Just a Kiss

I ran down the stairs as soon as I heard a car horn outside. As I got outside, I saw my boyfriend in his car waiting for me. I went up to the car and got in.

"Hi babe." Logan Cummings leaned over to the passenger side and kissed me on my cheek.

"Hi," I greeted as he started the engine and drove to school. We were at school in ten minutes, and we both got out.

"I have to see my science teacher about an assignment, so I'll see you at lunch, okay?" Logan said to me.

"Okay," I said. He had been meeting teachers a lot lately. I also noticed that he had been avoiding me most of the time and cancelling our dates.

Logan and I had been dating for a year now, but recently, I'd realized that he had become distant. Shaking my head at Logan's weird behaviour, I went into the school's building.

"Emily!" I heard my best friend, Victoria Hernandez, shout as I walked down the hall. I turned around and saw her walking up to me.

Victoria was Hispanic, originally from Cuba. She had a great personality and would always include Spanish words in her conversations. It was a good thing that I had been around her so much, because I got used to it and learnt a few Spanish words. "Hey chica," she said when she reached me.

"Hey Tori." I smiled and hugged her.

"My mom is inviting you for dinner tonight," Victoria said in her thick Spanish accent as we walked down the hall together.

"Why? What's the occasion?" I asked.

"There is no occasion. She is cooking her famous croquettes tonight, and you know how she gets when she cooks her favourite Spanish meal," she said as she rolled her eyes. "She wants to share with everyone. She even invited mi abuela."

I laughed, "Well, your mother is a great cook. How can I say no?"

"Good. You don't want to disappoint her," she said. I shook my head as I thought about Maria's love for cooking. She was like my second mother, and I'll tell you, she loved to spoil me.

Victoria and I talked about random things as we headed to our homeroom. After roll call, we walked to our AP Chemistry class, which we had together.

The day passed by in a blur, and it was now the end of the day. I left my last class and went to my locker to get the books that I would need. I looked up to see Victoria walking towards me.

"Are you ready?" She asked when she reached me.

"Yeah, let's go," I said as I closed my locker. I suddenly slapped my hand to my face as I remembered something. "Oh, I almost forgot. I need to go to the library to get some books. Wait here, I'll be right back." I walked quickly away from her and went in the direction of the library.

I reached the library, got the books that I needed, and was now quickly running through the halls. Due to my quick movements, one of the books that I was carrying fell from my hands. I stopped in my tracks to pick it up.

When I bent down to get the book, I heard hushed whispering and heavy breathing in the science lab that I was standing next to. I was about to ignore the conversation when I picked up on a familiar voice. After listening for a short while, I realized that it was Logan.

What was he doing here? I thought he told me that he had to leave immediately after school to run some errands for his mother?

I stepped closer to the door and peeked in. What I saw in front of my eyes had me in total shock. In the corner of the lab stood Logan with a girl wrapped in his arms, and they were making out intensely. Logan had his back to me and the girl had her eyes closed, so they didn't see me.

Paralyzed with disbelief, I didn't do anything but stare at them. The girl had both her arms around his neck, and he had one hand on her waist and the other on her thigh. The girl was familiar. Her name was Trisha and she was a nice girl. At least, I thought she was. She would always greet me in passing. I guess she had me fooled. After a while, I came back to my senses and anger took over.

"So, I see that this is your extracurricular activity," I said, my voice dripping with hostility.

As soon as I spoke, both Logan and Trisha pulled quickly away from each other. They both looked at me with startled and guilty expressions. However, Logan was the first to speak.

"Emily, I can explain," he said as he moved away from the girl and walked towards me.

"I'm sure you can, Logan. I'm sure you can explain why you and another girl were playing tongue hockey," I said, crossing my arms. He went silent, and he just looked at me. "That's right, you can't. And to be honest, I really don't care," I added as I stepped away from the door, storming away.

I ran down the hall as quickly as possible before Logan could follow me. Tears blurred my vision as I ran. I couldn't believe he used me like that. I thought he cared about me, but I guess I was wrong.

The tears that I had been trying to hold back finally came, but I didn't stop. I continued to walk back to my locker, where Tori was still standing. I collapsed into her arms in tears as soon as I reached her.

