The Speech

Chapter 34

Avery's POV

"Avery he didn't use me, I agreed to the friends with benefits thing as much as he did." She ignorantly defends him.

"Sure but it was his idea, I assume? And you only agreed out of insecurity, he agreed because he needed a rebound. Those are entirely different driving causes. It's okay, I'm not judging. I haven't exactly been shame free in my romantic endeavors either, as you pointed out." I explain to her.

"I get it must look that way, but Dylan was going through some stuff too. Either way we both ended up getting feelings for each other, so no, I wasn't used. That's what we were talking about last night." She says, finishing her game of catch up. 

"Look Jackie I'm really trying to be understanding here, but I draw the line at letting you delude yourself into thinking my brother's in it for the relationship. He's been using you to get over May and you know it. The same day he kissed you, she spent the night in his bed." I scoff. How can she not see what he's doing? I know she hasn't dated much, but she's smarter than how he's treating her. 

"It's messy, yes I'll admit that. But-" Jackie starts, but I interrupt.

"But nothing Jackie. He runs after May every chance he gets, and I hate him for bringing you into that mess, but he did. I have no doubt that your feelings for him are real, as digusting as that is for me, but his? No." I tell her, knowing she won't believe me. She gets up to leave, only stopping once she's in the doorway.

"I get you have to control everything in the world that is 'Avery', but you do not get to stand here and tell me I'm wrong about a relationship you've known about for maybe 12 hours. I've been living it Avery, I know how it went, I know his feelings for me because we've been talking about them since last night. You know nothing. And you never will if you keep being so damn self involved." She blurts out, tears now spilling from her eyes. It's rare when I see Jackie cry, I never like being the reason why.

"Why do you all keep calling me selfish! What have I done that is so fucking selfish Jackie?" I ask, exasperated.

"You'd rather believe your brother is using me than believe he has feelings for me. Because in the long run if he's just using me, then everything that's happened between us can be swept under a rug and you won't have to accept me dating him. You'd rather call me delusional than me be happy dating your brother. And for what? Because the idea of me dating him is a little weird? Really?" 

"I'm just trying to save you from getting hurt!" I retort, trying my best not to yell. 

"Well I've been hurt plenty by you, why not let someone else have a go?" She harshly responds. And when I say nothing else, she leaves, slamming the front door behind her. 

Dylan's POV

I heard the door slam, and I watched a crying Jackie climb into an Uber. I had half a thought to just sneak out the back door right then, but I stayed put in my room. One of the cleaning ladies brought me the bill along with the bud of my joint, making sure to note the $20 "inconvenience" fee that was added for my "direct hit" to her employee. 

"Sorry again for before." I tell her as I hand off the check, but she just glares at me, snatching it and leaving the room. 

"What the fuck are you doing?" Avery erupts, half running into the cleaning lady as she bursts through the doorway. This girl knows no other tone than screeching. 

"You're gonna need to be more specific." I retort, though not to her amusement.

"You and I both know you're not over May. You went after Jackie because you were pissed that May dumped you over something you didn't do. You wanted to make her jealous and I'm sure it has worked, so what are you doing with Jackie now?" She asks, despite having come up with plenty of answers all on her own.