Free A Second Chance by Isabella Bearden Page B

another way for her to get his attention. Tate looks at me and gives me an apologetic look. I turn around and walk to Lily’s car.
    “And you say he loves me? Look at that, he runs to her every time!” I tell Lily pissed off.
    “He does love you. Did you not see his face when she came running?”
    “It doesn’t matter anymore Lil. Yes, I like Tate. I can’t say I love him because we didn’t even get to experience the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing without miss cheerleader over there messing it up. But point is it’s done. It’s over with. “
    “So you’re just giving up?”
    “Why not? He apparently already has.” I look over at Tate, as he is comforting Courtney. “I can’t do this. I’m going to class.”
    I leave everyone outside and run to the bathroom as I feel the tears come to my eyes. I thought moving away would be so much better, but all I have experienced is heartache.
    *****
    I go through the day, almost in a daze. Tate talks to me a few times, and I don’t ignore him, I just talk to him like I do everyone else.  No reason why we can’t be friends.  But I’m glad to know that before I gave him my heart, we never would have worked out. I spot Brent down the hall talking to Ben. I start to think back about how I canceled on him, thinking at the time it was for the best. I didn’t really want to hurt Tate like that. But now, it’s not about Tate. We’re over; he has Courtney, and other things going on in his life.
    Decision made, I walk over to Brent. “Hey, can I talk to you?”
    “Uh, I’ll just head to class, Later Brent. Rayleigh.” Ben says and takes off.
    “I’m sorry about cancelling our date. But if you want to try again, I would love to go out with you.”
    Brent looks stunned. “Really? Yeah, we can have a picnic down by the lake tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven?”
    I smile. “Works for me.” I lean in and give him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. “Later Brent.”
    I walk off to class. I didn’t find out till later that Tate saw and heard the whole thing.
    *****
    L ily takes me home after school, after finding out that Tate was behind me while Brent and I set a date up, I just didn’t feel like seeing his mad face. Plus he has football practice after school, so I’m sure he will release some of his anger.
    I get home and look at the clock its already past 5 and I have to be ready for my date by 7. I know two hours should be plenty of time, but instead I’m actually excited about going out with Brent and he is not forcing me to, like alpha male next door did.
    I walk to my closet and pull out a pair of skinny jeans and a red top. I take a quick shower. I put my hair in a fish tale braid and curl the sides that hang loose and put a little bit of light make up on.
    By time I finish getting ready, I look at the clock, and it’s already 6:50. Time sure does fly when you’re not thinking about it.  As I am about to head down stairs, I hear the doorbell. I walk down stairs to greet Brent, but to find that it’s Tate. He is talking to my dad, and staring straight at me. As Tate was about to say something, the doorbell rang again. I open the door and greet Brent.
    I yell over my shoulder that I will be back around 11. I hear my dad yell out 10. I turn to flash my dad a smile and I see a glare in Tate’s eyes as he sees who I am with.  Brent and I walk to his car and he opens the door for me. We drove to the beach in complete silence. He probably doesn’t know what to say since he seen Tate sitting in the kitchen being friendly with my dad.
    We get out his car and walk down to the beach. I carry the blanket as Brent carries the basket. I pick a post off the side where they aren’t a lot of people and from the water so we wouldn’t get wet. I spread the blanket and sit down first.
    As I get comfortable on the blanket and Brent gets situated. I shiver a little bit from the wind off the water.
    “Are you cold?”
    “I’m fine, I forgot about the breeze that