LOSING IT ALL //HAYLEY PARKER

33

~LOSING IT ALL~

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33| FORGIVE, BUT DON'T FORGET
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MY FEET SHOD IN a pair of fire pit converse slaps nervously against the wooden floorboard as I sidle into the living room, and I'm slightly surprised at the sight in my peripheral vision.

It's nearly past midnight, but everyone is huddled up in the room under the faint, yellow lamplights with a rather cold silence suspended in the warm air.

Camille is sniffling quietly at a corner, Jayden hovering over her. The sight alone causes anger to gather in my head like a steam in a pressure cooker. How romantic! Newt on the other hand is standing by the window, arms crossed forlornly, and head lowered. Jennifer is seething.

However, she is the first to notice me, and immediately springs up from the arm of the couch and vaults towards me. "Hayley! god, Hayley!" She cries at her wake.

I try to ignore her as I kick off my shoes, but she catches me and pulls me into a very tight smooch. "I didn't know, I mean it!" She gushes. "I hate what she'd done to you! You've been nothing but a good friend to her! I can't even believe it!"

I shake Jennifer off and stare at her at arms length. "She's no friend of mine." I say.

Jennifer is looking at me with pantomimed concern. I ignore that look and step round her into the room. Camille slowly and stiffly rises up from her huddled position when she sees me. Her face is all blotchy, and her blonde hair disheveled, as if she has been pulling her own hair out.

I quickly avert my gaze and pin it up on Jayden. He avoids my gaze, jaw taut. I nearly scoff at his despicable attitude.

"Hayley..." Camille starts, and an irritated look at her stops any more word from spilling.

"I just want to ask you one question." I tell her, ignoring the bitter repugnancy that cleaves to my heart at her actions. "Are you really gay?"

Taken aback by my question, Camille gasps and back pedals.

"Had it been Jennifer, I'd have overlooked it, but you? You of all people? You that values commitment and loyalty more than anything? You that preaches about devotion? You?"

"I can explain, Hayley." Camille chokes out, fresh film of tears clouding her eyes.

"I don't want your explanation, Camille Winston." I spit out venomously, "For all I care you can have him all to yourself."

"No, no!" Camille cries, galloping towards me and seizing my hand. I swing her too violently and she tumbles into the armrest, bashing her shoulder against it in the process. Jayden is tearing towards me, anger blazing in his tanned face.

"This is all your fault!" He growls, "If you had just been faithful, this wouldn't have happened in the first place!"

"Faithful?" I snort, "Have you ever been faithful to me in the first place?" I prob, jabbing a finger into his chest. "Have you ever really loved me? You're so presumptuous standing here to weigh my loyalty when you don't have a sherd of it in your bones!"

"I've always loved you, Parker!"

I scoff at his words. "Yeah, of course you've." I say sarcastically, gesturing towards the whimpering Camille, held up by Newt. "I see you've." Pinning him with a finally icy gaze, I spin on my heels and start towards the stairs. Halfway across the room, I pause and turn back towards him. "And, we're done, Jayden Reed. I just don't know what I saw in you in the first place."

The floor of my bedroom feels so cold as I slump down to it and wrap my arms around my knees. Shivering from cold and emotional agony, I stare out at the night's sky through a hazy vision, feeling a deep sense of loss and loneliness.

My cellphone keeps ringing in my bag, Dale no doubt, but I feel so numb with pain that I don't really care. When Jennifer comes in to sit quietly beside me, I try to refrain the tears from falling.

"Don't blame yourself too much." She says quietly, reaching out and squeezing my hand. "And don't hate her too much. She had been devastated by the breakup, Jayden had been there."

"And so have we." I snap.

"Yeah, of course." She sighs. "I'm not excusing her behavior, but this will kill her, just as much as it's killing you."

"Unfortunately, I don't think I care."

"I'm so sorry this happened, Hayley." Jennifer sniffles beside me. "I hate that we're all falling apart. We used to be so great, what happened? When'd it all end?"

Hot tears slides inexorably down my cheek. "I don't know." I whisper, leaning onto her shoulder. Jennifer rests her head on mine and does not say anything for a while. "Jayden's such a dolt!" She spits. "And so is Dale!"

I sigh, nestling into her. "What should we do about them now?"

"We all pack out. You, Milley and I."

I plant both my ass cheeks to the floor. "What'd you just say?"

Jennifer turns to me. In the nightlight, her dark skin glitters with her Afro hair framing her small face. "I said, you, Camille and I should move out. We're better off together. She wronged you I understand, but let's not judge her anyway. Besides, you and Dale must've been together. Isn't it the same thing? You got Jayden's friend, and he got yours? It's seems fair. Please, don't punish her for just one mistake."

That night as I tossed and turned in my bed, I couldn't stop thinking about what Jennifer had said earlier. I know deep down I would forgive Camille, but evidently, I wouldn't forget what she had done.

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Thank you for reading this book, please stay tuned for the finally chapter. Xxx😘