The Cole Casey Project by V.A. Monaghan (good books to read for women TXT) 📕

I took a deep breath and explained to her how I had found out and the things I'd heard since I got the news.

"Well it's about time Linn finally had something truthful to say." Beth snorted, "But seriously. You and Maria are totally genius in coming up with this plan. It's about time girls got some retribution for the shit guys put us through."

I smiled sadly and looked out the window at the passing scenery of the city. I couldn't help but feel a little bit of guilt at what we were doing to Cole. It sounds stupid but he really was different when it was just me and him. We'd talk about everything together-our fears, our goals, and even past relationships. The last time we hung out had me trembling at the thought of it.

~3 weeks ago~

"Hey Monte. I just got out of baseball. Wanna go get some ice cream and hang out at the park?"

I smiled, the phone propped up against my ear.

"I guess that sounds okay." I said, trying to play it cool.

His low, nervous laugh rang through the phone.

"But this is just between me and you right? Not unt-"

I cut him off before he could finish.

"I know Cole. Not until summer. Pick me up in 10."

I sighed after quickly hanging up. I really liked him a lot. I didn't know what his reasons were for keeping us a secret but I wasn't going to complain...even if that meant he completely ignored me in school.

I heard a honk from outside 15 minutes later. He was always late even though I lived 2 minutes from the baseball diamonds.

Climbing into his Envoy, I leaned over to give him a kiss and like always, he turned his head enough to where I'd barely graze his lips and instead kissed his cheek.

"How about we go to the park first." he said, his eyes directly on the road.

I didn't reply because I knew that it wasn't up for discussion. It was a statement not a question and I knew just what he wanted.

Pulling behind a large shed so we couldn't be seen, even though his windows were tinted, he gave me a look that told me to get to the back.

He followed me back and put his legs on either side of me. Now I know that this may seem weird. Shouldn't I be the one straddling him? Nope. Cole didn't like the feeling of being trapped so instead it was like this.

He started to grind his hips into mine and I picked up on his idea. His lips were right there but all he did was graze them against mine. It was like he enjoyed teasing me.

When he had..."finished"...we climbed back into the front seat. He pulled up to McDonalds and he ordered my ice cream. Then we drove around for a while just talk about everything. This was my favorite part. Not the physical stuff or even the ice cream. Just seeing him act like a normal human being rather than a stuck up idiot. It was completely worth it to me. Until now of course

~Now~

It was as if Beth read my mind because she dropped the subject of Cole all together as we pulled up to the Olive Garden.

"Come on!" she urged, practically shoving me through the front door.

"Surprise!" erupted from all directions.

"Beth. What the fuck is going on?" I whispered hurriedly, glancing around at the smiling group of people I had never met in my life.

"They're my friends, silly!" she giggled.

She pulled me into the mass of gorgeous people who were all yelling their names at me at once.

"This," she said pulling me over to a cute mixed burly guy, "is Logan. He has volunteered to be your chaperone when I'm to gone to keep and eye on you."

I took a deep breath, looked him in the eye, and gave a grin.

"I'm Monte. Nice to meet you Logan."

He returned the smile and stuck out his hand for me to shake.

"I'll just leave you two alone to get acquainted..." Beth trailed off as she walked away.

------

So far it was day 5 of step one and it was going amazing. Maria gave me daily updates on Coles reaction and I was having the time of my life with my new Arizona friends.

Beth took the week off from school but everyone else had to go. We'd sleep in till 11, get a quick breakfast, go to the gym, get lunch, and then tan or go shopping. By the time we were done, Logan, Daniel, Sam, and Kailyn were out of school. We'd go and just hang out at someone's house int he afternoon. But at night, we were wild. Like streaking through the streets and power boxing houses (a/n power boxing is more popular out west and in the south. It's when you turn off the electricity in someone's house using their power box located on the outside of their house.). Back in Michigan, I'd never dream of doing anything so daring.

"So what's todays update?" I asked Maria over Facetime

"That boy is regretting look at Gina already. According to my sources- Juan and Enrique -Gina doesn't make Cole as "happy" as he would like."

I shrugged my shoulders, "I already knew she was a prude. It's not like he was asking for a bj or anything. He's scared of real sex because he's scared of getting a girl pregnant."

"Hasn't he heard of condoms? Or birth control?" Maria cackled in laughter.

"He's really into the whole "no contraceptives" part of Catholicism." I replied, making her laugh even harder.

