Chapter Twenty Six Bear's Love

They tried to talked to me. They called and texted me so much, I couldn't take it anymore. I turned my phone off, hoping they would take the hint I didn't want to speak to either of one them. Chance received the message but Jayce didn't.

He attempted to speak to me during the one class we shared but it was a failure. He was better of talking to a stack of rocks. I didn't want to talk to him. I didn't even want to be anywhere near him but I didn't have much choice.

We were still co-parenting and I didn't want to go over to his house or him come over to mine. I asked Levi to pick Bear up for me when it was my turn to watch him.

Mom knew something was wrong but she gave me my space. It wasn't like I was going to tell her what happened anyway. Besides, she wasn't all innocent, either. She was keeping her secrets as well.

Everytime I tried to bring her past up, she freezes up and gets defensive. She really didn't like her past very much. She didn't even like to talk about dancing. She hated it and believed it was a horrible thing.

But dancing was a part of me. I loved it yet I couldn't express myself without her disapproval. She frowned upon its very existence. So, I was stuck taking classes I didn't want to take. I was stuck majoring in something I didn't want to do.

All because my mother hated dancing and she wouldn't tell me why. Richard wouldn't even tell me nor my grandparents. They all said the same thing.

"That's something she has to tell you."

Yes it was her story to tell but she wasn't going to tell it and I didn't think she ever would.

But she wasn't the only one hiding a secret. Hunter was too. He was secretly seeing someone. During Christmas break, he was talking to some girl. He told her he loved her and when he left for his plane, he left a whole hour earlier than his original time. He must've went to see her before he left, right?

Why didn't he not want us to know about her?

I wouldn't be surprised if Levi had a secret, also. But then again, it was Levi. He couldn't keep a secret more than a day or two. He would crack under pressure, if it had nothing to do with him. He was pretty good at keeping his own secrets but when it came to others...not so much.

"Cole."

I heard my name being called from behind me. I was walking to my room but I stopped in my tracks and glanced back.

It was Hailey.

"What's wrong?"

"Nationals are two months away and I have nothing prepared and Bill put me in charge of it."

Nationals were a pretty big deal. Last year they placed second overall and this year we're hoping to get first.

"Hey, don't stress about it." I said. "I'll help and I'm sure Cassidy will too."

She nodded. "I just don't wanna be the reason why we lost if it isn't good enough."

"Trust me, it's going to be amazing." I assured her. "I'll talk to Cassidy and we can start working on it next week."

She nodded her head again. "Okay. Okay, thank you." She said, hugging me.

She was about to walk away but she stopped and looked at me.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Levi wanted me to tell you he can't pick up Bear tonight."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"Something about not being your slave anymore." She shrugged. "I don't know. He mutters alot."

I would've asked Hailey if she could get him for me but Devon was allergic to dogs and Bear wasn't a small puppy anymore. Cassidy couldn't help me because Jayce still had her car and Nolan didn't allow pets in his car.

Jayce was expecting someone to pick Bear up and I didn't want to text him and inform him I was the one doing so.

Maybe if I left early enough, I could be at his house before he got there. Vonna could hand Bear over and I could be out there in five minutes, if Skylar doesn't know I'm there.

I made it to my room and Cassidy was on her laptop, eyebrows furrowed together. She was so focused on whatever was on her screen to notice my entrance.

"Cass?" I said and she glanced up. "What are you watching?"

"The disk you found."

I rose an eyebrow. "Why? Nothing is going to chance. Jayce is going to say the same thing over and over again."

"Yeah I know but something isn't right." She told me.

"And what's that?"

"I make CDs. I'm an expert at them, right?"

I slowly nodded my head, not seeing where she was going with this. This was one of the reason Hailey wanted Cassidy to help with the routine. Not only was she a great cheerleading with amazing idea, she was great was combining music together. It was a hobby of hers.

"Yeah..." I trailed off.

"Well, look at this." She said, moving to where she was, she pointed at the screen. "This isn't the full video. It's been cut. This purple line indicates that is a piece of a clip."

I shrugged. "Okay and?"

She rolled her eyes. "So, this isn't the full story."

I didn't really see the point of any this. So what if it wasn't the whole video. Who cares?

"Okay. It doesn't mean anything. Chance probably only wanted  Jayce's part and cut the rest out."

"Or..." She added. "Chance is hiding the rest of the video."

"Why would he do that?"

She shrugged. "Why did he lie to you? Why did he make the list? Why are you on you the list?" She asked. "He's a lair and only wants one thing." She pointed at me. "You. And guess who's in the way of that?"

She didn't give me a chance to answer before she did so.

"Jayce."

I sighed. Cass could really be a detective if she wasn't so into fashion.

"I get it. You don't believe Jayce meant anything he said because he was horribly drunk but he said them."

"I'm not blaming it on the fact was drunk. He probably would've still said them if he wasn't drunk. I'm saying he wouldn't ever say them about you unless he had a reason."

I stood up. "Look, you can side with him all you want but I'm not changing my mind."

I walked over the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To pick up Bear."

I opened the door and walked out. I wasn't planning on leaving now but I couldn't be with Cass when she wanted me to talk to Jayce. At first she shocked, surprised, when she watched the video and now she thought there was more to the story than we knew.

The walk to Levi's building was kinda long but I didn't mind it.

I headed up the stairs to his room. I knocked on the door and a few seconds later the door opened, revealing Anthony and his girlfriend, Sabrina was sitting on the couch. I haven't really talked to her but she seemed friendly enough.

