Song: Steal Your Heart by Ross Lynch from the series; Austin and Ally

Chapter Fifty-four: Are you trying to bribe me?

Monday.

It's Monday. And for some reason, there was a Xander bouncing on my bed. I groaned.

I heard a door open and Rev complain. "Hey! This is my job. How did you even get in?"

He continued bouncing. "Char gave me a key."

Biggest mistake of my life.

"Good thinking Char. You're just handing spare house keys to random boys now?"

Well, I didn't expect him to actually use it to get into my house in the morning.

"No she's just handing house keys to me."

"Good thing she hadn't yet given Zane one."

I groaned louder at the sound of his name.

"Sorry." Rev muttered.

I sat up on my bed.

"Yikes! Someone needs a shower." Rev screeched.

I turned to her with what would have been a glare, but just ended up being a stare. She seemed to catch on. "I'll just go get ready now." She turned and walked out through the connecting doors.

I turned to Xander when she had left.

He wore a worried expression again. "You've been crying again, haven't you?"

I didn't reply to his question because since he already knew the answer, I'm guessing it was rhetorical.

"All this crying is not good for you Char."

I still didn't reply.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

I answered his question without directly answering it. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I got up extra early- knowing you wouldn't want to wake up and go to school- just so I can get here and force you out of bed."

I lay back on my bed and dragged the duvet over my head. "I'm not going."

He dragged the duvet off me. The early morning cold hit me like an iceberg. "Have you forgotten who I am? If you were to rot, I'll be the reason. Not some guy who couldn't appreciate you enough."

"Thanks and all, but I really rather stay here, where I'm comfortable."

"Not happening."

Remember how I said Xander was very persuasive. Well, he's also very annoying, but he somehow managed to get me out of bed and into the shower. I took a quick bath, brushed my teeth and put on a shirt and leggings. I tried to brush my hair out, but it didn't work so I just packed it up in a loose bun. If anyone could fix it, it's Leyla. And my hair didn't really matter. I'd shave it bald, just to take back what Zane did.

What?

It'd probably just grow back.

When I got downstairs, Xander had a pack of chili cheese dogs waiting for me in his hands. I smiled at him as he handed me the wrap.

"I know it's not really breakfast food, but I'd hoped it'd cheer you up." He opened his hands to give me a hug and I walked into it. He wrapped his arms tight around me as I just let mine hang to my sides. 

"You're a really good friend Xander. Thank you."

He kept me at arm's length. "Well I have to be. I learnt from the best."

I sent him a smile as he grabbed my hand and started dragging me towards the door. "Breakfast on the way. Reveka! Let's go!"

I heard her footsteps running down the stairs. "I'm coming, geez! You don't have to shout so loud."

We walked out of the house and my eyes zoomed in on Zane's car. I already gave him the keys, but will he ever come back for it?

"I'll find a way to get it out of here." Xander commented.

I kept my eyes on the car all the way to Xander's car. It just brought back memories, and it brought tears to my eyes. I quickly wiped it away. I hadn't use makeup to conceal my red and puffy face, but I wouldn't want to make it worse. I don't want to cause unnecessary attention.

Rev came out a few minutes later with a slice of toast in her mouth as she raced to the car. The drive was silent all the way to the school. Well, almost silent. Rev has a knack to talk a lot.

I wonder where she gets it from.

*************

I hadn't seen him all day. My guess was that he was so embarrassed that he couldn't face me after what he did.

You didn't want to come to school either.

Are we pointing fingers now?

Just saying.

We were seated in the cafeteria and I was stuck picking my food. Wren and Zane weren't there so it was just my friends with Jordan and Axel. Jordan was busy talking to Leyla, but Axel kept glancing at me. I tried my hardest to ignore it, but he was opposite me so it was getting kind of difficult. I was about to demand for a reason, but he ended up handing me one without question.

"I heard what happened."

