May 13, 2023

Queen

Syn's hand remained outstretched to Aiden, waiting for him to accept and I crossed my arms. When I thought about Aiden calling him out here and he came, my immediate thought was that there would be a fight. But looking at Syn, he didn't seem the slightest bit unsettled or upset as he did earlier.

It was just so easy for him to pretend. Only recently- within the past few days did I know just how good he truly was at it. That meant he could swear up and down that he was okay and not mean it at all. He could always tell easily when I wasn't being truthful...but I couldn't with him.

That needed to be rectified.

"One wouldn't hurt," Syn continued to press. "Have one." He took a step slightly ahead of me, moving me a bit behind him with a gentle push. I scoffed lowly, hiding my head behind his shoulder as I smiled at the protective gesture. He was the one that needed the most help right now yet he was trying to protect me.

From behind him, I took a small step to the left, still letting Syn remain in front of me but able to easily step in if something were to go awry.

In front of us, I could see Aiden visibly tense, his Adam's apple slightly bobbing as he tried his best to look unfazed. Of course, Syn and I could see completely past the facade, and for a slight moment, I felt sorry for him. My sympathy however was completely overshadowed by my curiosity about Syn's intentions. He never did things for no reason and I too was suspicious of Aiden's hospital stay and "supposed" allergy.

"I said I don't want to," Aiden repeated, his voice rising. "Do you not know what the word no means. Maybe that's the problem with you." He pointed at Syn. "You can't take being told no. That's how I know you're the reason Queen is isolating herself from the people who care about her, you're a fucking narcissist."

"Tsk tsk tsk." Syn shook his head. "You're not very good at deflecting, Aiden. If you have an allergic reaction to it, we will take you to the hospital...scout's honor."

"You think I'd believe someone like you—"

"You can believe me," I spoke up, making them both look at me. "I'll take you myself if—"

"Not if- when it happens."

"Eat them, Aiden," I flat-out said.

Aiden stopped arguing, his shoulders dropping as he looked at me. His gaze was full of disappointment as he searched his eyes, but I remained composed. Something was off about this entire situation and the opportunity had risen for me to get a clue as to what it might have been. As much as I cared for him, I had a history of turning a blind eye to red flags. And I didn't have the time, energy, or mental capacity to suffer the consequences of being wrong about someone again.

There was too much on the line now.

I watched as his eyes floated from me to Syn before they dropped. My eyes followed his to see me and Syn's connected hands, and my breath caught. I hadn't even noticed. It just felt so natural.

I looked back at Aiden, my gut twisting a bit as a pained look crossed his features. He always told me that in another life he and I would be together, just like in this one. And I never said anything back. I just smiled and tried my hardest to stop thinking about the true person I knew I belonged with- Syn.

We were together in this life and if somehow- someway there was another life somewhere else in the great beyond, I was sure it'd still be him.

"You really don't care anymore, huh?" He asked me.

He really knew how to make me feel crappy. I felt heartless acting the way I was, but if I sat down with myself and thought, I'd know that the only wrong thing I had done recently, wasn't towards him. It was toward the man who was still silently squeezing my hand and remaining patient as I scrunched up the courage to hold my ground with the man he despised.

I imagined how hurt he must've been watching me struggle to do this. Especially after he had just admitted how my relationship with Aiden had hurt him. But I wasn't being hesitant because I wanted to be with Aiden- I just didn't like feeling so guilty. I blamed myself for his being so hurt. Maybe if I had distanced myself more things would be different. I tried so hard to make myself move on that in the process I had strung him along. Now, there was a tiny possibility he wasn't who I thought I was either, but I was the first between the two of us to throw rocks at our friendship.

"I'm sorry that I'm hurting you," I finally said. "That was never my intention—"

"Never your intention." He scoffed. "You're still doing it. We can't even be friends now and you're saying it's not intentional?!"

"I don't want to be your friend."

"Because the both of you know that you feel something for—"

"Don't fucking say for you," Syn snapped, his gentle demeanor floating away as he became visibly angry at the words.

"Well—"

"It's because I don't trust you," I said sternly. "I can't be friends with you because I don't trust you, Aiden."

He looked at me in confusion before slightly shaking his head. He ran his hands down his face, taking a deep breath before looking at me. "That hurts, Queen." He sighed. "It really fucking hurts."

Sorry...

I remained quiet, unintentionally squeezing Syn's hand tighter than I meant to. Without saying another word, Aiden nodded and turned his back to us. He walked down the steps of the porch, making long strides to his car and slamming the door once he was in. Syn and I watched silently as his car peeled out of the driveway with a screech so loud and ear-piercing that I cringed.

When he was finally gone, a weight felt like it was lifted off my shoulders and I released a deep breath. The guilt I was carrying for still being in love with Syn was gone with Aiden's departure. Now nothing was holding me back.

No more excuses.

Feeling Syn's hand ease out of mine, I looked over at him in confusion. His energy had shifted entirely from a few seconds ago. He stopped eating the peanuts, his arms were crossed and he was looking at anything except me.

