Chapter 11: The Breakup

The next day, Roy came to the conclusion that he would dump Cindy.

"So, anyway, I know you," said Roy. "You've already been through way too many boyfriends. It's abnormal to date twelve boys over the course of a year. And besides…"

"Can I make something perfectly clear to you?" asked Cindy. "Why do you care? It should be enough that, right now, I'm with you. You shouldn't care about any of the other boyfriends. You're lucky enough to have me right now."

"That makes you stupid," said Roy. "Either those boys were really screwed in the head or they were driven off. What did you do to all of them? You know why anyone would be suspicious about twelve school romances."

"I ask you again," said Cindy, "why do you care?"

"Because I don't want whatever happened to them to happen to me," said Roy.

"'WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THEM'!" replied Cindy. "OH MY GOD, THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK?"

"Yeah, that's what I think," said Roy. "You know why? Because, Cindy Jones, those boys all had something you didn't. They had money, power, respect or they were going through something like me. You're just looking for an encounter with a star. Don't get me wrong, I'm no star, but that's what everyone else thinks, isn't it? All that mattered was that you were with whoever was considered a star."

"DAMN YOU TO HELL, ROY!" said Cindy.

"I'll see you there," said Roy.

Cindy slapped Roy across the face. Roy raised one eyebrow.

"Now I know why so many boys hate you," said Roy. "Marth knew what he was talking about."

"OH, MARTH PUT THIS INTO YOUR HEAD, DID HE!" demanded Cindy.

"Girl, I can't believe I wasn't on top of this before," said Roy. "Marth just opened my eyes."

"SO, NOW YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO WITH NO DATE TO THAT DANCE?" asked Cindy.

"No, I know just who I'm going with, if she agrees, anyway," said Roy.

Cindy put her hands on her hips and calmed down.

"Who?" asked Cindy.

"Why do you care?" asked Roy. "You've got bigger problems. Your mom goes to college, for example, or your loss of awareness."

Cindy tried to slap Roy again, but he caught her wrist and dropped her arm, walking away.

"OKAY, ROY!" said Cindy. "Just walk away from me. I know I was bad, but you'd be crazy not to take me back."

"OMFG, Cindy," said Roy. "Are you really that confident in your looks? So, just because you're beautiful means you can treat your boyfriends like crap, because otherwise they're crazy not to take you back after they get angry with you. Damn you."

Roy wasn't surprised to find that Cindy didn't say another word. He hoped he could dash off and catch Katie before any other boy did. As he did so, he hoped that maybe his last statement would sink in. Maybe Cindy would learn something.