{32}

: (Ethan's POV) I was sitting there at the bar, waiting for her while she went into the bathroom when Daniel came up to me. "Hey, man," he nodded, standing beside me. "Why are you here, Daniel? What're you doing?" I asked, standing up and standing too. It's a height thing. I'm taller, I can be more intimidating that way. "Let's not get into that," he said, leaning on the counter behind us. "You know why Justin's here, don't you?" he asked me. "Yes, I do. And I also know you're here with him to help," I said, shooting daggers at him. "Yeah, I'm here to help," he nodded before pausing, turning to face me. "I'm here to help you." "What?" I asked in confusion. "And I'm giving up the chance to be captain, so you better be grateful," he huffed, rolling his eyes. "Daniel, stop fucking around, please. I don't even know what Justin said to you to make you-" "Shut up and listen to me. Liv went to the bathroom, right?" "Yeah," I said slowly. "Justin is going to go in there in a minute, don't look over there, I know you will, just don't. I'm telling you the plan I'm supposed to be helping him with." I glanced at the bathroom, sure enough, seeing Justin going inside. "I have to go there," I said, ready to leave. "No, you don't. Listen to me. Know what you're walking into. When you walk in there, chances are, he's going to be kissing her." "Daniel, do you fucking hear yourself?" I asked through gritted teeth. "Oh, stop it, Hulk, listen to me. He's gonna kiss her. And he's gonna do it exactly when you walk in. He's gonna play dumb, act like you weren't supposed to walk in and see them together," he shook his head, "That's not true. The whole point of this is for you to see them kissing, break up with her, and feel humiliated and heartbroken, that's what Justin is trying to do." "And what are you trying to do by helping him?" I questioned, my eyes taking peeks at the bathroom to see if Olivia came out. "I'm supposed to be out here convincing you that they've been seeing each other behind your back this whole time. But that's bullshit, you wouldn't believe that would you?" he asked knowingly. "Absolutely not," I answered. "Exactly. So hear me quick, we don't have time. Go in there, acting like you weren't expecting to see them together. Or kissing. He's probably gonna leave after that. Avoid conflict cause he's a coward." "You got that right," I mumbled under my breath. "He'll probably leave, but he really won't. He'll be at the door. Most likely. Go inside, shut the door, and argue with her. Yell at her. Blame it all on her." "Daniel!" "Just trust me on this one. Blame it on her. Tell her you're breaking up with her. Do it for Justin to hear. Once he hears that, he'll be satisfied with what happened and he'll leave. Then bring her out of there and drive her home. Tell her you don't want to be here anymore and she won't either so whatever you have to do, do it and take her home. When you get there, tell her the truth. Tell her what you really did and why you did it and pray that she forgives you and you get laid," he grinned. I rolled my eyes. "Chances are, he'll take the rest of the weekend to think of what to do next week onwards. So, new plan. Starting next week, both of you are going to act like you've broken up. Don't talk to each other, don't hang out with each other, avoid each other, do not kiss, god, don't kiss. Don't even sneak around, don't risk it. Someone on the team might tell Justin." I stared at him in utter confusion. "Do this on Monday. Only on Monday. When Tuesday rolls around, go back to being your lovely selves. He'll be confused, he'll probably try doing something, and then, you can just tell him that you knew what he was doing all along. He'll be the one getting humiliated. Again. And chances are, he won't try again." "If you weren't gonna help him, why agree to it in the first place?" I asked. "So he wouldn't do it again. And uh, he offered me captain." "You scholarship," I said in realization. "I guess I'll have to get that scholarship on my own, it's fine. You love her, that's more important," he shrugged. I looked around, spotting the person I was hoping for. "Noah," I said, "He's going for captain too. Do co-captain with him, it's better than Justin, he's a nice guy," I shrugged. "And he'll probably agree cause Justin hates him too." "I'll do that," Daniel chuckled, "Now go." I shook my head at him, smiling but rolling my eyes before I walked over to the bathroom. I got to the door and twisted the handle, swinging it open harder than necessary and sure enough, they were kissing. "Shit," Justin mumbled, pulling away. "My bad." "You…" Olivia stared at him in shock. He turned to the door. "Sorry, man. I should um, I should go," Justin said, sliding past me and out the door. I clenched and unclenched my jaw and fists, feeling anger bubbling up inside me. "Ethan, I didn't-" "But you did." "No, I-" "You did, Olivia." "No, Ethan. He-" "You and him. Both of you did. You cheated me," he said, his face blank of emotion. "No, I didn't!" she exclaimed, rushing over to me. "I'm not blind. I just saw you two kissing. You cheated on me. With him," I scoffed. "Ethan, I didn't cheat," she said. "What do you mean? I just saw you!" I yelled. God, I hate yelling at her. "Don't yell at me, please," she said softly, "I didn't cheat on you, I would never do that," she argued. "What are you talking about? I just walked in here and saw you kissing him!" I yelled again, hating myself for doing it again. "Why are you yelling?!" she asked, snapping back and raising her own voice. That makes me feel a little better, it was worse when she was getting hurt. Not that she isn't anymore. "Ethan, I did not cheat on you, I fucking swear on everything we've had," she took another step closer. "You're a liar, Olivia," I scoffed, shaking my head. "I'm not lying to you, why would I lie?" she sighed, grabbing my face. No, no, this is too hard. "Ethan, why would I lie to you? And why would I tell you I love you if I was just gonna cheat on you tonight?" she asked, forcing me to look at her. I clicked my tongue in frustration, throwing her hands off, "Maybe it wasn't just tonight. Maybe it's been going on for a while, who fucking knows?" I asked. "You think I've been cheating on you this whole time?" she asked in shock. I didn't answer her, I simply folded my arms across my chest and stared her down. "Ethan, what are you-" "I just caught you cheating on me, how the fuck do you expect me to react, Olivia? You can drop the act now," I said, "The truth is out. You've been cheating on me for God knows how long. And now that I've caught you, you won't even admit it?" I scoffed. She stared at me in shock, in anger, but the one emotion that passed all others, that was the first one I could read, was hurt. She was hurt. "You really think I'd do that to you? After how great everything has been going between us, you really think I'd cheat?" she questioned. "Yeah," I lied, "I really think you would." She tucked her hair behind her ear, panic striking her. "Ethan, you have to believe. What do I do? What do I say? How do I make you believe me?" she asked, grabbing my hand. "You don't," I pulled my hand out of hers, "You can't." "Ethan, you have to believe me. You have to, please," she begged. I shook my head staring at the floor. "I don't trust you anymore," I mumbled. "I can't when I saw everything with my own eyes." "Well, you didn't hear everything with your own fucking ears," she groaned, "This is what he wants. He wants us to break up, Ethan don't let him have that, please!" she exclaimed. I made the mistake of looking into her eyes where I saw her eyes glossing over, tears pooling in them which she tried desperately hard to blink away. I almost took everything back. I almost told her I believed her. "I don't believe you, Olivia." We fell into silence for a few short moments. "What do you want me to do?" she sniffled. "Nothing. I just… I think we should break up," I nearly winced as I said those words, "I'm sorry." "B-break up? Ethan, are you serious?" she asked, nearly letting out a sob. I've never wanted to hold her tighter than I do now. "I can't be with you anymore. Not after what you did tonight." "This isn't my fault!" she cried. "This is all your fault!" I blamed her. I looked up at her. She really was crying. I hate myself. I did that to her. This is my fault. But it has to be done. . . . . . Chapter 32