"Sweetie" My mom beckoned at me as she took a seat.

It's being about an hour since we returned from the bar and I've been standing on the balcony since then, watching the stars, fighting to clear my head.

"Come here, honey" She called again, patting a spot on the seat next to her.

I walked over to her, taking the spot she offered "Is Laura and Bell okay?" I asked with my head bowed, fiddling with the necktie Kristen had gifted me. I still couldn't believe she'd actually bought Laura and I a gift.

"I just got off the phone with Bella's dad" she said, lifting my head up to face her "He said Bell came home upset and won't come out of her room"

"This is all my fault" I heaved a sigh of regret, running my hand through my hair "They must be so mad at me"

"You didn't do the right thing sweetie. Bringing her down like that," she shook her head "that was wrong"

"I know, mom" I said in a low tone. "I lost my cool and__"

I never knew what regret felt like until yesterday. I was dejected and wished that time would somehow take us back to before it all happened.

My mom looked at me with understanding eyes as she gave my hand a comforting squish "Remember what I'd tell you and Laura about the truth when you were little?"

"Yea. I remember. You used to say that truth is a perspective"

"That's right" she said "Sometimes what our natural human instincts perceives to be the truth may be something totally different. Trust is what matters in every relationship and once it's broken it causes a rift"

The haunting images of Kristen's tears still creeped through my mind. The guilt from all I'd said to her preyed on my conscience with every second. 

"I would never ever intentionally hurt Kristen. I care deeply about her"

"Then make things right. Go to her and apologize"

"I will, mom. I'll say sorry again and again until she forgives me"

She shot me a delighted smile, trailing her hand down my cheeks before dumping a kiss on it "I'm sorry I hit you"

"I'm glad you did"

We let out a hearty chuckle, leaning back on the chair.

"What will I do when you leave in five hours?" I said with my head on her shoulder.

She exhaled, looking up to the sky "I'm not leaving anymore"

"What?" I jerked upright, scrunching my brows "Why?" I held her shoulders, arching her to face me "Is this because of what happened last night?"

"I don't think I can leave without sorting things out with Kristen" Her eyes reflected how worried she was "I need to know if she's okay"

"Mom you don't have to stay behind" I begged "Everything's my fault and I'll sort it out myself. Don't let go of the only chance you have at achieving your dreams because of my foolishness"

"What's the point of leaving when I'll just be worried out of my mind?" she shook her head stubbornly "No. I won't go"

"Stella's going to be waiting for you. You guys are supposed to do this together, remember? You can't ditch her after she quit her job at WG for you"

"But__" She paused, uncertainty swirling in her eyes. 

I held her hand, giving it an assuring squeeze "You don't have to worry, mom. I'll sort everything out so please don't back out" I begged with pleading eyes. I knew what this trip meant to her, and I knew that she'd let it all go in a heartbeat if I didn't stop her "I won't be able to forgive myself if you do"

She offered me a sympathetic smile "I'll do as you say"

°°°°°°°°°°°
I came down to the living room once I was dressed. It was 7am and Laura and Bella were propped on the couch looking through Laura's laptop.

"Check the other article" Bella said, pointing to the laptop.

"Hey" I said nervously when I reached them, and they lifted their head to me. Laura's eyes were soggy and Bella had eye bags underneath hers. They obviously didn't get much sleep after last night.

"Hey" They both responded together.

"I__I'm sorry about what happened last night" I said softly "I was a fool, and I acted irrationally. Please forgive me"

"We're not the ones you should be apologizing to, Jake" Bella replied "Kristen's the one you hurt the most and she deserves to hear that apology from you"

"I know she has constantly treated us badly" Laura added "And I know what you saw set you off, but she didn't deserve to be treated like a lowly slut" 

"I didn't meant to hurt her. I swear" I replied "I'll make everything right. I'll apologize, but first I need to know that you two have forgiven me" I pleaded sincerely "I can't bear you two being mad at me"

Laura and Bella shot eachother a look of approval.

And as I waited for their answer fear gripped me__ fear that they wouldn't be able to forgive me, and if they couldn't, Kristen wouldn't be able to forgive me either.

They gave eachother an affirmative nod and turned to me.

"This is the first time you've acted like a complete moron," Bella said in her usual playful manner, making a fleet smile grace my lips "so we think we can let it slide"

I joined my hands together in relief, letting out a deep breath "Thank you"

"It's fine" Laura shrugged with a smile.

"Can I?" I spread my arms open for a hug. 

"Get over here" Laura laughed and they both threw their hands open to welcome me.

I grinned as I fell into their arms, hugging them tightly "Thanks for giving me a chance" I pulled away with a smile.

"It's okay" Bella responded "But if you do that ever again I'll smack you myself" she joked, holding her clenched fist to my face. Although she retreated it quickly, I had a feeling she meant it.

"I swear" I promised, holding one hand to my chest and the other up.

"Let's test that out, shall we?" Laura said with a mischevious glint in her eyes.

I scrunched my brows in suspicion "What are__?"

I was cut off when her knee met my lower stomach "Mmmhmh!" I grunted, squeezing my stomach "That...hurt"

"Now you're forgiven" she shot me a satisfied smile, giving Bell a high five.

