Chapter 19 - Every Road Comes Back To You

"It's hard to focus when your life is a blur

It's hard to see the truth

How can I move on when there's so much to learn

And every road comes back to you"

Matthew's POV

Kiara's face when she left was full of disappointment and frustration. People around me were muttering and asking others about what had just happened. Aiden had gone away and I did the same, releasing me from whoever was keeping me from fighting with the bad boy.

I passed through the crowd of students and went outside, clenching and unclenching my fists, trying to let go of all the anger I felt towards Aiden.

I walked to the school's football field and sat on a bench, trying to calm myself down. Minutes later, I heard someone's footsteps coming towards me and then someone sat beside me. I glanced at the person next to me and recognized Brianna Evenson, also known as the girl who had choosen Kiara to be mine and Aiden's victim in the bet. Brianna was one of the most popular girls in school and one of the prettiest as well. However, many people thought she was just a dumb blonde, and even though she loved to get attention and hooked up with many guys in school, she was also really smart.

"Hey." She greeted in a smooth tone, almost cautious.

"I'm not in the mood, Brianna." I warned her.

"Look, Matthew, I'm not here to congratulate you for fighting with Stuart, or to hook up with you or to shout at you." She went straight to the point. "I'm simply here to tell you that with this fight people are starting to get really suspicious about the bet, because suddenly you two are acting even worse with each other, and it all seems to be because of one girl."

"What do you want me to do? And why are you telling me this?" I questioned her suspiciously. I recalled what Kiara had told me some time ago in the school's canteen in front of everyone: You think you have lots of friends who admire you, but they talk about you behind your back. The truth was that after she left, no one had tried to deny her words. I couldn't help but feel like maybe she was right, maybe I couldn't really count on my so-called popular friends.

"Duh! You don't want Kiara to find out about the bet, do you? Then maybe you should stay away from her until this whole situation cools down."

"Of course, so Aiden can spend more time with her." I sarcastically retorted.

"Fine. If you don't want to stay away from her, you should at least be more discreet in trying to win the bet." She said in a firm voice. "Hook up with some girls or something so that people can see that you're not up to anything and you're just doing what you normally do."

What you normally do. 

"But then Kiara will see me hooking up with girls or at least she'll hear rumours and that will ruin any chance I might have with her." I responded, still thinking about what Brianna had told me. She saw me only as a player, and most likely the rest of the school did too. That was what Kiara had told me, and she was right. Of course she was right. But then again, wasn't it truth? Wasn't I playing?

Brianna shrugged.

"Then I don't know, Matthew. It's up to you. And seriously, did you really have to fight with Aiden?"

"He was asking for it. I can't stand him. He's so freaking annoying and stupid and such a jackass."

"I bet he thinks the same thing about you." Brianna declared.

"Whatever. He's not going to get Kiara. He's not worthy."

Brianna snickered and for some reason that pissed me off a lot.

"And you are?"

"Honestly, I don't know what I have to do more to make people stop seeing me only as the player." I replied in a bitter tone. "There's more to me than that, you know? I mean, I know I'm a heartbreaker and I'm popular and all that, but that doesn't have to define me."

"Matthew, in our society that's what defines someone. Your actions are what you are." For a second, she seemed like Kiara talking. "And you're saying there's more to you than breaking hearts, but isn't that what you're doing to Kiara?"

I swallowed.

"I... I don't know."

Brianna stood up and stared at me.

"Then I suggest you to find out because it seems to me that this has turned into something bigger than just a bet."

-------------------------

Aiden's POV

I had gone looking for Kiara after the fight but she was nowhere to be seen. I was still really angry with Matthew but I needed to find Kiara. I didn't know why but I just had the need to apologize to her. I finally spotted her near a tree with Dylan. I rolled my eyes but headed towards them anyway.

"Kiara, I--" I started. 

"Get the hell out of here." Dylan cut, his voice sharp and his face angry.

"I just want to talk to her." I continued.