I frowned, taking a step toward him. "What's wrong?"

He glanced at me. "Truthfully?"

I nodded.

He nodded slowly before meeting my eyes. "If you truly loved me, that shouldn't have been as hard for you as it was."

What the fuck?

He walked past me down the steps to the porch, hands buried in his pockets as he walked away from me. The sound of the gravel crunching under his shoes was all I could hear as his large silhouette got further and further away from me.

What are you doing, Queen?

Nothing, I thought to myself. I was doing nothing at the very second the love of my life was pissed and walking away from me. With that thought in my head, my mind finally sparked and put my legs in motion.

I scurried down the steps, wincing as my heels landed on the rocky driveway and I ran after Syn. I ignored the pain from the undoubtedly fresh blisters on my ankles as I got closer to him but as close as I got, he still felt like miles away.

"Syn," I called out. "Wait a minute, please!"

He stopped in his tracks, sighing as he looked at me and shook his head. "It's late, go back inside."

I took a moment, hands on my hips as I took heavy breaths before making out a sentence. "Come back...with me."

"Not right now," he said, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. "I want to be alone for a while. I'll be back later." He placed the cigarette between his lips, fishing out another item from his pocket before turning back toward the gates and leaving the property.

"Be alone for what?" I asked, scurrying behind him to keep up with his long steps. He ignored my question, crossing the street in front of my house to walk onto the trailed forest. I watched as the streetlight illuminated the smoke he blew out and shook my head, blowing out a frustrated breath before continuing to follow.

The horn of a car blew from beside me making me jump and scream slightly. "Get the fuck out of the road, bitch!" The man in the car yelled, taking me aback once again. Flustered, I apologized profusely, letting him pass in front of me, but the car didn't move.

Thinking he was letting me go first, I walked slowly past the front of the car, but he drove ahead slightly, blocking my path. I tried looking over the hood of the car for Syn but I couldn't make him out past the tall trees.

"Sorry." I smiled again at the man, letting him go past. But again, the car didn't move. "Go ahead," I insisted, taking a step back but being cautious of the sporadic traffic behind me going the opposite way.

"What's a girl like you doing by yourself at this time?" The man said, a cigarette planted between his teeth as he eyed me up and down. I heard the laugh of another person and I looked over to see another gentleman sitting in the passenger seat. "You're a very pretty lady," he teased.

"Thanks," I said, a tight smile planted on my lips. A cool breeze floated through the air, making me shiver as I wrapped my arms around myself. I didn't realize just how thin this top was until now. "Have a goodnight."

I took a step back, attempting to go around the car from the backside, but they reversed, stopping me again- this time, their red pickup truck small hair away from hitting me. I heard their laughter from inside the car at the action and I gritted my teeth.

Now wasn't the time for me to be pissed off.

"Okay," I finally said, walking back to the driver's side window. "You want to play games?"

"We'd love to play games with you," the passenger said, rubbing his dirty white beard.

"You want a ride?" The driver said, a flirtatious smile playing at his lips making bile rise in my throat. If there was one thing in the world that I truly despised, it was a man that couldn't take a hint.

Worst than that;

...a man that couldn't accept the word no.

"Okay," I whispered, taking a step closer to the door. "What's your name?"

"I'm Bill," he said. He hooked his thumb at the man beside him and gave me a crooked smile. "This one here is Luke."

"Right." I grinned. I looked to the left, tilting my head as I saw the clear road ahead. "Here's what we're going to do, Bill." I looked into his eyes. "You're going to drive as fast as you possibly can, okay?"

His smile dropped, confusion filling his eyes before he shook his head. "A yes came out of his mouth however and I smiled.

"Yeah? Okay. Your foot is to not lift off of the gas after I finish speaking to you, Bill. You are to remain on it until you see another car ahead of you. Then and only then-...when you feel like you'll hit them from behind, will it be acceptable for you to swerve right, off the road."

The only thing to this stretch of the road was trees. If he went far enough there would be a mountainside, but I could only wish he made it there.

"This crazy bitch," his friend laughed. "Bill, get her in the car and let's go." When Bill made no moves to do so, his friend began hitting his shoulder. "Bill, grab her!"

Bill's frightened eyes were focused on me. "No." He shook his head. "What are you doing to me?!" I watched as his knuckles went white around the steering wheel and I took a step back as the engine revved.

"You can go now."

At my words, the car sped off and as it did I could hear both of their screams. The sounds were like music to my ear as they drove to their inevitable impending doom.

I took a step, prepared to try to head in Syn's direction when I saw him leaning against the streetlight in front of the trail. "Wow," he said, taking a puff of the cigarette before sucking air through his teeth and blowing out a cloud of smoke.

"That was a bit cruel."

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Author's Note
Ong she could tell me to do the same and I'd ask her "how hard"😮‍💨

Lmfao anyways ignore meee and continue to the next chapter mfs. Love u🥹❤️

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