fifty-six

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Part 3/3

"Okay. It was weird when this happened to us." Paola says as she points between her and Ryan, "But now this just can't be a coincidence."

The five of us were sitting in this hospital again as we wait for any updates on Justine. it was a matter of time before Paola up began to become suspicious about what was going on between the three of them.

I can tell that telling Paola about who he really is is something that Ryan is going to struggle to do as I watch the way that his knee bounces up and down as he holds his head in the palm of his hand looking at her what's a look of nervousness on his face

She's been quiet ever since we got here.

After Cyrus explained the whole story, I haven't been able to say much either.

He said that he bet Justine a few weeks ago that if he was able to do their entire English assignment by himself and earn the grade of an A without any of her help. She would have to let him take her on a date.

Justine never really alluded to liking Cyrus enough to actually go out with him but I guess that was something she may have kept to herself.

We had told her multiple times that they would look great together but she would always brush us off.

One time she said that Cyrus looked like he could barely afford a happy meal, never mind being able to afford her.

If only she knew at the time just how much Ryan, Jesse, and Cyrus could afford if they really wanted to splurge.

She just assumed that he was a "scrub" because he lived with Jesse.

So when he said she actually agreed to go on a date with him we were very confused but Paola had given me a knowing smile briefly after he explained the bet situation.

He had taken her to La Grenouille, a french restaurant because an item on her bucket list was to try Ratatouille because of that Disney movie.

Quickly after their meals came, they dived into a conversation. The conversation had gotten so deep that they lost track of time and spent more time at the restaurant than Cyrus had intended.

All of a sudden they heard loud shrills and people screaming at the top of their lungs as the first gunshot had sounded.

As people had been grabbing their belongings trying to rush out of the building as fast as possible, Cyrus had taken Justine by the hand and ran towards the nearest exit.

But they weren't fast enough.

The second gunshot had rung out so loudly in the midst of all the chaos.

Cyrus had felt the grip of Justine's hand loosening. The difference in the strength of the grip had been a sharp contrast to how tightly she had held onto him seconds prior.

He turned around to ask her what was wrong and was met with her lying on the ground, she had fallen face first, the blood begging to spread quickly as it stained the olive green dress she had been wearing. She had been shot in the back.

Since he had explained everything, I couldn't say anything and I didn't want to because it wasn't me that had to say anything, it wasn't my place.

It was about time that Ryan and Cyrus had come clean to the women in their lives.

There were so many times that I wanted to. And although Jesse and I have reached a place where he wouldn't, you know, kill me if I said anything,

The difference between me and them is that I chose to stay with Jesse knowing everything I know now. He didn't force me. He told me time and time again that I didn't need to be with him and that he didn't deserve me.

I care about him enough to want to stay with him but after seeing what happened to Justine tonight, and how the same thing could've happened to Paola if Ryan hadn't shielded her.

Whoever was doing this had an agenda and Paola was right this is no coincidence.

Could I be next?

I felt a pair of eyes on me and I already knew who they were as I look to the right side of the room where Jesse had wandered to once Cyrus had finished explaining everything.

His gaze pierced through me but the expression on his face remained blank and stoic almost.

If he tries and blames me again like last time I'll actually fight him.

He nods his head in a motion that tells me to follow him silently and I stand up slowly to walk towards him. I look at the seat on my left where Paola was sitting and I'm going to tell her that I'm coming back before I notice that her head is resting on Ryan's shoulder, her eyes closed as Ryan watches her silently, running his fingers through the ends of her hair.

I turn back around to see Jesse looking at me with an eyebrow raised wondering why I haven't come to him but I hold up a finger towards him telling him to wait, I turn towards Ryan and tap his shoulder.

He looks up at me, and I'm quick to notice the look of dejection on his face. He waves at me solemnly with the hand that is not running through Paola's hand

I say to him, "Can Jesse and I see you outside for a minute?"

He rolls his lips into his mouth before he looks behind me to see Jesse, shrug his shoulders at him as he narrows his eyes at me slightly. They're both confused but Ryan nods nonetheless, he quickly glances at a sleeping Paola. In an effort to keep her asleep, Ryan whispers Cyrus's name.

Cyrus looks at him waiting for Ryan to speak but Ryan curls his fingers in a motion that tells him to come closer. Cyrus sighs and walks over, a look of annoyance flashed across his face but walks over anyway and Ryan says, "Sit here while I go talk to them." he motions to Jesse and I.

Typically, Cyrus would come up with a smart remake in an effort to say no but the three of us watch him in pity as he scratches the back of his neck and takes one hand to loosen the black tie around his neck before he nods motioning for Ryan to get up as he quickly moves in Ryan's seat allowing Paola to rest her head on his shoulder instead. No questions asked.

Ryan pats his shoulder twice saying thanks before he walks with me towards Jesse and the three of us head outside.

When we all get outside, we stand near the front of the hospital.

Jesse is the first to speak, "I was just going to ask if you wanted me to get you something to eat. I suppose you have something else to say though?"

I nod my head looking towards Ryan, "You have to tell her about what you guys do."

Jesse sighs and crosses his arms but my eyes are trained more on Ryan as he looks at me in thought.

"That's not happening," Jesse says shaking his head defiantly like the child he is and I roll my eyes.

"Good thing I wasn't asking." I turn to look at him and he raises an eyebrow at my tone, "I'm telling you."

"She can't keep a secret to save her life. Who's the one that told you about your surprise party before you even got there?"

