Chapter Two: It's Just A Party

Christopher Hayes hasn't always been like this. He wasn't a player before but things changed in his sophomore year. He liked a particular girl as a freshman, maybe even loved her. She has blonde hair and grey eyes. She's quite a beauty. She was nice and sweet but she isn't the same now. He thought he loved her but maybe he was too young to know what love was.

So he approached her and they got to talking. Because of his good looks and how he has his way with girls, she agreed to go on a date with him. Christopher put his best into their first date and he did impress her. After, they went on a few more dates before he finally asked her to be his girlfriend. She agreed and they dated for the whole of freshman year.

If there's one thing Christopher hates the most, it's cheating. He hates it his whole life. If you're in a relationship, be committed to it. DON'T FUCKING CHEAT.

Why on earth would you go into a relationship if you ain't ready to commit?

Is it to hurt your partner?

Just like his father did to his Mum. His dad hurt his mum really badly. He broke her heart into tiny pieces.

His dad was a Cheat, no scratch that - his dad is a cheat.

He cheated on his mum several times so there's no guarantee he wouldn't cheat on his new companion.

He had cheated on his mum several times but she kept forgiving him or acting as if nothing happened, as if nothing changed. Until finally, he left her for someone else, someone younger and then he asked for a divorce.

His mum was devastated. She cried until she couldn't anymore but she still signed the divorce papers. It hurt him to see his mom like that and he was livid that it was his so-called father that made his mum like that. But there's nothing he could have done. It happened six years ago but his mum is yet to move on. His dad married the woman and moved to another state. He's pretty sure his mum still loves his dad.

That man doesn't deserve to be called his dad. He is a cheat.

If perhaps his dad should find his way back to them and asks to be part of their family again, he's cocksure his mum would agree without hesitation. It seems like she is waiting that's why she hasn't moved on. He hates that his mum still loves his dad so much. All he has ever wanted since his dad left is for his mum to find someone else and move on. Someone that wouldn't hurt her but pick up the broken pieces of her heart and fix it. But she hasn't. He doesn't even think she's ready to move on.

Thankfully, his little sister was still very young so she didn't get attached to their dad and she doesn't even remember what he looks like. That's one person out of the hurt list.

  So when he found out that his girlfriend was cheating on him, he was mad and he broke up with her. She didn't even care when he broke up with her. Seemed she had already called it quits with him long since. Seemed like she got tired of him and moved on without doing the proper thing. It broke his heart. He felt how his mum felt and hated his dad even more if that was possible.

The girl changed totally and began officially dating the guy she cheated on him with. This girl is still in school, in his grade and he sees her every day.

The aforementioned girl is no one but the Queen Bee - Ivy Sommers.

Yeah.

It's her.

Poison Ivy.

After that experience, he avoided girls for a while before hooking up with one at a party when he was drunk. Then he became a player.

He didn't want to commit to any relationship again. So he kept things that way. Hooking up with different girls now and then.

No strings attached.

Most times, he doesn't remember the name of the girl he hooked up with. He just does it. It's his way of forgetting the pain and dealing with it.

Now, the infamous Heartbreaker is dating Luke. Luke is actually a good guy. The opposite of Christopher. He joined them last year. If only he knows the real Ivy, he wouldn't be dating her. Well, it all means drama for Chris. Some entertainment. He'd just sit back and watch.

Christopher walks into the cafeteria for lunch and joins his friends at a table.

"What's up, dudes?" He greets his friends. They bump fists and settle down.

"Don't you think Aspen is hot?" Jason asks.

"Yeah," Max agrees and looks towards the table Ivy's at. As expected, Aspen is there with Luke and Cole.

Christopher just shrugs cause he doesn't care. Aspen is Ivy's friend and he doesn't want to be connected to Ivy in any way again.

He doesn't like the statement Jason just made. Jason has a girlfriend so it isn't proper to be checking other girls out. What does he think his girlfriend would do if she catches him doing that?

