Chapter 10: Friendships and breakdowns

Krystal's POV

After the week of the great inquisition was over it started to somewhat return to normal. The police reassured the school they would continue to handle the case and let them know if any new leads concerning a student came up.

Meanwhile my life was continuing to spin out of control. Turns out those bombs at our party had been a deliberate attempt to kill someone. We weren't sure who but I had a pretty good idea. I wouldn't say my dad was the most well liked person. Feared and respected yeah but liked, definitely not. Even I sorta wanted to kill him but unfortunately I'd have to get in line behind those bombers.

Plus I had other things to worry about.

"Just try to relax." Jackie instructed. I squirmed around on the hospital cot. She rubbed a cold gel on my stomach and I flinched.

"When will I start showing?" I asked panicked.

"Not for a little while."

"But I will start showing right?"

"Of course." Jackie chucked but I didn't find it funny.

"Alright so on this screen here you should be able to see your baby. It's still a bit early to find out the gender but in a few more weeks we'll know for sure. Do you know what you'd prefer?"

"I'd prefer not to be pregnant at all."

"You know this is kind of your fault." Jackie scolded.

I stared at her tears prickling my eyes. I hated her. But mostly I hated myself because she was right. I'd been blinded by a foolish love.

"Forget this, I don't need you reprimanding me right now." I wiped the gel off and stood up. She grabbed my arm.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I of all people should be more understanding." I wiped a few tears away.

"Lay back down so we can see the baby." She instructed.

"Can we just wait a little longer... I- I don't think I'm ready yet."

"Of course sweetie. But still sit down. I want to talk to you." Reluctantly I obeyed.

"Do you know who the father is?" She started directly into my eyes. I almost looked away.

"Yes." I answered because I absolutely knew for a fact who the father was.

"Will you be telling him?"

Hell no.

"Never." I said evenly.

"Krystal that's not fair." She argued.

I felt myself getting angry. "No, you don't get to tell me what's fair. You know what's not fair? Life isn't fair. But we deal with whatever it throws at us."

"I wouldn't exactly call how you're behaving dealing." She whispered softly.

I stood up putting my wig and glasses back on before grabbing my purse. "I'm managing. Now if you'll excuse me." My feet carried me toward the door.

"Krystal." I stopped not turning around.

"Take care of yourself ok? I'll see you in a few weeks."

~~~~~~

When I got home I immediately went to my room. I couldn't wait to snuggle in my comfortable sheets and watch Netflix for the rest of the day. After our whole house had been inspected it had been declared safe. I missed my canopy bed.

After removing the itchy wig I changed into a pair of fluffy pajamas. Suddenly I had to pee. I'd been peeing a lot. Stupid pregnancy.

When I opened my bathroom door I screamed. Cheyenne was standing right inside! She stared at me like a deer caught in headlights.

"What the hell are you doing in my bathroom?!" I screeched.

"Uh I'm- I'm." She stuttered. I noticed the maid uniform she was wearing. An evil grin found it's way onto my lips. 

"No way, your the new maid my mom hired. How perfect." She looked nervous.

"I was just finishing up cleaning your bathroom. Your mom gave me a list of chores so..."

"I'm sure she did. Let me just add a few things." I snatched the list from her hands. After writing on it I handed it back. Her eyes practically bugged out of her head.

"I'll never finish this all today!" She cried.

"Well then you better get started. Oh and I wash all my colors separately. The pinks with pinks the blues with blues and so forth. And make sure for my carmel frappuccino they put extra whip cream with a dash of cinnamon and chocolate chips. Ten chocolate chips to be exact. All the same size."

She opened her moth to protest then clamped it shut.

"Thank you." I said sweetly. She picked up her supplies exiting. After I finished using the bathroom I settled comfortably in my bed.

I was feeling better already.

Reese's POV

"What's got you all doom and gloom this morning?" I asked pushing around the eggs on my tray. It was a rainy October morning, not the best weather for a smile.

"I could ask you the same question." Cheyenne replied blowing bubbles in her milk. It was just the two of us this morning, Kimora was nowhere to be found.

"I've just been a little on edge lately." I replied lying. The truth was I've been pissed off a lot and part of it was due to my parents which I refused to delve into right now. I just wanted to punch something.

She nodded not saying anything. I leaned toward. "Your turn."

"It's nothing." She muttered.

"Come on I thought we were closer than that." I leaned back smirking. She glared at me before sighing.

"I'm just going through a lot at home." Cheyenne confessed. "I don't really wanna talk about it."

"So it has nothing to do with your little feud with Kimora? Don't think I haven't noticed."

"I don't wanna talk about that either." She looked peeved. But I felt like egging her on just because I was an asshole.

"What's the big deal? So what she ditched you at the party get over it."

"It is big deal!" She slammed her fists on the table. "We were supposed to stick together. I didn't really know anyone at the party. And given what happened later that night I would've liked to have been by her side. But she was too busy looking for her new best friends." The last part was said with a sneer.

"Jealous?" I chuckled darkly.

"Yes as a matter of fact I am. She's changing and you know it too! Try to argue with me."

I opened my mouth to disagree but couldn't due to the fact that she was right.

"I don't even know who she is anymore." Cheyenne whispered.

"Can't be any worse than Krystal." I mumbled.

"That's the thing Reese." Cheyenne said sadly standing up. "At least Krystal is just being herself."

Then she walked away.

