Chapter 61

Andy's POV

His eyes met mine and I could not help but blush. “Thank you,” I whispered.

At least this whole thing will be over soon enough.

“I have some work to do, so if you would excuse me,” Jason said as he got up from the chair.
I could tell he wanted to be in a different space.

“Oh okay” I said as I stood up too and shyly made my way to my room.

I wanted him to stay back but I wasn't going to give in to that. I went to my room and decided to wait for news from him while waiting for Bree to return home from the beach.

I walked to my room and plopped on the bed as I thought of it all. The thought of how despicable Rosalie and Peter were made me angry and even if Jason had assured me that he would track them down, it didn’t completely calm my anger.

Without thinking it through, I opened my phone and scrolled to my messages and unblocked Rosalie. I hesitated for a bit as my heart started pounding loudly against my chest because I knew me texting her was stupid but I was past thinking sanely, before I knew it, I started typing a message to her.

Me: Why are you following me? What exactly is your deal? Why are you so obsessed with me?

She immediately read my message but she didn’t reply, after a few more minutes, her reply came in and my phone vibrated.

Rosalie: What exactly are you talking about? Last I knew, you told me to avoid you so why are you texting me?

I was stunned, was she really trying to act stupid? The fuck was wrong with her? I angrily started typing again and sent another message to her.

Me: Drop the fucking act! I know you are the one that has been texting me anonymously, I know you are the one who took that picture!

She sent a series of laughing emojis before she finally texted a short reply.

Rosalie: Oh that?

I don’t know why but that only enraged me the more and I was about to type a reply to her when another message entered from her.

Rosalie: Why were you all cozy with Bree’s dad? What would poor Bree think about it all?

Her words took me off guard and my breath caught in my throat. My hands were shaking as I read her message over and over again. She knew. Somehow, she had realized that he was Bree’s father and she’d seen me with Jason, and now she was holding it over my head, threatening to ruin everything.

Me: Why are you doing this, Rosalie? What do you even want?

I watched the typing bubble appear, then disappear, before finally, her reply came.

Rosalie: Because I feel like it. And because I can. I don’t want anything.

Her casual tone made my blood boil. The arrogance, the way she was so unbothered by the chaos she was stirring in my life- it was infuriating.

Me: You already took Peter. What else do you want from me for fuck’s sake? Do you not have better things to do with your time? Is your life that miserable?

Rosalie: I do not know what you’re talking about. Me? Miserable? I’m not the one who was kissing her roommate's father so I don’t know what you mean. I just happened to see you with your roommate’s father, that’s all. It would be a shame if Bree found out…

Her message taunted me, each word laced with malice. My head started pounding as I thought of what Bree would do if she found out. I could almost see the look of betrayal and disgust on her face. I’d lose her forever. She would be so hurt.

Me: Rosalie please don’t do this. It’s not what it looks like, it was all a mistake. Something that happened at the spur of the moment. It is not what you think.

After I sent the message, she didn’t say anything. I waited, one minute, two, three, five and I thought she was not going to say anything. But, after ten long minutes that felt like hours, she replied but it only tightened the knot in my stomach.

Rosalie: Oh I know what exactly it looks like, trust me. And I bet Bree would kill you when she sees it.

I immediately started panicking and I forgot how to breathe. What if she had already sent the picture to Bree? My fingers tightened around my phone as dread filled me. Bree was out at the beach, unreachable, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around her. I couldn’t sit here waiting. I had to get to Bree before she sees it if Rosalie really has sent it.

I didn’t think it through before I got up and dressed up, running out of my room. I didn’t know when I got to the beach but on my way there, different thoughts kept swirling in my head as to how Bree would react and every scenario made my heart squeeze. It was going to be unbearable.

When I got to our usual spot, Bree wasn’t there so I started searching for her frantically. I was getting worried when I didn’t find her when finally my eyes finally landed on her.

She was by the water with Tyler and Emily and they were playing and splashing themselves with water. Relief flooded through me, my knees nearly giving out as I realized she was blissfully unaware of everything.

I approached them, trying to keep my face neutral despite the panic swirling inside me. Bree noticed me first, her face lighting up with a smile.
“Hey, Andy! What’s wrong with you? You look like you have just seen a ghost.”

I shook my head as I wore a fake smile. “Nothing is wrong with me, I just wanted to make sure you were fine.”

She looked at me with surprise, her smile becoming wider. “Uh, yeah? Why wouldn’t it be? I’m just chilling.”

I let out a slow breath, nodding as relief washed over me. I greeted the rest.

Rosalie hadn’t sent the picture. For now, Bree was safe from the ugly truth. I stayed back for a bit to make sure Rosalie still didn't send it.

Soon, it began to get dark and due to my experience at night at the same beach, I didn’t want it to get dark with me still there. I said goodbye to them as Bree was not ready to leave yet and started walking home.

I was almost at the mansion when I started feeling unsettled. It felt like someone was following me and every time I stopped or kept walking, they did the same thing. My heart started beating faster as I looked back to see if anyone was there but there was no one. But I could not just show the feeling of me being followed away.

My gut shouted at me to run so I continued walking, picking up my pace before I eventually started running as fast as I could. My breathing was labored and my legs were aching but I didn’t stop as I tried to get to the house as fast as I could. I did not dare look back or slow down.

Just as I was about to reach the house, I got something hard and I felt someone pull me into them, I let out a scream as I started crying. I tried to pull away and run but the person only held me tighter.

“Please leave me alone,” I begged, amidst tears.

“Hey, hey! Andy, it’s me! It’s Jason.”

I couldn’t make out the words but I knew the voice was familiar so while still shaking with panic and looked up, that was when I saw than it was Jason and I instantly calmed down. I tried to stop crying but I was full shaking with fear.

“I… I thought-“ I tried to talk boy I could not make a proper sentence.

He pulled me closer to him and wrapped me in a hug. “What happened? Are you okay?”

I let out a shaky breathe, trying to steady my racing heart. “I think… someone was following me. I kept hearing their footsteps but every time I turned to look, no one was there.”

His expression became dark as he took in my words, his eyes left mine as he looked around and towards the path I was coming from. “Stay here. I’ll go check it out.”

“No!” I yelled as I pulled on his arm tightly. “Please don’t leave me alone, what if they come for me when you leave?”

He looked back at me and nodded at me, his expression softening.
“Okay, I won't go anywhere. Let’s go inside.” he said and I tried to relax in his arms.