"HE DID WHAT?!?" Lucas shouted, standing abruptly from the couch opposite me. His face filled with pure anger, eyes wide, hands running down his face and through his brown coloured hair.

"Why didn't you tell me, Lex? I could've helped you! I'm your older brother and I should be protecting you! I'm going to kill that son of a bitch!" Lucas was muttering to himself towards the end of his sentence.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset, Luc. Please don't be mad at me. I was just scared to tell you and everyone else. I was embarrassed to be that girl who stayed in an abusive relationship, but I didn't know what else to do! I just couldn't handle the constant stares of pity and concern, never mind actually having to hear the people I care about feel sorry for me! I'm supposed to be strong! But I'm not! I'm weak, just like he said I was." I shouted out of sadness, tears began pouring out of my sad eyes once again.

Before I had told Lucas and Natalia about what had happened between Jackson, Sebastian, and I, and about my past relationship with Jackson, I went upstairs to change into my baggy grey joggers, one of Lucas's old tshirts and hoodies, paired with my fluffy socks and a messy bun on top of my head. I was sat on the chair in the living room, wrapped up in my fluffy blue blanket, sipping on my hot chocolate with whipped cream and mini marshmallows. Lucas and Natalia were sat opposite me on the couch, Natalia cuddled up next to Lucas, with his arm thrown over her shoulder. They both listened intently to what I had to say, taking my time telling them the story. They were both very patient with me, some more than others.

Since Lucas had some choice words to say about my asshole of an ex.

"You, Alexandra Brooklyn Black, are not weak. Okay? You are a Black, and Black's are not weak. And don't you dare feel ashamed or embarrassed for staying in an abusive and toxic relationship, because you were young. You didn't know what else to do. That wasn't love. What you and Sebastian share? That is love. He actually cares about you, Al. You said that he started fighting Jackson for what he said about you before you left right? Do you think Jackson would've done that for you? Defend you? Protect you? No, because he is an abusive asshole that didn't know how much you are worth, because you, Alexandra Black, are fucking priceless."

Never in my 5 years of knowing Natalia Jefferson - soon to be Black - have I ever heard a single swear word come out of her mouth. So, to say I'm speechless is an understatement.

She's going to be the best mother and wife, and I can't wait to see that happen.

I didn't say anything because I was too chocked up on my unheard sobs, so instead of saying how I felt. I showed them. I stood up from my seat with my blue fluffy blanket still loosely wrapped around me, I walked up to the both of them, and wrapped my arms around them both, showing them how much love I have for them. We all sat down on the sofa, the both of them with their arms wrapped around me, telling me that everything will be okay and that they love me.

Sebastian? Love? Me?

There's no way that's even possible. Sebastian doesn't even do love.

And I'm too scared to even begin to love someone romantically again. Jackson has officially broken me beyond repair.

Wait, why am I even talking about Sebastian and love - let alone like - in the same sentance?

With that last thought, I drifted off to sleep in Lucas and Natalia's arms.

•••

I was woken up from my deep slumber, due to hushed voices speaking quietly around me, as they thought I was still sleeping.

"How is she?" I heard a voice speak quietly near me.

"I've never seen her like that, man. I mean, she always acts so strong, and I just feel like a shitty brother because I couldn't see that she was actually hurting inside." I heard Lucas whisper to someone else in my room.

"She loves you, dude. You're her older brother and she looks up to you. I mean, I'm supposed to be her boyfriend and even I couldn't see that she was in pain."

Sebastian. What the fuck is he doing here?

"Did she tell you what happened that night her Jackson broke up the second time?" Lucas asked him.

"The second time? I didn't even know that they broke up twice. I only know that they broke up because he cheated on her with Vanessa Edwards. Why? What happened?" Sebastian asked Lucas curiously.

"The little fucker be-." Before Lucas could tell Sebastian about the most embarrassing night of my life, I coughed loudly in order to get their attention and to stop Lucas from telling Sebastian.

"Hey Lexi." Sebastian said to me softly.

"Hi, Sebby. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, well since I'm your boyfriend, Lucas asked me to come over and talk to you."

I made an 'O' shape with my mouth as I looked between them both.

"So I'll leave you two lovebirds to it. And I'd rather you didn't, but if you're thinking of having sympathy sex, please wear a condom, I don't want to be an uncle and a father at the same time!" Lucas told us sternly, before walking out of my room and down the stairs, where Natalia was lying down reading her book.

Sebastian and I looked at each other, his beautiful ocean blue eyes, glistening in the semi dark room. My usual bright green eyes, have turned into a dark green, red puffy eyes, with tear stains on my blotchy cheeks.

I think it's fair to say that I've never looked worse.

"What are you really doing here, Kingsley?" I asked him quietly.

"I came to see how you were doing." He replied, walking over towards me on the bed, and sitting down next to me.

"Why?" I asked him with confusion clear on my face.

"Because you're my...friend." He told me, grimacing at the word friend.

"Please. We're hardly acquaintances." I scoffed at him, our banter making yet another appearance.

"I kicked his ass for you, so you're welcome."

"Sebastian! You know you can't be getting into fights! The whole reason for this fucking deal is that you don't get into trouble! Your parents are meant to think that I'm helping you to become a better person, and what did you do? You fought the Principles son! And for what? Me!" I quietly shouted at him, as I whacked his arm repeatedly.

"Shit, Black! Quit abusing me would ya?" He asked me, rubbing his arm where I hit him.

"How much trouble are you in?" I sighed at him, quickly muttering an apology to him.

"I'm not. You see, I've got some dirt on your 'oh so perfect ex boyfriend'." He smirked at me.

"What kind of dirt?" I asked him cautiously.

