Chapter 119: Petty Arguments

The smug grin on Kevin's face widened as his gaze bounced lazily between Dylan and me, almost as though he were watching a movie he'd paid to see.

He clicked his tongue. "What a shame."

He pretended to sigh dramatically. "I always thought you two would last a little longer."

His eyes landed on me. "But I guess the rumors are true."

I stiffened.

Kevin folded his arms across his chest. "So..." He tilted his head. "So one moment, you're dating and the next, you actually dump him."

Dylan's jaw clenched. "Watch your mouth."

Kevin chuckled. "Oh, relax." Then he looked at me again. "I would've expected you to hold on tighter."

His grin became even more obnoxious.

"Considering he's practically engaged now."

My stomach twisted.

I lowered my eyes.

Kevin didn't stop. "You know what's funny?"

He laughed quietly. "I was honestly looking forward to playing against Brookwood while everyone's love story was still intact."

He shrugged carelessly. "But I guess heartbreak got there first."

Dylan took one deliberate step forward.

"Kevin…" He glared at him. "Leave."

Kevin ignored him completely.

Instead, he smiled wider. "Oh, I almost forgot." He snapped his fingers dramatically. "The match."

My heart sank.

I knew he was trying to provoke Dylan.

Kevin rocked back on his heels. "I've been hearing interesting things."

Dylan didn't respond.

Kevin continued anyway. "They're saying Brookwood's golden captain has suddenly forgotten how to kick a ball."

Several students lingering nearby exchanged awkward glances.

Kevin laughed. "I heard practice has been... embarrassing."

His eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Missing easy shots."

"Not concentrating."

"Coach practically yelling every five minutes."

He gave an exaggerated whistle. "Tough."

Dylan's fists slowly curled.

Kevin noticed because that was exactly what he wanted.

He leaned forward slightly. "I almost feel sorry for your teammates."

A beat passed.

Then Kevin smirked. "Almost."

I couldn't stay quiet anymore. "That's enough."

Both boys looked at me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and faced Kevin. "He's been going through a lot."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

I nodded. "So stop making fun of him."

Before Kevin could answer—

"Reet." Dylan's voice cut sharply through the hallway.

I turned toward him to see that he looked frustrated.

I blinked. "What?"

"I don't need you defending me."

His words hit harder than I expected.

"I wasn't—"

"I said I don't need it." His tone was cold and clipped.

I felt something inside me shrink immediately.

Students around us had gone completely silent now.

Heat rushed into my face and I suddenly became painfully aware that people were staring. Embarrassment crawled up my neck.

"I was only trying to help..." I said quietly.

"I don't need help." His answer came too quickly.

I looked down. "Okay."

I hated how small I suddenly felt.

Kevin, meanwhile, looked delighted.

He practically beamed. "Oh, this is beautiful."

Dylan rubbed a frustrated hand over his face.

I could tell he wasn't angry at me but it was still me standing in front of him and I was the one taking the blow.

I lifted my head again. "You didn't have to snap at me."

"I didn't snap."

"You did."

"I said I didn't."

I stared at him. "You embarrassed me."

His eyes flashed. "And you embarrassed me by acting like I couldn't defend myself."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"So trying to help you is embarrassing?"

"That's not what I said."

"Then what did you say?"

He sighed heavily. "You're twisting my words."

I laughed bitterly. "No, I heard you perfectly."

Silence stretched between us.

Kevin folded his arms. "This breakup is better than television."

I shut my eyes briefly.

Dylan looked equally frustrated. "You always assume the worst."

I stared at him in disbelief. "I assume the worst?"

"Yes."

I let out a disbelieving laugh. "I saw Vanessa kiss you."

"I told you what happened."

"And I told you how I felt."

"You never listened."

"I listened!"

Our voices had risen without either of us realizing.

Students had stopped walking altogether, some were openly recording with their phones.

I suddenly wanted the floor to swallow me whole. "Dylan…"

"No, tell me." He gestured helplessly. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know!" My voice cracked. "I don't know anymore!"

The hallway echoed with silence.

Then another familiar voice broke through.

"Okay."

Brian.

He stepped between us with an exhausted sigh. "That's enough."

Brian looked at me first and then at Dylan.

"You two are literally giving everyone free entertainment."

Only then did I notice just how many people were standing around us.

My stomach dropped.

Brian's gaze shifted to Kevin. "And you're enjoying this way too much."

Kevin grinned. "I really am."

Brian rolled his eyes. "Shocking."

Kevin shrugged. "I live for drama."

Then his eyes shifted back toward Dylan.

His grin slowly returned. "You know..."

He spoke casually. "They're saying Brookwood might finally lose."

Dylan stayed silent as Kevin took one slow step closer. "I'd wish you luck..." He paused deliberately. "...but I don't think luck can fix a broken heart."

That was it.

Before I could register anything else, Dylan punched Kevin's face.

I gasped as a collective gasp rippled through the students watching.

Kevin slowly touched the corner of his mouth. When he pulled his fingers away, there was blood.

His smirk disappeared. "You—"

Kevin lunged forward but Brian reacted just as fast.

Brian grabbed Kevin by the chest of his jersey and shoved him backward.

"No."

Kevin struggled. "Move."

But Brian didn't budge. "I said no."

Kevin glared at him. "I'm going to knock his teeth out."

Brian's expression remained flat. "Not today at least."

Kevin tried to move again but Brian blocked him once more.

Then, without lowering his voice in the slightest, Dylan said, "Fuck off."

The hallway fell silent again.

Kevin stared at Brian for several long seconds before he laughed unexpectedly.

He wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand and looked directly at Dylan.

