What's up, folks?! I hope you guys are doing well because this Corona is making many people panic! Please remember to STAY INSIDE! It helps tremendously! #readtogether

Anyway...

Y'all...what the wha-

What do you think Jana is going to talk to Jess about? Say it ain't so! This is really the main thing that we have going on right now! 😢

Well, we are back with a new bulk of chapters for Screw Me Over! It's Tiffany's time to start us off by shaking things up in the church...or just be scared of it.

Anyway, please see the triggers that are in the summary of this story!

Alright, y'all! That's all I have! You may continue! 💜🤫
****
It was a Sunday and the feel of the house was weird. Sadly, it got worse as the days passed. Maybe I've been living with Jana for way too long, but it felt so empty being at home. The house was so quiet. The serenity and peace were nice, but something in me made me tired of this feeling.

Maybe it was because Carmon's been gone for over two weeks and Raina just came back home about two days ago. Rena decided to take care of her since Carmon ran off again.

It was annoying not seeing Jess and Jana cuddled up on the couch while Rena fed her face in the kitchen. Raina would be rolling around in her small compact car as Carmon talked about her most recent sexual experience with the rest of us.

Now, the living room was empty and no one really came out of their rooms besides to make food or go to the bathroom. The apartment felt cold and I got a bit lonely after a while. After my little escape and them explaining it further, I felt more alone. This quiet house had me in my thoughts more often and they couldn't be shaken.

Walking out of my room, my eyes looked out into the once common space and my heart sank a bit. Raina wasn't sitting on the couch watching cartoons like she usually did. My eyes landed on the bathroom where Carmon was found doing her makeup in the most beautiful ways while wearing her favorite-colored laced thong. She wasn't there for me to insult her about it though.

Speaking of that, something about my sister not being here made me scared and unprotected again. Have you ever had that feeling where you've practically lived with someone your whole life and it's a strange feeling when they're gone for so long?

Well, my eyes turned to the kitchen and found it still clean. The trash was at the same height as it's been for a week. Looking into the refrigerator, I saw Rena's orange juice still full. It was a bit heartbreaking because she drinks that as if it were youth potion. Like it's the last thing she has to drink.

Grabbing my almond milk that sat beside it, I shut the door afterwards and turned to get a glass from the cupboard only to find Rena sitting at the kitchen island watching me. She scared the hell out of me so much that I almost dropped the carton of almond milk.

"What the hell, Rena?" I said with my free hand on my chest and taking deep breaths.

"Sorry. Just used to Jess making breakfast. I forgot she wasn't here. Raina, are you ready to go?" she shouted for Raina as I poured the milk. Finishing up pouring the liquid, I saw Rena come around the kitchen island wearing a cheap thrift shop yellow ruffled dress that looked so dull with light brown flats that made her ankles look like elephant's feet. If only my roommates had better taste in clothes or some fashion sense.

After studying Rena's look, out came Raina in a white floral lace overlay dress looking as if she were going to church for Easter. Her hair was halfway down and the top half was in pigtails with two small barrettes that had white bows on them. She had on white ivory dress shoes and clicked them together like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Finally! Someone with some fashion sense!

"I'm ready for church, Auntie Rena!" her grey eyes sparkled with happiness as she went to give Rena a big hug with a smile on her face.

So, they were going to church. That reminded me of the days where going to church was innocent and special. Aunt Clara made sure we never missed a Sunday of church because 'We needed the Lord in our lives' according to her. It was all sweet and innocent until the youth minister for the teen group came along. Let's just say he's the reason why I don't go back to church.

"Good morning, Tiff," Rena finally spoke as her dark chocolate eyes looked my way. She had to sense the same thing I did about our apartment feeling the way it did.

"You finally say good morning to me? Well, good morning to you too. Do you not feel anything weird about the house?" I asked holding myself up against the counter.

She sighed and rolled her eyes to say "Well, I know what's weird about the house. The rest of the girls don't stick around anymore. The energy feels broken and different. This is probably because Jana and Jess broke off their engagement. Jessica doesn't stay-"

I spit my milk out in shock of what Rena just said. My eyes widened in surprise because they were together for a pretty long time. What the hell happened between those two now? They were on such a great path. What the hell did Jessica do this time?

