Chapter forty-five: Priorities (Faith's POV)

I was making breakfast and Alex was still asleep when the doorbell rang. It's pretty early for someone to be coming over and it's way too early for Hayley or Daniel to even be awake so who the hell was it? 

I pulled Alex's hoodie down lower, covering my legs a little more since I was just in shorts and looked through the glass window beside the door. It was Amber. I unlocked the door and looked at her in confusion. 

"Hi," she said in a small voice. 

"Hi?" I questioned. "What are you doing here?" I asked without hesitation. 

"Can I please talk to you? It's kinda important," she stuttered. 

"Do you mind if we talk outside?" I asked. 

"Outside is fine," she shrugged. 

I stepped outside with her and sat on the porch steps. "Can I help you?" I asked. 

"It's Cody," she sighed. 

"Okay Amber look, just because I've dated him doesn't mean I can help you with every problem he throws your way. Whatever happens between you and him should stay between you and him. You don't have to involve me or anyone else into it," I explained with a huff. 

"Even if it's the exact same thing that you went through?" she asked. 

I looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?" I questioned. 

"He's been following me places. Showing up at my house, blowing up my phone with calls, texts, anyway he can reach me," she explained. 

"Amber, he left town." I looked at her suspiciously. There's no way she didn't know that the whole neighborhood does. 

"No, Faith. He didn't. They were trying to leave as soon as possible but then he went and shattered school grounds. They're still packing so his parents have him locked inside their house. He's not allowed to go anywhere." 

She could be lying. 

"Why don't you tell the cops that?" I arched an eyebrow at her. 

"Because if he finds out it's me who tipped them, he'll kill me. That's what I'm here for," she sighed. "I wanted to ask if you could tell the cops he's still here, or tell you mom?" she requested. 

"My mom's not in town, sorry," I stood up. 

"B-but you are," she quickly stood up too. 

"And?" I asked. 

"You could tell them," she mumbled. 

"The cops didn't do anything the first time I went. He'll pay them off and keep doing it. And how can he follow you if he's locked in his house?" 

Her lies just weren't adding up. "He's been sneaking out and his friends tell him where I am," she replied. 

"Why don't you go stay with your brother for a while? He can't follow you out of town without the cops noticing," I resisted an eye roll. "Or his parents for that matter," I added. 

"Faith, I don't want people knowing and making a huge deal out of this. Will you please just come to the station with me?" she pleaded. 

"As far as I know, he's not in town. But if what you're saying is true and he is, then I can't risk going with you, I'm sorry." I shrugged. 

"Faith, please? He scares me a lot." 

I was about to head back inside but I froze when I heard her say that. 

That was me just about two days ago. What if she isn't lying? 

"I feel terrified," her voice cracked. 

"Amber," I sighed, "If this is his game that you're playing, then please don't do this. He's supposedly gone and I'm still terrified at the thought of running into him," I looked her dead in the eyes. 

"It's not a game," she said without hesitation. 

I looked around while sighing, contemplating it. "Give me five minutes to change," I huffed before going back inside. I walked inside to see Alex walking down the stairs. 

"Hey, where'd you go?" he asked while walking over to me. 

"Nowhere," I looked down at the floor. 

"Faith?" he asked. 

I have to tell him. "I'm going to the station," I sighed. 

"Why? Do you want me to come?" he asked. 

"No, I uh- I'm going with Amber," I said quietly. He looked at me in confusion and waited for me to explain. "She's saying Cody's still here. Apparently, he's keeping tabs on her and she wants to go to the station but she's too scared to go alone. She doesn't wanna take anyone else because she doesn't want people knowing so I um- I'm going with her," I breathed out. 

"Okay, then I'm coming with you," he shrugged. 

"No, you're not," I said quickly. "I need to go with her, just please let me do this." I pleaded. 

"Faith, I don't trust her so I am not letting you go alone with her," he sighed. 

"Do you trust me?" I asked. 

"This has nothing to do with me trusting you. I think she's leading you to him," he huffed. 

"And I don't. I don't think she's lying." I shrugged. 

"Why is it so important for you to help her? Why is it such a priority?" he questioned. 

"Because if she's not lying, and he is doing what she says he is, then I can help make sure she doesn't have to go through the things that I did," I explained. 

"And why can't I come with you?" he asked. 

"Because I want to see what happens if I go on my own," I admitted. 

"Faith, helping her might be your priority, but keeping you safe is mine. So whether you let me come with you or not, I will follow you there," he shrugged nonchalantly. 

"I can't let you do that. For me, Alex. Don't come. Please?" I requested. 

"Is our relationship a priority or helping her?" 

He can't do that. 

"They both are," I replied. 

"Equally?" he scoffed. "How are you trusting her?" he questioned. 

"I just am," I shrugged slightly. 

"If we both are a priority, then you need to get your priorities straight, Faith." 

I sighed while biting my lower lip. 

"If you go with her, I'm not speaking to you." 

My eyes snapped up to his. "Alex, you're being childish," I sighed. 

"No, I'm not. You know it's risky. Why are you doing it? She can take her parents, her friends, her brother is in town. Why won't she tell them?" he questioned. 

"Maybe it's easier to tell me because I went through it already? I don't know!" I huffed. "Alex, I'm going," I stated. 

"Fine, go," he shrugged before climbing back up the stairs and slamming his bedroom door shut. 

x-X-x 

We pulled up in front of the station and I was about to step out of her car but she locked the door. "What are you doing?" I looked at her in confusion. 

"Don't come inside." 

I scoffed, "What?" I asked. 

"Don't come," she shook her head. 

"Why?" I questioned. 

She sighed, "I lied. He is still here but I was supposed to bring you here for him." 

I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back. "Of course," I scoffed. I should've listened to him. "So why aren't you taking me to him now?" I turned to look at her. 

"Because you fought with Alex to help me. I love Cody and I want to help him, but I know he doesn't love me. I don't want to ruin what you and Alex have and this has gone too far. Faith, go home. I'm really sorry," she unlocked the car. 

"Well, I'm not walking back. You brought me here, you're driving me back." I folded my arms across my chest. 

"You don't have to." 

I looked in the side mirror and saw Alex's car. "Did you know he was following?" I looked at her in disbelief. 

She nodded. 

I scoffed before stepping out and walking back. I didn't stop and sit in Alex's car. I knew he was there so I didn't have a problem walking. I was about three steps ahead of his car when he came out and dragged me into the car before sitting in the driver seat and locking me in the car with him. 

"Watch." 

I looked ahead as Cody's car pulled up. Amber sped out of there before Cody could make it over to her. 

"Now you understand why I told you not to come?" Alex scolded.

I resisted a groan and kept my gaze focused on my hands which rested in my lap. 

"I told you, Faith. I told you multiple times not to come with her because she's lying. I said-" 

I cut him off, "Okay! Okay! You said it and shocker, you were right. But if you just dragged me in here to lecture me then I'm just fine walking home," I huffed in frustration. "You were right, congratulations," I mumbled. 

"Oh, I know I was right, that's not what I want to hear." He scoffed while starting the car and beginning to drive back home. "I want to hear an apology." He glanced at me. 

If he wants to be petty then I can too. 

"Alex, thank you for coming and getting me and saving me and warning me. But, I will not apologize for wanting to help someone. And it isn't my fault that honesty doesn't seem to exist anymore," I huffed. 

"Then I'm afraid we're still not talking," he rolled his eyes. 

"I'm afraid we're not."

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