Beyond Beta’s Rejection - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

(Maria’s POV)
The ride to school was uncomfortable. I could tell that Ella wanted to say something. Most likely about the way that I was acting with Douglas. We made it almost the whole way before Ella finally broke the silence.
“I’m sorry!” she burst out. Here we go, I thought.
“What the hell, Maria?” She glanced at me briefly before returning her eyes to the road.
“Please don’t, Ella,” I pleaded. I really didn’t want to get into an argument on the patriarchy with Ella, certainly not when I felt as crappy as I did right now.
“Maria, how can you forgive him so easily?” she said. “Last night you were in so much pain that you practically had to be sedated, and all because he couldn’t keep it in his pants and cheated on you.”
“Well, I mean, technically, nobody knows we are even together yet. So does it count as cheating if we aren’t official?” I was mostly musing to myself but didn’t miss the open-mouthed look that Ella had given me.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “The second he put that ring on your finger and accepted him, you were together, and he was cheating.”
Did I accept him? I thought to myself. I’m not sure I actually did. I just felt like I was going with the flow or being pushed down the flow. Is the lack of a refusal enough of an acceptance?
I glanced at Ella and shrugged. “Honestly, Ella, I don’t know what is going on,” I said, feeling the overwhelming despair fill my stomach with dread. “Two days ago, I was excited about going to the ball, and a fresh eighteen-year-old with romantic ideas forming in my head.” I glanced at her and saw that her expression had softened. “And since then, I have found my fated mate, lost my virginity, been rejected, suffered mate bond betrayal pain more than once, gotten engaged, and moved out of my childhood home.” Gosh, after saying it like that, I really had been through a lot.
“Oh, and the future I planned and worked so hard for is now shattered and replaced. Now, I’m becoming a pup factory and working in finance.” I screwed my face at that. I hated Maths at school.
“Exactly!” Ella said, “Douglas is a class A d**k, yet when you came out the room just now, you looked at him with complete adoration in your eyes.” I sighed because I knew she was right.
“I don’t know, Ella.” I felt so defeated. “I know what he is like, probably more than anyone right now. He is controlling and has a mean streak, and honestly, half the time, he scares me.” I saw her frown. “But then something happens, and I don’t know if it is the mate bond or something, but when he is being nice and caring, I wonder if he really does love me, and he is just struggling with all this too.” I already knew what I was saying and how bad it sounded, and I watched Ella’s face as she parked her car in the exclusive car park. She stayed silent, but her lips were in a thin line, and I knew she had a lot to say.
Once she had parked the car and turned off the engine, she turned to face me.
“Maria, I’m not going to lie, I’m really worried about you,” she said, taking my hand, and I nodded as a few stray tears slipped down my cheek. “And I really f*****g hate this mate bond crap. It is so demeaning.” I glanced at her, knowing that she was struggling with her own mate bond issue, although she didn’t know I knew.
“It’s not all bad,” I said, trying to reassure her. “The s*x is amazing.” I shrugged, and she laughed.
“Oh, please,” she said. “You’ve had s*x with one person, once. You hardly have a basis for comparison.” I went bright red.
“Well, I enjoyed it.” I lowered my eyes. “Well, up until the rejection part.” Tears slipped down my cheeks again.
I turned to face Ella fully. “It’ll be ok, won’t it?” I asked. “This is just a lot for both of us to get used to. Once Douglas gets used to the idea, it will all be fine, right?” Ella smiled sadly and pulled me into a hug.
“Whatever happens, you still have me,” she said, and I smiled into her shoulder. We finally pulled apart after I heard tapping on the window.
I looked up to see Hannah standing there, looking nervous. I glanced at Ella, who smiled, and I jumped out of the car and pulled Hannah into a hug. She hugged me back and started crying.
“Oh my goddess Maria, I am such a d**k,” she cried. “I can’t believe I let my stupid petty issues get in the way when you needed your friends.” I pulled away and saw she had tears streaming down her face. “Will you ever forgive me?” she said, and I laughed.
“Don’t be silly,” I said, wiping her tears away. “There is nothing to forgive.” We hugged again. I glanced at Ella, who stood smiling at us, held out my hand, and pulled her into the hug.
The school bell rang, and we pulled apart, giggling and heading into registration. I walked happily, for now at least, with my two best friends.
“Oh,” Hannah said as we sat down in our usual seats. “Just a quick warning, Donna is on the warpath,” she lowered to a whisper. “There is a rumour going around that Douglas is off the market, and she is not happy about it.” I cringed at this. Donna Tobbins was the school’s Queen B, and she had a big thing for a named ranked position. Everyone knew that Erica hated her after she cheated on him a couple of summers ago, so she had set her sights on Douglas to get the ranking she felt she deserved.
“Do the rumours name me?” I asked. I knew that by the end of tonight, everyone would know. That was the point of the official unofficial date. To be seen in public together as a couple before the official announcement on Wednesday.
Hannah shook her head. “No, but that rock on your finger might get some comments,” she said, and I instantly shoved my hand under the table.
“Just take it off until after school,” Ella said. “Not that I care about dirty Donna. I’ll deal with her if she says anything,” Hannah grinned, and I smiled at Ella’s fiercely protective attitude.
“I do think it would be a good idea to take it off,” Hannah said, and I nodded in agreement. Both girls looked at me like they were waiting for something.
“What?” I asked, confused, and Ella gave me a funny look.
“If you don’t want to take off the ring, that is okay. You know that. Right?” she said, her voice hesitant.
“No, I agree that it would be better not to wear it, at least for today,” I said and smiled. They both glanced at each other and wore almost identical concerned expressions.
“What is wrong with you two?” I laughed. “You are making me nervous.”
“Maria, sweetie,” Hannah said, her tone careful. “Are you going to take the ring off?” I looked at her funnily. What was this obsession with taking the ring off? I had already said that I planned on doing so.
“Yeah,” I said. “I already said twice I was going to. Geez, what is wrong with you two?” I rolled my eyes.
“Then take it off?” Ella asked, her tone flat.
Oh! I realised that I hadn’t taken it off yet. I laughed nervously as I fiddled with the ring.
“I get you now. I must have spaced,” I said and laughed again
“Now, Maria,” Ella said
“Huh?” I was confused again. “Now, what?”
“The ring, Maria, you said you wanted to take it off.” Hannah looked worried. “So, take it off now before everyone starts coming in the room.” I looked at her and laughed. I was starting to feel a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something wasn’t right.
“Maria, can you take the ring off?” Ella asked, and I looked at her worriedly. Of course, I could take the ring off, I thought to myself. Then why hadn’t I? I fingered the ring with my other hand. All I had to do was slide the ring up my finger. Such a simple action, and yet it seemed to escape me. Then I remembered the conversation with Douglas earlier this morning, where he had told me not to take off the ring. It was proof that I was his. Then it hit me as to what had happened.
I looked at the girls in horror. “I can’t take it off,” I said, and Hannah looked confused, and Ella looked sad. “Douglas commanded me to keep it on.”