Book 2: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

I'm unsure if I heard her correctly. It sounded like Farah just said they were getting married. Cyrus and Jenna were soon to be newlyweds. The news wasn't anything I wanted to hear. My heart felt like it broke in two receiving this information. We hadn't talked in a year so that I couldn't be angry. I was more upset than anything else because it should have been me! If only he had made the right decision, Farah wouldn't be here telling me this horse shit.

"I'm not going," I blurt out without giving it much thought.

The woman was insane to think I was going to sit there and watch them get married. I don't want to hear them exchanging vows and telling each other how in love they are. I rather stick scissors in my eardrums than listen to that. There was no way Cyrus was going through with this. He was very adamant about not wanting to be with her, so why was he going to spend the rest of his life trapped in a loveless marriage? I wanted no parts of it.

Farah chuckled as she looked at me, this time with a different facial expression. It was almost like she was pleading with me to be understanding. She would never ask me to do anything that much, is for sure. This time, she needed my help, and it was like the whole wedding depended on if I went. I was unsure if she was serious or if she wanted to boast about the way things turned out. Either way, The question was so out of the blue, and I didn't know what to do.

"See, I need you to be there," she spoke in a frustrated tone.

I roll my eyes. "For what? Haven't you guys humiliated me enough?"

Farah nods, agreeing with my point. "I'm truly sorry, but you don't understand." She said, "Jenna only has two friends, and for this wedding to be a success, we need more than two bridesmaids."

My eyes widen as the anger builds inside me. "You are not asking me this," I start to get frantic. "No, not a chance."

She came up to me, grabbing my hands gently. "We both know I wouldn't be coming to you for anything if I weren't desperate." She had a point. "It would be an honor if you did this one thing for me. Your friends will be there, and you'll see Cyrus."

Farah knew the only reason I'd agree to this shit was to see Cyrus again. I know he was getting married, but I wanted a chance to clear the air with him. It won't go over as well as it did with Jay. However, it's passed the time for pettiness. If Cyrus was pleased with Jenna, who am I to stop him? Not to mention that he still doesn't know what was happening between Jay and me. I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time until he does. He'll probably never want to talk to me again afterward, giving him more reasons to marry Jenna. This was devastating, but Farah was practically begging me.

Before I could say anything, Jeremy stepped in. It was nice to see him taking the initiative to protect me, especially against his boss.

"I don't mean to be rude, but do you think this is a good idea?" He asked her. "You didn't take too kindly to her, but Autumn and Cyrus had something special. Is it in either of their best interest to see each other like this?"

Farah sighed, listening to Jer. That's about the only person she would listen to. "No, but I have no choice," her voice went soft. "Nothing at the house has changed, and unlike the competition, there won't be such strict rules."

I'll give her credit for trying to persuade me, but staying in their house while Jenna is there with Cyrus would drive me mad. Who knows what they'll possibly be doing in his room? The room where I've spent many nights and sometimes days. The bed I slept in cuddled up in Cyrus' arms. It would be hard to deal with them being a level above me, and nothing can be done about it.

Regardless, my heart wouldn't budge on my wanting to see him. It wasn't ideal, and he'll have questions about it, but it was worth a shot. We didn't need to rekindle our spark. Just let bygones be bygones. In the end, we might not be suitable for each other. Plus, I didn't need more Jenna drama than we already had. It was going to be her day and her wedding. There was no way I was coming in between that.

Jeremy sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Well, Autumn, if you're ok with it, then I guess it's fine," he left it to me to decide.

I looked at Farah, crossing my arms in front of my chest. "Fine, but I'm not staying at that house," I say, refusing to be near Jenna or Cyrus.

She perked up, nodding her head in agreement. "It's a deal! So long as you come to the house when needed."

"Whatever," I shrug.

Part of me was going to regret this decision. It's not like I had anything better to do, though. Revisiting Sunbury would be great as I haven't been there in a while. This time my whole family gets to come along and experience what I did last year. Hopefully, things will go by swiftly. Their wedding better be the talk of the century because I'm not doing this shit again.

