Chapter 57 - She'll stay with me

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It's impressive how someone's world can come crashing down in the spare of an hour. Mine was crashed in about ten minutes.

Memories of what happened a few hours ago are still haunting me and I don't have a single clue of what I should do next with my life.

I've been sitting at this park for God knows how long pondering my options. Right after that surreal revelation that everything about my life for the past months has been a lie, I ran away from all of them.

Literally ran away.

I needed to put as much distance as possible from them so I could think straight. Not that it's helping, I still don't know how to process everything.

My boyfriend was using me to get information for his company, my best friend set me up so I could fall in love with him just to make things easier for his plan. What the actual fuck?

The first thing I did as soon as I sat on this bench was cry, like I've never cried before.

I've been betrayed by the people I trusted the most and it hurts like hell. This is the reason why I should've never trusted them or anyone for that matter.

My phone has been blowing up with calls from Mads, Noah, Tyler, Olivia and even Mark is calling me, but I'm pressing the ignore button every time it vibrates.

It's when I shove the phone inside my pocket that I hear footsteps getting closer and closer and I'm afraid to check who it is, because I'll flip if I see any of my supposed friends.

However, when I manage to look up, I see Ryan's figure standing in front of me, a concern look on his face and his hands inside his pockets.

Thank God is someone I'm not mad at and apparently is not going behind my back, he's... wait a second. Ryan? How on earth is Ryan here?

What if he has a part in all of this too? I find it hard to believe because Noah hates him. Well, I thought it was jealousy, but he was probably just feeling his plan was threatened by another guy.

''What are you doing here?''

I ask harsher than I intended, but well, I'm in the middle of a break down, so I really don't care.

''I came to check up on you.'' I look at him with a questioning look.

Does he know what happened? Why the hell does he think he needs to check up on me? As if reading my mind, he clarifies.

"Mads called me.''

''How did you find me?''

''Remember that time you were sad when you and Noah broke up?'' I nod. ''You came here to clear your head, so for some reason I figured you'd be here.''

He knows me way too well and I smile, if that's even possible. Maybe I shouldn't have trusted him.

''What did she tell you?'' I fit his eyes, trying to see if he knows the truth. I don't think I can take it if he also knew. I think I might die.

''Not much, she just said you needed me right now and that they fucked up. I didn't push for her to tell me, but by the look on your face, it's serious.''

''Yeah, I don't even know where to begin.''

I'm still not sure I can trust him, but he's the only one who doesn't seem to be connected with this messed up situation, so he's probably my best shot of having a friend right now.

Somehow, my instinct is telling me that he truly didn't know.

I don't want to call Abby or Kevin to drag them into this, not until I have things figured out at least.

Ryan sits next to me and puts his arm on my back, rubbing it up and down as if to comfort me. I'm still crying and I don't think I'll stop soon enough.

I ponder whether I should tell him or not, but before I can process what I'm doing, I start telling him everything. I don't tell him the details of it, but he gets the entire picture anyway.

He looks at me serious as I tell him how I was betrayed by Noah and Mads. It took me longer than it should to let it all out, just because I started sobbing and had to stop talking at least a couple of times until I could breath again.

''That's quite a story. I'm so sorry Ems, I had no idea this was going on.'' I nod waiting for him to say something else.

Not knowing what he's thinking about this is killing me. What if he thinks I'm the one to blame?

This was a bad idea, I should really remind myself that I probably shouldn't trust anyone. I'm too vulnerable and not in my better judgement at the moment and all the trust issues I had my entire life are back.

The problem is me, I'm the one who is just so messed up.

As I'm about to say something, we see my ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend coming our way in a hurry.

How did they find me? I wonder if Ryan texted them to tell them he's with me.

I'm getting paranoid, but I guess you can't blame me for having all my walls up. Well, I just said I'm the problem, so this is me being confused as hell.

Both Ryan and I stand up and I take a step back, sort of hiding behind him as if he'll shield me from them.

''Emma, we've been looking for you everywhere.'' Mads concerned voice is like a knife to my heart.

Especially because I don't believe she's worried, not for real. She's not my friend, she's never been.

''Oh great, you're all here to screw me over again.'' I can't avoid the sarcastic comment. Maybe it's my defense mechanism and the only way I know how to deal with this right now.

Noah is looking at me, studying my face. I'm sure that he didn't miss that I've been crying, my red nose and bloodshot eyes are giving me away.

He looks between Ryan and me with a frown on his face and I know what he's thinking. He's acting like he's jealous, but he's just a freaking liar, who's just trying to get into my head to make me believe he cares about me.

''Guys, I know it's not my place to say anything, but maybe you should give her some space for a while.''

''Yeah, you're right. It's not your place to say anything, so leave her alone." Noah takes a threatening step towards Ryan, but he doesn't bulge.

What the fuck is wrong with him? After everything, he thinks he can act like this. Go to hell, Noah.

''Noah, you have no right to say that to him.'' I grab Ryan's elbow and pull him back.

It's not that I'm afraid Noah might do something, but I don't know what to think or even how psycho these two are at this point, so I'm not taking any chances.

