Miss I.D.G.A.F. (Ch. 3)

                                                                      Chapter 3

Tonight I'm letting my emotions get the better of me. I'm letting the tears flow as I go through a memory box.

I can't even bother with anything having to do with Mel. She crashed and burned our 6-year friendship. I don't want anything to do with her ever again.

Apparently, Carter isn't the first guy she's ever stolen. Dani managed to track down Mel's former best friend Hannah from her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. She told Dani that they were best friends from kindergarten until 8th grade. Back in 7th grade, Hannah started dating a guy named Max who she had liked for a while. Mel was the one who had finally gotten them together. She genuinely felt that Mel was happy for them but the summer before 8th grade changed everything.

A couple of weeks before school started, Mel's parents went out of town overnight. Since Mel was 14, her parents felt that they could trust her to be home alone for one night. As soon as they left, she started planning a party.

Everyone from their school showed up. It was the first night that Mel had ever gotten drunk. She ended up making out with Max right in front of Hannah. The next day, Mel apologized profusely. She blamed the whole thing on being drunk and Hannah eventually forgave her and Max.

A few months later, Hannah found out from a mutual friend that Mel and Max had been hooking up for a while. Apparently, that one night at the party was neither the first nor the last time. She confronted both of them and they laughed in her face. The next day at school, they made it known that they were together now. Hannah said that finding out that Mel was moving was the best day of her life.

Dani was also able to get a hold of a few girls here at UNLV. They claimed that at parties, Mel was known for hooking up with guys who are taken. She, apparently, gets some sort of thrill out of doing this. I feel so stupid for never noticing that she was capable of this. Were all of the times that she begged me to go out with her to parties just some sort of ruse? I can only imagine the things I would have learned about her if I had ever taken her up on any of those offers. Fuck Amelia Benson.

As for Carter, it's a lot harder to just say "to hell with him". Going through the memory box, I find the many pictures of Carter and me over the years. I'd love nothing more than to just rip them up right here and now but I can't find the strength to do so.

Carter has been there for me through thick and thin. He was the only person able to console me when my brother Mikey passed away his Freshman and our 6th-grade year. He was there the day I fell from our tree-house and broke my arm. He was there in 7th grade when my first boyfriend Shawn broke up with me. He also may or may not have given Shawn a black eye.

Carter has been my rock since the day we were born. I fell in love with him in the 4th grade when a few girls made fun of my unicorn pants and he chased them away from me on the playground. Him becoming my boyfriend in 8th grade just felt natural.

I always thought he would be there for me and not be the one to hurt me. I guess all guys are the same. One way or another, they'll break your heart.

I spend the next two days coming up with my plan of action. When Saturday rolls around, I'm ready. I try to keep everything as normal as possible to avoid any suspicion.

Mel and I are at her apartment getting ready for the football game this afternoon.

"So, the victory party tonight is supposed to be a rager. It's going to be at Red over on Fremont street. Are you sure you don't want to come?" she asks as she curls her hair.

Fremont street, huh? Good, they'll be at least 20 minutes away tonight and I can finally get done what I've been planning the past couple of days.

"You know I don't," I say as I look in the mirror. Suddenly, an idea pops into my head.

"I do, however, think I could use a little makeover though," I say.

Mel looks at me wearily.

"I'd just like to bring Carter some extra good luck. A little more motivation to win tonight so to speak."

She gives me a huge smile. "When I'm done with you, Carter won't be able to keep his hands off of you."

An hour and a half later, we're walking into the football stadium. My hair is sleek and straightened, I'm wearing a little, okay a lot, more makeup than I'm used to and I have booty shorts that give me the urge to pull down every 5 seconds because I feel like I'm showing too much ass. The only comfortable things are my converse and Carter's jersey. Number 2. The same number he has worn since pee-wee football.

We walk up to the stands and I spot Dani. We give each other knowing glances about what is going down later. When Carter spots me from the sidelines, he gives me a double take then walks over.

"Whoa, babe. You look fucking hot."

I ball my fists to stop myself from cringing. I give him a smile and a kiss on the cheek and wish him luck.

