= Chapter 57 =

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"She thinks I don't care about her anymore but I care more than anything."

-Jeremy Lockhart
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SKYLAR⚓️

"Skylar, goddamit! Explain!" I pushed Kai's house door open with my eyebrows pressed together.

"Wait, let me think." He threw his hands up in frustration, giving me a confused look.

"You've been telling me that throughout the entire ride home! Do you know I feel?! Clueless and frustrated, that's how I feel." He pulled me by my hands towards his chest, preventing me from pacing around the house.

"Have an open mind, would you?" I sighed in irritation, unsure of how to lay it down for him. In that moment, Gabriel and Kai came strolling down the flight of stairs with tired eyes.

"This is my house, not a farm so stop bickering like animals.." Kai mumbled in a gruff tone, while rubbing his eyes.

"Why're you back so early? Something happen?" Gabriel had his blueish green eyes trained on us, his words caused Jeremy to give me an accusing look.

Walking ahead to the dinning table after struggling out of Jeremy's grip, I placed my phone on the table which displayed the picture that Dante drew.

"When Jeremy left to find the toilet, a familiar man offered to dance with me. I knew something was up with him because I noticed him staring at me from the start. Turns out, he's Jonah—yes, my ex-boyfriend who was suppose to be dead." Gabriel interrupted.

"What.The.Fuvk."

"Exactly, my point. He told me he couldn't explain at that moment why he faked his death, but he warned me to be careful and not to drink anything. He said something like ' I better leave before they see me' , then he left just like that. I found it suspicious that Jeremy wasn't back so I chilled at the side with my phone. Not long after, I got a message from 3W!, its message led me to look back at a picture i took of Dante's drawing." Their jaws dropped at the sight of the drawing, looking between the drawing and how Jeremy and I looked.

"Is this just a coincidence?" Kai questioned, clearly not believing his eyes.

"Out of instinct, I ran to look for Jeremy and I pushed his glass of wine out of his hand because there was a man in a hoodie behind the pillar that looked similar to the drawing. " Jeremy interrupted, as if he came to realization.

"The broken glass gathered the attention of everyone and some men were all ready with their guns because...I didn't drink the most probably poisoned wine. But that masked guy who I bet was Jonah shot from the top to divert their attention so we could escape...am I right?"

"Bulls-eye" I responded, finally taking a seat after much worry.

"I think we all know who 3W! is." Gabriel looked at all three of us.

"Dante." Kai finished his sentence, and my breath hitched.

"Everything would make sense too." Jeremy spoke up. "He went missing to have time to prepare this, he drew that picture as a sketch of his plan. He kidnapped his own sister to bring us together to go on the search for Emily so that we are distracted. "

I hated how it seemed so right. Why Dante? He is my best friend, I couldn't bear to look at him in that light.

"Why would he want to poison you?" My voice sounded defensive, I couldn't understand why I was standing up for Dante. Once my words rolled off my tongue, all pairs of eyes snapped towards me.

Jeremy narrowed his eyes, and took a threatening step towards me. "Because I have something he will never have."

"And what's that?" I challenged. He licked his lips wet before dipping his head down to my ear.

"You."

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The sun rays streamed through the balcony, heating my cheeks up. I would have tugged the blanket over my head, but the quiet whispers from beside had me fluttering my eyes open.

"Where are you Dante.." Mateo spoke softly with his eyes closed, his features relaxed as his arms laid folded behind his head.

"Mateo..."

"Oh morning Sky, sorry I'm in your bed... It's just that my mum is coming soon to pick me up and I wanted to say goodbye but you were asleep so..."

"It's okay Mateo, you alright?" I sat up against the bed frame, combing my fingers through his hair.

"I'm gonna miss you Sky, I might just miss you as much as I miss Dante...I heard you guys talking about him yesterday night...did he do something?" His innocent eyes met mine.

"No--he just has a few secrets I guess..."

