Reading Response #6

The Bitter End:
  I finshed this book within three days. It was such a great read, I didn't like what was happening the story, but I HAD to know what was going to happen in the end.A quick refresher (for you and me) on the main characters: Alex (the girl who works at the coffee shop), Cole (boyfriend), Bethany and Zach (the best friends). Cole is getting really protective over Alex and she is hanging out with her friends less and less. Bethany and Zach are getting tired of Alex bailing on their weekly meetings where they plan for their Colorado trip. She is now spending all of her time with Cole. At one point, Alex has Bethany and Zach over for a meeting. She and Zach start to "fight" and he pulls her down to the ground. Zach starts tickling her and of course Cole has to walk in right when all of this is happening. Cole is extrememly angry by this and he loses his trust with Alex. He becomes more and more possessive. I'm shocked that Alex can not see the warning signs; she clearly hasn't read Dateable!
  Alex feels caught in between her friends and her boyfriend's wants. From Ale's perspective, she is Cole's only friend, so she's being there for him. Slowly, Alex stops hanging out with Bethany and Zach, and starts spending her free time with Cole. Cole begins to wait for Alex at her work and stays for hours at a time. Alex's boss comments saying that it's creepy how he hangs out there all the time.I think this is foreshadowing Cole's behavior in the future. Cole and Alex go on their second date, this time to the movies, when she gets out of the car, they share their first kiss. Alex thinks that it's so polite  that he waited until the second date for their first kiss, but come on! A real guy will respect you and wait, don't give him what he wants otherwise there's nothing to wait for. Their relationship is starting really quickly and Alex is becoming socially unacceptable.
   Soon, Alex sees Cole's true colors while they are at the park. Cole gets mad at Alex for spending so much of her time with Zach instead of him (jealous much). Cole is heated over this argument but decides to take his anger out another way, he physically pushes Alex and then verbally abuses her as well. She gets bruises and welts from their argument and in school Cole is constantly apologizing. Alex keeps telling herself that she loves him and that none of it matters. Cole and Alex end up sleeping together because they are in love. When Alex tells Bethany, she becomes angry at Alex. Shouldn't Bethany be happy for her? "When had my life turned to this? When had I started worrying about being happy for my best friend would be making someone else angry."
  Alex and Cole are on a date when they run into Cole's ex from his old school. He mentions that she's pyscho and to not listen to what she says.Alex runs into her in the bathroom and she warns Alex that Cole isn't who he claims to be and that Alex should get out of the relationship while she has the chance. Alex ignores her and goes on her way. The next week, Alex begins to pick up more hours at work and her manager becomes increasingly aware of Alex's bruises. They become harder and harder to hide and Alex stays home from school for a few days because of them. Eventually, Bethany finds out about the bruises, despite Alex's efforts.
  Alex and Cole's relationship falls apart when he stalks her at work and waits for her to come outside to her car. Cole finds her and gets ridiculously mad and beats her to the ground. Her manager sees just in time and calls the police. Alex wakes up in the hospital and she ends up staying for a while. Cole ends up going to jail for his actions because turns out this isn't the first girlfriend he's beaten. Everyone graduates in May and Alex, Bethany and Zach take their trip to Colorado where Alex finally finds peace.
  I had a love/hate relationship with this book like Alex had with Cole. I loved all the details the author included, but I didn't like how she set up the time frame. It was hard to tell how long things had passed and it was often times confusing. I loved how the story ended in a good way and tied everything together. All in all, great read.