara’s. Of course, he scoots it closer so his knees brush against mine, sending shockwaves of heat up my body. I have to admit, I forgot what it was like to be with Ollie.

When we were first together, it was so perfect. He was the best thing that ever happened to me. He showed me that I was worthy of friendship and love. Then the lies started, and Ari stormed into our lives like a tornado. I miss the way it used to be—easy and carefree. So loving and pure. I miss when it was only the two of us.

“What’s the big news?” I ask Ollie.

“You’re going to be so excited,” he begins. “I found your mother, and she’s here, in this town.” Excitement fills his eyes.
 

“What do you mean
here
?”

“I contacted her through my father, and she’s going to meet you tomorrow. We only were able to speak briefly, and while she was hesitant at first, I convinced her to meet us,” Ollie tells me, making me giddy with joy.

“Oh my god, Ollie! You’re the best.” I’m overcome with happiness. I throw my hands around his neck, thanking him for finding her. Tomorrow. It’s so soon. I have so much to think about to prepare for her arrival.
 

As we talk about where we’re meeting my mom and arrangements, my stomach grumbles raucously. I blush not liking how un-lady-like it is and try to hide the noise by covering my stomach with my arms.
 

“Are you hungry?” Ollie asks, amusement in his voice while he laughs at my overzealous stomach.

“Yeah. What time is it?” I idly wonder why I’m suddenly starving.

“It’s seven.” Ollie jars me.

“Oh god. I missed dinner hour,” I realize since the dining hall closes at six thirty. That must be where Kara went.

“Let me take you out.” He pulls out a set of keys from his pocket and dangles them on his pointer finger. “There’s a twenty four hour diner down the street that serves breakfast all day.” He plays into my love of bacon, egg, and cheeses like the smart boy he is.
 

“Let’s roll.” I quickly head into my closet to throw on a sweatshirt since it’s now dark. As we get outside, I spot his large black truck in front of my dorm. “You just had to bring that thing.” I eye the humungous vehicle that’s scared me time and time again with its roaring engine.

“Please, you love this baby.” He wraps his large arm around my shoulders and nudges me jokingly. I peer up at him, but he laughs it off. He helps me get into the truck, hoisting me up with his strength, and then shuts my door for me like the perfect gentleman he has always been. I wait while he sprints around the car and hops in effortlessly.
 

Right as he twists the key in the ignition, music blares through the speakers. It deafens my ear drums with a base that seems unreal. It’s worse than when I first rode in his truck and the ear splitting engine took me off guard. The gangster twang takes me by surprise, and I shield my ears from the noise.
 

“Are you trying to kill me?” I call out to him, smacking the button to turn the annoying song off.
 

“Too intense?” He turns towards me in his seat, eyeing me light heartedly.
 

“You could say that.” I narrow my eyes at him. He starts driving away from school, and I decide to take up small talk. “How’s Junior been?”
 

“He’s doing all right. It’s only been what…a day or two since you saw him? I think he feels bad about the fallout with you guys. I’ll convince him to come with me next week when I visit.” Ollie smiles over at me.