Farah said goodbye to us before my mom walked her out. Why is the world always like this? First, Jay returns, and then I find out Cyrus is getting married. Since last year, my life has been full of never-ending surprises. Meeting Jay and Cyrus have cursed me for the rest of eternity. I had to get through this wedding. That’s all, get through the wedding.

Quickly, I took out my phone and did a group video call. I wasn’t the only one she asked to participate in this charade. Luckily for me, there will be people that I want to spend time with. Right now, it was time for me to freak out!

“It’s nice to know we were all asked to be her bridesmaids,” Bradyn said happily.

“I even get to come along for the ride this time!” Kira was excited.

Of course, I had to be the one not thrilled about any of this. “You guys, he’s marrying the spawn of satan,” I say. The news shell shocked me.

Twila sighed, feeling my pain. “I’m shocked you agreed to it.”

It shocked me, too, because Jenna wasn’t ever friendly to me. She used all my secrets against me to get what she wanted. Now I was expected to be her bridesmaid. Farah was out of her mind, but as she said, she was desperate. If Jenna had more friends, she wouldn’t be turning to us in the first place.

Speaking of which, Sienna and Ocean most likely would be a part of this as well. They’re her friends and seemed to be her only friends. That’s not enough for a wedding—especially one sponsored by the Hadids. I’m surprised Twila wasn’t worried the way I was. She did have a big fight with Sienna, although they made up. It’s been a year since they’ve seen each other. Will this turn out well for any of us?

“This could be a good thing, right?” I asked with some hope.

They took a minute to respond. Their silence wasn’t helping me in the slightest. It scared me that they thought it was a mistake. Oh my god, was I making a mistake?!

Bradyn finally spoke up, putting me at ease. “Look on the bright side; you get to see his beautiful face again.” Yes, that made me feel great.

“Haha, yes, that’s lovely,” I say sarcastically. “On the bright side, we can do more fun things in Sunbury!”

They agreed on that. “What are we doing first?” Kira had no idea what she was getting into.

“First, we need to take her to that sandwich shop!” Twila yelled.

Ah, the sandwich place was always so delightful. Aside from the wedding, we would have a great time together. I’m not sure about Jenna, but we would have fun regardless of if she hangs with us or not. This time I’m going to treat it like a vacation and not go back on my word! As long as my girls were around, things will be fine.

“I wonder if we’ll be in the same rooms as before?” Bradyn pondered.

I shake my head. “Oh no, I’m not staying there,” I say abruptly.

They gasp. “How can you not stay in that house? You’re going to mess up our daily routine.” Twila was mad at me.

Still, I was not backing down. “Sorry, but I can’t do it. Being feet away from the person I love with someone else isn’t going to fly.”

If we were in the same rooms as before, we’d wake up and have breakfast together, most likely go shopping and whatever other activities we had lined up. However, there was no chance I was staying in their home. My heart couldn’t do it, and I wasn’t going to torture myself over it. If my presents weren’t required, it would not show itself. Farah already agreed to the terms, so there should be no issues.

On the other hand, I haven’t thought of where to stay. I couldn’t stay home and drive up there whenever they needed me. It was too long of a drive to go back and forth. Plus, there was no telling what we would be doing daily. Wasting gas wasn’t in the cards for me, especially with the high prices in Sunbury. There was also a hotel as an option, but I was called crazy for suggesting it.

“You’re going to stay in a hotel versus the Hadid home?” Twila asked me like I didn’t make sense.

“Where you’re practically waited on hand and foot? You’re nuts!” Bradyn added.

It wasn’t enough to change my mind, though. “Well, I’ll miss out on that perk this time around. No biggie.”

Kira didn’t agree with my decision either. “At least choose somewhere other than a hotel,” she suggested. “Have you seen the cost for one night in Sunbury? It’s ridiculous.”

The cost was never a factor in my planning, and now that she mentioned it, she was right. Staying in a hotel at Sunbury was also a privilege, not an honor. I’d be paying for a room for who knows how long on top of food costs and whatever else I buy. My pockets would be empty within a day. Jeremy would most likely help me out, but I couldn’t ask that of him either. Why did Farah have to come here again?

All hope wasn’t lost as there was another place in Sunbury I could stay. So long as I was welcomed, which I always was.

“Guys, I think I have a wild idea.”