Book 2: Chapter 20

***Chapter 20***

The wedding shower was today, and the bridal party was stuck setting things up with Farah. It's a mystery why she didn't have anyone else do this. Usually, Farah would have a team of people working for her. Somehow, we got stuck doing all the work and it was a lot to do. Jenna of course does not have to lift a finger because it's her shower. This shit sucked!

We had to get dressed early to get here and help her out. The worst part being that I was extremely exhausted. Farah called us up around 5 in the morning and we've been working ever since. Setting up tables, blowing up balloons, we even had to arrange their presents in order from smallest to biggest. All of this was insane, but we agreed to be a part of this nonsense. Though we weren't getting paid for all this extra set up.

We had about another hour before the shower started as people started filling in. We were still blowing up a few more balloons to add a bit more excitement to this drab party. Regardless of what we were doing, I enjoyed hanging out with the girls any chance we got. It was even more fun as we were digging deeper into what Bradyn had going on with Ashton.

"How did that even happen? You've never mentioned anyone until now," Kira was shocked like I was. We all were stunned by this information.

Bradyn sighed, tying a balloon. "I didn't mention it because I didn't think we were going to become anything serious," she explained herself.

I squint my eyes at her. "You obviously have something brewing there." That much was obvious.

"I say make a move what could possibly go wrong?" Twila asked.

There wasn't much that would happen in a bad way. The main thing is that Ashton doesn't seem to want to do anything about this romance now. It would be great if Bradyn would swoop in and ask him on a date. It was rare for women to initiate the date, but it's not out of the ordinary either. At the same time, Ashton might turn her down if she asked. The whole thing was up in the air, but it wouldn't kill Bradyn to give it a shot.

"That's the thing though, if I ask him, he'll just say no," Bradyn said with hurt in her voice.

"And how do you know that?" Kira asked.

"Because he wants to wait there's nothing, I could do about it," she said upsettingly. "Besides die inside every time I see him."

We all laughed as she was joking about that last part. I felt her pain and could relate to her in every way. That's exactly how I felt when I wanted Cyrus last year. Yearning for him every chance I could. It was hard playing the waiting game when you really wanted someone. Especially when they were right in front of you. The best thing Bradyn could do was play along until this wedding crap was over. Ashton said that's what he is waiting for though the weeks were going by dreadfully slowly.

Finishing up, the guests started piling in as the last people to arrive were Jenna and her family. Once everyone was here things settled down as we were split up into tables. Jenna's bridesmaids and Cyrus's groomsmen sat at the same table. I made it a point to sit next to Jay mainly because he wanted me too anyway. Much to my dismay, Kameron sat on the other side of him making things awkward. It didn't help that she looked stunning either with her long blonde locks cascading down her back. She wore this beautiful red dress that fit her curves like a glove. It didn't make any sense how Jay was avoiding her advances. That bitch looked so good in everything she wore. We weren't competing with one another because Jay only had eyes for me, but it sure felt like we were.

Despite that being in the back of my head, this table was having a blast cracking jokes with one another. I've never been a part of a big group like this before. I didn't have many friends growing up through school and my only friend until I came to Sunbury was Kira. It was nice feeling accepted and welcomed amongst people whose world I was never invited into until recently. They weren't like the stereotypical rich people either. They were all humble, making this process easier to adjust to.

Unfortunately, our fun didn't last long as Farah started to make an announcement out of the microphone.

"Hello everyone, thank you all for coming to our beautiful wedding shower that was put together by our lovely group of bridesmaids," Farah thanked us to the applause of everyone. "That being said, I have a little game that I organized to be played by all of us here. If you look, there's a few cards on your table that have instructions for you to follow. It would be wise to pair up and take these photos throughout the night. By the end, we'll share the photos up here on the screen and whoever completes the most tasks wins! Good luck and if you have any gifts for our engaged couple, please leave them at the table in the far corner."

We all looked down at the card we were supposed to follow, and it was a bit ridiculous but fun. The only thing I dreaded was taking a picture of Cyrus and Jenna kissing. Then having to see that on the big screen multiple times was going to be a gut to the heart. However, I could use this game to my advantage. While he's distracted by this game, I'll be able to get out of giving Cyrus an answer that I didn't have. It was perfect!

Things got even better once Jay finally spoke to me personally. The first time of the night.

"Alright gorgeous, you know you have to be my partner, right?" He questioned with that soft smile on his face.

I smirked while leaning back in my chair. "Mm, don't you think that's a stretch?"

He scoffed. "Please, everyone knows your off limits," that's the first I'm hearing of this.

I raised a brow. "Everyone? Define everyone," I say.