And that sentence silenced my whole table. Kai stopped trying to feed Zahra cucumbers knowing she hates them. Jordan stopped his shameless flirting with Leyla. I couldn't even hear Xander munching loudly on his food anymore. Just silence.

I was about to beat around the bush by asking what exactly he was talking about, but Xander went straight to the point.

"And how is that?" 

"I think everyone's heard of it."

Leyla's brows creased. "What do you mean?"

He didn't get to reply because of the giggling from behind me. I didn't bother turning around to see who it was- because I already knew- and I didn't need to either. Skyler plopped down in between Xander and I and Anastasia, on the other side.

I am so grateful that I haven't run into them in the house this past few weeks. Sad thing that my school doesn't give me the same advantages.

I didn't have the energy to deal with them- or anyone for that matter- right now, so I just pretended I didn't see them. They went along with what they were saying.

"Have you guys heard the news?"

"What news?" Zahra asked.

Anastasia did some things on the tablet she was holding then turned it to the guys on the opposite side of table to see. They seemed to all be reading what was written there. I wanted to see so badly, but I tried my best to seem uninterested. When they were done, I caught their pitiful glances at me. It didn't sit well. Xander seemed to notice it to because he snatched the tablet from Anastasia. I watched as his eyes scanned through the words and color drained from his face.

Skyler snatched it from him with a sickly smile on her face and handed it to me. I grabbed it eager to see what it read. Everyone was silent as I began reading. The first thing that caught my eye was the headlines.

PATHETIC YOUNG GIRL THINKS SHE CAN COMPETE WITH RISING CELEBRITY, SERENA DAVIS FOR THE HEART OF THE BILLIONAIRE'S SON, ZANE RIVERS
-Reporter CeCe Ryder
           I was asked to do a review on Serena Davis due to her upcoming status as a model for very famous designers. I met up with her in Spain and she agreed to give me an exclusive review of where she came from and what she did to achieve this success in the world of fashion. I came back to America just for this purpose. I had just finished an interview with her at her condominium on Friday night when I decided to stop at a cafe nearby before heading to my hotel. On getting out, I heard noise coming from the entrance of the condominium. I walked over there to see what all the commotion was about. There was this young girl dressed in very plain clothes going by the name of 'Cherry' from what I could get from Zane Rivers shouting her name. If you haven't heard of the name 'Zane Rivers', he is the son of the well-known founder and owner of Z-Tech Industries, Zion Rivers. So as you can see Zane Rivers is a billionaire's son and no match for this awfully plain girl. And everyone seemed to know this but her.
          The girl was in tears as she ran out of the building with Zane hot on her trail. From what I had gotten from their conversation, she claimed that he had cheated on her with model, Serena Davis..........It was clear he was looking for a way to put himself out of his misery and end his relationship with this pathetic girl..........Does this drab really think she can compete with our queen?...........She is no match for billionaire, Zane Rivers.............This girl should step aside for Serena Davis to claim her man and go find someone who is in her standards..............Serena Davis and Zane Rivers, friends from the beginning, have now become lovers. The perfect couple is brewing in our mists.

This is not a rumor and I have the pictures to prove it. Don't forget to stay tuned for more news on my blog. I am CeCe Ryder with the truth and nothing but the truth!

I scrolled through it towards the ending and the words hit like daggers. I don't know for how long I stared at the tablet screen after I was done. I don't know the amount of times I read the sentences over and over again. But from the tears dropping from my eyes, I knew one thing for certain. I was hurt. I wasn't angry or confused or overwhelmed. Just hurt. And I didn't know when I'd be able to come out of it.

The tablet was grabbed from my hands by someone, but I couldn't tell who from the tears blurring my vision.

"Told you old habits die hard. You should have listened to my friendly warning now look at you."

I wiped my tears from my eyes, but they were still struggling to be let out.

"Get out!" Kai yelled at her.

I don't think I've ever heard him raise his voice.

