CHAPTER 32
Yuri jolted from her sleep and quickly sat up, her breath racing, "It was just a dream". She turned to her clock and saw the time 5:07 am
"Shit!" She scrambled around her bed until she got a hold of her phone
3 messages from Summer
"You feeling alright? When are you gonna get here dude?" at 12:37 am
"Yuri, Tasha wasn't feeling well so we asked Toby to take her back to the dorms" at 2:10 am
"Hey, we all went home now. Dude, you suck at following through with plans, stop being sick and make up for it next time!" at 3:33 am
Yuri ran her fingers through her hair as a relieved sigh left her lips, "they took care of her" she smiled
Yuri stood and grabbed a jacket before heading to Tasha's room. Summer said she didn't feel well, so she's going to check up on her.
Yuri entered the room using the spare key Tasha gave her. Yuri approached and saw Tasha lying on her bed, fast asleep. Her hair was a mess and was still wearing her party clothes
"I guess she was too tired to change" Yuri approached the dressser and took out comfy looking t-shirt and shorts
She then carefully undressed her sleeping girlfriend and changed her into something more comfortable. She gently laid Tasha back into bed and covered her with a blanket
"I'm gonna make it up to you when you wake up" she smiled and gave a gentle kiss on the sleeping girl's lips
Yuri was about to leave when she heard Tasha's phone ringtone. She looked around and saw the phone on the floor beside the bed. It must have fallen when she was changing Tasha
Yuri took the phone and saw an unregistered number on the screen, "Who is this?"
It seemed that whoever it was sent Tasha a few pictures. With one click, Yuri could've looked at the pictures and maybe see who sent them but she knew better than to invade her girlfriend's privacy. Besides, she trusts her well enough not to do that.
Yuri placed Tasha's phone on the bedside table where she could easily see it when she wakes up and went back to her own room. Yuri took a quick shower and changed into some workout clothes. It's morning already, no use going back to sleep, might as well use the time to take a jog around campus.
"I'll head to Toby's after my jog and treat him to breakfast as a thanks for taking care of Tasha" Yuri locked her room, placed her headphones on and left
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Tasha slowly stirred from sleep and slowly opened her eyes, "Where am I?"
She carefully sat up and looked around the place, "I'm back at my room" then she noticed her clothes from last night hanging on her chair, "and I somehow changed my clothes...? What happened...? And what time is it...?"
Tasha searched for her phone to check the time and see if she had any important texts from Yuri. She saw her phone on the table, reached and grabbed the item.
"Photos?" Tasha clicked "view" and what the photos showed made Tasha's heart sink and her stomach turn.
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Kristen and Summer called Toby a few hours earlier saying that they were heading home themselves. Toby never met with them again after he left the party with Tasha. How could he after what he did?
It was already 7 in the morning but Toby never slept. He just sat quietly, anxiously waiting in his room. The plan was done and just as Brenda promised, she would come and give him the CD and all the pictures and delete all the copies then everything will be done. She'll leave Amber alone.
Suddenly, the door slammed open and in came Kristen, furious as hell. In her hands were pictures which she threw in front of Toby, "What are these?!" questioned Kristen, "How could you do this?!"
Toby looked at the scattered pictures on the floor and froze. It was THE pictures he gave Brenda, what Brenda had made him do.
"No..." Toby turned to his distressed sister, "'Kristen, let me explain"
But before he could continue, Tasha suddenly burst in, "You fucking bastard!!" she shouted and threw a hard slap on the boy's face, "I thought you were a friend, you fucking pig!"
Kristen went in between the two before things got out of hand, "what the hell is going on?!" she demanded, looking at both Toby and Tasha
"I..." Toby's attention was caught by the figure in his doorway, it was Brenda, closely watching him, "I...thought you liked it Tasha"
"What are you talking about!?" reacted Tasha
"While we we're walking back to your dorm, you said you missed doing it with a guy" Toby said, "You were already touchy-flirty with me, I just took it as an invitation"
Tasha clenched her fists. She was in total disbelief of the things coming out of Toby's mouth, "Stop it! Don't make stories! Stop lying!"
