Chapter Forty Four

                                    

                                          
Benny and I didn't skate back home. It was awkward for some reason, usually we always had something to talk about. "Are you okay?" I broke the silence. 
"I'm fine." Benny spat at me with aggression. 
I rolled my eyes, "See you later Rodriguez." His tone really pissed me off. Maybe he hated me. I turned around and was going to go to Daniel's house to talk shit. 
Benny:
"See you later Rodriguez." She said. She was obviously irritated with me for some reason. She turned around and walked away. 
She must not like me anymore. The way she completely said no to Ham when he asked if we were dating says a lot. I mean, we aren't dating, but she said no so quickly. 
Rowan 
I knocked on Daniel's door. I felt so upset and angry towards Benny. The door creaked open, "What's up Ro?" Said Daniel. He got a good look at my face, "What's wrong?" 
I sighed, placed my skateboard down and just wrapped my arms around him. He didn't hesitate to hug me back, he had his arm around my back and he held my head with his hand. 
We released from the hug at the same time, "I don't really wanna talk about it." 
"That's fine." He said, folding his arms, "You want a distraction at least?" 
"Yeah." 
"Let's go to the skatepark." He suggested, looking at my board. 
"Okay." I sniffled. 
Daniel grabbed his skateboard that leaned against the rim of the door frame. "We should bring water bottles, huh?" 
"Yeah." I agreed, "It's kinda hot today." 
Daniel ran over to the kitchen and took two water bottles from a pack that was on the counter. He threw one to me and I caught it with my free hand. He shut the door behind us. 
We made our way to the skate park, Daniel ahead of me as we rode. My heart still felt heavy. 
*    *    *    *
"I'll be back." Said Daniel, "I'm going to the restroom." 
"Kay." I replied, sitting down on a bench at the edge of the skating bowl. I grabbed my water bottle and took a sip.
"Hey Rowan." Said a familiar voice. I turned my head in the direction of the speaker and I saw a red baseball jersey. I lifted my head up to see Phillips' face. He was squinting because of the sun. 
"What do you want?" I twisted the cap back on my water bottle and left it in my lap.
"To talk to you." He answered, "It's been a while." He was about to sit down on the bench right next to me, but I grabbed my skateboard and aggressively placed it there. He sighed, "Are you still mad at me about the whole...stalker thing?" He put his hands in his pockets.
"I mean...it was weird...like...really weird, but you were such an asshole to me before." 
"I was trying to protect you." 
"From what?" 
"From Rodriguez." 
There was a short pause. "There's nothing to protect me from." 
"What do you mean 'there's nothing to protect you from?' Did you forget about the way he blew you off for baseball? And when you first arrived here, I could tell something was bothering you. I know you and Rodriguez are back together, so i'm assuming it has something to do with him." 
"Hold on...are you saying that you followed me here?" I stood up, "You are such a fucking creep." I was going to take hold of my skateboard, but Phillips stopped me by grabbing my arm. 
"No, I was here before you came." 
I rolled my eyes, thrusting my arm out of his grip, "Did you forget that you told me the next time Benny blows me off to not come crying to you?" 
"Get your head out of your ass Rowan. This is different. I'm here, coming to you." 
"This is why I stopped being friends with you. You're so keen on riding Benny's dick that you don't even see what an asshole you are to me." 
"Well, you're being a bitch to me." 
"I have every right to be a bitch to you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm leaving. I have a friend to find." I bumped into his shoulder, about to walk off. 
"You mean your boyfriend?"
"No, I mean Daniel." I said, turning around again. 
"So, one of your boyfriends. How many do you even have? Whore." 
I rushed back to him and got into his face, "What the hell did you just call me?" 
Phillips quickly grabbed my face and smashed his lips onto mine. I tried to push myself off of him by his shoulders, but my strength was nothing compared to his. He finally let go once the sound of someone picking up a skateboard next to us was heard. 
It was Daniel. He walked off though, completely ignoring us. "Daniel!" I called out to him, but he ignored me too. I turned back to Phillips. I felt my head grow hot. I punched him in the face. 
"Shit!" He yelped, holding his nose. 
I took my skateboard and ran to catch up with Daniel, "Daniel!" I yelled. 
He spun around, "What Rowan?" 
"What's your deal bro?" I asked as my heart dropped. 
"You kissing Phillips?" 
"Dude...he kissed me. I didn't want that. Was it not obvious that I was trying to get out of his grip? Why would you even run off over that?" 
"Excuse me for trying to give you privacy." 
"Daniel, you're being fucking stupid." 
"Oh, I'm stupid now?" 
"Daniel, you know that's not what I meant."
"Do I?"
"I said that you're being stupid, not that you are."
"What's the difference? Why don't you go run back to one of your boyfriends." He stormed off. 
Hot tears began to fall down my face. I was completely flabbergasted. Never, have I seen Daniel act like this. I saw Phillips walking past me with blood trickling down my nose. He stared at me for a good moment. That's when I yelled at him, "Why do you always have to ruin fucking everything?!" I stormed past him. 
I rode my skateboard home. I slammed open the front door and walked past my dad and my mom without acknowledging them. "Where the hell have you been?!" Mom yelled at me. 
"Just leave me the fuck alone!" I yelled at her from the bottom of the stairs. 
Word Count: 1075