From Mine to Ours

44: Betrayal.

The sound of my rapid heart beat is almost ringing in my ears. The signs were always there, but the proof was lacking. We were alway so close, so close to discovering the truth. Excitement ran through our veins each time we crossed a name off the list, bringing us a name further to who's truly behind this.

Tyler brought this entire investigation forward more than we ever could've on our own, that's a simple fact. So, coming together to bring this to an end should be relieving, exhilarating even. This is exactly what we hoped for. Bringing this to a close before the Holidays...

Only, one thing we forgot in all of our excitement is that the truth can hurt sometimes. The truth may not always be what we originally expected.

The signs were always there, only... they never pointed at him too.

"Noah?!" I rush past a worried Sebastian. I can hear his rush footsteps behind me as he catches up to me by the stairs fairly quickly. "Noah?!"

No, no no! It can't be. Why would he do this to us? I thought we were friends...

The heavy weight of the truth lays in my back pocket. My phone holding evidence that can truly bring this all to an end. The truth that we've been begging for and now I'm on the verge of tossing it all out the window. I need to find him. Talk to him-

"NOAH!" A large hand stops me on a wall in the empty staircase. The sound of our heavy breathing echoes in the tall area, making me realize how fast we were really going. "Noah, baby, what happened?" His other hand comes up to my chest, placing it right over my fast heart, soothing me just enough to bring my eyes back to him. His bright eyes that have darkened with worry. His eyebrows creased with concern, lips parting with the urge to probably say more.

I shake my head, "she... told me something I guess I wasn't prepared to hear,"

He shakes his head at me, trying to understand my words despite my vagueness. "What do you mean, Love?" His thumb is now swiping back and forth on my calming heart, almost bringing a much needed smile to my face.

"It was always Cadence," my back slides on the wall until I'm firmly slumped down on the ground only for his much larger frame to catch me and practically shield me from the rest of the world for these few brief moments. "I always knew it was her, but not-" a shaky breath is given to my lungs. Fingers thread through my dark locks, his soft taps along the hand he's now holding matching the beat of my heart.

Looking up at his silence, I notice the realization crossing his features. His eyes lock on mine, mutual understand and empathy silently crossing between us. In the distance, further down the staircase, we hear a door open, putting our moment on pause enough for him to help me back up onto my feet. Immediately, he pulls me into one of his big and comforting hugs, his breathing now syncing with my own. Leaning back, he leaves his hands on my sagged shoulders, "what do you want to do?" He whispers.

My head drops again at the question, "I'm going to go talk to him,"

Fingers pull my chin back up, "are you sure?"

I nod without hesitation, "I need to talk to him before going to Sarah and Jennifer with this," the note of quivering reaches my voice. I'm... sad. That's all I can say about any of this. He... a friend betrayed me.

Betrayal.

He betrayed me. The trust we built... does that mean anything to anyone anymore? How can people hurt someone they valiantly claimed to appreciate? So easily too... as if it were any other day.

Ah... why am I getting that sense of déjà vu?

I pull out of his grasp with a puff of pure bitterness. I avoid all eye contact, my heart simply not in the mood. When is a heart ever in the mood for this? No matter how hurt it's been before, having it happen all over again is like digging into a scabbed over would. Opening it and tearing at it all over again. One can only get used to it, but never be prepared for it. Before my hand can reach the railing to continue my venture down the stairs, his voice behind me reigns me back in. "I'm coming with you."