Song: I Won't Let You Down by HRVY

Chapter Fifty-two: I'm the one with the pitch forks

I rang the doorbell.

No answer. Where's Stout Stewart? He's always so quick to the door.

As if reading my mind, he opened the door. Once he saw me his eyes widened.

"Oh dear. The master wishes to be left alone."

Oh dear?

"Would you please just tell him it's me?"

"He wishes to be left alone by all of us."

"Stewart please let me in. I promise you won't get in any trouble."

He hesitated. Then he widened the door to let me in. "Thank you so much."

I don't know why, but I rushed up the stairs and towards Zane's room. I didn't bother knocking.

"Zane?" I didn't see him, but I heard rustling.

"Who's there?" Rosita screeched.

"It's me Rose. It's just me." She came down the stairs and sighed. "Oh mi querido. Eres tú."

Oh my dear. It's just you.

"Si. Where is Zane?"

"He's..." She trailed off. 

"Please tell me Rose. I need to talk to him."

"The door opposite the one to the right." I muttered a quick thanks before I rushed up to the door. And this time I knocked.

"Zane?"

"What are you doing here?" A gruff voice called from the other side.

I can't believe I actually went along with Serena. I'm a total fool.

Without answering, I opened the door. He was laying on a bed in a room that was similar to his, and staring upward.

"Zane. I am so sorry about last night. I didn't mean anything I said."

"I know."

"It was all- Wait, what do you mean, you know?"

He sat up. "At first I believed you completely and I was so worried, but after I thought about it, a part of me didn't believe you, but a smaller part was worried so I stayed back to think about it. You really upset me Cherry. What was that all about?"

I was so relieved he didn't believe what I said.

"First things first." I ran to him and jumped on him making him fall back on the bed, I planted a passionate kiss on his lips then on his forehead then his cheeks. "I know it's been one day, but I missed you so bad. You don't know how guilty I felt when I didn't see you in school today."

"You don't know how much willpower it took for me not to march to your house that instant, grab you with me and lock you in my room."

"A lot I guess." I teased.

He sat up with me still in his lap. "Yes, very much. Now please explain to me what those theatrics were for."

I frowned slightly when I realized he wasn't going to be happy about this information. "I know you won't like to hear this, but I have to tell you. It was Serena."

His eyebrows creased. "What?"

"She took a recording of our conversation last night about me being Avery and she threatened to tell Wren if I didn't break up with you that instant and delete your number."

His lips turned downwards into a large frown. "Serena did this?"

I nodded.

"Cherry, you've got to be kidding me. You don't seriously mean that Serena would blackmail you so she can be with me."

I stood up from his lap.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean because that's exactly what happened."

"Really?"

I frowned. "Don't you believe me?"

He stood up from the bed. "Of course I believe you. It's just that Serena's not that kind of person. She's-"

I cut him off. "She's what? An angel?" I scoffed. "And I'm the one with the pitch forks."

"I never said that Cherry." He took a step towards me and I took one back.

"I'm such a fool to think you'd believe me. You'd just pick her side."

"Cherry calm down. I'm not picking sides."

"You should be picking sides! My side!" I yelled losing my cool. I know it wasn't right to ask him to pick between his childhood friend and his girlfriend, but when his childhood friend was a lying pretentious snake, I had to make exceptions.

 He sighed as he ran a hand through his already ruffled hair. "It's just confusing. Imagine if I came to you to tell you something about Rev that is not true."

"But it is true Zane!" I practically yelled. "I am telling you the truth."

"It's-"

I cut him off. "Do you believe me or not?" I asked sharply.

"Cherry I-"

"It's a simple yes or no question Zane. Do you believe me?"

His silence was answer enough. I nodded. "Good to know." I mumbled before I started heading out.

I heard him mutter. "I believe you." But I ignored it and continued out. He didn't come after me. He didn't call me back. He just let me go. Maybe I'm just overreacting. He did say he believed me at the end, but it didn't exactly sound sincere. Maybe I just made it up in my head.

Could he possibly not believe me?

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

I parked in front of Wren's house. It was now or never. And I was determined to do it now. I walked up to the door, just about to ring the doorbell when the door flew open and Wren walked out.

"Hi Wren." I smiled at him.

He turned to me. And the look he gave me. Full of anger and... disappointment.

Serena has showed him the video, hasn't she?

"How could you do this to me Char?"

"Wren. I can explain. That is what I came here to do. You should have never seen that video. You were not supposed to find out this way."

He just turned away from me and headed to his car. I chased after him. When he got to the car, he hit the trunk and turned to me. "You're Avery!" He practically screamed.

"I know that Wren. I had a good reason."

"Your reason is your business, but the moment I told you I loved you, you should have told me the truth. You should have stopped it before it got too far, Char. You played along." He shook his head as if trying to clear the thoughts.

"I did not play along." I choked out.

You're crying.

Can you blame me? It's been a really bad day.

"You went with me to the ball."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "I refused to that so many times Wren. You said we were going as friends."

"But when I tried to kiss you-" He cut himself of as he was remembering something. "Who pretended to be Avery that night?"

Okay, I admit. That was a very stupid and selfish thing to do. "My sister."

He shook his head and went around to enter the car. I grabbed his hand to stop him. "I'm really sorry Wren. I never meant to hurt you. I swear I was going to tell you. It was wrong and stupid of me to let it get this far. Please forgive me."

