Returning Red

#12: Spite.

one bullet is a lifetime supply

Isabella

It isn't about right or wrong. Some choices don't have to be either of them. They're just choices our minds make, hoping they would lead us somewhere good.

I don't know what happened between Jacob and them. But I do know that whatever happened left a scar that no amount of makeup can hide. And the choice I made, of spending the rest of yesterday with Jacob, I don't regret.

When times change a lot of things fail to remain the same. Like how Jacob brushed away the topic by keeping up the constant chit-chat. He feared to let it all out. It was like he was walking on eggshells, cautious of every step. 

I bought another pillbox but I had to pay extra money because I had no prescription. I never had one, but the US never charged me extra for it. I hid it safely inside my bag and I knew actually the moment I calmed down.

Our trip to the gift store later was fun. He helped me buy the simplest of gifts and then added the spark by helping me customize them. It's a sketch of the five of us in the pool from about eight years ago. I don't know how Jacob made that happen but I just gave the picture of the five of us from eight years back and he got the sketching done, looking exactly like how the scene went on. The frame is big and colorful. I guess my eyes dwelling up was one of the signs that the gift is good enough.

Along with a frame, I bought a small platinum pendant with a trash bin charm and a recycle symbol on the trash bin. The pendent's design is copied down on the Girard-Perregaux watch.

I safely kept it in my side of the closet and walked back to the clubhouse. It was almost time for dinner. My stomach was beginning to growl. All I did today was attend the meetings online and spend a refreshing hour on therapy. With all the strange things happening, I had to update Katherine before I completely lost my sanity. 

There was still time for the restaurant to open, so I joined the huddle around the casino table in the clubhouse. As soon as I neared them, Jason and Austin kept staring at me and then they just looked away.

"Hey, the backstabber's back," Austin mocked me loudly just as I stood behind May's chair.

I looked up straight from May's chair to find him gawking at me. I frowned but I didn't ask him to explain.

"Austin, come on, give it up," Julie nudged him from the other side. "It's getting annoying."

I wanted to thank her for making sense but my ego was too big to thank the girl who had potentially taken my place in his life.

"Honesty is annoying, Jules. But I'm not kidding. She could actually write a book, about the hundred different ways of backstabbing your friends. She's an expert now." Austin declared again and I sighed, turning around and deciding to skip dinner.

It was embarrassing enough that he was the one saying it and now when he's doing it shamelessly in front of everyone, I don't know how long I was going to stand there and take it. I was about to leave when Liam held my wrists and shook his head.

"Austin, that's enough," Lee nodded with a more authoritative voice, "Continue the game,"

Austin smirked looking at me as he slowly shook his head. "Everyone wants to protect the damsel in distress. Well done, your plan is working." He showed me a thumbs up.

"Austin. Enough," Julie yelled and he shut up, but he didn't look away.

They were playing poker. A lot of chips were already dealt. I glanced at Austin smirking as he glanced at everyone. He sucked at keeping a poker face. He had all the cards in his favor and his face showed it like an open book.