Serena

13-Lies and truths

Later that day, I went downstairs to get something to eat. I went to the kitchen and found Martha preparing dinner.

"Oh hey dear, I didn't see you there." She gave me a smile.

"It's fine, I just came to get something to eat." I responded.

"Won't you eat dinner with the rest of the family?"

"I don't feel like it." I respond.

"You know, Eli, Jason and Ronan won't be here tonight." She said while cutting some onions.

That got my attention. "Why?"

"They are hanging out with some friends and told me to not wait for them. They are probably crashing at one of their friends' house."

I hummed in response. I grabbed some biscuits and left the kitchen.

I was going upstairs when I was met with Nate. Without giving him a second glance I tried to walk past him. Keyword being tried.

He was blocking the way with his body so I couldn't leave. I looked at him annoyed but he just stood there watching me while I was impatiently waiting for him to say something.

"You okay?" He finally said. His question caught me off guard. I hadn't expected it considering they didn't give two fucks about me.

It is weird how they start paying attention to me when Ronan is gone.

"It's none of your business." I went to walk past him but he didn't let me, again.

"Don't talk to me like that. I just asked if you were okay." He said with a hint of anger. "Sorry for being concerned about my sister's wellbeing."

I was mentally laughing.

"I don't need your fake concern."

He clenched his jaw and was ready to say something but before he could I ran to my room. This time he didn't stop me.

***

Later in the evening there was a knock on my door. They didn't even wait for my answer before I heard the door being open.

I looked up and saw Dean and Cade. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What is wrong with you?" Dean said. I just looked at them refusing to answer.

"Look we're worried about you. You didn't look well these past few days." Cade gave me a concerned look.

He really looked worried. Was he perhaps telling... the truth?

No. I can't fall for their act again. Never again.

"I'm surprised you had the time to look at me considering you haven't given a shit about me for quite some days now."

"Nate was right. She's just being a nuisance." Before he could say more Cade stopped him.

He was watching me carefully as if he was trying to figure out something. Like he was searching for something.

"The change started when Ronan came." Cade stated.

I tried to not give myself.

"That's something we already knew. They haven't gotten along since that day." Dean whined.

"Yeah, I know." Cade whispered, watching me intently.

I, on the other hand, was just listening to them. I couldn't wait for this to be over.

"What are you looking for anyway? I doubt you came to check if I'm okay."

"Such an ungrateful brat. We try to show compassion and she still behaves this way." Dean said harshly.

He grabbed Cade's arm and began to walk to the door but Cade didn't budge. He just stayed there, watching me.

"You were telling the truth back then, weren't you?" Cade suddenly asked.

My eyes widened. Is this a dream or did I actually hear that right?

"What are you talking about Cade? Of course she wasn't." Dean argued. "I thought that was settled two years ago."

Cade gave me a knowing look as if he already knew the answer.

"At first I believed that too. But as the years passed I became more and more suspicious." He began talking.

"When Serena first came to Eli and told him what she saw, we believed her. And suddenly she tells us that her friend was guilty and not Ronan. And we all believed her again."

"Because that was the truth."

"No, it wasn't." Cade responded looking at me with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.

I just stood there. Dumbfounded. I couldn't believe how the things had turned in a span of just a few minutes.

"If she was telling the truth why didn't she just tell the police. She testified Cade. Against her." Dean pointed at me.

"That is something only Serena knows. Care to share with us?" Cade raised an eyebrow.

I couldn't believe this was happening. I can't tell them the truth. Not anymore. Because it's not only my life on the line, but hers too.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I spoke.

Dean gave Cade a 'I told you so' look but Cade ignored him completely, still not believing anything I said.

"Why don't you like Ronan then? What has he done to you?" Cade continued.

Couldn't he just drop it. I didn't want to talk about it.

"Because he's an asshole." I know Cade wouldn't fall for this but I couldn't think of another reason. My mind was completely blank.

"Try again, sis."

"I don't know what you want to hear from me. Everything was said two years ago. I don't know why you are still asking." I raised my voice.

I was on the verge of panicking. I couldn't let them see me like that. It would raise his suspicions more.

"Because you weren't telling the truth back then. And you are still lying now." He continued.

"How do you know? How can you be so sure?" I argued back.

"Because I was fuelled by anger back then. I couldn't think straight. I chose to believe what everyone else thought as the truth." Cade said.

"But looking at you now, I know something is wrong. Hell, something has been wrong with you since that day."

He was right, but I couldn't confirm his suspicions.

"I can't believe I'm saying this again." Dean went in front of Cade. "That was the T.R.U.T.H." He said like he was talking to a toddler.

"Dean's right. Listen to your brother and stop this nonsense." I said hoping he would drop it.

"He's your brother too." Cade commented.

"All of you stopped being my brothers for a while now" I whispered, but by the look on their faces it was clear that they heard it.

"That's not true." Dean told me.

"Believe what you want."

Cade stayed silent, just looking at me in his analytical way.

"I will discover the truth with or without your help." Cade finally said before exiting the room. Dean went after him trying to convince him otherwise.

I just stood there sat in my bed, frozen.

What do I do now?