Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2015 10:13:12 -0500 From: Kit Darling Subject: A Rose Among Thorns Part 19 *DISCLAIMER* This story contains depictions of male on male, graphic sexual interactions. The characters are high school aged and sometimes have unsafe sex. ALWAYS USE A CONDOM! This is a complete work of fiction and any similarities to persons or events is purely coincidental. Enjoy the story and any feedback is welcome. Do not post this story to any other website unless you have explicit permission from the author. All rights reserved. Remember that Nifty needs your generous donations to continue on, Dears. So make sure to toss a few dollars their way so they can keep tossing great stories your way. Love ya! CHAPTER 19 As soon as we arrived, Logan ran off to get us some drinks. I went in search of a bathroom and found one; unfortunately, Blake was in it. I rolled my eyes and made to leave, but he grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into the huge water closet. "Blake c'mon," I said trying to get free. "Just shut up for a damn minute," he made to kiss me, but I backed up; he reeked of whiskey. "Blake, stop it, I chose Logan, okay?" "God! Cori, what do you want?!" "Not you, that's for sure," I yanked my arm free and backed up. His eyes narrowed and he raised a hand. Before I could blink, he hit me. "That's for all the shit you put me through," he growled, "You are such a little bitch, Cori. You led me on for so long, cheating on Logan, fucking with my head-" "Save the waterworks, Blake. You can try being innocent, but you were just as bad. You told me you wanted me, then you started that, that fantasy with Shayla. She's just another heart that got broken in this equation. I gave you your chance to have me and you threw it away. Now I'm with Logan and I'm happy. I'm gonna forgive you for hitting me, for your sake," I said glancing into the mirror to see if it left a mark. There was a strip of red across my left cheek. "Oh what? You gonna go tell Logan, your body guard? Shit, I'll tell him myself," he shoved me hard and I fell down. "Wow, your true colors are really shining through, Blake," I stood up and went toward the door. "I'm sorry! Please, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that to you. I'm just so mad," he started sobbing, "I seriously love you so much and it kills me to see you with someone else. I'm a fucking idiot for falling for you and an even bigger one for hitting you and shoving you." "I won't disagree, but, Blake, it's really over for us this time." I spun on my heel and fled the bathroom. I went down the stairs and bumped into my boyfriend. Logan handed me a red plastic cup filled with beer. How I loathed beer. But I sipped it because he gave it to me. "So I was thinking," he said flirtatiously as he moved in closer and ran his hand down my arm, "we could skip out of here, and just before the sun rises, I could make you cum like never before." I shivered and grinned. I loved when he talked dirty to me like that. We usually had such innocent conversations, but when he told me the things he wanted to do to me it always got me going. "I like that plan," I whispered into his ear before licking it. As I stepped back he got a better look at me and his dreamy look disappeared. "What's that on your face?" he grabbed my chin and turned my head to get a better look. "I tripped over some guy who was passed out upstairs," I lied. "What'd you hit your face on?" "The table in the hall. You know me, ol' Klutzy," I laughed and patted his cheek before kissing him sweetly on the lips. "I'm gonna go talk to the guys for a bit and then we can bounce, okay, Igan?" Logan raised an eyebrow and waited for my permission to leave. "Yep, I'll probably be over there chatting with Sam," I replied, gesturing to Sam on the couch with her friends. I walked over and sat down next to her. "Hey, Doll!" she slurred. She was already drunk, "I missed you so much!" "We literally danced together all night," I said to her. "Hunny, I meant when we were apart for the time it took Nolan to drive me here," she said with a chuckle. "I missed you too," I patted her leg. "We were just asking Sammy if she's had sex with Nolan yet," Desiree Howe filled me in. "SHHHH!" Sam hissed at Desiree, "Don't tell Cori that I had sex with Nolan. He's in love with him." My face burned red, "Not anymore," I defended myself. "Look what you did, Desie!" she frowned at the blonde across from us, "Cori's mad at me." "I'm not mad, Sam. You can