"Fair enough" I muffled out while they both laughed at me.

After grabbing an ice pack from the fridge to soothe the pain I propped down beside them on the couch "So...what are you guys doing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes to the laptop.

"We're going through some articles on the Garcia's to see if we can find Kristen's personal home address in any of them" Bella responded.

"Any luck?" I asked.

"All personal info on the Garcia's are inaccessible" Laura pitched in "We've compared all the articles on Garcia corp. and the Garcia's, but nothing pops up"

This wasn't the first time I'd heard that the Garcia's were really secretive about certain things pertaining to their personal lives, and some say it's because of an incident that happened 12 years ago. Apart from the usual business tv shows and appearances in events and interviews, anything else business unrelated was undisclosed.

We had 3rd period together and I prayed she'd show up in school, then I'd at least have a chance to tell her how sorry I am.

__________________________________

"I guess this is it" I said with a sad smile once I had placed my mom's luggage in trunk of the cab parked infront of our house.

"This is it" she said, matching my smile.

"Call me when you get there," I said, giving her a kiss on the cheek "and don't starve yourself because you're too swamped with work"

She laughed, giving me a perfect salute "Yes captain"

"Stay safe, dude" I extended my knuckle to her "I'm gonna miss you"

She bumped it with a smile and pulled me in for a hug "I'll miss you too honey" She pulled away and turned to Laura with her arms parted wide "Sweetie"

"I love you mom" Laura cried, jumping into her arms.

"I love you too, sweetie" she said in a wobbly voice, caressing her back. After a while she pulled away. "Look at me tearing up" She chuckled, wiping her eyes with her index finger.

"Go kill it out there, Aunt" Bella said, offering her a smile.

She smiled back, cupping Bell's cheeks and planting a kiss on her head. "Look after Rhea for me" she said as she clambered into the cab.

Bella nodded "I will"

"And when you patch things up with Kristen make sure you send me her number. I need a new chat buddy" My mom said with her ever so charming smile "And If you ever need me to come back at any point, just say so and I'll come running back"

Laura and I nodded in response.

She cast us one more look and blew us a goodbye kiss before shutting the door.

We stood there, watching as the cab swerved down the road.

This was the first time my mom would be away from us, and we weren't use to being away from her.

After a second she poked her head out the window and yelled, "I'm going to call 10 times a day so you better be ready!" she laughed, waving merrily.

We broke out an amused laughter, waving back, until neither her nor the cab were in our sight.

"Come on" I draped an arm around Laura and she wrapped a hand around my waist as we made our way back into the house.

        ∆ °∆ ° ∆ ° ∆ ° ∆ ° ∆

Three days later

"Where's your little friend" Rebecca asked as she appeared infront of my locker with Bianca and Chloe.

Bella, Laura and I shot them a blank look, ignoring their desperate invitation for a prattle.

"No idea?" she mocked, feigning a concerned pout "You guys kept following her around like stray dogs waiting for treats. What happened now? You tired?"

It's been three days already and Kristen hasn't showed up in school, and it was all my fault. I had no idea where to look for her or how to get a hold of her. I'd also asked Ray for help in finding her and he had told me that he knew where she lived because he had dropped her off at home one time, but he couldn't go to her, and wouldn't tell me because he didn't want to get Kristen in trouble with her parents.

"Looks like she finally understood her place" Bianca stated with a lousy smirk plastered on her face and Chloe backed her with a smirk.

"I eagerly anticipate the day I'll finally be rid of that swine" Rebecca continued "I hope she never comes back"

"Did you look in the mirror before coming to school?" Bella finally responded.

"What?" Rebecca shot Bell a confused look as she trailed her hands all over her face. 

"Cos if you did then you would have seen the reflection of your stupidity"

"Oooh!" Laura laughed. 

"Sick burn!" I laughed, giving Bell a mental high five.

Men, I loved this girl's comebacks.

Rebecca gasped, throwing her hair over her shoulder as she tried to hide her obvious embarrassment "Bitch" she mumbled.

"What was that?" Bella demanded as she moved closer to her face "Did you say something?"

Not wanting a fight to break out, Bianca and Chloe held Rebecca back and we did the same with Bella.

"Let's just go Bell" Laura said, taking her hand and we turned to make a peaceful exit.

"Oh! and by the way," Rebecca said calmly and we turned to face her "the annual Nevaeh school workshop is coming up next week. As a co-member of the student board I'm really consigned" she said in a feigned sympathetic voice, pretending to hide the mockery behind her words while her friends fought back a snort "I know your poor, poor parents would never be able to afford it now that they're out of money. Let me help yo_"

Bianca and Chloe, unable to hold back their snorts broke out into a loud cackle. Rebecca joined them, holding her stomach as she laughed like a prim lunatic.

"I haven't laughed like this in so long" she had the effrontery to say as she wiped invisible tears from her eyes.

Bella scoffed, waving a finger around her head "You're an insane maniac, you know that?"

"Wouldn't be the first time hearing that. Have fun being penniless" she smugged, waving princess style as she flounced away with Bianca and Chloe catwalking behind her.

"Those girls make me sick" Laura scowled, punching the air "Aargh! I hate them so much"

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