"Isn't that normal? Doesn't everyone have secrets?"

"True, but not as big as his I think." I answered uneasily, his eyes watching my every movement.

"Promise me something?" He asked after much silence, I nodded in agreement.

"Bring him home." He spoke before giving me one last longing hug which I had trouble responding to.

I wasn't even sure if he was going to coming back.

"Bye Skylar, I'll see you soon!" He yelled cheerfully and dashed out to his mum who called out from below.

Dropping my head back into my pillows, someone peeked from the door.

"Hey Gab," he rolled onto my bed, giving me a cheeky smile.

"Why so grumpy?" He pouted.

"Made a promise I can't keep and no, I'm not going to tell you." I said, preventing him from asking further.

"Didn't plan on asking anyway," he pinched my cheeks with a playful grin.

Displaying a disgusted face, I questioned. "Why do you seem happier than usual?"

"Haven't you heard? Today evening is Jeremy's final wrestling match—it'll decide whether he gets into Bronze Eagles. He can finally finish them off once and for all."

"He didn't tell me..." I trailed with appalled eyes.

"Oh...well that's surprising...he's in the gym if you want to talk to him." Gabriel shifted uncomfortably. I leaped out of bed, not bothering to tidy my unkempt appearance. I stomped over to the indoor gym in Kai's house, a million questions speeding through my mind.

Why didn't he tell me? Did he not want me to come? Is he angry? Is he hiding something?

Shoving the gym door open, I gulped at the sight of Jeremy's ripped solid body swinging punches into the punching bag that Kai was holding. Sweat glistened on his back as his muscles clenched with each aggressive punch he delivered.

Clearing my throat, Jeremy sensed my presence but didn't turn around.
"What do you want Skylar?" I could feel him rolling his eyes in annoyance. From Kai's stun expression, I suppose he did do so.

Mustering my courage, I tried to ignore the hurt that grew in my heart. "You didn't tell me your match was today evening?" I folded my arms over my chest. He stopped punching and steadily turned around.

"Stop being over-dramatic, you also took years to tell me about yourself and now you want me to tell you everything? Plus, stop treating me like as if we're married or something." His words stung me. No doubt about that.

However, I knew it wasn't him who was talking. I tired to put myself in his shoes, maybe he was nervous or stressed. Once again, ignoring his words, I blinked back my tears.

"Well...either way I'm coming." I tried to sound confident, but it felt like the complete opposite.

"You shouldn't." He went back to punching.

"Why the hell not?!" A small part of me snapped, I couldn't stand his sudden change in attitude.

"See exactly what I mean! You're just my girlfriend, not my mum so you don't need to follow me everywhere." I took deep breaths, controlling my emotions that were going insane.

That wasn't Jeremy. I kept telling myself that.

"I'm not going to listen to what you say...I know you don't mean what you say, you're just stressed so you're not thinking straigh. I'm going go.." Though I was talking to him, it felt like I was telling myself that instead. I turned away, preparing to head out of the gym.

I didn't have to to turn around to know that Kai grabbed him by the shoulder harshly. I heard his rough words towards jeremy. "What's up with you bro?! You don't speak to a lady like that deepshit!" Kai slapped the back of Jeremy's head, anger clearly in his voice.

Exiting the gum, I tried to pretend like nothing happened, and joined Gabriel for breakfast.

"I can't believe you're eating breakfast at 3pm!" Gabriel chuckled as he flipped the pancakes skillfully.

I laughed softly to myself, a sad smile evident.

"I heard what Jeremy said, but just don't listen alright? He's never in a good mood before a match. I'll go with you to watch the match." He smiled through his pitied eyes.

"Dig in, and afterwards get ready cause we are leaving in an hour or so." He stroked my hair, with a sympathetic look.

"You're too good of a best friend for me Gabriel." I shook my head, gazing up at him.

"Never say that Sky. You have helped me more than you think."

He once again let his deep words hang in the air.

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