The smirk returned. “You've got quite the temper."

Then Kevin adjusted his St. Harvey jersey and nodded. "I'll see you at the game."

His eyes held Dylan's for one long moment. "I hope you've remembered how to play by then."

Without another word, Kevin turned around and walked away.

The crowd slowly parted to let him pass.

My ears were still ringing from the sound of Dylan's punch landing on Kevin's face.

Even though Kevin had already walked away and the crowd had begun to disperse, I couldn't focus on anyone else but Dylan.

The silence between us was almost unbearable.

For a brief moment, I thought one of us would apologize.

I almost wanted it to be me.

Then Dylan finally broke the silence. "So..."

His voice was flat. "I guess that's it."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He gave a short, bitter laugh. "You've already decided I'm the bad guy."

I stared at him. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to."

His eyes searched mine. "You're acting as if I betrayed you."

"You kissed Vanessa."

"I didn't kiss Vanessa."

"You were kissing."

"She kissed me!"

"It looked the same to me!"

His jaw tightened again. "You really don't trust me."

The accusation stung.

"I did trust you," I emphasized the word.

"Dylan, I trusted you more than anyone."

His expression softened for the briefest second but hardened again. "But now?"

I swallowed. "I don't know."

He looked away and then he laughed quietly. "I should've known."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Known what?"

"That no matter what I said..." He shrugged. "...you'd believe what you saw over what I told you."

I folded my arms tightly across my chest.

"Wouldn't you?"

He looked back at me. "No."

His response came without hesitation.

"If it were you..." He lowered his voice. "I would've listened first."

The words hit somewhere deep inside me and for one tiny second, guilt crept in.

Then I remembered Vanessa's lips on his.

The smile she'd worn afterward.

The engagement.

My heart hardened again. "You don't get to make me feel guilty."

He raised a brow. "I'm not."

"You are."

"I was explaining."

"No." I shook my head. "You were blaming me."

"I wasn't blaming you."

"You practically just said this is my fault."

His frustration resurfaced instantly. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to!"

My voice echoed louder than I intended.

Students nearby turned again but I didn't care anymore.

I was exhausted.

Dylan sighed roughly. "This is exactly why we can't even have a conversation."

I laughed bitterly. "Oh, now it's my fault?"

"I didn't say that either."

"You implied it."

He rubbed both hands over his face. "You're impossible."

That hit me.

I blinked. "...Excuse me?"

"I said you're impossible."

Something inside me snapped. "You know what?"

I nodded. "You're right."

He frowned.

"I am impossible." I nodded again. "And you're a jerk."

His eyes widened slightly.

"A jerk who keeps expecting everyone else to understand him while refusing to understand anyone else."

He clenched his jaw. "I've been trying."

"So have I."

"No." He shook his head. "You gave up."

My throat burned. "I gave up?"

I let out a humorless laugh. "I fought for us until I couldn't anymore."

A beat passed between us.

"Maybe you never loved me enough," Dylan muttered.

My entire body froze.

I stared at him, unable to believe he'd actually said it.

I answered. "That's cruel."

Something like regret flickered across his face.

But by then, the damage had already been done.

I took a step backward. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"Reet—"

"No."

I shook my head. "No."

Brian finally stepped closer. "Guys..."

Neither of us looked at him.

I swallowed hard before I looked directly into Dylan's eyes one last time. "I hope you figure everything out."

My voice trembled. "I really do."

Then I turned around and walked away.

Brian called behind me.

"Reet!"

But I kept walking.

"Reet!"

I didn't stop until I finally reached the school gates.

The walk home felt longer than usual.

Dylan's words replayed over and over in my head.

By the time I reached our new neighborhood, the afternoon sun had begun to soften.

The street was unusually quiet.

I turned the corner toward our small house and slowed at the sight of a sleek black luxury car parked across the street.

It looked completely out of place among the modest houses.

I frowned but I kept walking.

Then the driver's side door opened and immediately, a pair of polished black heels touched the pavement first.

Then, Miranda's face came into view.

She stepped out smoothly, closing the car door behind her with deliberate calm.

She wore an expensive dark coat despite the pleasant weather.

My stomach twisted into knots. "What are you doing here?"

She slowly walked toward me and looked me up and down.

"My." She clicked her tongue. "You look miserable."

Her smile widened.

"I suppose breaking up with Dylan isn't as fun as I imagined."

Anger immediately surged through me.

I laughed bitterly. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

She shrugged casually. "It was."

"Then why are you here?"

She stopped only a few feet away from me.

She was close enough for me to see the amusement dancing in her eyes.

I clenched my fists. "You got exactly what you wanted."

I swallowed. "So let my father go."

She simply stared at me.

"You wanted me away from Dylan." My voice shook. "I did it."

"So let him go," I added desperately.

She sighed dramatically. "I came here because..."

She tilted her head. "...I've changed my mind."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

She smiled again. "I've changed my condition."

Anger exploded inside me. "You can't just keep changing the rules!"

"I can." She smiled sweetly. "Because I made them."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You promised—"

"I promised nothing." She interrupted effortlessly. "I simply reconsidered."

My breathing became uneven. "You—"

She raised one finger. "Don't. I've had a long day and you being angry won't change anything."

I glared at her. "I hate you."

"I know." She sounded almost pleased. "I've noticed."

She folded her arms. "So...my new condition."

I felt cold all over despite the warm afternoon. "What is it?"

Miranda smirked. "I want you..." She paused deliberately. "...to sabotage Dylan's soccer game against St. Harvey."

I blinked. "What?"

She held my gaze without flinching. "You heard me."

My mouth fell slightly open. "No..." I whispered.