Confusion, anger, and overwhelm started to overtake me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“What? I came here to tell you about this, and it just so happened to blow up while I was here.”

Everything felt too much. “I don’t want you to stay. It’s no good for you and being seen with me after this is probably not good for either of us...”

“Blondie.”

“Please stop.” I stood up, shaking. “We don’t–we can’t. You’re the infamous womanizer. I’m newly identified. None of this makes sense or even feels right to me.”

“My wanting to help you means nothing?” He mimicked me again, standing up and pushing closer to me.

We had two dates–if you could call them that. He just wanted to see if he could bed me. I was only a fun little challenge for him. There’s no way. He’s just looking out for his own company, right? Just purely selfish, that’s all. “You’re seen with a new girl almost daily, Brent Vaughn. You cannot expect me to believe you only have a pure motive coming over here.”

He huffed, clearly entertained. “This is your only excuse any time I talk to you or even look in your direction. A guy like me can never want to help anyone in his life. Sure, I’m here to only mess with you. Bend over then, I’ll show you.”

Excuse me, what?! Bend over?!

I’ve never wanted to punch anyone in the mouth before. That all changed when he came into my life. Having a normal semester was impossible in the current climate, but this was so uncalled for. Him and his dumb, stupid motorcycle.

“Is that what you say to them all? The group of not one, not two, but five girls the other day? I see you around and I wish I didn’t. You crashed my date with a fight for God’s sake! I wish I didn’t take you up on that stupid motorcycle ride at the party. You’re just no good.”

Nothing made sense and everything felt like a game. Brent wanted me to bring my guard down around him long enough to add a notch in his belt. Garrett suddenly became a stranger overnight. What was next? My best friend turning on me? Overwhelm wasn’t a strong enough word for how I felt.

My entire world crashed again. It wasn’t enough that my mother died of cancer, but I had to deal with the world she got into with no way of navigating it on my own.