"I spent one year pining over you Char. One year. You had so many opportunities to tell me."

"I wasn't your friend until recently Wren. If I hadn't told my actual friends, I wouldn't have told some boy who went to my school. I know I should have told you the moment you said you loved me, but I couldn't tell anyone. I needed the money and that was the only way I could get it. You have to understand, Wren. Please." I sniffed.

"I understand your reasons."

"You do?"

"But the moment you quit that job and gave up Avery, I should have been the first to know. I shouldn't have been fed some lie about moving to Canada."

"You're right. You're absolutely right. My reasons were foolish and selfish. I didn't want you to hate me."

"I wouldn't have if you had told me then and there."

"And now?"

"I need some time to think." He yanked his hand away from mine and entered the car.

"Wren, I made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes."

He turned to me. "I know that Char, but how do you expect me to look at you and not see the person I thought was the love of my life? You're dating my freaking best friend!" He yelled at me.

I wanted to talk, but I had nothing to say.

"I see her every time I look at you now. I can't cope with that. I need some time away from you. Now you have to understand."

I looked down and nodded.

"Goodbye Char." 

I didn't say anything else as he closed the door and drove away.

Am I a horrible person?

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

I stayed in my room all day, crying my eyes out. For what reason? I'm not particularly sure. I didn't let anyone, including Rev, into my room. I kept getting text messages from Darien especially asking if I was okay. I couldn't answer any of them now.

I got a call from Mum, but I couldn't answer that either. I talked to her the day before yesterday. She should just call Rev.

It was around 7 pm, but I hadn't gone out to eat. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to. I just wanted Zane and I to be back to normal and for Wren not to want to stay away from me. I also wanted that supposed angel to go to hell. She may seem sweet, but her heart is probably filled with tar and all the icky things in the world. She's literally ruining my life. 

Maybe I overreacted with Zane. Maybe I should go talk to him. Wait, it's a little late maybe I shouldn't.

Do it.

To heck with it! I got down from my bed, grabbed my phone and keys and headed out of my room. The house was pretty quiet, but that made it easier for me.

I opened the door and was surprised by who I saw.

"Xander? What are you doing here?"

He was just getting down from his car. "Have you forgotten that two weeks ago, you called Friday night official movie night?"

Yes.

"Xander I can't right now." I replied as I came down the steps.

He took my red, puffy face in. "What's wrong Char? Is it Zane? Because if it is, ignoring the fact he's our team captain, he's going to get a fistful of punch."

I smiled lightly at him. "It's fine. I'm heading over to his house right now. I'll fix everything."

I nodded to him as I started towards my car.

"You don't expect me to let you go by yourself right?"

***

Turns out, Xander is a very persuasive person. So here I was, getting down from his car in front of Zane's house.

I rang the doorbell. I waited about two minutes before Stewart opened the door. It was late after all.

I beamed at him. "Hello Stew. I just came here to see Zane."

"Sorry Miss, but Zane left."

My brows creased. "Left? Left to where?"

"His home."

I nodded. "Oh I see. Thank you Stewart."

He smiled and nodded. "Good night Miss."

"Good night." And he closed the door. I walked back to the car and we sat in silence for a while. 

"What? They didn't let you enter?" Xander asked.

"Zane's not here."

"Well, where is he?"

"At his other house."

Xander's jaw dropped. "This is one of the biggest houses I've ever seen and he has another one?"

"It's not really a house. It's a condo."

"Like that makes all the difference in the world."

I laughed lightly as he started the car, and I directed him to Zane's condo.

***

I knocked on the door. I waited longer than I had waited for Stewart. I knocked again. I heard footsteps behind the door before it was opened.

I almost had a heart attack right on the spot. "Se-re-na?"

She was dressed in a big shirt. Was that Zane's shirt?

What on Earth is she doing here?

She smiled brightly at me. I think she wore shorts under, but I wasn't sure. She had her hair packed in a loose bun on top of her head. This was the most casual I had ever seen her, but that wasn't what was bothering me right now.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her smile brighter than ever. "It's late."

I couldn't find the words to say, I just stayed there glued to a spot in shock and fear. Maybe Zane's not here.

She took that as courtesy to hug me.

She actually touched us.

I just stayed there limply until she removed her arms. "Thank you so much for breaking up with Zane. You're finally out of our way."

"You sent that video to Wren." Was all I could say, ignoring the foolish ramblings she said before. What is she doing in his house? Is that some sort of stalker shit?

She shrugged. "You went to Zane's house. I did what I had to do. We had a deal."

I was so angry at her, I did the next thing I could think of. I slapped her. In all my sadness, I am glad I did that. She stumbled back, a hand on her face.

When she looked back up at me, she actually looked angry. "You slapped me."

"I know and I'd do it again. Why are you in his apartment you creepy stalker?"

She smiled. "He invited me."

"No he didn't. He's not here." I shook my head. He couldn't possibly be here. She was playing tricks again.

She smiled, a hand still on her cheek. "Zane! Someone's here to see you!" She yelled.

I heard footsteps and then a very familiar voice yelled, "Coming!"

My vision became blurry for the 400th time today. He was here. He was here with her. After we fought. He was in his house with her. I've never felt so hurt and betrayed in my entire life.

I couldn't see him. I couldn't let him see me. I started down the hall and into the elevator. Just as the doors were closing, I saw him dash out the room. Our eyes locked before the elevator door shut. Once it landed, I didn't waste time to head for the car.

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

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