Chapter 5

Matt sat in the front seat, silent. His mom spoke first, "So, honey, how are you feeling? You look much better."

"Fine."

"I should have made sure you were okay before we came here," she said.

"It doesn't matter now," he answered.

"Oh. Well... " she paused. "So, are you going to be seeing a lot of her?"

"No," said Matt, sullenly. God, why did his parents always have to be so nosy?

"Oh. I was just wondering," she said. "She seems very nice actually... "

"Actually?"

"Well, I just mean that she's a nice girl."

"Yes, she is."

"Oh. I was talking to her friends. They were quite nice too."

"What did you talk about?"

"Well, well, we talked about her situation. With her ex-boyfriend and what happened with him, and you... "

"Oh."

"She has a lovely house. Her parents travel a lot you know."

"Yeah, I know."

"It's too bad that she has to live by herself so much. I guess that's why she has so many friends over, to keep her company."

"I guess," he said, thinking, I'll keep you company!

"Her friend was saying that she was very close with her boyfriend's family. It's a shame when things like that happen you know."

"I guess."

They pulled into the driveway, Matt relieved the conversation was over and hoping his parents wouldn't bring her up anymore.

Jen pulled into Ryan's driveway, like she had so many times. She didn't allow herself to pause, but still kept running what she was going to say to him over and over in her mind as she jumped out of her car. She rang the doorbell, something she hadn't done in a long time.

Ryan looked at her through the window, but she purposely avoided looking at him. He opened the door, his eyes wide.

"Hi!" he said, brightly.

She stared at him. Then she hit him as hard as she could.

He reeled backwards, his hand to his mouth.

"You fucking prick!" she seethed.

"What?!?" he demanded.

"Oh, that was so fucking low. Three against one, real classy Harper."

"Oh, what, you're like his protector now or something?" he asked, admitting it.

"Oh, screw you. How could you do that? How could you do that to the kid?"

"Oh, he's a kid now, is he?" Ryan asked sarcastically, wiping blood from his chin.

"To you he is. What's the matter with you?" she screamed at him. "Why'd you do that?!?

"He deserved it."

"Oh fucking bullshit. Bullshit he did. You're the one that deserves to get the shit beat out of you. Oh, and let's get this straight, okay? You are not my boyfriend, and I am not your girlfriend! Can you say that?" she asked in a Mr. Rogers'-type voice.