SONDER

𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

"She's going through shit herself and I'm not saying tolerate the disrespect but go and let the girl have some fun, the punishment can wait until she gets back."

"Thank you." I checked my messages.

Marquise
Outside , hurry Up

"See y'all tonight."

"Don't get locked out." She mumbles as she walks out of the common area.

•••

Shockingly enough, I was able to get a ride to the party with Marquise, RJ and Hadiya, who probably didn't want me to ride along with them but since it wasn't her car, she couldn't really say much.

"Ain't nowhere to park out here," Marquise huffed, parking a street over. "For all this, I better be fucking something."

"You ain't, so get that outta yo' mind." RJ mushed his head, laughing loudly.

I was trailing behind them, Hadiya next to me. We didn't speak the entire ride, but I did want to talk to her. I know she probably won't care, but I didn't want her to look at me in a different light.

"Can we talk?" I hesitate, fiddling with my fingers.

"About what? What is there to talk about?" She stopped in her tracks. "How you were playing me the entire time we were together? How you were just using me to get over your best friend?"

"It's not even like that. I wasn't playing you the whole time. Me and Venus didn't even start messing around until right after winter break. I know that doesn't make it better but I promise you, it was not the entire relationship. I did not lie to you the entire time, my feelings weren't fake."

"She sent around a video of you getting head, why would you even want to surround yourself with someone like that?"

"Because I love her, Hadiya. I know that's not the best excuse but it's the truth, I love her."

It was silent.

Not really, but all you could hear was noise coming from the party.

"Did you love me? Or..do you?"

I don't know if I should lie myself out of this situation or if I've done enough of that.

"Hadiya.."

"That's not an answer, just answer the question. You've lied enough throughout our relationship, you might as well be honest."

"I care about you, a lot." I tried grabbing her hand but she wasn't going.

"So, you love the girl who tried to make your school life a living hell, but you only care for me?" She raised her eyebrow up. "Like, I don't get it."

"You have to understand, I've loved Venus since we met. I'm not saying you're not important to me, because clearly you are. You're important and I really do care about you."

"You don't care about me though!" She fussed, stomping her foot on the ground. "You cheated on me! You cheated on me and then lied about it!"

"No one is honest about cheating, though. You can't really blame me for keeping that part secret."

She shook her head and laughed. "Salome, you're dead to me. I told you everything. I told you how cheating nearly broke up my parents marriage and how much being cheated on would hurt me. You sat and listened to me cry for hours about my mother cheating and you did the same thing to me. I just can't respect someone like that."