Collide by H.M. Ward Page B

tutor.”
    “ Jack King is the teacher’s aide at the extra help session again, isn’t he?”
    “ Yes, and I seriously need extra help when I’m around him.” She fanned herself, and laughed, “He’s so hot that I can’t think. Oh, and his cologne. Damn, when he’s standing over my shoulder... Well, you know.”
    “ You’re horrible, you know that?” I laughed as I said it.
    Katie said, “So what’s up? You avoid Trystan all day like I said?” I didn’t answer. “Mari! What’d you do?”
    “ Nothing,” I replied not wanting to talk about it. The truth was I had no idea what happened. One moment Trystan was going to tell me something about Day Jones, the next he says he’s having girl issues. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was talking about me. But that’s impossible. I pushed aside the thought. It was a little too close to a dream to even consider. Things that raised my hope, that teeter on the edge of impossibility, only hurt harder when you smack face-first into the ground.
    Katie stopped walking. We were standing in front of the school where the buses drop off. There wasn’t anyone else around. “Stop letting him screw with your head. The guy’s a player Mari. Look at his best friend for chrissakes. Seth Sexbot.” She shook her head, her eyebrows rising with her voice.
    “ He’s not like that,” the words slipped out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying.
    Katie grabbed both my shoulders and shook me, “Do you hear yourself? He’s not like that? Is there anyone in that entire group of theater girls that he hasn’t nailed?”
    “ Me,” I said softly.
    “ Exactly,” she said forcefully. Katie had always been like a sister to me. She said what I needed to hear, which wasn’t always what I wanted to hear. This time, I definitely did not want to hear it. It was like she could tell. Her hands flew as she spoke, “Wake up Mari. He’s not that kind of guy. You’re the only one. Get a clue. If he’s paying attention to you, now you know why. Seth and him aren’t that different, it just looks different for the girl. Trystan’s seduction is more tempting, but in the end you’re just another chick to check off the list.” Her words smashed into me. I didn’t want to hear them. It felt like she was throwing bricks at my stomach. I wanted to double over and cry. Katie wrapped her arm around my shoulders. I didn’t shirk her off. Softly, she said, “He’ll hurt you.” The quiver in her voice was like being doused by cold water.
    My first boyfriend hurt me. He was the only one I was serious about and Katie knew it. Trystan was not a step up. If anything, he was a step down and backwards. He’d hurt me. In the end, he would. It’s the way he was. Katie was right. I’d seen it over and over again.
    Sitting next to him in the prop room I’d asked him once, “Why is your life expectancy on relationships so short? They don’t die that fast, you know. There’s more there than sex.”
    He’d looked at me with those glittering blue eyes. A wicked grin lined his lips. “Not that I’ve seen.”
    “ You haven’t stayed long enough to find out.” His answer had upset me. As if he could tell, he looked around to make sure no one saw.
    When he leaned in close to my ear he said, “I haven’t found anyone worth staying for.”
    “ That’s because you’re dating the skank squad, Trystan.” I rolled my eyes as I said it.
    “ And you’d be different?” he said amused. “How?”
    I didn’t answer him that day. I dated with my whole heart and there was no way I was giving it to someone who would tear it out of my chest without a backward glance. Katie thought Trystan was that person.
    I nodded at Katie, “I know you’re right. I’m just having trouble getting my head and my heart in the same place.”
    Katie slid her arm down and side hugged me, practically squeezing me to death. “Ah, I know how to fix that. Your heart is easily confused. Let’s toss