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Chapter 2

However, it is.

"Yeah dude, you can't nail that chick, but how about a dull evening with your brother?"

Hmm...

“Yeah, sure.” He indifferently shook his shoulder, and I understood that here it is - the thing that I feared the most had come.

I helped Finn out of the car, and then watched him walk towards the school. My heart hurts and shrinks with every step he takes, which is so difficult for him. And it kills me that there is nothing I can do to help him.

I had to blink rapidly: there is no way I’m gonna burst into tears in the parking lot in front of the school.

I stayed where I was until I'm sure Finn made it to the door successfully. He greeted his buddies Sid and Kevin as they approached him, and only then I left, knowing that he is not alone.

I stopped by a coffee shop on my way to work because I needed a big dose of caffeine to start another day. Despite the fact that over the past year the duties of the foreman have almost completely passed to me, and there is no longer any need to work hard, I do not avoid physical labor.

I left my pickup in front of the bookstore, and rushed to the coffee shop. In my team, almost every guy is in charge, but I still have to be in place so that everyone follows the schedule.

There was a small queue at the counter, which is not surprising at this time of day. I stood at the end, and while I waited, I checked my phone. A message from Harry informing me about a new order, a missed call from a girl from Toledo - she is way too clingy, and I don’t deal with people like her more than once. Another Facebook message from Megan Sloan - we used to hang out together in college, and she hinted that it would be good to repeat it. And I will definitely think about it.

I put my phone away and raised my head, and the sight in front of me left me breathless. The most perfect ass I have ever seen.

My pants got tight. Great! The only thing I was missing from my life was a boner.

I couldn't see the face of the girl in front of me, but if the front is as good as the back, I'll be damned if I don't ask for her number.

She was tall and very fit, with a thin waist and long, slender legs that seemed almost endless in her beige shoes with such high heels that I wondered if it’s painful to wear them. She was wearing light skinny jeans and a white shirt, a business lady for sure. If she sees my work boots, she will most likely be disgusted.

When it was the girl's turn, she ordered a cappuccino to go and a lemon muffin.

I frowned. That voice...

No, it can not be! I must be mistaken.

After receiving her order, the girl turned around and almost crashed into me because I was frozen to the floor like an idiot.

“Sorry…”

She looked up and stood there in silence, shocked by what she must be seeing. We stared at each other for several long seconds that felt like an eternity to me.

She came to her senses first.

“Shane?”

“Wallace?”

I immediately wanted to hit myself on the back of the head, because after years of not seeing her, "Wallace" was the worst thing I could have said.

Mel's lips pursed, she squared her shoulders, and pulled herself completely together.

Oh no, I didn’t want to get into a fight with her at all! And I definitely didn’t want her to get all defensive.

All this is in the past.

Damn, can I rewind the last two minutes back?

“Keller, are you going to order, or what?” Rhonda looked at me with displeasure from behind the counter.

“I have to go,” Mel hurried, walked around me, and left the coffee shop.

I started after her.

“Next!” Rhonda yelled without waiting for me.

Fuck, did I just see Melissa Wallace?!

Mel was here, in this very place! And I acted like an idiot. What in the hell is Wallace doing in Payson?

And God, why do I think it is so awesome?

No, she has always been a beauty, but now... I will not lie if I say that she is the most gorgeous woman I have ever met.

Aren't school beauties supposed to get sadder looking with age? Looking desperate and hopeless?

It seems like Wallace had never even heard of such a stereotype.

I have to catch up with her, and ask her what she's doing in Payson.

Why the hell am I still standing here?

I ran out of the coffee shop, but all I could see was Mel driving by in a white jetta. Our eyes met for only a moment, but that's enough for me to know that she remembers everything.

Every second of that crazy year before graduation, when we loved, hated and faced a betrayal.

SHANE (2009)

The stadium was roaring and chanting the name of our team.

"Jaguars! Winners! Champions!"

All 11 players on the Payson High School football team put on moronic smiles. We were euphoric. We are the winners. The game was tough and tense, but we did it.

If it goes on like this, by the end of the playing season, the state cup will be ours.

The boys and I were fooling around, jokingly pushing each other, and laughing with joy and pride. Cheerleaders were jumping around, chanting chants, and shouting that they love us.

Now the whole city loves us.

This evening was just the beginning. A whole night of debauchery and fun lies ahead. Could this fucking life be any better?

“Shane, you were on a roll today!”

Trisha walked over to me, wiggling her hips. She's only her first year in cheerleading, but I could see the way she looks at me when we practice. She's pretty, and I wouldn't mind getting naughty with her.

“Thanks, honey!”

I slapped her on the ass, and she laughed. Yes, the girls love it. She looked like she wanted more.

Well, I'm available tonight.

“Are you going to Ryan's party?” I asked.

Her eyes lighted up with hope, and she nodded quickly.

“Of course!”

“Then see you there. Find me!”

“Necessarily!” She replied.

I went to Ryan, who was making out with his girl. Melissa Wallace, whom Ray has been with since last spring. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, and his hands were on her ass. They kissed in such a way that they were most likely licking each other's tonsils.

I was grimacing. I couldn't stand this bore. Even the fact that she was a cheerleader did not stop making her one.

Why the hell did my best friend decide he should have a permanent girlfriend in his senior year?

Who in their right mind does that?

It's like going to a place where there's a buffet and having one egg roll.

“Wallace, give the guy a break.” I laughed.

I could clearly see her ass in short shorts, and I must say - the girl was lucky.

Once she heard my voice, Wallace jumped to the ground, and turned to me. Her cheeks turned pink, and I smirked to myself, "Yeah, I saw your ass."

“See you at the party.”

Ray leaned down, quickly kissed her, and we headed towards the dressing rooms.

God, I hated what he's become with that chick! We used to hang out all the time, pick up girls, but now he takes Wallace with him almost everywhere he goes.

“What’s with your face, Keller?” He threw his arm around my shoulders, smiling like a jerk.

That girl made him that way. His delight sometimes made me want to puke.

“I’m fine.”

I scowled at him gloomily.

Ray sighed.

“Because of Mel, or what? When will you two become friends?”

He's fucked up if he believes it's possible.

“Never!” I grumbled.

He may be my best friend, but I don’t have to like his woman.

“You know, if I didn’t know, I would think that you want her.”

“Go to hell!”

Ray laughed, slightly hitting my shoulder.