Chapter 31

**Winter**

I couldn’t shake the feeling of him ontop of me again. It haunted my dreams that night. I couldn’t shake him from my thoughts. I really thought I could have fought him more. I didn’t even really fight him when it happened. I just let it happen. I couldn’t help but feel some what responsible for what had happened. I should have done more to stop him. He has a girlfriend for crying out loud. Why did I not stop him?

On the other hand, why did he still want her that bad? He was risking a lot if something were to get out. She didn’t know Amber at all. Never even met her in real life. All I know is from thing I know are from my mother. Which made me feel even worse now that I think about it. My mother said that she was such a nice girl with good manners. She was very friendly with the whole family. What she was doing with my step brother was beyond me? If she was really that nice how could she be with a man who would do that to her? It was something else.

I shook my head as I walked into the coffee shop that morning. I hoped that it would be as eventful as the day before. I just wanted to get some coffee and move on with my day. I didn’t see anyone. Not Zander. Not Nev. So thankfully I was able to get my coffee and bagel with no problems at all. I was happy to finally get some moments of peace to clear my head. A moment where I can feel normal for a bit.

It didn’t last though. I was soon walked out of the building I ran into none of other than Hailey. She wasn’t alone either. She was with a girl. I shook my head as I tried to walk passed them. I hoped they wouldn’t notice me. Of course, I could never be that lucky.

“Hey stranger,” Hailey shouted as she walked up to me, stopping me in the tracks.

I looked up at her. “Hey, I got class.” I said trying to push passed her. I didn’t have class for a little bit longer, but I wasn’t about to talk to Hailey.

“Aw, really? But this is very important.” She said as she blinked her lashes. She was trying to look cute, but I have no idea for who she was trying to look cute for. It wasn’t going to work on me. “You see my friend, Amber, here has a bone to pick with you.” Amber? As in Zander’s girlfriend? This couldn’t be good if she was hanging out with Hailey. She was pretty. Not that I would have expected anything different from Zander’s girl. She had long brown hair that fell passed her butt with these bright blue eyes. She was beautiful. Why was Zander even bugging with me anymore.

“Okay?” I asked looking at Amber. “I don’t know what this is about.”

“You know exactly what this is about. I don’t know what you think is going to happen, but Zander is mine. So you need to stay away from him. Hailey told me all about your little games you play with those boys.”

“Excuse me?” I said raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean the games I play with them?” If anyone played games, it would be them. Of course though, they were innocent in most people’s eyes. Even if they knew the things they did to me. They would just be boys who didn’t know how to control themselves.

“You know exactly what we mean,” Hailey chimed in. “We know your little game when it comes to them. You want them all to yourself. You are selfish. Thats why you made Zander almost be late last night. Royal was waiting for him for awhile.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even want to go home with him.” I told them, though it fell on death ears.

“Of course you did?” She said with a small eye roll crossing her arms. “Amber and I just want to give you a little warning about if you plan to keep this up.”

Of course I am getting the warning. Yay just forget the years of feminism and blame the girl for everything your men are doing. It could never be the man’s fault. I shook my head. “What is it? I swear I am doing nothing with them. I don’t want anything to do with them.”

“A likely story,” Hailey just couldn’t believe anything that was coming out of my mouth. Amber wasn’t going to either. Could I blame her? I could. She was listening to the crazy lady instead of reason. She should be mad with him if he didn’t do something right. Even if they knew what happened between us. I am not fully to blame. I blame myself enough for them anyway. I know it would never be good enough for them, but it was something. I knew she wasn’t going to waste energy on being mad at him anyway so it was a waste of time.

“Like why can’t you get your own car and drive? How old are you?”

I didn’t want to point out that not everyone has the money to just get a car when the become a certain age. I certainly didn’t nor did I want to. I didn’t like the idea of driving. It gave me anxiety. I never lived anywhere that didn’t have a bus system or a way for me to get a ride so I never seen the point of forcing myself to get over the fear of driving. I just didn’t think it was for me. If it was necessary for me to I would. But this brings back to how the hell is it my fault? I didn’t ask for Zander to take me home. I asked for none of this.

“Look, I think you need to pick this up with Zander.” I said as I tried to push passed them. I didn’t want to keep having this conversation at all. Not with them at least.

“You better watch it, Winter. That’s all we are going to say.”