"You're joking! Rena, what happened?" I sat at the kitchen island alongside Rena as Raina went back into Carmon's room. I wanted to know everything that was going on. Jessica always knew how to fuck something up that was so good to her. I actually thought that they would last this time. To be honest, their relationship actually gave me a sense of hope after Jana's little reality check.

"Well, Jess pulled the plug on Aunt Cassandra at the hospital, making her mother die. Jana thought she did it out of spite and Jess admitted to wanting to do it out of spite, but she didn't really do it because of that reason. Jana wanted to set some boundaries in the relationship after that, but Jess wasn't up for it so she just left and they broke up. I can't tell you where she is right now, but Jana has been in her room with her head under the covers for about a week now," Rena explained.

My heart sank a bit for Jana. Jessica was a tough person to live with already. Just imagine being in a relationship with the she-devil herself. I'd rather drown myself in a pool of rubbing alcohol. If I were in Jana's shoes, I would run so far away from her the minute she first laid eyes on me.

Jana was so good to her. She was so patient and loving to Jessica, but Jess wanted to throw all of that away because she couldn't get what she wanted out of the relationship. Jana was willing to compromise with her, but her little anger problem got the best of her. She can be so stupid sometimes. If only I could shake the stupid out of her but that would mess up my nails.

"Damn, Rena. That's terrible. I'll definitely be thinking about them." I took my cup into the kitchen and set it in the sink.

The little hoodlum must have heard what I said because "Auntie Tiff, you should come to church with us so you can help us pray for them."

Thinking about the words she just spoke, I ended up laughing so hard as Rena studied my hysterical laughter. "Absolutely not, Raina. As much as that sounds so fun, I can't go. You two have fun and say a little prayer for me while you're out there."

Raina's suggesting of me going to church brought back the memory of that damned youth minister again. To me, he was a perfect human being. He was the doppelgänger of Jean-Luc Bilodeau with his five o'clock shadow, easy on the eyes, dark brown hair that lightly fell over his forehead, and that beautiful smile...

Those light brown orbs had you swimming across the Atlantic for him. His sexy smile made your panties wet instantly and hypnotized you to do whatever the hell he wanted you to. At least, it made me do so. His smooth hands grazed my body every time we went to our church classes after the songs. That was his way of telling me where to meet him which was in the bathroom.

Ugh, he was just a magnificent piece of specimen to look at, feel on, and have inside you. He was so big and he was the only man I had eyes on. He was the only man I fell head over heels for. The one I gave my heart and my consenting virginity to. He was all I wanted and more at 16 years old. I was about to turn 17.

Here I was thinking about where we would be when I turned 18 until he announced his departure from the church to everyone just to be with his new wife.

Feeling abused and misused, I cried throughout the rest of the service and didn't go to the class as everyone else congratulated him. Praised him for being the best youth minister ever. My young heart was shattered to pieces once those words came from his lips and he just looked at me with a pitiful look while everyone else celebrated for him.

Looking back on that as my now 19-year-old self, I'm glad this all happened. Why? Because it was an experience that taught me to never trust the church again. This was something I'd never forget and it made me stronger. It protected my heart from any other crooks coming for it. Since then, I've had no other man in my life.

Tiffany Barrett refused to be the fool in any relationship. I was never screwed over or played by any other man again. Two men already ruined my self-esteem and it took me three years just to build myself back up again. That's two men too many.

"This could be a great time for you to go and lay all those things that's harboring your heart down at the altar. Tiff, we're all going through something and God knows it. Don't give up on him just because someone else in his house decided to be stupid and give up on you," Rena explained as my eyes landed on her in confusion.

How does she know all of that? No one knows about my secret love affair with Chad. Not even my own sister.

"And God can also help you be nicer, Auntie Tiff! So, come on!" Raina shouted as she pulled on my white cashmere robe sliding it down my body and almost revealing a naked version of myself. This little demon just reminded me of why I didn't care to hear her thoughts.

"OKAY! I'll go if it gets you to be quiet. Just don't let me go by myself. Please wait for me," I spoke as I rushed to my room and sighed to myself. Looking through my large wardrobe, I hoped and prayed I didn't run into another fine ass youth minister.

****

We walked into the large grand church and it made me feel sick again. It was too much to take in and my heart cracked a bit. The walls were decorated with cream-colored paint and posters of the almighty king. There were long windows that came up from the floor and a welcoming table sat in the middle of the lobby. Coming into it, my eyes fell on the directional hallways that were painted with a burgundy color.

