Belle

𝑋𝑋𝐼

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My phone was blowing up.

Ever since I told him I couldn't hang out, Anthony has been persistent. I received a text from him more than once an hour. Mostly random things but it was irritating when I'd be in the middle of a class and have my phone begin to go off.

"Why don't you block his number?" Calista asks from beside me and I look at her faking shock. "Wow! Why didn't I think of that?" I reply, sarcasm dripping from my tongue, Cal just rolls her eyes. "So if you have thought of it, why haven't you done it yet?"

I didn't have a proper answer for her.

Part of me just believed there was another side to the story, a side none of us could've known existed. Yes, I was partially skeptical of Celia and Dylan's conversation I'd overheard, Celia and Gale getting together right after that conversation, and what Ace said Anthony told him. I wasn't jealous, I had Ace, but I have reason to believe these weren't just coincidental.

"A?" Riley's voice takes me out of my own thoughts. "Where's your head?" Her eyes are concerned, an emotion I didn't see on Riley often, if ever. The four of us- Riley, Calista, Elani, and I- were seated on the floor of the pit and Kaden and Ace were somewhere upstairs.

"I need to say something but please don't call me crazy," I whisper, they look at me confused but nod for me to continue. "I think Celia and Anthony are connected- I think Celia asked Anthony to try and get between me and Gale," I theorize, but Calista shakes her head. "But why would he push you and Ace apart if her goal is Gale? And why would Gale even be a problem?" She asks, trying to make sense of the things I'd been saying.

"The other day when I was walking to class I overheard Dylan and Celia talking. Dylan was angry at something Celia did, she was talking about getting someone away from Gale but they'd already moved on. She didn't want whoever it was to figure out. It's vague but who else would she be trying to get away from Gale than his ex-girlfriend of years?" I explain, Calista looks at the floor deep in thought.

"And that's why Dylan was glaring at Celia and Gale yesterday?" Riley questions, speaking up for the first time since the topic arose. I nod at her, confident I was correct. "We need to tell Kaden and Ace," Calista mumbles, earning hums in agreement. Elani looks at me worriedly, "but after all of that, why would he still try to push Ace away from you?"

"Because his target changed" A deep voice calls from the doorway. The three of us turn to see Dylan standing beside Kaden and Ace. "What do you mean?" Calista asks, speaking the question on all our minds. He walks forward and I feel my heart thump loudly in my chest. My eyes connect with Ace's as the three of them get closer. His eyes hold fury I hadn't seen in years. Probably cause he hadn't been sober this long in years, I could finally see his green eyes clearly, and every emotion that was held in them.

"What I mean is," Dylan starts, taking a seat across from us, "Anthony is Celia's half brother. He runs some street gang or something, so when he heard that his little sister was obsessed with a guy who was still into his ex, he went after Gale. Didn't work, Celia told him he should to make you move on first and Gale would follow. He needed to make sure you had no more feelings for Gale. Celia didn't mean for anything to happen between you and Ace, she's stupid but she's not a flat-out bitch. That part was fully Anthony, he has some sort of obsession with you, and thats not safe. He's not going to let go unless Celia calls him off," Riley opens her mouth to reply but Dylan is quick,

"Before saying anything, remember this; Ce has been whipped for Gale since pre-school. When he and Ara broke up that was her chance. But then she finds out, while they are in bed, that he's not over you. He moaned your name Ara, It tore her apart having to pretend she didn't hear it. What she did was terrible but she doesn't deserve credit for all of this. Anthony is just as fucked up, if not more." When he stops talking I look up again at Ace and see his eyes wide with anger. I quickly get up and grab his forearm, pulling him up and walking him out the door.