Someone Like You (18 page)

Chapter Twenty- Nine

Temperance

So, I have to say, after the chat with my father, I feel much better about the whole Priestly situation. Which is why I haven’t worried myself silly over him not replying to messages for the last two weeks … well, not that much.

Instead, I’ve been busy focussing on my school work and
pretending that the empty flat doesn’t annoy me. And okay, I may have been pestering Carter for any updates as to when Priestly is coming back to school.

But still, I’m trying to heed my dad’s advice. Priestly will let me know when he’s ready to talk … I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.

“Any idea when he’s coming back?” Anson asks, breaking me out of my reverie as we walk in the direction of the flat.

I shrug. “Don’t know. Carter seems to think he’ll be back tomorrow so he has a few days to chill out before he goes back to his classes on Monday.”

“Makes sense.” Anson says with a nod. “So, what are your plans this weekend if he does show up?”

“Um, try to act normal?” I suggest.

“Are you going to mention anything about how you two left things?”

I shake my head. “One step at a time Anson. Besides, he made it clear that he wanted to be friends since I’m going to be tutoring him and he didn’t want things getting weird between us.”

“Uh huh.” Anson merely says with a raised eyebrow.

“What?” I say defensively.

“No matter what either of you say, you can’t ignore this thing that’s going on between you both.” Anson states firmly.

“Let me guess … our so-called
sexual tension
?” I reply drily.

Anson frowns. “Mock me all you want but you know I’m right. Need I remind you that he’s kissed you?”

“Well played.” I tell him, admitting defeat. “But for now, all I care about is things getting back to normal.”

After all, getting back to normality will be good for Priestly, won’t it?

***

Priestly

So, being back at school actually feels quite good. At least it gets me away from my mother’s disapproving looks.

Yeah, okay, they’re probably warranted since I’ve spent the last two weeks inebriated but still, a change of scenery is good for the soul. That and there are more bars here.

Another plus is that Temperance doesn’t seem to mind me skipping class and throwing parties every night. In fact, she’s been oddly quiet which is strange because she’s usually so opinionated.

Anyway, I’ve officially been back five days and she hasn’t mentioned the tutoring thing once. To be honest, I’m quite glad because I couldn’t give a fuck about passing my classes right now.

I know it’s what my dad would’ve wanted but I’m still mad at the fact that he had to go and have a heart attack. Yeah, okay, it wasn’t his fault but still, I’m bitter. I’m bitter about why he had to die.

Then there’s also the guilt weighing me down, but I try not to think about that. I don’t need to remind myself of how much of a shitty son I am. I don’t need to remind myself that I should’ve stayed in contact more often. I don’t remind myself of any of that because it’s too damn painful.

“Dude? You thinking of attending any classes this week?” Carter asks, interrupting my troubling thoughts.

I glance over at him and shrug. “It’s Friday tomorrow, I don’t have any classes. But since when do you care?”

Carter gets up from the couch to grab another beer from the kitchen before answering. “Well, I like to fuck about as much as you but sooner or later, the lecturers get on your back about attendance. But sure you know all about that. Isn’
t that why Nerdo offered to tutor you?”

I nod. “Yeah, but we haven’t put that arrangement into effect yet. Anyway, you still haven’t answered my question, why do you care if I go to class or not?” I ask, downing the last of my beer.

Carter looks a little uncomfortable. “At the risk of sounding like an asshole, your dad’s death gave me a wake-up call.”

I stare at him stonily. “Well fuck. Good for you Carter. You’d have made a better son to him than me.” I reply
deadpan.

“Don’t do that to yourself man.” Carter says, looking concerned.

“Why? It’s the truth. I didn’t do anything he asked. I fucked about at school, I treated Temperance like shit and I lied to him about everything.”

“That may be so but it doesn’t mean that you can’t change it. Why not start now?” Carter suggests seriously.

Fuck. If it were only that simple.

***

Temperance

So, I had really hoped that Carter had been exaggerating when he said that Priestly wouldn’t deal well with the death of his father.

Unfortunately, it turned out that Carter knows exactly what Priestly is capable of.

It’s now been a week since Priestly came back and so far, his ways of coping include throwing wild parties every night, skipping class and generally acting like an asshole to anyone who dares question him.

Despite his behaviour, I haven’t said a word to him because I know he’s grieving and dealing with it the only way he knows how.

However, Carter hasn’t been as lenient as me. In fact, I’m very surprised at how mature he’s being about it all. But I suppose, even someone like Carter – who likes to party all the time – knows what Priestly is doing isn’t healthy. And even though Priestly won’t listen to him, Carter’s there to help when things get completely out of hand … not that it does any good.

So, tonight’s no different. Priestly’s partying like there’s no tomorrow while I watch helplessly.

I now notice some blonde clinging onto Priestly as he downs another beer. The way they’re staring at each other, I have a feeling that blondie’s going to become a strong contender for tonight’s house guest.

Heaving a sigh, I make my way towards Carter who’s currently refilling his drink in the kitchen.

“When’s it going to stop?” I ask wearily as I pour myself a glass of Diet Coke.

Carter shrugs. “I dunno. He’s not getting any better – and he won’t – not until it’s run its course.”

“I know … it just sucks to see him like this.”

“I know.” Carter replies with a heavy sigh. “But I’m all out of ideas.”