She'd probably hit him on the head out of anger.

Albeit Jason's girlfriend doesn't go to their school, they're still really close and sweet.

"You know you have a girlfriend, right?" Chris asks with a scowl on his face.

"Yeah. Doesn't mean I can't check other girls out," Jason answers shrugging.

"How would you feel if you catch your girlfriend checking Luke out?" Chris asks.

Jason freezes and thinks about it then a frown appears on his face.

Christopher shakes his head disapprovingly and busies himself with his phone. He doesn't need an answer, his facial expression has given him the answer he needs.

Chris isn't hungry. Doesn't want to eat anything. He needs a break from school. He can't wait for Jason's party on Friday.

***

Stephanie is already seated at their usual table waiting for Brooke. She's eating salad as she waits. Brooke approaches with a smile on her face.

She finally reaches their table and sits opposite Stephanie so that they're facing each other. She drops a milkshake on the table as she sits.

"Guess what?" Brooke beams.

"What?" Stephanie shoots up on her seat seeing how excited her best friend is.

"Cole spoke to me today," she announces.

"Really?" Stephanie asks, surprise evident in her voice.

"Yeah. In class, first period. Cole said hi to me," Brooke says fanning her face with her hand frantically.

"He also asked if I'm going to Jason's party," she continues.

Stephanie stares at her for a while before saying, "Wow!"

"I know right!"

Cole joined them last year, at the same time Luke did. And they ended up becoming best friends having a lot in common. Ever since he came, Brooke has always thought he was cute and sweet. You could say she has a little crush on him. She never tried to talk to him because she thinks he wouldn't even look at her and they aren't in the same clique. He hasn't dated anyone in their school since he came.

"He's really cute," Brooke mumbles.

"I guess," Stephanie shrugs and looks around to find him. She spots him and agrees, "Yeah. He is cute."

"Uh-huh," Brooke sounds looking in the direction of Cole.

"There's no way I would miss Jason's party now," Brooke says.

"Good for you," Stephanie replies.

Brooke slurps her milkshake eyeing Stephanie. She stares for a while and this doesn't go unnoticeable by Stephanie.

"What?"

Brooke stops slurping and says, "You're going to Jason's party."

Stephanie widens her beautiful hazel eyes slightly and shakes her head vehemently.

"No."

Brooke groans, "Geez! What's your problem Steph? It's just a party. You won't die."

Stephanie shakes her head again.

Brooke is about to snap and she eventually does.

"Just this once."

"No."

Brooke sighs in defeat, "Just think about it, okay? For me, please?"

"I'll think about it," Stephanie replies after a pause.

She's got nothing to think about, she just wants Brooke out of her hair.

"Thank you," Brooke smiles.

They eat and drink in silence as Brooke stares at Cole from across the room.

The both of them usually eat together. They use a table away from the popular clique and attention receivers.

Stephanie's phone buzzes in her back pocket. She pulls it out and sees a text from Brody. She immediately replies as her lips twitch in a smile.

"Who's that?" Brooke asks, finally tearing her eyes away from Cole's profile.

"It's Brody," she replies.

"Oh."

Brody is Stephanie's older brother who's in college. He's now a sophomore in college. Ever since he left, Stephanie has been bored at home. They were pretty close when he was still around but they haven't communicated for a while now. Brody is busy with college.

They're the only children of their parents. Her parents are always out working so she's usually home alone except when Brooke comes over.

So to get a text from him now is delightful.

"Is he coming home?" Brooke asks her.

"No. But he'll be home for Christmas."

"Okay."

"I really miss him," she says.

"Me too," Brooke agrees as she finishes her milkshake.

"Is he still dating that chick he used to date?" Brooke asks.

"I don't know, B. We haven't spoken for a while now," she replies.

"But I hope he isn't. I don't like her one bit," she confesses.

"I had that feeling," Brooke shrugs.

They both smile and stand to leave the cafeteria.