The game ends with a score of 28-17 with a Rebels win. I walk down to the field with Mel to congratulate Carter and the rest of the team. Carter pulls me to him as soon as he spots me and kisses me. It takes everything in me to kiss him back and not puke instead. I pull away after about 5 seconds and tell him to have fun tonight and that I'll see him in the morning. He gives me a pout.

"I can't come by after the party?"

I shake my head. "No. I'm going to work on a project then call it an early night. I'm really tired," I say with a fake yawn.

He gives me a look like he doesn't believe me but then smiles. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then." I give him another quick kiss then walk away while wiping my lips.

I rush back to my apartment to get the stuff I need. When I get confirmation from Dani that both Mel and Carter are already downtown with a group of people eating before the party, I make my way to Mel's apartment.

Dani's brother is a freshman who also happens to be on the football team with Carter. She had to bribe him in order to get him to spill what he knows about my two ex-friends' hookups. He said that during parties, they hook up in Carter's truck but when it's time to leave, they usually go back to Mel's. I guess I should be thankful for Carter's big mouth in the locker room for that information.

20 minutes later, Dani pulls up next to me to help carry everything in. When we have it all, we get to work.

I put already made Post-its all over her door that call them every name in the book in both English and Spanish. Petty, I know but I really couldn't care less right now. When I'm finished, I move a box to the left of the door. The box contains everything Mel has ever given me, let me borrow, or left at my place. I could be nice and leave it as is but I'm not in a very nice mood at the moment.

I take out a bottle of bleach and mix in green food coloring. I shake it up well and proceed to pour it all over Mel's things in the box. It's making everything turn a shade of green I know Mel hates and often refers to as a puke color. Oops. Above the box, I tape a poster board that has a letter written on it for her.

"Dear Amelia,

Thank you for being the backstabbing bitch that you are. I actually thought you were my friend but clearly, you're not capable of friendship. I mean just ask Hannah. Hell, ask practically every girl at UNLV with a boyfriend because you probably have fucked them too. You fucking slut.

Love,

Nia

P.S. Te odio. Quémate en el infierno! <3 (I hate you. Burn in hell)"

Dani places another sign on the door that reads, "Boyfriend stealing bitch lives here! Girlfriends beware!" That one makes me laugh.

To the right of the door, I place a box of Carter's things that is a lot bigger than Mel's. It's filled with pictures of us, numerous stuffed animals, love letters, hoodies and clothes I've stolen over the years. Sitting in plain sight on top of everything is a promise ring he gave me our senior year of high school. A silver band with a small opal heart. I remember the day he gave it to me. It was right after Winter Formal and we were at some after party. We sat on someone’s front porch trying to sober up a little when he pulls the ring out of his pocket. He made a promise to love me forever and he couldn’t wait until we finished college so he could buy me a better ring to propose with.

That one hurt the most to give back. I pour bleach over it all but forego the dye. Some things just aren't worth ruining that much. On this side of the wall, I place Carter's letter.

"Dear Carter,

Congratulations! You broke me. I mean that was your plan all along, right? To be the one person I loved the most in this world and become the person I hate the most? No? Well, that's what you've become. I have loved you for most of my life. A lot longer than either of us has known my now former best friend. I hope she was worth it. I've lost two friends and a boyfriend. You have lost the only girl that was ALWAYS there for you. Every time you were sick or injured, I was there to make you feel better. When your parents fought, I let you stay with me and cheered you up and made you forget about the yelling for at least a little while. God, if Mikey were here, he would beat your ass and you know he could. Every milestone, every heartbreak, every failure, I've been there for you. But you've made your bed, so now you must lie in it. Maybe Mel can be that person for you now or maybe not but I do know ya'll deserve each other. As for me? I really don't give a fuck anymore.

Love,

Nia"

As a finishing touch, Dani and I put up the pics she took the other night of the two of them. We stand back and admire our work. Dani takes a few pictures of what we've done "just in case" I want to post them on social media.

"So what now?" she asks.

"You can go. As for me," I hold up my key to Mel's apartment, "I'm going to wait."

Dani smirks and tells me to call her later to give her the load down on what happens.

I say goodbye and make my way into the apartment. I sit on the couch, watching the door, and wait for them to come home.