I keep quiet knowing he has a point and he scoffs saying, "Exactly."

"Okay! But she was excited! I'm pretty sure if she knew keeping the secret about you guys was a life or death kinda thing, she'd keep it to herself."

"You don't know that, Karma."

"Neither do you, Jesse."

"I don't get why I can know but Justine and Paola can't," I say in frustration, "What? do they have to watch Cyrus and Ryan mur--" I begin to say before Jesse covers my mouth with his hand. He looks at me sternly before removing his hand.

"Telling Paola could end very badly."

"Things have already gotten bad, what are you not seeing?" I start, "One of my best friends is lying in a hospital bed with a bullet in her body and the other one is traumatized from almost being shot at." I look at Ryan briefly, "How can this get any worse? You allowed my friends to get involved with yours and now all of us are in danger."

"I didn't anticipate all of that happenin--"

"Well no you didn't anticipate it but it's happening so act accordingly. Despite what you might think and contrary to popular belief, Paola is not dumb. You've already seen she knows something is up."

They both look at me in silence but a sound coming from the doors causes all of our eyes to shift towards it as we see Cyrus coming outside, as he's left Paola in the waiting room.

"I thought I asked you to stay in my seat," Ryan says

Cyrus waves dismissively, "Her head is heavy and I thought y'all were gonna come back quicker."

"So what are we talking about?" he places his hands in his pockets,

"You need to tell Justine when she wakes up, what it is that you guys do."

"I know," Cyrus says and I'm absolutely shocked that he didn't fight me on it.

"Has everyone lost their mind?" Jesse says and I groan out loud again

Cyrus shakes his head and says, "No. she's actually right. Karma hasn't told them for the past couple of months, Justine can do the same."

"You don't know that," Jesse says

"You don't know that, fool. Would you have told your girl about any of this if she hadn't caught you twice?" he asks, "No. You wouldn't have. At least let me give Justine the choice to be with me knowing all of this the same way that Karma stayed with you and your temper tantrum throwing ass."

"Fuck you," Jesse says and I snicker quietly to myself

"No. That's what Justine's for. If she even wants to see me when she's back to cussing me out again when I tell her all of this."

Jesse rolls his eyes and stays quiet, looking at Ryan who's been quiet all this time.

"Cyrus is right." Ryan says looking towards him before he looks at me, "I'll tell her. Jesse, It's been long enough."

Another sound of annoyance comes from Jesse as he groans, "Do you guys not care that my ass is on the line if either of them fucks around and says something wrong."

Getting tired of going around in circles I say finally, "Jesse! I know them like the back of my hand, more than you, Cyrus, or Ryan do. If I'm telling that they can be trusted then I expect you to trust me when I say that. Yes, they'll probably be upset at first, but they'll come around. All I'm hearing through this whole conversation, Is how much you're going to be in trouble and how much your ass is on the line."  I say in annoyance,

"There are three girls who have nothing to do with whatever fuck ass operation that you guys run yet it's obvious that each time this has happened we are the targets. Justine got shot and Paola quite literally dodged a bullet. So if you haven't noticed, I'm pretty sure I'm next, and even knowing that I still want to be with your temper tantrum throwing ass. All I ask is that you give my friends a heads up of who they're dealing with." He looks at me and clenches his jaw as I continue, not being able to control the tears at bay

"Do I have to get a bullet lodged somewhere in my body too before you take me seriously?" I say tearfully as I hear Cyrus and Ryan let out a breath and I watch as Jesse's face softens.

"Baby, I-" He attempts to walk towards me but I step back slowly, holding a hand up to halt his steps as he sighs.

He clenches his jaw again, looking at me sorrowfully and directing his next words to Cyrus and Ryan, "Let them know."

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We were sat in the waiting room after our conversation. Ryan and Cyrus had promised me that they would tell them both tomorrow.

We were waiting patiently for any news on Justine when a doctor had finally come out, holding a clipboard. Cyrus stands up quickly looks at her as gets ready to speak.

"Family of Justine Hill." The doctor says as she reads the name off of the clipboard.

"Tranter." Cyrus says, "I'm her husband, Justin." he walks towards the doctor.

"My records show Justine Hill."

"We never got the chance to alter her name anywhere, we're pretty much newlyweds still."

The doctor eyes him suspiciously as the rest of us try to suppress the looks of shock on his face at his smooth lie.

She clears her throat and says, "Okay, she's just gotten out of surgery and the anesthesia hasn't worn off yet so she's still really out of it. But it was a success. The bullet luckily didn't pass through the spinal canal so Mrs.Tranter is stable now. She's not awake yet, but if you'd like to go see her, you're welcome to."

"Yeah. Of course. Thank you." Cyrus says and the doctor walks away with a smile.

He turns to us and says, "I'm just going to go see her right now by myself. I'll come back if you guys want to go see her after me." He says to Paola and I. We nod in understanding as he heads to Justine's room quickly.

I turn my head to the right to see Jesse looking at me before he walks towards me where I'm sitting and grabs my hand leading me away from Paola and Ryan to talk to me alone.

He rests his head on my forehead and sighs,"I'm sorry for not understanding where you were coming from the first time."

"It's fine. I'm just glad you came around in the end."

"Whatever I have to do to keep the three of you safe, I'll never hesitate to make that kind of decision again."

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[A/N] I wrote this in the middle of class lmaoaoao

Thanks for reading !!!

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