chapter seven – pep rallies and almost kisses

It was the third day of 6th grade and I was walking to third period by myself because Kevin and Devin had boys gym while I had girls.

I saw Marc out of the corner of my eye and blushed. I hoped that this time he would say something nice to me...

"Thick Thea-" I cringed at the nickname. He wasn't being nice today...

Before Marc could continue his insult I felt a sharp pain on my butt. I heard a bang and turned around.

An 8th grader smacked my butt and Marc was currently on top of him. Beating him up...

I sat in the bathroom stall holding my tears back. It's one thing when people call you a slut to your face. You know they're just trying to hurt you. And that's what I've been telling myself since first period.

All day, girls have been glaring at me, calling me names in the hallway and even asking me why I would sleep with all three of the triplets.

Nobody believed me when I said I haven't slept with any of them and it's starting to get to me. I don't like lies being spread about me. I'm scared that my Dad would find out. He'd be so disappointed in me...

"I can't believe that Thea slept with them" A girl who didn't know I was also in the bathroom spoke.

"I totally knew that this would happen" Another girl spoke. "I mean they've known each other their entire lives. I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner"

"How do you know it hasn't?" The other girl asked. "I mean maybe that's why they stopped talking freshmen year"

Now the tears were falling and I was holding back sobs. Why is this happening?

"I don't know why Marc would stoop so low though" That time I felt a pang in my heart. "I mean I heard that he slept with models while at that boarding school and Thea's... well you know"

My entire body felt like it was on fire from how hard I was shaking. I should be angry but I'm more upset. I've been having an off day. And this isn't helping.

"Please" The other girl laughed. "Marc Preston has been in love with Thea for years now. I just can't believe she slept with his brothers. That must have hurt him"

"Wait, what?" I speak my thoughts out loud and the bathroom silences.

"Oh Thea!" The brunette gasps as I walk out of the stall.

"We didn't know you were in there" The blonde looked guilty.

"That doesn't make it better" I scoff, ignoring the hurt that was bubbling in my stomach. "What do you mean Marc's in love with me?"

That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

"You don't see it?" The blonde furrows her eyebrows. "He's been following you around like a puppy dog ever since he got back"

"So?" I shrugged. "He's always bothered me and he's just picking back up where he left off. He's not 'in love' with me" I put air quotes around the 'in love' part.

"What about what about the locker room fight that got him sent away? You can't deny that" The blonde continues and I just stare at her like she's crazy.

"What about the locker room fight?"

"It started because Kevin said that he wanted to ask you out" The blonde shrugs. "At least that's what my boyfriend said. And he was there that day"

That has to be a lie. I genuinely laughed. Marc did not start a fight over me. I mean he did in 6th grade... but that wasn't because he liked me. That was because some pervert slapped my ass in front of him. It was him being decent.

"You're delusional" I scoffed and went to leave the bathroom.

"Don't call her names" The brunette jumped to her friend's defense and I raised one of my eyebrows at her.

"Seriously? You guys spent 10 minutes talking shit about me" That shut her up.

At least I know that whatever that blonde girl thought was just stupid. I mean it has to be since she thought Marc was in love with me. That's just crazy.

****

2 periods later and I'm not feeling much better. Especially right now.

I'm currently sitting next to Marc, because he refused to leave me alone after Home Ec, in the gym as the school held a pep rally. I hate pep rallies in general but right now people keep turning back to look at Marc and I and I can hear them whispering.

"Wanna hear something funny?" I speak up, trying to distract myself. Marc doesn't answer and I glare at him. "Marc"

"Huh?" He looks over at me slightly confused. "You're talking to me?"

"Yeah" I scoff, looking at him like he's stupid. Who else would I be talking to?

"Sorry. You just don't usually start off our conversations" He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"I was in the bathroom today and some girls were calling me a slut and-"

"Wait what? Who?" Marc asked, anger flashing in his eyes. Why does he care? He's spent his entire like tormenting me.

"That doesn't matter. But they were talking about how they felt bad for you because I 'slept' with your brothers while you were in love with me" I laughed. "Isn't that funny? You, in love, with me! I cracked up"

Marc stared at me with an unrecognizable emotion in his eyes before he snorted.

"You wish I was in love with you, Thick Thea" Marc smirked and I rolled my eyes once again. I do that a lot around him.

"S-Sure I do" I smirk as he glares at me. I will never not hold his stutter against him.

I wasn't really paying attention to the pep rally until a familiar, nasally voice spoke into the microphone.

"Thea Caruso is nothing but a big fat slut that slept with my boyfriend and his brothers"

My eyes narrowed in on Mikayla smirking from where the other cheerleaders stood. My cheeks felt hot and I felt eyes on me.

Kevin and Devin who stood with the other football players looked shocked. Their eyes flicking back and forth from Mikayla to me. Tears started to well up in my eyes and my heart was pounding.

Why aren't they sticking up for me? Kevin's girlfriend or whatever she is just lied about me to the whole school and all of the teachers. Shouldn't he be, I don't know, stopping her? Betrayal grew in my belly.

"Thea, hey don't cry" I felt Marc's thumb wipe away a tear that fell as he made me look at him. "Remember? It doesn't matter what anybody thinks"

And then I was rushing out of the bleachers, trying to get as far away from the Preston's as possible.