have sex with whomever you want," I explained. She made a sad face and leaned her drunken head against my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Cori," she said quietly. "Sammy, it's chill. I don't even care," I moved my shoulder and she sat up. "For real?" "For real," I smiled and got up and walked off to find something more productive to do. I didn't get far though because suddenly I felt someone grab a handful of my hair and pull me backward. "OUCH!" I cried out. I spun around. It was Shayla, and she was out for blood. "You little harlot!" she screamed at me. "Can we talk privately?" I asked. I had a pretty good idea what she was referring to. "We can talk right here! Everyone needs to know what a two timing hussy you are!" "You petulant little sock puppet," I hissed, "You have no idea what you're talking about." "Oh I think I do you little-" before she could finish that sentence, Sam's fist crashed into her face. Shayla fell to the ground, out cold. "Oops, someone should clean this girl up," Sam said as everyone stared. She stumbled back to the couch and I mouthed thank you. She nodded and I went to find Logan. When I turned around he was right there. "What was that about?" he narrowed his eyes. "No clue," I lied, "Let's go." I grabbed his hand and he followed me out, but once we were outside he pulled his hand away. "What was Shayla talking about? Why did she call you those things?" He crossed his arms and waited for my explanation. "Okay, Logan, there's something I need to confess to you. I need you to promise you won't get mad at me." "Cori, there's nothing you could have done that would make me mad at you." "When we were dating, the first time..." I started. His stare intensified. "Yes?" he shifted his weight to the other leg. "I kind of did a thing," I looked down at the ground. "What did you do, Igan?" "Blake and I messed around." "What?" Logan went stiff. "To be fair, you and I were only pretending, and you were always so hot and cold-" "You went back on the contract?" "There was no rule that said I couldn't-" I started but he interrupted me again. "You made me promise to stay faithful to you so that people didn't think I was a whore, but then you went behind my back and fucked Blake Smith? Is this what he meant that night at the party when he said that you belonged with him?" Logan's voice was filling with anger. "Logan, it doesn't matter, that was then, and this is now. I love YOU," I grabbed his hand, but he jerked away. "I need some time to think," he walked toward his truck. I followed him. "Please, I'm sorry! It was wrong! I know that! I shouldn't have done what I did. We weren't even really together at that point!" "That doesn't matter!" He spun around and shouted, "I was falling for you and you were whoring around. I should have known better," his voice grew dark, distant. "Logan," tears started to stream down my face. "Save the water works Corrigan." He got into his truck and started it up, "Get in, I'll take you home." "I can find another ride-" "I SAID GET IN!" I jumped when he raised his voice. I did as he said and buckled up. Excruciating silence filled the vehicle on the drive to my house. When Logan pulled up to my place I undid my seatbelt. "I just want to say, I'm sorry," I whispered. "Get out," he kept his angry gaze forward. I got out and he peeled out of my driveway as if he couldn't flee any faster. The next day, when I woke up and remembered the night before, my first instinct was to cry. I felt like a piece of garbage. I wished I could take back every moment with Blake. I wished that Logan had never learned of my adulterous activities. As I lay there crying, I got a text. SAM: Come over. Now. I pulled on some clothes and drove to her place. When I got there, I saw Blake's car in the driveway. I reluctantly went inside and Sam was waiting in the foyer. "Blake is in the kitchen," she said with a grim face. "Y'all need to sort your shit out. Logan is on his way." I nodded and walked past her and into the other room. Blake was leaned against a counter but he straightened up when I walked in. "Cori, I'm so sorry," he said. "Why?" I asked, frowning, "I'm at fault too." "Yes, but if I hadn't gotten drunk and said what I said to Shayla or did what I did to you..." "You can't take it back. The damage is done," I shook my head and stared at the floor. "I know but I'm still sorry," he said again. His voice softer. "I just wish things were different. I wish that you, Logan, and I could have all just been friends," I said