All About You

Chapter Ten

Present

I go home, change, and then go to my rowing session. It's my first year of University; next month the term ends and I will be on Christmas break. Braxton University holds this special tradition. In the first week of December there is a rowing competition between students and the whole university always shows up for that. We will be competing against each other; it's a warmup before national contest in April when we will compete as a team. I might be able to fix my broken reputation if I win against Mackenzie.

Later on, training goes better than I expected. It turns out that, thanks to my anger, I make my best time so far and manage to beat a few girls on the team. Mackenzie misses the session, but I'm glad that I don't have to see her today, especially after my conversation with Oliver.

When I get back to the apartment Dora's already there. I didn't expect her to be home today, but I guess she doesn't fancy seeing Jacob after being with him all weekend. This is just so typical of her.

"You went to talk to him. Jacob told me," she says as soon as I walk through the door. I want to curse Jacob's name off, but I bite my tongue and walk to the kitchen, trying to act like an adult.

"He told you? I can't believe that he didn't keep his mouth shut," I say, opening the fridge. I burned a lot of calories at the gym and I'm starving right now.

"Maybe it's because he cares about me and you. Jacob could be the best boyfriend that I ever had."

Wow, I never expected Dora would ever say anything like that. It's not her style. She uses men and then dumps them, but maybe she decided to change. Like I did.

"Could be?" I tease her, laughing.

"Fine, he's the best boyfriend that I ever had."

"Good for you, but I don't want to talk about my conversation with Oliver. It was a bad idea anyway. He's not planning to leave me alone. He made that quite clear today."

"Fuck. I'll tell Jacob to talk to him."

"Dora, Oliver doesn't listen to anyone. Just stay out of this," I say raising my voice. "I don't want you to get involved. Let's just change the subject. Have you got ice cream? I've got to eat something before I make a dinner."

She purses her lips, probably trying to think of a way to throw in some extra comments, but I shake my head.

Instead, she throws a pillow at me. "Chocolate chip, your favourite."

"Great, ice cream, dinner, and some romantic comedies," I say. "And don't you even dare start on this again."

She frowns, but then she brightens up when I bring two spoons.

This should cheer me up—eating ice cream, watching stupid TV shows with my best friend and not worrying about the man that I once loved. He might have crushed me, but I am grateful I still have Dora. She's a selfish girl, but she's also a loyal friend, and I know she will look out for me.

Past

"Hey, baby, did you miss me?" Christian asked when I answered the door. I was not expecting him, but a few days ago I must have mentioned that my mum would be working late tonight, and my sister Josephine would be going to a sleepover with her friend Alison.

"Yes, sure, but I thought that we weren't going to see each other today," I said.

"Are you going to let me in, or should I just go home?" he snapped, looking irritated that I kept him waiting.

I wasn't in the mood for his company tonight. Our A-levels were coming up and we both needed to study. Christian never asked me if I wanted to see him; he normally just showed up. But it had been getting harder and harder to keep away from him, and our dates always ended up in arguments lately.