~~~~~

"Catch!"

The ball soared through the air and hit me smack in the face. I fell backward like a cardboard poster.

"Catch with your hands not your face." He came up to me. "Your gonna have a pretty bad black eye."

"My face." I groaned in pain. Mom came out holding a laundry basket to her hips.

"You boys be back inside for dinner soon." She called.

"We will mom." He said and helped me up.

"Just tell everyone you were jumped or something." He suggested.

"Go get me an ice pack Val." I shoved him and he ran back inside laughing.

Man my face hurt like hell but it was good to see him again.

"Reese! Reese!" Mrs.Gilbert glared at me tapping her ruler on my desk. The whole class was staring at me. I must have fallen asleep.

"I'm afraid I'm running short on detention slips. Perhaps a suspension would suit you better?"

"Nah don't worry about it." I stood up grabbing my backpack. "I was just leaving."

Cheyenne's POV

"Alright this our first outing as friends." I said stopping at the entrance to the park.

"Man you're really taking this friends thing serious." He laughed running a hand through his hair. I was entranced for a moment before shaking my head.

"This is different. Your my first guy friend." I put emphasis on the guy.

"What about Reese?" He challenged.

"That's different." I insisted.

"Why?" He pushed.

"You ask too many questions." I walked over to the swings and sat on one. "Now come push me."

"Yes your highness." He said sarcastically. 

It had been a long time since I'd had some time truly to myself. I was as excited as I was nervous. I really wanted this friendship to work. Funny how I'd gone from complete despising his existence to actually becoming friends with him. Another reason I kept  repeating the word friends was because that's how I wanted it to stay. Nothing more. 

Just friends.

"I haven't been on a swing since I was a kid!" I laughed gleefully as I swung higher and higher in the air.

"You're really having a blast aren't you?" Sebastian mused.

"Yeah aren't you?"

"I am." And then he gave me this smile where his eyes kind of lit up and it was making it really hard to think of him as only a friend.

Next we hung upside down on the monkey bars. Well I did and he watched amused as I made silly faces at him. We went down the slides backwards, forwards, and other ways possible. I'm sure we were quite the sight, two teens playing on the playground like kids. But it was fun and that's all that mattered.

Later the sun started setting and we plopped down on the grass backwards. Sebastian kept staring at me.

"What?" I asked getting annoyed.

"You're like a completely different person." He said like he was trying to figure me out.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Nah."

"Tell me something about yourself." I rolled over on my side resting my head in my hands. "Anything."

"I play football."

"I already know that." I rolled my eyes.

He thought for a moment. "Fine but it's really embarrassing."

"Oooooh ok now tell me."

"Alright." He shifted into a sitting position. "Sometimes my sister will persuade me to watch Clifford the big red dog with her."

"And..."

"And I may enjoy it more than she does." He admitted blushing.

"No way!" I laughed.

"My secret dies with you." He said in mock seriousness. "Now your turn."

"Never!" I stood up running.

"Get back here!" He chased after me. I was surprised to feel the force of him tackling me and we went rolling down the grassy hill. I spit my hair out of my mouth and brushed the rest of it from my face. Sebastian had landed on top of me.

"You should've known you couldn't out run me." He smirked.

"Can't blame a girl for trying."

I waited for him to get off me but he didn't and my heart started to pound.

"Cheyenne." He said in a low voice.

"Yes?" I squeaked.

"Can I kiss you?"

His question takes me by surprise and I open and close my mouth like a fish.

"Just one kiss. Then we can go back to being friends." He whispers.

"I'm- I'm not sure that's how it works." I stuttered.

"One kiss." He leans toward me and my brain is screaming at me to push him off, stop him, do something. But my heart is saying otherwise and I find my eyes closing waiting for his lips to touch mine.

At first it's soft and tentative, as it he's waiting for me to pull back. But I don't and a zing passes through me as he moves his lips against mine. I respond quickly wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. The kiss is slow and seductive, like Sebastian's tasting every part of me but at the same time he isn't. He has a minty taste to his lips and I love it, so when his tongue prods against my mouth I open up allowing him access.

Suddenly we roll over until I'm straddling him and controlling the kiss and it becomes less slow and more frenzied as if we can't get enough of each other. His hands run down my thighs, along my back, and each touch sends zing after zing through me. Then I feel something hard poking my stomach and Sebastian quickly pulls away sliding me off him and sitting up.

"Fuck." He curses. My breathing is rapid and I try to catch my breath.

"You know," he says raggedly. "I'm not sure this whole friendship thing is going to work."

I wholeheartedly agree.

Sebastian's POV

After dropping Cheyenne off I drive home my thoughts racing.

First that kiss.

If I closed my eyes and thought hard enough I could still trace every curve of her body. If I hadn't pushed her off I'm almost positive some things that shouldn't happen in a park would've happened. And we weren't there yet. Not even close.