''Let's go back to the dorm, we can talk and work through this.'' Mads is the one talking and I really look at her for the first time since I said those harsh words to her a couple hours ago.

She has definitely been crying too. Not that I care. I don't. I really don't. Maybe if I say this enough times, I might actually believe it.

I repeat that to myself over and over as I focus on her face, slightly stained by her makeup.

''I'm not going back to the dorm with you.''

''What do you mean? Where will you go then?'' She asks.

Shit.

She's right. Where will I sleep? I have no where to go, no friends that are not Noah or Mads related and panic takes over me.

They not only broke me, but they are leaving me homeless. I know this is a bit overdramatic of me, but I'm giving myself the right to be the drama queen for once.

I'll figure out what to do with the dorm arrangement tomorrow, I'll talk to the dean, to the owner of this place, or whoever I have to talk to, so I'm able to change dorms.

I have three pairs of curious eyes looking at me, waiting for my response, that never comes, because I don't have one.

I haven't thought that far into this to figure out where to spend the night.

My eyes meet Ryan's, looking for some support and before I can come up with anything to say, he's the one breaking the silence.

''She'll stay with me.'' What?

''No fucking way.'' Noah is now inches away from him and I do fear for my friend. ''She's coming with me, where she belongs.''

He doesn't mean it, Emma. It's not real, I have to repeat that to myself.

The murderous look on Noah's face tells me that he's ready to knock Ryan to the floor at any second and I can't let that happen.

This is certainly escalating fast and I'm too confused to know what's the best option to take here.

''You don't have a saying in this, Noah. I'll go with Ryan.''

''You can't be serious, Emma. You're really leaving with him? Then what? You'll sleep together?'' Noah looks at me disgusted and for a second I consider saying that if I want to, it's none of his business, but I stop myself before I say something stupid.

I don't want Ryan to think there could be a chance of us being together, even if I know he has no interest in me at all.

"Do you really think you 're in a position to demand anything? If you do, you're clearly out of your mind."

"It's not what I mean, I just... let's just talk, please." His voice is much softer than moments ago, but I don't care.

I feel anger boiling to its limit as I look at the man I love and images of what he did to me invade my thoughts.

I should hate him instead of considering even for a second going with him, so I'm extremely pissed off right now.

''You have no right to do that, Noah. You lied to me and now you want to act as if you care? Go away."

I grab Ryan's arm and pull him away from them, going the opposite direction. I need to leave or I'll start crying again.

Well, I'm pretty sure I'll cry anyway, staying or not.

"Emma, please."

Noah says, but I'm already walking away pulling Ryan by the arm and thankfully when I glance back, I see Noah and Mads standing there looking at us already from a small distance, not making a move to follow us.

Noah passes his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated, while Mads has both her hands on her face. I see her shoulders going up and down, while she sobs.

Ryan and I walk in silence to his dorm and as we reach his door, I feel uncomfortable. I agreed to this without even thinking about it.

It was my best option though, I guess.

What should I do? Should we sleep on the same bed? That would be beyond awkward, but I guess it's better than having no place to go, right?

I could have at least gone to my dorm to get some clothes or my unicorn pajamas, that would me me feel a bit more comfortable with all of this.

Or I could just go to a hotel.

God, what am I doing?

''You can use some of my clothes or we can go to your dorm to grab some?''

For the second time, it's like he's reading my mind, even if he sounds unsure to be offering that. I consider it for a moment, but I finally shake my head.

As much as I'd like to be in my own clothes, the thought of facing Mads is what makes me say no.

As much as she hurt me, I can't stand to see her crying and not care about her. Or even Noah. I love both of them and it kills me that I care so much to the point to almost want her to stop crying and comfort her. Almost.

''No, I don't want to go there. If I can use some of your clothes would be good.''

I offer him a small thankful smile. He's my friend, but he doesn't need to be in the middle of this.

''Ok, I texted Denis to ask him if he could stay somewhere else tonight, that way you can sleep on my bed and I'll take his.''

I nod and almost hug him for taking care of it, but I refrain from it, as it would be even more awkward if I did.

''Thank you. For everything, you didn't have to do this.'' He gives me a genuine smile, that makes me feel instantly better.

''Ems, you're my friend. That's what friends do for each other. You can stay here as long as you want. I'm here for you, you know that, right?''

At this point I don't care if it's weird or not, I launch myself at him and hug him with all I have. He hugs me back tightly and I feel his chest going up and down, in a heavy sigh.

''I'm sorry for everything.'' I say as I bury my head in his neck.

''Stop saying you're sorry.'' His voice is low, close to my ear. ''Now, let's go to bed, I'm sure everything will be better tomorrow.''

Tomorrow? I don't know how it will be tomorrow or if things will get better, but if it's true that time heals everything, then I'll have to wait and see. 

I'll think about everything tomorrow. There's nothing I can do right now, only try to get some sleep, as if this is all a nightmare and after I wake up, it will all be better.

I really wish it could be like this.

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Hey lovely readers,

I'm so sorry for the delay in updating. I've been going through some tough and very busy couple of weeks, but I'll try to be a better writer and update as I should.

The next chapter should be up tomorrow (so pleeeease forgive me for my bad updating schedule).

Love, Me

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