Resigned, I nod. “Yeah but thanks for your help anyway.”

He nods, takes a slug of beer, and then suddenly looks at me curiously. “You know, there’s still something we haven’t tried yet.”

I glance up at him, intrigued. “Oh yeah? What?”

“Well,
you
haven’t lost your shit with him.” he tells me seriously.

“Where are you going with this?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Tell him he’s being an asshole.” Carter tells me bluntly.

“Isn’t that a little harsh?” I ask hesitantly.

I really don’t think it would be a good idea, considering what’s happened in the last few weeks.

“Well, he’s not listening to me. Maybe he’ll listen to you.
Maybe it’s time for some tough love! Hell, you convinced him to let you tutor him!” Carter declares with a wicked grin.

I frown, confused. “What? He
asked
me to tutor him.”

Carter looks perplexed for a minute and then shakes his head in amusement. “Oh man, that liar! I knew he was full of shit.”

“What are you talking about?” I ask, deeply puzzled.

“He told me you’d called a truce and offered to tutor him and he only agreed because he felt bad about the whole Nixon thing.” Carter explains.

I stare at him, trying not to freak out. “How – how do you know about Nixon?”

Carter frowns. “Uh Priestly told me. Why?”

“He promised he wouldn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want the whole campus knowing that he tried to attack me.” I retort hotly.

Carter’s eyes practically bug out of his head. “Wait a minute …
You
were the one he attacked? What the fuck?”

“Yeah.” I say quietly. “So Priestly
didn’t
tell you?”

He shakes his head. “No. He just told me that you’d caught Nixon cheating on you and then I heard he beat the shit out of him
on the night of the Halloween party. He told me Nixon was pestering some girl he was walking home. Although, if you ask me, he should’ve got him kicked out sooner. Nixon’s always been a creep ever since -”

I hold my hand up to stop him. “Hold on a minute. Wha
t do you mean he got Nixon kicked out?”

“Priestly t
old Nixon to get lost and made damn sure that he did.” Carter tells me with shrug.

Oh my God.

I can’t believe Priestly did that for me.

Stunned, I stare at Carter. “He got Nixon to leave school … for me?”

Carter eyes me carefully. “It all makes sense now. I wondered why he was so pissed about Nixon being here. I thought it was about Ariana but now I know it was about you.”

“What do you mean?” I ask stupidly, feeling a little lost.

“You. It’s you.” Carter says cryptically.

“Carter, what are you talking about?” I fire at him angrily.

Carter chuckles to himself. “Oh man. I gave him some serious shit about you and he was always quick to defend you. Then there was all that talk about how he regretted treating you badly. Oh man, now I get it.”

“Get what?” I shout, growing more annoyed by the second.

Carter looks me dead in the eye. “I think he might be in love with you.”

What. the. Hell?

***

Priestly

So, I’m drunk … yet again.

Which isn’t really anything new since this has been my life choice of late.

Because being totally shitfaced makes me forget.

It makes me forget all the shit I feel guilty about.

It makes me forget
that my dad’s dead.

It makes me forget that I’m failing every single one of my classes.

It makes me forget that I’ll never be good enough for someone like Temperance.

It makes me forget every shitty little thing that’s happening in my life.

Instead, I keep trying to focus on the now.

The now being a lovely blonde named Daphne who’s currently draped over my arm. However, as much as I’d like things to progress further, I find that I can’t commit to it. In fact, I haven’t done anything like that in a very long time. Not since Temperance showed up.

Fuck.

Who knew Nerd Girl would affect my life so much?

Despite all the shit that’s happened and no matter how hard I try to block it all out, my thoughts always end up creeping back to her.

Nerd Girl.

Man, I have to talk to her.

That’s what my drunken mess of a brain decides is a good idea.

So, I manage to detach myself from Daphne and search the flat for Temperance.

It doesn’t take me long to find her in the kitchen … with Carter of all people.

Damn, they’re looking pretty fucking cosy.

When the fuck did this happen?

***

Temperance

“Um, I don’t think so
Carter.” I tell him adamantly.

The mere idea of Priestly being in love with me is beyond ridiculous.

Hell, we fight that much we’d end up killing one another in a week.

Although … a part of me wants it to be true. Just like that part of me wanted him to kiss me all those times. I can’t deny that there’s an attraction between us. Hell, Anson still keeps bleating on about sexual tension.

Regardless of all this, it doesn’t change the fact that someone like Priestly is not meant for someone like me.

Hell, I’ve listened to my dad and nothing’s happened. Obviously, Priestly doesn’t care about me as much as I thought he did.

“Hey! What’s going on here then?” a drunken Priestly suddenly yells.

I turn to face him.

Shit.

He’s drunk. Really drunk.

“Priestly. Maybe you should call it a night, yeah?” I say in my most soothing voice.

Priestly narrows his eyes at me.

“Why? So you and Carter can sneak off?”

Carter and I glance at each other before we both start laughing.

“Man, what are you talking about?” Carter says, throwing his arm around Priestly’s shoulder. “You know I’d never cop off with Nerdo. No offence.” he adds, glancing at me.

I roll my eyes. “None taken.”

Priestly stares at us suspiciously. “I don’t believe it. You two were looking pretty fucking cosy two seconds ago!”