I was about to walk out of the gym doors when-

"You're just pissed because Thea caught our attention without having to take her clothes off like most of the girls around here" Marc stood up.

Mikayla's face dropped and the football team started cracking up. I left.

I rushed down the corridor, trying to get to the parking lot before anybody could stop me.

"Thea" I heard Marc call out for me. "Thea, wait"

He finally caught up with me when I reached the doors.

"Hey, look at me" Marc's hands were warm when they grabbed my face to make me look at him.

My golden brown eyes stared into his pale blue ones while he wiped the tears off of my face. He looked so concerned and I didn't understand why.

"What happened to the takes no shit Thea that I met in detention on my first day back?" Marc gave me a small smile, trying to make me laugh.

"She's not here right now" I whisper.

"Okay, it's okay" Marc wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. I could feel him running his fingers through my hair as I tried to calm myself down.

"Ow-Ow your hand is stuck" I hiss and pull away from the hug. Instantly feeling cold.

****

Marc gave me a ride home because when I called Wyatt and asked him to pick me up he said he was headed to a job interview. Which sounded suspicious but I didn't question it.

That's how we ended up here. On my couch.

Marc rubbed his hand down my arm as I cried hard into his chest. I don't know why I was doing this with Marc. Honestly I should have called Laurel or Charlie. But Marc was there and he hasn't done anything to upset me yet.

"Thea.. I don't think this is about Mikayla" Marc leans his chin against the top of my head.

"What?" I furrow my eyebrows and look up at him. "What else would it be about?"

"It's getting close to the anniversary of your Mom's death" Marc looks at me sadly and I frown. He's right.

"How did you know that?" I sniffle.

"I, sometimes would call your dad. And ask about how you were" Marc mumbles, red tinting his face. "I used to ask Kevin and Devin but eventually they didn't know anymore or they stopped acting like you guys were still friends. So I randomly called your dad one day. And whenever I missed you, I would call him and ask him how you were. Last year he mentioned that you had been crying over small things because the anniversary was coming up"

I stared at him with furrowed eyebrows. He used to call my dad to check up on me? He still checked up on me after years? He missed me? I felt a flutter in my stomach and my eyes went wide.

"Not that what Mikayla did was small but...." Marc trailed off.

When did our faces get so close to each others? I could smell his breath. It smelled like cigarette smoke and mint. Something that should have repulsed me but it didn't.

His pale blue eyes looked uncertain as they flicked down to my lips.

"T-Thea.." His voice wavered and his stutter came back. He was nervous.

"Shut up" I whispered. I didn't want to think anymore.

I flickered my eyes shut and leaned in. I didn't know how bad I wanted this until-

"What is this?"

"Daddy" I gasp, throwing myself to my feet before our lips could touch.

"P-Pastor Caruso" Marc was on his feet next to me and his hand was extended immediately.

Dad looked at him suspiciously before grasping his hand in a handshake.

"I think you should head home, son. I need to talk to my daughter" Dad gave me a look and I knew he knew about what happened at school today...

"Y-yes" Marc coughed. "Yes sir"

Marc turned to me and I immediately looked away. Was I really about to kiss him? What the hell is wrong with me? That's disgusting.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow" Marc nodded at me before going to leave, almost knocking Wyatt over in the process.

"Why was he here?" Wyatt asked Dad, confused.

"Why was he here, Thea?" Dad asked turning his attention back towards me.

"He drove me home from school" I mumbled.

"School doesn't end for another 45 minutes" Dad crossed his arms. "Wyatt go to your room"

"Me? I'm a grown man" Wyatt gasped dramatically but the look Dad gave him made him scurry up the stairs.

"Nothing was happening" I finally speak when Wyatt's gone.

"It didn't look like nothing" Dad frowned at me. He didn't look mad. He looked disappointed. "Your principal called me today. I went to pick you up from school and they said that you didn't show up to your next class"

"I know-" Dad cut me off.

"Do you know how worried I was? I thought something terrible happened" Dad sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I walked in here, ready to call the police because you weren't answering your cell phone. And I find you underneath that boy"

"I wasn't underneath him, Dad" I defended myself. "It wasn't what it looked like"

"Then what was it?" Dad stared at me waiting for my explanation.

"Mikayla lied to the whole school and told them that I slept with the triplets and Marc stood up for me while Kevin and Devin did nothing" I was crying again. "My best friends did nothing while their whore tried to destroy me. And the one person I thought would laugh along with her, actually defended me"

"Thea" Dad came closer to hug me and I could see that he was trying to stop himself from telling me to watch my language.

"And then Marc followed me when I tried to leave school and drove me home because he didn't want me walking home upset. And then he knew about Mom's anniversary and-and" I was sobbing into my Dad's chest now.

"How come you never told me he called to check in on me?" I asked. Not sure of what to say next.

"He asked me not to" Dad kissed my forehead. "I know you're a good girl, Thea"

I was crying harder now.

"I was just scared and then I came in and you were kissing Marc. I was confused because you said you hated him" Dad tried to make me laugh and it worked a little bit.

"We didn't kiss and I do hate him" I roll my bloodshot eyes.

We were silent for what felt like eternity. Just Dad, holding me in his arms, stroking my hair. A wordless way to let me know that everything would be okay.

"If your Mom had walked in and saw what I saw" Dad laughed. "We would be planning a wedding"

And now I was laughing hard because honestly, what he said was true.