Kristen faced her brother, "Tell the truth Toby. You have a girlfriend, are you saying you cheated on Amber?"
Toby took a deep breath and tried to look cocky. Just like what Brenda said, a little acting will do the trick, "I HAD a girlfriend but we broke up days ago. What you all saw last night was just for show." he lied through his teeth while his heart raced like mad, "You were right all along Kris, their clique are a bunch of sluts. Proof and all" he picked up one of the pictures and handed it to his sister
Tasha stared at the boy with incredible disbelief at all the filth that left his damn mouth but what's worse, his sister believed him.
Kristen turned to her, anger evident in her expression, "How could you do this to Yuri? And with my brother of all people!"
Tasha was about to defend herself when a familiar voice spoke, "Is this all true?"
Everybody in the room turned to the source and saw Yuri standing still, with an expression of confusion and anger
Toby was shocked to the core when he saw Yuri. Guilt and nervousness grew within him, "D-did you hear everything?"
"Every Single Word."
Tasha rushed to Yuri's side and held her hand, "No, he's lying! He offered to take me to the dorms but before we even started to go back, I think I blacked out. I didn't know what happened after that!" she gently cupped her lover's cheek, "please believe me..."
"There are pictures Yuri." Kristen interjected with a stern tone, her eyes directed at the pictures
Yuri turned away as she grabbed Tasha's hand and forcefully removed them. She slowly walked to the scattered pictures on the floor. She stared at them for a moment and with shaky hands, picked one up
It was a picture of Tasha on top of Toby, both were bare naked. It clearly looked that they were in the middle of having sex.
Yuri's hand trembled as she turned to Tasha, hurt evident in her eyes, "How could you?"
Tasha stared back, broken by the way Yuri's eyes looked at her.
Yuri turned away as she crumpled the picture and threw it away. She then made her way towards Toby, she glared at the boy who stared back at him with shaky, nervous eyes
Yuri threw her fist as hard as she could, hitting Toby squarely on the face. Toby quickly fell on the floor as blood dripped from his nose. Kristen quickly rushed to her brother's side.
"I don't ever want to see your face ever again." said Yuri before exiting the room.
Tasha called out to Yuri but the girl continued to leave so the girl chased after her.
"Yuri! Wait please! Hear me out first!" Tasha yelled as she ran after her girlfriend
Yuri stopped in her tracks and faced the girl, "Alright. Explain."
Tasha took a deep breath, "I...I don't know how he did it, I don't even know what happened to me but one thing's for sure, I didn't lie, I didn't sleep with him!" Tasha explained frantically, "I didn't cheat on you...I would never"
Yuri looked at her with such conflicted expression, "H-how do you expect me to believe you when those pictures clearly tell a different story!?"
Tasha rushed to Yuri and grabbed onto her shoulders, "Because I've never loved anyone as much as I love you! Because I love you! Isn't that enough of a reason?"
Yuri sighed with defeat as she looked away, "I-I need time to think about this...by myself"
Hearing those words, Tasha pulled Yuri and embraced her as tightly as she could, burying her face on the other girl's shoulder. They shouldn't have to part ways, not like this.
"No...please" Tasha whispered, almost pleading, "Don't leave me..."
Yuri tried to pull away but Tasha held her tightly. With the things that she found out, Yuri felt tired and confused. She just wanted some time alone and she wanted Tasha to understand that, "Tasha...If you really love me, please let me think things through" Yuri said as she slowly but forcefully remove the girl's embrace
Yuri reached and gently cupped Tasha's cheeks as she looked straight into her eyes, "We're both hurting right now Tash and if we continue, we'll just hurt each other even more. We'll end up hating each other and I don't ever want that to happen" Yuri gently wiped away Tasha's tears, "I love you, I just don't know if I trust you anymore..."
Those words felt like a stab in the chest from a very sharp knife. It seems that in the situation the two girls were in, love isn't enough to make things better.
Tasha covered her mouth with both hands as she tried to control her crying. She stood in defeat as she watched Yuri walk away without a single glance.
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Yuri frantically paced around her dorm room. She was confused, angry and upset about the events earlier. Questions plagued her mind as every minute passed. How can Tasha do this? And with her friend? Why would she do this? They were in love, weren't they? Tasha loves her, doesn't she?
