Book 2: Chapter 36

**Chapter 36**

Before I would speak to Jay about my trip with Cyrus, I had another conversation needing to be had with Twila. She’s been spending a lot of time with Sienna lately, leaving the rest of us high and dry. We all wanted to know where her head was at. Especially Kira. She was the one most affected by all of this. It was like Twila forgot the reason she and Sienna broke up in the first place. We didn’t want to see her go through that again. Not when she had someone like Kira who was ready to love her with everything in her. It sucks to say, but Twila was being quite the bitch.

As we waited in her room, Kira was freaking out. She didn’t want to cause drama or awkwardness with Twy, but there was no other choice. Ambushing her wasn’t exactly the way this should’ve been handled. Though Twila made it hard to find time to talk to her. If she wasn’t off with Sienna all day, it was too late in the night to start a conversation. Plus, I stayed at Jay’s house, making it even more difficult. Today was the day though as Bradyn texted her for a fake emergency. Sounds harsh, but it had to be done.

Kira began to pace around the room, feeling anxious about the whole thing. “I don’t think we should go through with this,” she said.

“We have to Kira. It’s not like Twila is innocent in the matter either.” Bradyn said.

I had to agree with Bray. “Yeah, and not only has she been leaving you without any clear answers; she’s been blowing us off too,” I added.

Kira still was on the fence about it. “I guess, but she’ll instantly go on defense once she sees us all in here.” She had a point. “I want to be able to talk to her, but I don’t think this is the way.”

Maybe it wasn’t the correct way to go about it. However, Twila was already on her way here. There was no backing out now. She was also our friend. If anything, she’ll hear us out and explain her thoughts to us without feeling the need to go on the attack. It’s a mystery how she’ll react but it couldn’t be too bad, right? We were close friends after all. We should be able to go to each other and say how we feel without it turning into a catastrophic argument.

That was my wishful thinking though as that was not what was going to happen. The minute Twila stepped through that door, her face said it all. She was annoyed that we interrupted her business for one and two, didn’t see how any of our concerns were relevant to our friendship. It was baffling, but quite clear that Sienna got into her head. Maybe even Jenna if we’re being honest with ourselves.

Immediately reading the room, Twila went into defense mode without truly hearing what we had to say. “You guys aren’t seriously doing this? Autumn?” She looked at me.

It should have been expected since we were the closest but we were doing this as her friend. “Twy, we’re just trying to see where your head is that’s all.” I tried to de-escalate the situation but to no avail.

“Bullshit, if Kira needed to talk to me you two didn’t need to be a part of it,” Twila argued.

Now Bradyn chimed in. “We did because you’ve been blowing us off too. And for what? The girl that broke you in pieces last year.”

I can tell Bradyn was upset about this. I didn’t blame her either because we both watched what happened with them last year. Twila was completely devastated. It took days for her to get back to her normal self, let alone move on. Now it was like she was falling right back into Sienna’s trap. Something I shouldn’t have warned her about, to begin with. Had my mouth stayed closed, Twila wouldn’t have had an interest in pursuing anything with her. Though, she was banking on having a situation like mine; things didn’t turn out that way.

Twila chuckled, listening to Bradyn. “That girl has my best interest at heart like I thought my friends did.” She was being ridiculous.

“Are you joking? Twila, I promise you Sienna doesn’t want you back.” Kira said, finally speaking. “We had something special over the past year. We finally went on the date you’ve been wanting to take me on. Now you’re throwing that all away for a girl who wasn’t even concerned about you all this time?”

“I’m sorry I want to keep my options open, okay? Besides, Sienna has changed a lot.”

I roll my eyes this time. “The only reason she’s doing this now is because she saw you with Kira.” I remind her. “She doesn’t want you, she just doesn’t want you with anyone else.”

Nothing we said was getting through to this girl. It’s like every time Sienna was in the picture she had blinders on. There’s a reason why they didn’t work out the first time. Twila was oblivious to everything, while Sienna used her to get her way. There was nothing more going on other than Sienna not liking that Twila moved on. I’m sure if Sienna had someone she was seeing as well, this wouldn’t even be a conversation. There had to be a way to get Twila to see what was happening.

Alas, that wouldn’t happen as she decided to go for the jugular. I didn’t have a leg to stand on in the matter because it was true. But it didn’t mean it hurt any less than it did. I’m sure she didn’t mean it being that we were in the heat of the moment. For now, Twila had made up her mind and there was no changing it at this point.

Twy scoffed. “I highly doubt you have any room to be talking about what people want and what they don’t,” she said. “One wrong move and you’re done for.”

“Are you kidding me right now, Twy? You’re going to throw that in my face?” I was getting a little heated with her.

She wasn’t playing games though. “No Autumn, I’m not kidding.” She looks at me with a lot of anger and hurt in her eyes. “Out of everyone in here, you and I were the closest. Now you’re going to do this shit to me?”

I felt where she was coming. “Twila, I just want to protect you from getting hurt again. We all do.” I explain.

