Silence

Everything is silent; not a noise is heard. The dark sky upon me is decorated with small sparkles that shine, beautifying the atmosphere. Their glitter is strong making me wonder if they're petite angels; watching us, following our dark movements, guarding us. Maybe there is angelic glamor that is placed there by Heaven to remind even the desperate that there's hope after all.

My eyes fall to the earth; in the mundane world where everything is more complicated and problematic. Glamor makes demons look as angels, thieves as friends, murderers as lovers that steal our hearts.

"Hey," A voice speaks turning me around. Jacob stands a few feet away from me. His brown eyes appear as silver in some parts due to the magic of the angelic glints of Heaven.

"Hey," His eyes seem to get warmer by my smile and he comes closer.

"Can I?" He asks pointing in the chair next to mine.

"Sure,"

We haven't talked in a while. We might have exchanged small sentences and greetings though nothing that was consisted of more than ten words. I look at him; surprised that he is out here with me.

"I wanted to apologize about..."

"No, no...you don't have to," I stop him the second I realize what he wants to apologize for. "It wasn't your fault,"

"It was my responsibility," He says staring at my eyes. "I should have told you the second I learned."

"You shouldn't have, Jacob" I argue. "Corbyn is your best friend. I could never ask you to give up on him for me. I had a best friend and I know that you can't and shouldn't do something behind their back."

"You are not mad at me?" He asks and I don't miss the tone of disbelief and surprise.

"No, it wasn't your fault. You were just doing your job as a best friend. I'm not mad."

He looks at me with narrow eyes waiting if I'll burst into shouts and screams, blame him for my miserable ending but that never comes. Instead, I smile at him kindly.

"It was his fault...not yours," I whisper. His eyes disconnect from my own and gaze at the pool next to us. The water is mirrored in his eyes as a small reflection.

"I found out two days before you did." He starts to narrow. "I had no idea. I didn't even know you two were dating. I was hearing around the school a lot of things but I knew they weren't true. I know Corbyn since middle school. He just sleeps around with girls but never catches feelings. Everyone knows that. So, when they started talking about you two, I thought they were simply rumors. I had asked him to keep an eye on you as well as we did," He turns to meet my eyes. "You were vulnerable when you came and we thought we should at least know if you had any problems."

I smile at him appreciating the small yet so kind and meaningful gesture. "Thank you,"

"It was nothing," He mutters before his gaze falls at the pool and continues. "I assumed he was watching you, being around you and that's what they misunderstood and twisted to plot their fake story. But then, at the game, I saw him running to you to kiss you."

A grin slowly finds its way to my lips as I recall that moment. The way he run to me, kissed so passionately in front of everyone not caring who witnessed it, and of course dedicating his last goal to me. I was so happy then.

"I asked him the next day and that's when he first admitted that you were together. At first, I thought he was pranking me or I don't know what. I knew he wasn't the relationship type. I kept doubting it and asking why and how he changed his mind about girls." He chuckles. "Do you know what he said?"

I look back at him silently. "He said he was in love with you for the first time. I didn't believe him, I couldn't. I started paying more attention to him then. You are my cousin and I didn't want you to be used like this." His voice trails off as we both realize that's exactly how things evolved.

"It didn't take much time to see how much he had changed. He wasn't looking at other girls, making out with them, ditching us for them. He stopped getting into fights but the thing that surprised me was when one day Cyle was smoking weed in school. He offered some to Corbyn but he declined shocking us all. And when I asked him..." His eyes meet mine. "He said that you didn't want him to smoke so he didn't."

My lips part at his words before a small gush of happiness floods all my veins and cells.

"That moment I knew that you were important to him. More important than any of us. See, Corbyn does whatever he wants. He doesn't answer to anyone and for sure he doesn't listen to anyone. But he heard you,"

I remember the way I shouted at him angrily and the way he smirked and agreed. I didn't know he did any of this. I smile looking up at the stars. Maybe an Angel.

"Since that moment, I stopped questioning. The change in him suited him. He was happy, happier than I had ever seen him before. And you...you were happy too." His eyes are thoughtful and I break eye contact. "You were talking, laughing and I knew that whatever you two had, changed both of you for the better. But..."

The words send a punch in my stomach, knotting it. Tears blur my vision as I look up and bite my lips to make them disappear.

"I heard him talking to the phone one time. He was talking to someone about you and it took me some minutes to put the pieces together. I asked him for it but he denied it. Some punches were thrown until he admitted it. He told me the truth about his parent's divorce and his plan. I was so angry with him. The last two days we didn't speak until he came here and explained himself about it." The mention makes my stomach turn and vomit raises up

"Turned out that the idea was from Corbyn's lawyer. He was trying to make him look trustworthy and that involved having a girlfriend too."

"Why?" I ask. "Why would they care if he's with me or not?"

"His lawyer feared that his past might catch up to him. They changed a lot of things and one of them was this. If he had a girlfriend he would promote the image of a boy that is responsible compared to the playboy he actually was. Noah though heard the last part and attacked me with questions the next morning. The morning you found out." He adds helping me to complete and digest the information he has just offered me.

"I don't blame you, Jacob or Noah. You just got in the middle of this and I'm sorry for this,"

"Noah hasn't spoken to me the last couple of weeks. He thinks I'm a monster, a liar."

"I'll talk to him," I state. I don't want them to fight over something Corbyn initially started with me.

"Thank you but I don't think he'll change his mind." He says grimly. "You should have seen the way he roared at Corbyn,"

"What?" I nearly squeak.

"Corbyn found out in school and let's just say it didn't settle with him. And Noah's words and fury were fueling Corbyn's rage. I, honestly, didn't know what to do,"

"Wait, what do you mean? Corbyn found out through Noah?" He nods and my face pales. "Oh no,"

"I was rambling, trying to find a way to tell him you found out when Noah showed up and made it simple,"

"Simple?" I question wanting to know more.

"He surged himself at Corbyn yelling at him. He was cursing at him for using you that way. Corbyn didn't understand right away but when Noah said that you finally knew the truth and you could move on with someone who truly loves you...then Corbyn lost it."

"L-lost it?" I echo his words.

"He didn't believe that you knew and that look of terror in his eyes...I had never seen him like this." He confesses and my brain tries to absorb all that it's being said.

"He attacked him, hit Noah and for the first time I saw my brother fighting back. He was so angry that he wasn't listening to me. It took me, Cyle, Jace, and Dom to get them apart. Corbyn started screaming, accusing us of you finding out and screwing his life. He was out of control. I don't know if he realized what he was saying. It was like his word was ending; like he was in self-destructive mode. He was barking that we took the best thing that has ever happened to him away."

I remember him confessing those words to me melting my heart. His tone, the pain, and desperation in his voice and eyes was guarantying that he wasn't lying.

"He kept screeching about how much he loved you and needed you. Noah though didn't budge but I did. I knew that this broke him. I had never seen him react about something this way, caring about something this much,"

"I don't know..."

"He did and he still does," He reassures me with a delicate voice. "It's harder when you care and Corbyn hadn't cared for anything for a while.

None of us talks as we let silence fill the space. Regain the balance that was ruined. I lock my eyes hearing Jacob's words in my head, imagining the fight going down. I had no idea this had occurred.

"He's hurting, Amelia," He whispers and I feel the light wind move my hair slightly to the side.

"He's not the only one,"

"I know," I glance at him and our eyes meet as if words are unnecessary. "I know that I shouldn't say this..." I title my head to the side.

"He needs you and I think you need him too,"