Yuri threw her fist against the wall with all her might, with all of her anger, "WHY WOULD YOU HURT ME THIS WAY?!?!" She screamed until her throat hurt and she punched until her hand throbbed with pain
Yuri slowly sat on the floor, feeling numb. The same crippling numbness she felt back when she first found out Kaley died
"I can't see her, I don't want to. I don't think I can..." Yuri slowly stood, "I need to get out of here"
Yuri quickly grabbed her wallet, not even bothering to bring her phone with her. With just the clothes on her body, she left the university dorms and headed to the safest place she knows, back home.
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It was already 10 am but still too early for a hangover'd Amber. She had been awake for an hour now but was still hesitant to leave her bed until there was knocking on her door.
Amber got up and went to answer the door
"Good morning Amber" Brenda greeted with a bright smile
"Good morning. You're here early" Amber answered jokingly, "what's up?"
"Just wanted to know if I could join you for brunch" Brenda showed her friend the goodies she brought with her, "I got you your favorites, a hot cup of choco-hazelnut, omelet and pancakes!"
Amber, although confused at the sudden treat, smiled and nodded as Brenda entered her room
Amber turned on the TV and pulled the coffee table closer to the sofa. Brenda placed the food on the table and the two girls sat next to each other on the sofa
Brenda put some pancakes and omelet on a plate and handed it to Amber, "I asked our cook to put blueberries in your pancakes because I know you love them"
Amber grinned, "Aw, thanks!"
Brenda nodded then took a gulp of her hot drink, "by the way Amber, why didn't you tell me you and Toby broke up?"
Amber almost choked on her food, "W-what? No!" she explained, clearing her throat "Is this why you had a special brunch made?"
"Yeah...I felt guilty for not knowing your breakup and for not being there for you. So I thought I'll make it up to you with a special brunch!"
Amber cleared her throat and shifted in her single, "As much as I appreciate the efforts Brenda, you don't need to do this. Toby and I are still happily together"
Brenda looked at her friend with skepticism, "You know you don't have to hide anything from me Amber. We're best friends after all"
"I'm not hiding anything. Toby and I are still a couple!" Amber insisted, crossed arms "stop listening to rumors Brenda!"
"Okay! Relax! Just wanted to make sure you're alright" Brenda said with her hands up, "Now everything is just confusing"
"Why would it be confusing? We're a couple, simple as that"
"Yeah but why would he send me that picture? He even called me and proudly announced your breakup" Brenda explained, "He's a real douche by the way. I don't know what you or what Tasha saw in him"
Amber turned to her with confusion, "what are you talking about? And what has Tasha got to do with this?"
Brenda covered her mouth out of surprised, "Oh my god! You really have no idea!" she suddenly stood, "I have to go. I need to talk some sense into Tasha"
Before Brenda could leave, Amber tightly grabbed her wrist, "What do you know Brenda? Tell me everything!"
Brenda looked at her distressed friend and sighed. She sat back down and pulled out her phone from her pocket and began scrolling through it, "After the party, Toby suddenly called me and told me that you guys were broken up for a while now but were just pretending to be together and boasted that he's dating a new girl now. I thought he was just really drunk and making stupid stories so I told him to take it easy and hung up on him. A few minutes later, he sent me this" Brenda then showed her phone to Amber
Amber could feel her heart sinking the longer she stared at photo on the phone. The faces were so recognizable, it's too painful to acknowledge but she knew them, too well in fact, that's what made it worse.
The photo on Brenda's phone was the same one Yuri saw at Toby's place. Bare naked Toby and Tasha in bed together.
"I am so sorry Amber" Brenda spoke as she embraced Amber, "I'll talk to Tasha later and try to find out what entered that stupid mind of hers"
"No. Just..." Amber pulled away. She turned to Brenda and showed a smile despite the tears starting to show in her eyes, "Thanks for the food but I want to be alone for a while..."
Brenda nodded and gently squeezed her friend's hand, "call me when you need something okay?"
Brenda stood and headed for the door. Once outside, she started to hear Amber's cries through the door. She turned her back and showed a malicious smile before walking away.