"He said leave!" Xander demanded as he stood up from his seat. I could feel the eyes of people in the cafeteria on us. We didn't need to keep our voices low because it seems everyone tunes in to stupid CeCe Ryder so they already knew the news.

Skyler and Anastasia could tell from Xander's tone that he wasn't kidding because they jumped up from their seats and ran back to their table. I could hear comforting words from my friends, but I wasn't exactly paying attention.

The difference between listening and hearing.

I could feel them pull me into a hug, but I wasn't fully there. The sadness and tears had taken over now. I needed some space. I stood up from the table and headed out of the cafeteria, even as my friends were calling me back. I think I heard Xander telling them to give me space.

I rushed across the hall with the bathroom my destination in mind. I stopped in my tracks when I noticed him, at the same time he did. He had his bag slung over one shoulder. The hair on his head looking like he just got out of bed. His eyes were also puffy and red-rimmed.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but he looks worse than you.

The moment our eyes locked on each other, I ran into the bathroom and rested my back on the wall. The sight of him turned my bowels to water. Was I glad he looked worse than me? Was I upset that we did this to ourselves when we claim to love each other? 

You didn't do anything. He's the one who freaking cheated.

I wish I could forgive him so I could be happy, but I just didn't have the heart to. And I don't think I ever could. He hurt me terribly and if I were just to forgive him like that, I may be happy pretending it never happened, but the pain and frustration that he could actually do something like this would always be there. It's horrible that someone you loved the most in this world and you thought felt the same could hurt you so much.

I picked up my phone from my back pocket. And I had like a million calls and messages.

What were you expecting? You hadn't used your phone since like Thursday.

Calls from Mum from Friday. Messages from Darien everyday from Friday. A lot of calls and texts from my friends before they came to my house. No call or text or voicemail from Zane. I don't know what I was expecting. I mean I told him to stay away from me.

Well did you want him to listen?

I dropped my phone back in my pocket. I wasn't in the mood for looking through messages. I was immediately flooded with unwanted, but beautiful memories of Zane and I. Do I really want to keep crying over this? Without getting an answer to my question, I let the tears flow. I let it all out. It took him a while, but he finally found himself at the girl's restroom door.

"I know you're in there."

Zane's voice was like a knife right through me. Even if I wanted to reply, I couldn't. My heart squeezed so much I had to hold on tight to it.

"This is the girl's bathroom, but I don't give a damn. I'm going to come in." He paused. "I would, but Mrs. Santiago is giving me unsubtle stares."

I still didn't reply.

"I want to tell you that I love you and I would never hurt you."

"But you did." It sounded like it came from me, but it didn't feel like it was my voice. It was barely a whisper and it was so raspy.

"I didn't mean to. It is just a misunderstanding. If you would just let me explain."

I kept quiet ready to hear his stupid excuse, but I never got to.

"Mr. Rivers. You cannot be loitering around the girl's bathroom. Do you not have any manners?"

And as always, Zane replied in fluent Spanish. "Le pagaré cualquier cantidad si me deja entrar a la Sra."

I'll pay you any amount if you would just let me enter Mrs.

I heard Mrs. Santiago gasp. "Are you trying to bribe me?"

"I'll say yes if you agree."

"Leave this instant!" She exclaimed. "I should have just given you detention for loitering during lunch, but your Coach would never let me hear the end of it."

"This conversation is not over." I heard him whisper through the door.

I heard footsteps and then silence. Just like the melody that used to sing in my head at his presence.

I entered a stall, and sat on the toilet seat with the lid down. I balled my eyes out some more, before I decided that the sight of Zane is just not good for me. I headed out of school leaving everything behind, knowing that Xander or one of my friends would help take it home for me when they realize I've gone. Maybe a little air would cool me down.

********************

How was that? I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Okay, it's not like I'm a sadist and all that I enjoyed this particular chapter which was sad. I'm just excited about finally, almost reaching the ending. And I enjoy writing chapters that lead to it.

Anyways please vote, comment and share. And feedback please. Thanks and Toodles ;)