“Did any of you ever stop to think that I don’t need protecting!” She yelled at us before storming out of the room.

That completely backfired on us like Kira said it would. Twila instantly got defensive and didn’t want to hear a word from any of us. Most of all, she seemed the most upset at me. Mainly because we were the closest to each other and I guess she expected me to have her back. I should have been the one to talk to her one on one to see where her head was at. Though Kira deserved an explanation as well. As much as Bradyn and I were annoyed; she had something different with Kira.

We all sighed as that would make things quite difficult to do things together now. She didn’t want to speak to us. For now, we were going to give her space just to let her cool off a bit. I hope Sienna doesn’t show her true colors before then because that’ll only make Twila feel worse. All I know is dress shopping this weekend would be awkward.

******

After that whole debacle, I went downstairs later in the day to grab something to drink. I was planning on going to see my family for a bit before heading out of here. Jason was off doing who knows what with the guys as a late birthday celebration. I had no idea when he was going to be back home, but Jeremy wouldn’t mind driving me to his house in the meantime.

Though being at the Hadid’s house is always cause for drama. No matter if it’s between the girls and me or with Cyrus’s mother. There was always something being thrown my way. This time not only was Farah here, but so was Jenna. The way they both looked at me was weird. Like they had something very important to say. Well, what they deemed important anyway.

Looking at me, Jenna was furious with her green eyes burning a fire into my soul. While Farah was the more relaxed one, but still up to no good. The fact that they were both here was only more cause for drama. I’m here by myself with no one else to witness what they were going to say. Essentially, they were going to get away with murder. The power imbalance is hard to overcome sometimes.

“I know you’re up to something, Autumn,” Jenna said with a lot of malice in her voice. “Ever since you’ve been here, Cyrus has been acting like a completely different person.”

I shrug, trying to get more details on what she meant. “It kills me to say this, but I genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jenna rolled her eyes in annoyance. “Stop playing coy with me! Before you showed up Cyrus used to want to touch me. Now he won’t even look in my direction,” she whined.

Fighting back a laugh, I put the cup up to my lips, still not understanding what she was talking about. “What does that have to do with me?” I questioned.

I have to admit, it’s surprising to hear Cyrus was doing anything romantic with Jenna. However, Cyrus and I haven’t even done anything since I’ve been here. A few kisses here and there don’t equate to actual sex. Which we do not have and I don’t plan to. Even when we go on this trip he takes me on. I’m sure Cyrus has been sidelining Jenna in private, but that’s his choice. There’s no influence by me physically making him go about things the way he does. I’m the one always turning him down.

My response only seem to have upset her more though as she became even more furious. She started speaking incoherently as I watched her in confusion. There wasn’t any real answer I could give to make her shut the hell up. I’m not going to admit to seeing him without anyone knowing because that’ll only make me a target for Farah. More than I was already her target but regardless, I didn’t need Cyrus to know anything more than he does. They were making things difficult the more they try to corner me.

After Jenna spiraled out of control, Farah took the reigns in their hands. She always had this calm way of talking that somehow was still scary. The woman was on a whole other level of vile that I simply couldn’t compete with. I have to give kudos to Jenna for even being able to put up with her shit. But I guess that’s what happens when you’re in love with someone.

Farah crossed her arms this time, sharing her suspicions with me. “I’m gonna just cut to the chase, where is Cyrus taking you for two days?” She asked.

Well, shit. All I had to do was deny, deny, deny! “Are you guys going to keep talking to me about stuff I know nothing about?” That’s it just keep playing dumb.

“Oh, I think we both know you have something you’re not telling us,” Farah said. The lady was too smart for her own good. “I’ve warned you, Autumn. Now, I advise you to heed it because things will get very nasty for you.”

She’s threatened me so much at this point. I was ready for anything. “And that’s lovely, however, Cyrus and I haven’t spoken to each other since he apologized for the things that happened last year,” I informed them. “I’m fully aware of the consequences of my actions. So if you feel like you need to tell him go ahead.”

It’s been long enough that Jay and I have been hiding this information from Cyrus. We both know at some point he was going to find out and it would not be pretty. That’s what happens when you fool around and now date your best friend's girl. In this case ex-girl but it’s all still the same. If Farah thought I was going to be a coward at this pathetic attempt at intimidating me, then she’s stupider than I thought. Cyrus said he had things figured out and I was trusting him on that. Besides, it’s not much she could do if I don’t admit anything.

“You truly are such a bitch,” Jenna said.

I roll my eyes. “Takes one to know one,” I say before walking out of the kitchen.

“Stop sleeping with my fiance!” She yells at me.

Honestly, I did feel bad about the whole thing. She wouldn’t be paranoid if Cyrus paid her more attention. It would bug me a little that he’s seeing me while also seeing her, but I just want them off my back. Plus, I’ve been indulging with his best man, so it was only fair he that indulges his fiance. In any case, the trip to Penshaw was going to be hard to do with Farah being so set on him taking me somewhere. Still, I had to keep trusting Cyrus on this one. He said things were under control.