"My god that boy is loco. You know he won't keep it in his pants after he graduates. He'll have bebes running around right out of high school!"

"Has he done anything else? He's texted a couple times but all he's said is hey." I said, trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Lemme thiiiiiiinnnnnkkkkk..........oh! He asked me where you were a today in class."

"Nothing else?"

"Just that he'd still like to take you to the park. That boy is so stupid, thinking you'll go out on a date with him while he's with Gina. Or at all after what he's done to you!"

I let Maria ramble on about how pathetic Cole was but my mind was elsewhere. I knew what he meant. He didn't want to take me on a date. He wanted friends with benefits.

I felt an evil smirk forming on my face, my mind racing at the possibilities. Maria stopped talking mid sentence when she saw the look in my eye. I breathed out deeply and told her the next step in our plan.

A/N

All I'm asking for is 1 vote for the next chapter. I'd also love a comment! I don't continue writing stories that get no reads or votes.

Beth is played by Taylor Momsen (a.k.a. the little girl from The Grinch :o)

One day she'll start sending you mixed signals, and you'll get mad because she finally learned how to play your game. ~ Unknown  

Coming back from Arizona seemed to have the desired effect. Walking into my chemistry class that next Monday morning, 20 minutes late I might add, had all eyes turned towards me. A smirk made its way onto my face and I lifted my chin a bit higher.

My normally slightly darker skin was glowing with a great tan. My natural red and light brown highlights were more pronounced and my legs looked great in this black pencil skirt that barely passed school dress code.

I looked all the cute guys right in the eye when I came in, excluding Cole of course. I even smiled confidently at Jake, a guy I had like back in middle school. He was still insanley good-looking and still a huge sweetheart. Unfortunatley for me, he was good friends with Cole.

"Hey Ms. Curben. I got in from my flight kind of late." I said sweetly, shooting her a charming smile. Not that I had to. She was my favorite teacher and I was one of her favorite students.

"It's okay Monte. I understand completely understand. When I got back from my trip to France........." and she began telling us in great detail about her jet lag.

I felt Cole's eyes on me but I ignored him and headed straight for Maria at the back of the class.

"Damn chica. You look like you just returned from a week of sex, not Arizona!" she whispered to me with a knowing smile on her face.

I laughed a little, glad that Beth had made me perfect a tinkly giggle before leaving Arizona.

"All we did was kiss. But trust me, it was the best kisses I've ever gotten in my life." I gushed to her, a blush reaching my cheeks.

"Is that so?" a tight voice from next to me asked.

I turned and was face to face with Cole. A very pissed Cole. He must've walked up when Maria had started talking to me.

"Yeah," I responded nonchalantly, "You know what they say about southern boys. Always the gentlemen!"

I giggled again, making eye contact with Maria.

"Arizona doesn't sound like much fun. It's land locked and its so dry." another voice said.

It was Sadie Volts. God damn. Why are people on me about this Arizona thing?

"Well to be honest, during the day the only good thing was the malls. But at night, they had the best parties and don't get me started on the guys." I told her, knowing that Cole was listening in.

"You got with a guy down there?" she asked doubtfully.

"Well I mean, we only made out. But yeah. I did. And he's gorgeous. He's mixed, tall, and very muscular."

"Prove it."

So I pulled out my phone and turned it to a picture of me and him in Beth's pool, his arm around my shoulder and the sun glistening on our caramel skin.

"So?" Sadie snorted, "That's probably just one of Beths friends that was in the pool."

I saw Cole smirk at me from the corner of my eye but I just shrugged my shoulders and changed the picture.

I literally heard the pop from Sadies mouth as she looked at the picture. It was of him in board shorts but shirtless and me in a bandeau, denim vest, and high waisted shorts. He was sitting on the hood of his car, a dark green Charger, and I was sitting behind him with my arms wrapped around his neck. My face was lit up with a smile. I had been laughing because Sam had said something funny. My nose was scrunched but in a cute way. What set off the picture was the fact that Logans head was turned and he was kissing my neck. We looked like a legit couple.

"Or maybe this picture is better?" I said, changing it again.

This one, I was wearing my bikini with black sofie shorts and Logan was in his swim trunks. Our hair was wet and dripping into our faces. He was sitting on a swing and I was sitting on his lap but facing him. I was basically straddling him. His arms were wrapped around my waist and my hands were resting on his toned chest. Our lips were locked in a passionate makeout session and it looked amazing. I was so glad Beth thought to take these pictures.

Sadie was shocked