"For starters, these fools right here and I'm sure your friends know our situation." He was right about that. "Now stop questioning me and let's win this thing!"

I laughed as his finger poked at my nose. I don't know why that made me blush, but it did and that was the wrong thing for me to do because everyone at the table was staring. The girls knew everything, but I wasn't sure how much Jay told the other guys. Ashton literally asked me if I was Cyrus's girl and here Jay was being a bit careless. The way their eyes stared at us knowingly drove me mad. But not as mad as what Kameron decided she was going to do next.

Standing up, Kameron walked behind Jay bending down to his face. Her hands wrapped around him resting perfectly on his chest. She knew what she was doing and doing it on purpose to make me jealous. It worked in her favor too as I was seething at the result.

"I was going to ask you to be partners, but you've made your choice. Good luck sweetie," she said while kissing his cheek seductively.

She walked away ruffling his hair in the process. The way my teeth clenched, and my leg shook violently was a sight to see. That little gesture made me annoyingly angry I couldn't control it. Jay noticed that reassuring me that he did not sign up for that. Though it didn't do much to comfort me.

"Ok, she came on to me," he said holding his hands up in defense.

I rolled my eyes getting up to walk away. I wasn't mad at him, but fuck was I pissed. Unfortunately, I took my anger out on him unintentionally making us sort of lose the contest. It was fun seeing the pictures on the screen, however. We had to take one of people dancing, someone laughing, and even making a toast. The one picture that got to me was Jenna and Cyrus kissing.

Looking at the picture made feel sort of guilty that he was still coming on to me. He clearly had some sort of feelings for Jenna otherwise he wouldn't be kissing her. So why would he ask me to sneak around with him? It didn't make any sense and certainly led me to want to say no. The whole idea was stupid and wasn't worth the drama. Jay and I doing things the way we've been was drama enough. Can't deny that the picture is cute.

Regardless, we finished looking at the photos and ironically Sienna and Jules won the game. It was a pair I wasn't expecting, but they definitely took the most photos. The whole game aside, everything settled down before it was time for the bride and groom to open their gifts. In the meantime, I grabbed a drink at the bar only to be greeted by Cyrus himself.

I've avoided him the whole day up until now. Of course, he would find time to come and talk to me when no one was paying attention. This margarita couldn't even save me. Here I was forced to make a decision that could change the shape of this whole wedding. This was the night that started the demise of this shame of a wedding. If only I made the right choice.

"Did you think you could avoid me all night?" Cyrus questioned ordering a drink himself.

I sipped my margarita undecided still. "No, but I did pretty good don't ya think?" I tried to make light of the situation.

"Times ticking, Autumn," he said not in the mood for my antics. "What's it gonna be?"

I contemplated answering him because I truly didn't know what to say. This isn't the first time he made me nervous but it's the most nervous I've felt in a while around him. There was no right or wrong answer, however there were morals involved in this one.

Sighing, I sipped my drink again this time looking at him. "Cyrus, you can't expect this to end well. I mean I saw your pictures with Jenna, you have to have some sort of feelings for her by now." I argued trying to get out of it.

He turned to me with the blankest expression on his face. "Autumn, I promise you I don't feel a single ounce of romantic feelings for that girl." He was telling the truth. "If I did, I wouldn't be trying to get you back."

"Your way of getting me back stinks," I say with a pout. "There has to be another way."

"Well, there isn't without my mother finding out," he seemed tired of this conversation. "Look, A, I know it's not ideal but it's all we've got. I want to be able to hold you again, kiss those beautiful soft lips, spend time the way we used to spend time. My life has been so empty without you in it, I need you to make me feel whole again."

The way he said that made me feel obligated to say yes. I've missed all those things and more too but that didn't make what we were going to do right. Not to mention my side romance going on with Jay still. How was one supposed to juggle not hurting someone's feelings while also holding onto a huge secret? We were playing a dangerous game this time around. There was so much at stake with both our reputations on the line. So many possibilities, what do I do?

Sighing, I asked more questions. "How would we even go about this? What's the protocol?"

Cyrus shrugged, "Well, it'll have to be late nights again and away from my house," he explained. "Though if you wanted to sleepover, I wouldn't hate that either." He winked.

I giggled looking away from him. "Don't you sleep with Jenna?" I ask.

"If I did, I wouldn't say you could sleepover now, would I?" He then lit up. "Does that mean you agree?"

I bit my lip nervous to say this out loud, but what more did I have to lose? My biggest threat wasn't Jenna, it was Kameron. Having them both with me would make her see that she has no power in this race. No matter how much she goes out of her way to make me angrily jealous. I'll still win. In the long run, it was stupid of me but for now I say fuck it.

"Yes, I agree."