Genies pov
Location: hotel room
After I stormed out of the attic I hunted Brendin down for the car keys. I was angry, hurt, and confused. Why was I doing this to him? Why was he doing this to ME? We had such intimate moments together, nothing sexual or physical, but the times we had together was something sex couldn't compare to. When it was just him and I, the world felt calm. I commonly think back to us laying in the grass after hiking up this trail. The sun casted a warm glow on the both of us as our exhausted bodies relaxed on the soft soil, surrounded by tall trees. The birds sung their melodies in the distance. That's the day we opened up to each other and fell in love. I remember laying inches away from his face, studying him. We just sat there for a bit, staring at one another amongst the comfortable silence. The sun and the shadows dance around us as the sky began to shift colors. I could recall every detail, and no amount of sex could ever make me feel the way I did that day. I think that's why we never kissed, it felt like we were already past that.
So why was he doing this with me and not his girlfriend? It made my head spin. Was this some cruel sick joke?
Did he think that kind of behavior was appropriate between two friends? It was like he was oblivious to the fact that we were in love with each other. I don't understand why he continues to keep me around like this. His relationship with Layla is nearly nonexistent . They barely hang out and when they do it's usually at parties where they pretend to be a loving couple. Ever since she cheated on him he hasn't brought her up. It's almost like he didn't know her. At the start of their relationship, I couldn't get him to shut up about Layla. It was like she'd put a love spell on him. We barely saw him and he'd spend all his time with her. Now, I don't think he can even stand the sight of her. Every time I see them together he looks disinterested. Yet, he still continues to hold onto this dying relationship . I didn't understand why he couldn't just end it. I was sick of feeling led on. Though I was so confused with my own emotions because he technically did nothing wrong right? I mean, it's not like we made a commitment to one another and he doesn't owe me anything. He can date who ever he wants. But it feels like he's in denial that I really like him and that hurts me. I wish I didn't like him sometimes. This LA trip was supposed to be a fun friend's trip but I felt so angry that he kept doing this to me. Kept feeding me intimacy whilst yearning for another woman. It didn't make sense. How was I supposed to feel when the man I wanted was blindsided by another woman who couldn't give him what I could?
As I rammed through the crowded hall, bumping into others and hearing the occasional "bitch" thrown at me by total strangers. I was becoming disoriented, cigarettes and alcohol stinking the air. I saw a familiar figure in the crowd. "Brendin!" I shouted over the music, grabbing his shoulder. He turned around and smiled at me. Once he took a clear look into my eyes, he immediately knew something was wrong. His smile faded as he bent down to my level, and buried his mouth into my hair. "You okay? Where's D?" He shouted into my ear, the music slightly drowning out his voice.
"Do you have the keys? I wanna leave," I shouted back into his ear. He quickly shot a look into the crowd and grabbed my arm, leading me out the front door. We stood on the porch, I immediately looked down at the ground as he tried to look at me once more. I knew my face was red and puffy from crying. I didn't want to deal with being pitied right now.
"What's going on?" He asked, grabbing the sides of my arms comforting me.
"Nothing, I just want to wait in the car." I said, trying not to burst into tears. The look of concern painted across his face invoked an emotional reaction out of me. I could feel the back of my throat tighten and my eyes begin to water. "Can I just have the keys please?" I asked in slight frustration, brushing off his concern. I wasn't in the mood to vent, the music flooded my ears and I felt myself growing increasingly anxious.
He looked at me with saddened eyes, but I can tell he didn't want to push. He reached into his pocket. "Alright. We can leave soon, just go unlock the car. I'm gonna go find Dentz and Corey." He said before handing me the keys and quickly making his way back into the house. I sighed and began to quickly make my way down to the car, I walked down the dimly lit street quickly, keys in my fist and fists in my pocket. Luckily a few of the party goers were hanging out on the street so it wasn't so scary being by myself. I pulled out Brendin's keys and unlocked the car as I approached it. Suddenly I began to hear faint footsteps running behind me. And it sounded like it was coming towards me. I turned around quickly, my flight or fight senses kicking in. "Fucking hell, Brendin sent you by yourself to the fucking car?" Dentz exclaimed in frustration as he slowed down his pace. I rolled my eyes as I reached for the car door. "What was that back there Genie?" Dentz asked, grabbing my wrist. "Let go." I said, opening the car door. I pulled his hand off and slid into the back seat. I tried to close the door behind me but Dentz quickly grabbed the handle and nearly snatched the door out of my hand. He slid beside me and slammed the door shut, staring at me with slight frustration painted across his face. "Answer me." He said softly, trying to meet my eyes.
God damnit. I could feel my eyes begin to water. Fuck, not again. I bit my bottom lip as a last resort to keep myself from crying.
"Break up with Layla or we can't be friends anymore." I choked out. He looked at me, shocked. "What?"
"I don't feel comfortable being friends with you like this. Either break up with Layla or I can't be friends with you." My voice trembled as the tears poured. The thought of losing my best friend crushed me.
"Wh-why? I'm not understanding?" He sounded hurt. "Because you're in love with me yet you're not willing to let her go." I said. He stayed quiet, but his face said it all.
"Don't do this to me." He rest his forehead on the palm of his hand. "I can't lose you."
"So why can't you just-"
"Date you? Is that what this is all about?" He said, agitation growing in his voice . I turned to meet his gaze. "Fuck you." I said.
"What?!"
"You think that's what this is all about? Like I just have some stupid crush on you? Like I just want to break you and your girlfriend up for fun? Are you fucking kidding me?" Tears were racing down my face at this point, I was sobbing. "Dentz, she cheated on you? Then laughed in your face in front of everyone at that party. It's about the amount of respect you have for you and I, and I don't think you have any at all. You treat me like your girlfriend but you give that title to someone who doesn't deserve it."
He remained silent as I sobbed. His eyes fixed on the leather car seat, and his face blank. "I don't want anything to happen to her Genie. I don't love her anymore, but I do care about her. I need to be there for her right now. I do love you Genie, but it's not the right time. I'm sorry." He said almost blankly. It sounded like he was struggling to hold tears back. He faced his body to the opposite window and remained silent. We both did. I don't think I said anything else that night. My mind went numb, the memory of that night turned to static.
He made his answer very clear that night.