We walked down the hallway straight ahead and we were stopped by plenty of churchgoers. Rena decided to catch up with them as Raina ran off with her young church friends and they ranged from young children to elders. She must have been popular around this place. It wasn't impressing me any though.

Growing impatient, I walked away from Chatty Cathy and into what I thought was the sanctuary. It was set up as such with the stage containing risers for the choir and musical instruments. There were small stairs leading up to the podium that sat at the front of the stage with a small microphone on it.

No one else was in the echoing room but me and I just sat in the chair closest to the door just in case I needed to do the dash. My stomach felt terrible and tears were developing in my eyes as this place looked just like the church I had went to before. Remembering those light brown eyes sinking into my soul once he announced that he was leaving me. Leaving us.

Closing my eyes just to take in the calm before the storm, I decided to pray in my mind and my tears couldn't hold themselves into my eye pockets. They fell down my cheeks as I was reminded of that man again.

A familiar voice took me out of my prayer with a "Well, if it isn't Cinderella after the ball".

It caused my eyes to open wide and look around for who could have said that. I thought I was in the sanctuary by myself and wanted to think to myself. The voice sounded as if it were coming through speakers or something. It frightened me. I didn't want to stick around to figure out who was trying to scare the living hell out of me.

So, I stood up sharply and sped over towards the double doors until "Woah! Slow down, Cinderella. We don't want you to leave again like you did before."

My eyes widened at the familiar voice and slowly turned to none other than a smug-looking Bryce with his arms crossed. "Hello, beautiful."

"What the hell are you doing here? Why do you keep following me everywhere?" I hissed as I gulped nervously. This had been the first time I seen him since leaving him at the ball. There was no telling what he was thinking about me right now and I didn't want to stick around to know.

"A better question is why are you following me? I never knew you went to church here, lovely," he said stepping a bit closer to me. I clenched onto my pink satin cocktail dress and stepped back.

"I don't. I-I-I...I just-"

"So, this is your first time here?" he asked as my aged stuttering came back. The last time I stuttered was with Chad. Why was I stuttering with Bryce? I despised this guitar-playing loser.

I studied his look and something that took me back was the headphones that sat around his neck. What were those for?

"Ye-yeah. I'm here to support one of my roommates. I-um...I-I-I was trying to find the bathroom and I think I lost her so I'll just go find her now," I said moving towards the door again. Pushing the long door handle, a strong hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his hold. That swift move just frightened me so much that I was out of breath. Damn it, Bryce!

"Tiffany, listen to me. You've ran away from me way too many times. You will not run away from me again. Come with me to the booth," he said as his slightly thin arms wrapped around my body. Was he serious?! Here in the church?!

That took the heat away from the moment and I pushed him away from me. "Absolutely not! Did you forget where we were?! We're at a fucking church! How the hell could you-"

His hearty and manly laugh interrupted my speech about his unethical character. It made me even more frustrated, but he walked closer to me and I grew nervous. My back hit the wall and my eyes widened at the thought of me not having anywhere else to go.

He walked closer to me and studied my look with a smirk on his face. "Tiffany, you just cursed in the church. Chill out. I'm just the sound man here and I work in the booth to control the sound of the mics and music. I use my free time on Sundays to volunteer here."

My breathing deepened as he eventually closed off any space we had between each other. My eyes closed tightly in fear that he'd do something to me. Instead, he continued with his deep voice "Like you said, we're in a church. I can't and won't come onto you like I did before. I'm a changed man and I want to show you that. Tiffany, let me show you that."

He grabbed my hand as his other hand wrapped around my waist and his forehead softly landed on mine. The tension between us was way too high for church and my mind couldn't decide on what to do. This was a forbidden feeling to me since my last encounter like this. Just because we were in a church didn't mean things like this didn't happen.

You're a bad bitch, Tiffany! Run now!

Tiffany, give him a chance. He hasn't done anything else to you after that moment in your house. It's been months since then. He may have changed.

Hell no! Run as far away as you can! That's the devil talking and the Lord is trying to release you!

Give him a shot. He has a great heart and cares for you.

"Bryce...I-"

"Tiffany, please. Let me show you better than I can tell you. Please," He eventually whispered as his lips brushed over mine and held my cheek in his hand.

Yeah, I couldn't help myself. My legs were growing weak, I was in a trance, and my lips eventually let out a soft whisper with "Show me, Bryce."