That night, I slept over at Victoria's house. After crying in her arms at school, I had told her what I had saw. She was just as surprised as I was because she had always said that Logan and I would last and we were made for each other.

I didn't even enjoy Maria's dinner and I always love it. I guess I was too distracted and heartbroken to enjoy it. Victoria did everything she could to cheer me up. We watched movies and ate ice cream all night. It helped because for a while I forget everything, but there was always something that brought the memories back.

Logan called my phone a few times, but I ignored his call. When his calls became incessant and annoying, I shut my phone off. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I didn't want to hear his lies and excuses.

The following day, I was at my locker getting my books for class, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turn around to see who it was. When I saw the person, I turn back around. My anger returning again.

"I know that you hate me, but please listen." Trisha said, behind me.

I get the books I needed, close my locker and turn around again. "Why should I? Weren't you and Logan making out enough?"

She held her head down and sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Are you sorry because you were with my boyfriend or because you got caught?" I asked, bringing the books to my chest, crossing my arms.

"It's not like that," she began. "Look Emily, I have liked Logan for a long time now, so I couldn't help myself when he approached me. It was like a dream come true. Eventually, I came to my senses and I felt guilty about the whole thing, so I tried to end it, but I couldn't. You have to believe me, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Wait. How long has this been going on?" I asked, even though I didn't want to hear the answer.

She brushed her black hair behind her ears before looking down guiltily. "Three months." She whispered.

My eyes widen. "You have been screwing with my boyfriend for three months!" I said in total disbelief. "I can't believe this." This was getting too much for me to handle.

"Emily, I'm really—" Trisha began, but I cut her off. I didn't want to hear anymore. I felt sick at the thought.

"I have to get to class." I said, turning away from her and walking to my class.

++++++

"I can't believe he had been cheating on me for three months." I said to Victoria at lunch. "He has been toying with me. He used and played me. I feel like such a fool."

"Don't beat yourself up, Em. There is no way you could have known." Tori said pushing her tray aside. We had finished eating and was just sitting down and talking.

"Yeah, but that's the thing. I did see the signs. He had been acting distant lately, but I ignored it because I refused to believe he would do something like that." I said, then sighed heavily.

Tori looked at me with sad eyes. "I'm sorry Emily." She said, then all of a sudden getting angry. "¡Imbécil! I'm going to cut off his balls and stuff it in his mouth!"

I laughed at what she said, feeling much better. "When did you get so violent?"

"Since that sorry excuse for a person decided to hurt my best friend. He shouldn't get away with it." Tori expressed.

"True, but I'm fine." I looked up at her and smile a little. "I will be fine. I'm just glad I found out when I did."

"Yeah and screw him. He doesn't know what he's missing." Tori replied, cheering me up.

"Yeah." I said. Tori grinned at me, then stretch across the table and pull me in a tight hug. The bell sounded signalling the end of lunch and we both pull apart and giggled.

"Come on. Let's get to class." Tori said, getting up from her seat. I got up as well and we both put down our trays and left the cafeteria.

Tori and I didn't have the same class, so we said goodbye to each other, and I headed to my History class. As soon as I reach the door, I remembered something. Logan was in this class as well. How could I forget that? So much for avoiding him.

When I entered the class, I spot Logan at the middle of the room where he usually sits. The seat beside him where I usually sit was empty. We always sit there beside each other in every History class. He would always fool around with me when the teacher was not looking. Now I know that was all a lie.

I turn my eyes from his direction and sat at the front. I take out my book and silently pray that this class would be over and done with so I could get far away from him.

During class, I was busy doing my work, when I hear someone whisper my name. Knowing who it was, I ignore it. Soon after, I felt a paper ball hit me on my shoulder. I turn around abruptly, shooting a glare at Logan, who was two rows down.

"Emily, we have to talk." He whispered.

"I've got nothing to say to you." I shot back.

"Just please hear me out." He persisted.

"Go to hell, Logan." I whisper-yell before turning back around. Thankfully, the teacher's back was turn and he didn't hear us.

Logan call my name again, but I continue to ignore him. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. He has no excuse for treating me the way he did. He threw away what we had by cheating on me. He hurt me bad and I don't think I'll ever forgive him for that.