Sky Full of Scars

Chapter 38

“Boys, Cody. Boys.” I answer him. “Nah uh!” He instantly reacts. “I would fucking never!” He reassures me. We continue talking about dating and when we’re about 10 minutes away from the twins house Cody suddenly stops the car. “Have you seen L.A., tourist?” He asks me, looking serious. Is he calling me “tourist” now? “Besides the airport, a restaurant and Griffith Observatory, not really cab driver.” I confess. “You got time, tourist?” Cody asks me and a faint smile appears on his face. Well. Ava probably wants to see and hear from me as soon as possible. But besides that I’ve got all the time in the world. The longer I’ll be away from Ethan, the better. “I’ve got a minute, cab driver.” I smile back at him and his face lights up. “Well, then let me take you on your first proper date.” Cody smiles. Before I even have the chance to answer him, my cab driver gets out of the car. Walks around to my door and opens it. He reaches his hand out and helps me out of the car. He then continues to open the door on the passenger side and invites me to sit down. “You shouldn’t be in the back, when you’re on a date.” Cody chuckles as he closes the door and walks back over to the driver side and gets in again. “Have you eaten yet?” He asks as he drives off. I’m still smiling. What is this? What am I doing? Why is this so fun and why does it feel like I’m playing with my life? I shake my head no at his question. Not eaten yet. “Say no more!” My cab driver says with a smirk on his face and within 20 minutes I’m trying my first ever In-n-Out animal style fries. “This is so good.” I breathe with my mouth full in Cody’s direction. He laughs at me stuffing my face as he sips on a Coke. “I know.” He says confidently.

After dinner he takes me to the Hollywood walk of fame and we look out on the Hollywood sign while enjoying ice cream. I have to give it to him. This date is a proper date and I’m enjoying Cody’s company. “Thanks. Thanks for making this evening -the evening of my first date- unforgettable.” I smile at him as we turn towards the driveway of the twins. I texted Ava that I was on my way and she opens the gate right when we pull up. Before Cody gets a chance to stop the car I see Ava run out of the house. Her jaw is clenched and her face distraught. Yeah. She was worried as fuck. I probably should’ve texted her. My hands get clammy instantly when I see her pace back and forth. But my heart drops when Ethan runs out behind her. On his socks. His white socks. Why would anyone run outside wearing crisp white socks? He runs his hands through his hair and holds his head. Interesting. He looks worried as well. He wasn’t too worried about me when he kissed Cassandra. Grayson walks out as well and I gasp as I see Cassandra appear behind Grayson. Confidence radiating from her toes all the way up to her crown. “What?” Cody asks as he hears me gasp. “That’s the girl he kissed.” I whisper as I discretely tilt my head towards the girl with the hourglass body and ginger mane. “He took her home. He took her to the home I’m staying in.” I breathe in disbelief.

Cody looks my way and places his hand on my thigh. “Hunter, you have got nothing to worry about. You are gorgeous and you’re such a sweet soul. A bit crazy, sure. But you are amazing. Don’t let her dent the confidence you should have.” He says before he opens his door. “Let’s end this date right.” He smiles as he gets out of the car. I’m barely registering what he is saying because I’m immediately back to being hurt. As I see the guy I’m in love with. Cosy in his sweatpants and a hoodie. Standing with his hands in his hair under the outdoor lighting. Biting his lip. While the girl he kissed on our date is standing behind him. Uninterested.

Before I can open my car door Cody opens it and reaches his hand out once again. Helping me out the car. I see Ava wants to run up to me, but she stops in her tracks as she sees how Cody puts my hair behind my ear and caresses my cheek. I hear Ethan’s loud voice speak a “What the fuck!” and I smile as I see how that reaction brings a smile to Cody’s face. “He’s upset.” Cody whispers in my direction without taking his eyes off me. “He should be upset. He made a dumb mistake.” He continues whispering. Leaving a bigger smile on my face with every word he speaks. “Okay. I’m might be overdoing this goodbye a bit to make him jealous. But I’m speaking from the heart when I’m telling you I had an amazing evening.” He says and he kisses me on my cheek. “I had an amazing evening as well. Thanks for showing me around. Thanks for everything.” I say as I leave a peck on his cheek. Cody pulls me in for a hug and I feel the impatient and angry energy from Ethan radiate in my direction. “Call me if you need me, okay?” Cody smiles as he gets back in his cab and I stare at him as he drives off.

“Hunter! What the fuck!” I hear Ethan breathe as he stamps in my direction. I turn around to face him. Face them and see Ava looking at me. She knows me. She knows I didn’t run off for shits and giggles. She knows something went down and even though she doesn’t seems to happy about me getting close with a stranger, she wisely doesn’t judge me like Ethan does.

“Hunter, what the fuck?!” I yell back at Ethan in the same tone of voice as he approached me. “What. About. Ethan. What. The. Fuck?!” I ask him as I poke the sharp nail of my index finger in his chest. His face changes immediately. The anger in his face is gone. He knows I saw him. He knows I saw him with Cassandra and he steps back. Away from me. But I’m not done yet. “What about I needed this. I never realised how much I needed this. How much I needed you. What about those words you spoke to me Ethan?” I yell at him while still digging my finger in his chest. Alternated by a shove here and there. He steps back even more. But I can tell me yelling at him like this, using these words against him pains him. “You haven’t felt this alive in a long time? You were falling in love with me? I was the answer, right?” I continue with a raised voice. I see Cassandra’s pale face turn even paler. She doesn’t look shocked about this revelation, but she is not happy. Ava’s face on the other hand looks shocked. Her jaw drops. “You are the answer.” Ethan whispers. His yelling voice is gone. As if it never existed. I can tell he feels small. And my weak heart is ready to align with him once again. But then I stare at Cassandra and recall how she kissed him. How he kissed her. I don’t wanna yell anymore. But I need to know. “Then why did you kiss her?” I breathe exasperated, while pointing my arm in Cassandra’s direction. I see Ethan’s face turn bright red as I hear his brother yell. “Ethan, no!! You’re kidding me, right?” Saying that Grayson looks surprised is an understatement.

Cassandra effortlessly shuffles around Grayson and Ava. She walks up to Ethan and me. As If I’m not standing there she gets in between the two of us and hugs Ethan. I see how he doesn’t wanna reciprocate this obvious nasty dig she is directing towards me. But as if he’s not able to resist he puts his arms around her waist and hugs her back.

“Guess I see you home in a bit.” She says as she pulls away from the hug and looks him in the eyes. A faint but kind smile appears on Ethan’s face. A smile that maybe says ‘thanks’ or ‘see you soon’. A smile that I don’t wanna see on his fucking face. He is so fucking confusing. Like what the fuck?!

Cassandra walks past me without acknowledging me once. She says her goodbyes to Grayson and Ava, who both don’t even know how to react anymore and gets in her SUV to disappear through the gate.

“Hunter.” Ethan pleads. But before he can continue I flip him off. “Fuck off, Ethan!” I say as I make my way into the house and leave him standing near his car. I can’t stay here for any longer and have decided to pack my bags. I rather sleep under a bridge than in this house. In his house. I hear him walk closely behind me. “I meant everything I said. I fucking need you. I’m falling so hard for you. Please let me explain!” He begs me. I set foot in the guestroom and turn around. Ethan’s eyes are watery and I see his bottom lip tremble. I can’t give in. I won’t give in and slam the door of the guestroom shut. Right in front of his face.