Butterscotch Backstabber

Chapter 2: Super Sour

At school on Monday Zoey once again avoided me by sitting with Hilary King. I just want to know what I did here? I deserve that much, but ever since I caught her in a lie, she won't even answer my calls or my text anymore. Okay so I said wanting to be with someone was dumb, so what? It's my opinion, why does she have to be all weird about it?

"Wait so let me get this straight, you went to Hilary's party anyway?" Wes eyed me.

Wesley Sanders is my other best friend. Sure, he and I aren't as close as how Zoey and I used to be, but he's still a close friend and my only other friend, besides Alvin from work. Wesley is cool to talk about anything with, he says that being asexual makes him unbiased. I have my doubts, I don't think that's how Asexuality works. Anyway, the guy is so chill. Most of the time. He just tells it like it is and isn't afraid to hurt anyone's feelings. That's what I like about him, no beating around the bush just straight cutthroat facts.

It's also one of the things I hate about him, sometimes the truth is hard to face. Exhibit A.

"Well yeah, I had to do research. I need to find out what's up with Hilary King and how I can take her down. Which is how I saw Zoey and made myself the laughing stock by falling into the pool. God that's so cliché am I right?" I picked at my mash potatoes with a Cheeto.

"Poppy, let me be honest with you for a sec," he ran a hand through his sandy blond hair and pushed it to one side. "Have you asked yourself why it bothers you so much? I mean Zoey is a quitter, no surprise there. We both know she quits everything she starts, maybe she's just quitting you too." He shrugged.

I felt a pain in my chest, one that left a super sour taste in my mouth. I didn't want to think of that possibility. That Zoey just got tired of me and just like everything else she gets tired of she quit me too. That hurt more than thinking that Hilary was just somehow better than me.

"She wouldn't do that to me," I mumbled.

"Okay, say you're right, say somehow she just thinks Hilary is better than you. Still, why does it bother you? People can have other friends, so why are you so hung up on this?"

I shrug.

"Poppy, look at me."

I look up and meet his dark brown eyes.

"You have to be honest with yourself." He said.

"I don't know what you are talking about," I frowned.

"Okay, look over to Zoey, tell me how you feel."

I glanced over the cafeteria to where Zoey was sitting next to Hilary. Zoey was laughing hard, she playfully bumped shoulders with Hilary who was laughing right back. They had big smiles on their faces for each other.

I don't know why but my heart sank into my guts and I felt a hot pressure pushing down on my chest. My eyes watered and I could only look for a few seconds before looking away.

"Tell me," he said.

"I don't want to talk about it." I snapped the Cheeto between my fingers in half.

"It's cuz you love her," he said.

"What!? I don't," I denied.

"It's okay if you do." He said.

"You're crazy." I grabbed another Cheeto.

"Poppy, just because I'm an ace doesn't mean I don't know love when I see it. You are totally crushing hard on Zoey"

"No, I'm not, we are just friends. Besides I don't see how that would help me take down Hilary."

"Maybe you should just tell Zoey how you feel."