Chapter Nine

One Year Later
Mila sat alone on a bench eating her school lunch by the football field.
Mid-October was becoming quite chilly as the new winter was on its way for the year. All around the school yard teenage kids roamed at their leisure as they enjoyed their lunch break with friends before the fifth period started. She watched as some of them laughed making jokes to one another, others playing basketball on the black top, some playing hard ball against the gymnasium wall and more just walking around or sitting on the bleachers.
She couldn't help but think back of the last year. About how she and Selena had become popular practically overnight because of her so called "delinquent" older brother had come back to school. She gave a face of disgust at that thought.
It's not like they hated each other because they didn't. They just couldn't stand being around one another. Always arguing, especially when it came to other guys. Yeah right, like any guy will come talk to her. If they did it was like Jared just appears out of nowhere and gives them a death stare making them run off before they even said a single word to her. They were all terrified of his delinquent persona and he found a way to use it in full advantage.
Her.
He had literally started acting like an overbearing older brother she didn't need or want in the first place. She didn't have any brothers, so she wasn't used to the kind of treatment he was giving when it came to her.
She refused to think about the first night they had met. Every time she thought about it her chest tightened and she felt stupid all over again. She still hadn't kissed again thanks to that memory and what was even more upsetting about it was that it had been her first kiss and Jared ruined it for her.
Thanks to him no guy will come around her because he was always there in her damn shadow. So, no guy was brave enough to risk an encounter. Well, all except Evan of course.
She smiled thinking of him. Evan has tried on countless times to get her attention and talk to her. He even had the courage to try and get close enough to kiss but he never succeeded. All Jared had to do was say one thing,
"Think back when." And stupid her she would and would become beet red and stalk away angrily without explaining anything to the others.
Jared never enlightened them either, which surprised her since he loved to make her look like a fool in front of everyone. But there are things that Jared couldn't control. Little things really, like Evan holding her hand or sometimes hugging her longer than he should and the one thing that really gets to Jared was the rumor.
Everyone seemed to think that Evan and she were a couple.
Of course, they weren't. And when the subject was brought up, she tried to defuse it, but no one ever believed her. Although sometimes she would think to herself that she may be in love with Evan or at least have some deep feelings for him. She even thought that she would pass the friend barrier with him at some point.
She frowned. But if she had to be honest with herself the thought of doing that very thing left a feeling of unease and confusion. Sighing deeply, she goes to take a bite of her chicken sandwich when suddenly something slammed right into her.
She got slammed so hard she nearly fell to the ground from the bench she was sitting on.
"What the ever loving..." she trails off when she hears laughter just behind her. Turning quickly, she watches as Evan bends over with laughter.
"Sorry Mila, didn't mean to run into you that hard."
Becoming slightly annoyed she righted herself and repositioned her sandwich that nearly came apart from the impact. "I hate when you do that." She mumbled in annoyance.
He either didn't hear her or didn't care as he sat on the bench next to her. Jared and Selena came over not a moment later.
"What are you doing over here? We've been looking for you." Selena asked with slight concern.
Jared's scowl was ever present so that wasn't anything new. Anytime he was around she was filled with such annoyance she can't help but return the look towards him. She tried to ignore him she really did. But it didn't work since it was always Jared who started off their conversations. Especially in front of the others. She couldn't very well dis him in front of them without questions being asked. Although she was pretty sure Selena knew something was up.
Jared stared at the back of Mila's head. He knew she was angry at him, but he didn't get fazed by in the least. She was playing nice in front of others and it kind of amused and annoyed him. She was trying so hard to make it seem like they were just good old friends. She didn't want anyone to know what happened between them the first night that they met. It bothered him that she wanted to keep it a secret, but it was her choice, and he would stick by it.
A memory pierced through his mind as he thought of all their interactions. A small smile lit his face as he let it flow. Mila may had wanted to hate him but deep down he knew she didn't. More than likely just didn't like him. The smile vanished with the thought. Sighing heavily, he jammed his hands in his coat pockets bringing the scowl back to his face.
Mila listened with half an ear as Selena started telling them about what happened that morning with two cheerleaders fighting over one of the football players. Evan enthusiastically joined in. She couldn't for the life of her stop the flowing memory of the one-time her and Jared were actually civil to each other.
It had been snowing outside and she was staying the night with Selena. That was also the night that Evan wasn't there for once. He was constantly present at the Coopers that he practically lived with them. But that night he hadn't been present. She was at the kitchen sink washing the cup she had used while Selena and her parents were laughing at the sitcom, they were all watching, when she glanced up out the window and froze.
There in the snowing downfall sitting on the bench swinging by the tree was Jared.
She frowned. How long had he been out there? He hadn't been home when she first arrived a couple hours ago. A scowl replaced her features as the memory of feeling disappointed at learning he wasn't home come to her.
She shouldn't have even cared that he was gone. She should have been glad in fact. The two couldn't stand to be around each other so the feeling annoyed her greatly. She watched him for a few moments as his back was turned to her and he gazed out to the frozen lake beyond.
A string pulled at her heart and confusion swamped her. Deciding, she dried her hands and yelled out to Selena that she was going to get a bit of fresh air.
"Want me to join you?!" Selena yelled back.
"No, it's ok just want to get a breather!"
Grabbing her coat and gloves she went outside. A blast of icy cold air pierced her skin. Hugging her coat more firmly to her she slowly walked up next to him. He didn't look up as she came close. He seemed to be so lost in thought.