I liked her. That much was certain. But was I ready for her to know about me? The skeletons I kept locked in my closet?

I pulled into my driveway shaking my head. I needed a cold shower.

I closed the door behind me setting my keys on the table. The house was quiet. Too quiet. Then I heard a scream from Haley's room. I thundered upstairs slamming her door open.

"SEBBY!" She screamed again.

My dad had her pushed against the wall, his fingers wrapped around her neck squeezing. Haley's face was starting to turn blue and she kicked at him.

"STOP!" I yelled trying to pull him off. "YOUR KILLING HER!"

I was strong but my dad was stronger. He did after all used to play football also and he worked out regularly. I grabbed a lamp and smashed it on his head. He dropped to the floor like a stone. Haley collapsed coughing and sobbing.

"It hurts!" She wailed. She was crying so hard that she couldn't catch a breath.

"Shhhhh." I pulled her to me. This was the first time he'd physically abused any of us. Normally when he was drunk he would shout hurtful things at us blaming us for moms sickness.

"I was j-just c-c-coloring a-and he c-c-came in y-yelling." She blubbered. "T-then he h-h-hit me and-"

"It's ok." I rubbed her back. I wasn't sure if I was trying to calm her down or calm me down. I was furious. When he came to I was going to kill him for hurting Haley.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" She asked.

"Of course. How about you go change into one of my shirts and I'll bring you some milk and cookies?"

"Kay." She sniffled and I lead her to my room. After closing the door I went back to hers and dragged my dad outside, making sure he didn't have his keys on him. Then I locked him out. After fetching Haley her snack I headed back up only to find her sleeping.

My heart cracked watching her sleep so peacefully. My fists clenched thinking of all she must be going through. Autistic. Sick mom. Abusive father. She wasn't strong enough to deal with it and it was my job to protect her since no one else would or could. I crawled in next to her and she snuggled closer.

"I love you Sebby." She murmured.

"I love you too Hales."

Kimora's POV

"You busy today?" Rozae said over the phone.

"Umm yeah I have plans." I said pulling my hair into a ponytail.

"You sure? Janice, Vincent, and I were going to go the skatepark."

"I'm good thanks."

"Alright see ya." The line went dead and I took a deep breath. I checked to make sure everything was in the basket before padding downstairs. Mother and father were in the living room examining some papers.

"Where are you going?" My father said without looking up.

"To a friends."

"Who?"

"Cheyenne's."

They looked at each other.

"She's sick. I'm taking her a care package." I held up the basket.

"Did you finish your homework?" Mother inquired.

"Yes." I replied exasperated.

"Fine. Be back in a hour."

An hour was hardly any time but I accepted it before they said I couldn't go out at all.

Cheyenne's apartment complex was scary and I always packed mace with me. I breathed a sigh of relief when I reached her door. It took a few moments but she finally answered.

"I bring you a peace offering." I showed her the basket and she eyed it warily before taking it.

"Come on in." Daniel and Ava were watching cartoons. She set the basket on the table and rummaged through the cupboards.

"Want anything to drink?"

"No thanks." I looked around. "Where's your mom?"

"She's out." Cheyenne snapped. Geez sorry for asking.

"Look Chey I'm really sorry about the party. Ditching you was pretty lame."

She just folded her arms across her chest and looked at me.

"If it makes you feel any better I felt horrible about it. Still do. If anything had happened to you I never could forgive myself. I'm sorry."

She still didn't say anything.

"Hug?" I opened my arms. She finally caved and we squished each other.

"I have so much to tell you."

"Well make it quick. My parents only let me out for an hour."

"I think I like Sebastian. But that's crazy cause I hated him a few days ago. But he's actually pretty cool and-"

"Woah woah slow down. Sebastian Cole?"

"Yeah."

"Wow."

"Yeah we hung out at the party and we talked."

"Maybe it was a good thing I left you." I joked.

"So we're friends now or.." She paused. "I don't know what we are actually. We agreed to be friends but..."

"But what?" I hurried her anxious to hear.

"This is stupid. I don't get crushes on boys. I don't have time for that."

"Everyone has time for romance. Did something else happen between the two of you?" I probed.

"Maybe, I don't know." She put her head in her hands. "This is exactly why I don't do boys. I'm turning into a crazy obsessed girl."

"Just calm down and tell me." I grabbed her face. She took deep breaths.

"We kissed."

"What!" I screeched.

"Also I'm pretty sure I got him hard."

"Omg. I can't believe this." My mind was spinning. Sebastian and Cheyenne. They would be such a cute couple. But I wasn't aware they knew each other.

"You have a lot of explaining to do missy. We'll talk later. Don't think I'll forget."

"Ok ok." We hugged again.

"Gotta go before my parents alert the SWAT team." They still didn't know about the party or they'd never let me out the house. I was afraid the school would call and let them know what was going on during police week. They did. My parents never suspected a thing though. They thought I'd been in my room studying all along.

I left happy to have my best friend back.

This was kinda Cheyenne's chapter wasn't it? Lol anyway who was that guy in Reese's dream? Hmmmm questions questions.

Stay groovy✌️