Chiara

I spent the entire weekend with Alistair, which was amazing. In consequence, I can’t walk properly today. The first-period teacher is not in the classroom yet, but Robbie is. I purposely tried not to think about our fight while I was with Alistair, but now it’s all coming back to me. Our gazes lock, and even with the distance, I can read the remorse in his eyes.

I’m still mad at him, but I choose to be the bigger person and pull out the chair next to his.

“Hi, Chiara. I’ve called and left you several messages,” he says.

“I know.”

“I’m so fucking sorry about that whole mess. Please say you forgive me.”

“What you did was shitty, Robbie. You could have asked me instead of spying. You know how embarrassing that was?”

“True. I could have asked, but can you honestly say you’d tell me the truth? Besides, anyone walking by could have heard you. It’s not like you guys were being quiet.”

Hell, I thought we were.

“Shhh.” I glance around, afraid others are listening to our conversation, but the classroom isn’t full yet, and the students present aren’t near us.

“Sorry. I know what I did was bad, but I did you guys a favor. I’d totally cover for you if needed.”

Cazzo. We were careless that day.

“All right. I forgive you. Can we please stop talking about it, please?”

“Sure. Have you thought about—”

“I’m not going to cover for you,” I grit out.

“I understand. Phillip wasn’t sold on the idea either.” Robbie shrugs, looking defeated. “He’s sorry for manhandling you.”

“He didn’t manhandle me.”

“Well, apparently Mr. Walsh thought otherwise. When Phillip came back, he was as white as a sheet of paper.”

“Yeah, Alistair wasn’t happy. But it’s all good.”

Valerie drops in the seat in front of us, forcing our conversation to a stop.

“Morning, bitches. What’s up?”

“Not much,” Robbie replies.

Valerie looks at me. “Were you feeling okay on Sunday?”

Her question makes me tense because for a moment, I forget that I texted her with an excuse to leave the party early on Saturday.

“Yeah,” I reply when my brain catches up.

“I could have taken you home, you know.”

“I didn’t want to be a pain. You were having fun. It’s not your fault that I can’t handle more than one caipirinha.”

Valerie snickers. “You’re not the only one who couldn’t handle his alcohol. Josh was pitiful. I’ve never seen him that wasted.”

The teacher enters the classroom, and we have to put a pin on our conversation. I want to ask about Josh, but that will have to wait until later.

As the day progresses, I begin to relax. I was worried that someone had seen me leave the party with Alistair. I told Robbie we were cool, but it will take a while for the annoyance to completely go away. We manage to fall back into the easy rapport we had when we first met though.

But when we bump into Phillip on our way to the cafeteria, things become awkward again, and the reason for our fight comes back to the forefront of my mind. Phillip looks more sorrowful than Robbie did. Poor guy. It sucks that they can’t be together, and it also breaks my heart.

“Hey, Chiara. How are you?” Phillips asks, staring at me with a dejected puppy look in his eyes.

“I’m good. And you?”

“Good.”

A moment of uncomfortable silence follows.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Can we just go back to last week when all secrets were still secrets?” Robbi asks, exasperated.

“Oh, and what secrets would those be, Robbie?” Jillian asks from behind us.

Crap.

“Get lost, Jillian,” Robbie retorts.

“If you don’t want people to know about your depraved ways, you shouldn’t have hookups during a party, Robbie.” She smiles maliciously while glancing at Phillip.

Robbie rolls his eyes. “Oh, honey. Do you think I care about what people say about my sex life?”

“Maybe you don’t, but I’m sure Phillip does.” She raises an eyebrow.

Shit. Did she see Phillip go in Robbie’s room last Saturday?

I don’t want her venomous tongue to hurt my friends. I step closer to Phillip, looping my arm around his waist.

“I hardly think making out with my boyfriend in a private room is depraved.”

Jillian’s eyes go rounder. “You’re dating Phillip?”

He smiles at me as if I was the object of his affection. “Yep. She captured my heart at first sight.”

To seal the deal, I cup his cheek, rise on my tiptoes, and place a soft kiss on his lips.

There. That should be enough to stop this bitch from spreading more gossip.

I’m smiling when I look at her again, but it’s an effort to keep it up when I see Alistair standing in the hallway, glaring at me.