"Well lets just say, that I caught the golden boy doing some drugs. And not drugs like weed and shit, I mean proper hard drugs. He could get done for this kinda shit, Lexi. So, if he snitches me out to precious old daddy Collins, I'll just snitch him out and carry out my, very questionable threat. After all, snitches get stitches."

"Oh my god. Just, promise me that you won't get into any trouble for the rest of the year? Because if your parents ever find out, then they'll be shopping you off to London." I don't even know where that came from, words just came pouring out of my mouth.

"You worried about me, Black?" He smirked at my rambling.

"What? No! That's absurd!" I scoffed at him, the heat of my embarrassment creeping up onto my already red and splotchy cheeks.

"Keep telling yourself that, darling."

I simply rolled my eyes at him, getting up to walk towards my door, in order to get him leave. He walked up to me slowly, staring at me, before wrapping his arms tightly around me. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around his waist, my head resting on chest. He placed a light kiss on the top of my head, pulling me in tighter to him.

"Thank you for not asking." I told him, my voice muffled due to his shirt.

"Asking what?"

"About that night. With Jackson. I really appreciate it. I've only ever told Evie, and now Lucas and Natalia. I'm just-just not ready to tell anyone else. For now, anyway."

"Well whatever he did to you, I want to kill him for hurting you. You're still my friend, Lexi. Always." I lifted my head off of his chest as he said this, both of us staring at each other.

"Always?" I asked, just above a whisper, barley audible.

He nodded in response, his head slightly tilting, and he began leaning towards me ever so slowly. I tilted my head in the opposite direction, also leaning in slowly towards him. Our lips were a mere inch apart, our hot breaths mingled together.

"What. The. Fuck?"

We both sprang apart from each other like lightning speed, turning our bodies to see a very overly excited, Evelyn Rhodes.

"Shit! I'm so sorry! I was meant to say that in my head so that I wouldn't ruin your kiss, but then me being a dumbass had to go and ruin it! Like oh my god! You guys like, totally almost kissed! I can't wait to tell Layla! Fuck, she will freak out, when I tell her!" Both Sebastian and I avoided eye contact with each other, as we tried to shut up Evie.

"I'm going to head out. I'll see you girls tomorrow." Sebastian said awkwardly as he scratched the back of his neck, one of his nervous habits.

We both smiled at him saying goodbye. My smile being more small and awkward, Evie's smile big and bubbly.

"Alexandra Brooklyn Black! You have got some serious explaining to do!" Evie gushed at me, grabbing my arm and dragging me to my bed.

"What are you talking about?" I asked her feigning confusion.

"Seriously? You're going to play dumb?"

"I'm not playing dumb!"

"Ok, so tell me. Why the fuck were you and Sebastian about to kiss?!?" She asked me, bouncing up and down on my bed.

"We weren't, okay? He just gave me a friendly hug to comfort me!" I defended.

She shook her head at me, a small grin appearing on her face.

"Are you okay?"

"Everything just kind of came flooding back from that night, you know? And it just got...too much. So I left." I told her softly, both of us lying down on my bed next to each other.

"I know what will get your mind of this bullshit." She told me, grinning widely.

"What?"

"Waffles and ice cream, while watching our favourite films!" She exclaimed, running downstairs to get the waffles and ice cream, as I set up the tv with all of our favourite DVD's lines up beside me.

"Okay, what's first on the agenda?" She asked me while carrying in the waffles and ice cream.

"Well, I was thinking...How to lose a guy in 10 days and then the Princess Diaries series and the High School Musical trilogy!" We both screamed in excitement, settling down on my bed, digging into the waffles and ice cream, waiting for the film to start.

I turned to face Evie who was lying down next to me, stuffing her face with the chocolate ice cream.

God I love her.

I'm so lucky to have her as my best friend. I don't know what I would do without her in my life. We'll always be friends, no matter what. Even if Evie decides to go to a university that's across the other side of the country or the other side of the world, we'll always be there for each other.

Always.

Suddenly thoughts about Sebastian started running a fucking marathon in my head. Why did we have an almost kiss? We're supposed to hate each other! Are we friends now? Still frenemies? And he cared enough to come see how I was doing? He beat up Jackson the jackass for me?

"Hey, you okay? You kinda spaced out there, Al." I was snapped out of my trance when Evie began speaking to me.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine. I just-I...thank you Evie. Thank you for just being your bubbly weird self. I love you so much, I hope you know that." I told her sincerely, small tears springing to my eyes.

"Oh Lex. Of course I know you love me, because I love you, so so much. And thank you for being your bitchy, sarcastic, kind of sweet self."

"Oh wow, you make me feel so special!" I replied sarcastically.

"I'm kidding! You're so beautiful, so talented, so smart, and the kindest person ever once you get past your bitchiness." She giggled at me, kissing my cheek and giving me a tight hug.

"Promise me you'll never leave me Evie." I asked her quietly as we pulled away from each other.

"I promise. As long as you'll never leave me?" She asked me seriously.

"It would never cross my mind." I laughed at her, as we both went back to watching Andy and Ben playing their dating game in 'How to lose a guy in 10 days'.

It doesn't matter about what's happened today. What matters is right now. My best friend and I watching our favourite films together while eating our favourite foods.

I can always count on Evelyn Marley Rhodes. Because she's my best friend.

Forever and always. No matter what.

Chapter 10 of Social Casualty is here! Another chapter is here, I'm on a roll!

Sebastian and Alexandra had an almost kiss? Alexandra and Evelyn's friendship though🥺 Let me know what you guys think of it and predictions for the next chapter!

Status: unedited

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Thank you and ily all💕

- Addy :)