I smiled. "Where's my idiot brother?"

He tilted his head back towards Levi's room. "In his room probably doing something stupid."

"I hope y'all know I'm not deaf." Levi joined us. "What do you need?"

"Your car keys."

"Why?"

"Since you don't want to pick up Bear, I have to pick him up. And by the way, I do not treat you like a slave. You have it so much easier."

He rolled his eyes. "I know, I know. I'm sorry."

He handed over his keys and informed me to bring it back in one piece. As if I would do damage to his "precious" baby.

"Look at who you're talking to." I said.

"Yeah I know. That's why I'm telling you to be careful. I don't want my baby ended up in the shop next to Jayce's."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "First of all that was an accident. Secondly-"

"Don't care." He interrupted me. "Just bring her back safely."

He closed the door in my face and I seriously thought about harming his car just a little. I walked out the building and to the car. I got in and started it. I glanced down at the time. I might make it just before Jayce arrived.

I drove to Vonna's house which was fifteen minutes away. I didn't see Cassidy's car out in the driveway so I was good to go. I cut the engine off and stepped out the car.

I closed the door and walked towards the door. I knocked and waited until someone opened the door.

I was hoping Vonna would be the one to open the door but it was Landon. Not who I was hoping for but it could've been Skylar.

"Hi, Cole." He greeted me his smile he seemed to get from Jayce.

"Hey."

He stepped to the side to let me inside their house.

"If you looking for Bear, he's in the back." He informed me as he walking away.

I walked towards the living room and through the sliding doors, I could see Bear playing with one of chew toys. He was five months and he was already huge. Almost bigger than Koda.

"Skylar!" Vonna's voice made me turn my head in her direction.

She stood at the bottom of the staircase as she called her youngest child.

"I'm making brownies if you want to help."

I could barely make out Skylar's excited response. Vonna turned to walk to the kitchen but she stopped when she noticed me standing by the glass door.

"Oh!" She grabbed her chest. "Cole. You scared me."

That's when Landon walked around the corner.

"Oh Mom I forgot to tell you, Cole's here." He said.

"Yes I know. Thank you, son."

She shook her head as Landon plopped down on the couch and flipped through the channels. Skylar emerged from upstairs, eager to help her mother bake brownies.

"Are you here to pick up Bear?" Vonna asked me.

I nodded. "Yes I am."

Skylar stood infront of me. "Can you stay and help us make brownies?" She asked, bouncing up and down on her toes, happily.

No.

"As much as I would love to I can't."

She pouted and I almost wanted to change my mind. "Why not?"

Because I have to leave before your brother gets here. I thought.

"I have something to do." I told her. "Next time, I will."

"You promise?"

"Pinky promise." I hooked my pinky with hers. "I should get going. I told my mom I was dropping Bear off not to long ago."

I wasn't lying. I did inform Mom that I was picking Bear up on the way over here. She wanted me to hurry up because Koda was missing her little brother. Which might be true but knowing my mom she was probably getting tired of having to play with Koda.

"Okay, sweetie, that's fine." Vonna said. "Go right ahead and grabbed him."

I pulled the sliding door opened and walked outside. Bear stopped chasing a furry animal when he heard me and looked in my direction.

"Come here my big boy." I said and he started running towards me.

He jumped on me and licked my face.

"Yeah. I missed you too." I cooed as he wagged his tag, happily.

He got down and looked up at me. Then he looked behind when he heard the front door opening.

I didn't have to turn around to know who it was because Bear gave it away. Bear loved him as much as he loved me.

Jayce was here.

I was thinking about hopping the fence and getting out of there and just come back for Bear later but I couldn't leave Bear because he was so happy to see me again.

Bear ran passed me and into the house to greet his "daddy". I turned around to see Jayce bending over to rub Bear's head as he spoke to him.

Even though I was parked outside, I didn't think Jayce knew I was there. He probably thought I was Levi. So when Bear turned his head in my direction and let out a soft bark, was when he knew I was here.

Jayce straightened up and we stared at each other until I looked away. I could never hold his gaze. I could still feel his eyes on me. Probably wondering why I came and not Levi.

I decided to walk inside for three reasons. One, I was getting cold. Two, I looked like an idiot just standing there. And three, I wanted to leave.

I was hoping I would just have to walk passed him and call Bear to follow me but it's never that simple with Jayce Ryder.

"Cole?" He grabbed my wrist as I was walking pass him.

I wanted to ripped my arms away from him and yell but I couldn't because Landon was sitting fifteen feet away from us and Vonna and Skylar were in the kitchen.

I didn't look at him. I stared right ahead of me.

"I'm-"

Whatever he was going to say was cut short when Bear nudged his head between our legs and Vonna walked in, wiping her hands on a towel.

Jayce dropped my wrist and looked at his mother.

"Hey, honey." She smiled at her son.

"Hi"

She frowned at his emotionless tone. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Mom."

She knew he was lying but she chose not to push him. I figure now would be the best time to make my exit.

"Well, I gotta get going." I said. "My mom's waiting for me."

She nodded. "Okay, sweetheart. It was nice seeing you again." She told me as she hugged me.

"You too."

I walked to the door and opened it.

"Come on Bear."

He glanced at Jayce before trotting over to the door. We walked to the car and I opened the backdoor. Bear jumped in and I closed the door.

I walked over to the driver's side and stepped in. I started the car and glanced in the mirror. Bear was looking at the window as if he was expecting someone to come with us.

I put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb. Bear looked out the back window as we got farer away. He started whimpering when he realized that someone wasn't coming.