quietly. "Logan and I will never be friends, Cori. I hate him." "Why?" "Because he has you!" he blurted. His eyes widened as if he was just as surprised as I was to hear him say that. "You could have had me. For two months I was alone, begging for your forgiveness. Wishing you would come, and tell me you loved me, and we could be together. That ship has long sailed, Blake." "This is why it seems like Fate doesn't want us together. Shayla broke up with me. In my drunkenness, I told her that I was in love with you." "Oh please," Logan's voice startled me and I whirled around. "Fate has nothing to do with you not being good enough for Igan." "Fuck you man!" Blake said, his chest puffing up. "Stop it right now, both of you. Sit." I demanded crossing my arms angrily. Both guys took a seat at the table and I just stared, trying to gather my thoughts. "Blake, you and I are done. I don't love you anymore. I've had so much time to think and I never thought I'd come to the conclusion that I have. I can't be with either of you." "What?!" Logan shouted, standing up. "Wait, please, just let me finish," I held up a hand, "Everyone has been trying to get me to pick Blake. Blake's a better guy, Blake's smarter, and Blake's a God-fearing Christian." Blake got a smug look on his face. "But it's not true. No one else knows the Blake I know. The Blake who spoke to me so cruelly on Christmas morning. The Blake who wrote me a song and lied about it. The Blake that hit me last night-" "Wait, that mark on your face is his fault?" Now it was Logan's turn to puff up. "Calm down, Logan, let me finish. No one knows the Blake that I know. We aren't a good match. "And Logan, I don't deserve you. You are so smart and so kind and so generous. You know when I'm upset. You know what I like and don't like. You are a great guy. You deserve to be with someone who can see that. You need someone who never wants to stray from you. Someone who tells you everything and doesn't keep you in the dark. That's not me. I'm a liar, I'm a cheat. I'm reckless, and careless, and selfish, and mean." "I don't care about any of that," Logan said as tears gathered in his eyes. "This is exactly why I can't allow you to be with me," I came closer and put my hand on his cheek, "You've been so good to me, Logan Black. I can't let you stay in a relationship with a person like me. I love you and I have to let you go." "So why not chose me?" Blake asked with a sad look. "Because I can't be with you after everything you said and did to me. I can't let myself be with someone who calls the person he loves an imbecile. Blake, you and I aren't meant to be. We all deserve to be happy. That can't happen if we are together." "Cori, you don't have to do this," Blake said, standing up. "I do. I need some time to myself to just reflect on how to be a better human being. I treated you both like dirt. I'm so sorry I broke your hearts, and I hope you can find room to forgive me, even though I don't deserve it," I stated crying at that point, so I turned and left, knowing I had done the right thing. An entire year has passed since the day I left Logan and Blake. We all stood with our class in long silver and black robes and hats. I smiled to myself as I looked down at the diploma in my hand. I had finally done it. I had finally graduated. Logan was still single. He decided it was best to stay away from dating after all I'd put him through, but he was still growing and becoming such an amazing person. More people spoke to him, and he seemed so much happier these days. He still had that bad boy rep, but I knew in my heart of hearts that he was a good man. Blake had started dating someone else from a neighboring town and they seemed very happy together. I was glad I'd let them both go, it really was for the best. This summer I would be in Paris with Sam, and after that I was headed to college. Now I was free to do whatever I wanted in college, and I had a feeling it was going to be a real blast. The end...for now. *AUTHOR'S NOTE* So there it is, guys. The final chapter. Thanks to everyone who stuck by me and gave me words of encouragement. This may not be the ending anyone wanted but this is it and I promise the next part to Cori's story will make up for all of this. He'll be in college and a lot more grown up. Less drama and more romance. As for the spin off in the works it's still just that, in the works. I have no clue when I will be ready to post it so you'll have to be paitent with me. Love and kisses to all of you! -Kit =^.^=