"I don't want to talk to you." Kiara retorted in a emotionless tone of voice and it was as if someone had just thrown a bucket of cold water towards me.

"Good, then you'll only have to listen." I answered back.

"Look, dude, she already said she doesn't want to. So why don't you get the hell out of here and go find someone else to punch?" Dylan severely replied.

I sighed.

"Come on, Kiara, he deserved it--"

"He deserved it?" Kiara crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at me.

"Yes! He kissed you!" I blurted out and I saw Dylan's face change from angry to confused and then to angry again, but now he was staring at Kiara. I narrowed my eyes. Now it seemed like I wasn't the only one angry about the sight of Matthew's lips on Kiara's.

"What?" He questioned.

"Oh for God's sake, he gave me a peck on the cheek, okay? And that's not an enough reason to start a fight!" Oh. Of course Matthew had to omit that part to make me start the fight. But even if it had just been a kiss on the cheek, he shouldn't have done that.

"Yes, it is!" Dylan and I replied at the same time. We glanced at each other.

"When did he kiss you?" Dylan was trying to sound calm but I could see he was getting irritated.

Kiara shrugged.

"He only did it because I let him watch my rowing practice."

"You row?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Dylan asked.

"Because it meant nothing!" Kiara bursted out. Ouch for Matthew, good for me. "And you two really need to calm yourselves down." Kiara glanced at me. "Yes, Aiden, I row. I suggest you to not go tell that around because it's something I love and I don't want other people to find out."

I nodded.

"And Dylan, stop acting like that. We've talked about this." Kiara's voice was calm but firm at the same time.

"I'm sorry." I said, surprised by the words thad hat just come out of my mouth.

Kiara snickered.

"No, you're not. You just said Matthew had deserved it so obviously you're not sorry. And for me you can fight all you want as long as you don't use me as an excuse. I don't want to be talked about and have rumours spread all over the school about me."

This time I was the one to snicker.

"I don't understand you. You say and act like you don't care about what anyone else thinks or says about you, but then you worry about everyone talking about you."

"Well I'm sorry if I don't like to be the center of attention like you do." She responded angrily and I could feel the tension in between us as we stared at each other.

"But if you're so sure about yourself than why do you mind about the rumours? Shouldn't you just ignore them, be superior? Isn't that your slogan?" 

Kiara rolled her eyes but I could see I was saying the truth and she knew it.

"Fine. Go talk all you want about me then."

"I'm not going to do that, Kiara! Contrary to what you think I'm not that dumb, I'm not that mean. I actually tend to respect people's privacy."

"Sure you do."

I sighed.

"It's impossible to have a conversation with you when you're acting so defensively. Your sarcasm is a defense mechanism." I know I shouldn't be saying these things If I wanted her to forgive me, I know I shouldn't be provoking her if I wanted to have a chance with her, but I couldn't help it. It was stronger than me. 

"Well, I have all the reasons to be mad and defensive towards you." Kiara replied. I knew she had, but still.

"Look, Kiara, I've apologized. And you're right, I'm not sorry that I fought with Matthew, and I would do it all over again, but at least I'm being honest. I'm not telling you what you want to hear, I'm being sincere. I hope that you at least recognize that."

"It doesn't matter!" She immediately fought back. "Yes, I'm pissed at you but I'm not going to run and cry. You don't have to apologize. Well, actually, you have, but I don't care, get it? I don't give a damn about what you or Matthew do as long as it doesn't involve me! Just... stay away. Both of you."

"I can't." The words came out of my mouth before I could think about them and I saw Dylan raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, you can." Kiara retorted, fire in her eyes.

I shook my head, and at that moment, by the way my heart ached, I knew it was true.

"I can't." I whispered.

Not anymore, at least, I thought, it's too late.

Fuck.

It was too damn late. 

"But it's too late to turn back now

It's too loud to hear the sound

I'm so lost, I can't be found

It's too late to turn back now."

Picture is Brianna Evenson, played by the awesome Candice Accola :D

Music of this chapter is "Too Late" by Dead By Sunrise ;)