Web of lies

Chapter 5

"I DO NOT WANT YOU HERE!" I heard Caitlyn yell.

"I DON'T CARE! I AM THE ONLY FAMILY YOU HAVE! WITHOUT ME, YOU HAVE NOTHING," her aunt screamed back.

I could hear Caitlyn yell back but couldn't understand the words. I decided to enter the front door. To my shock, they weren't in the hallway but upstairs. I took the stairs and went left, closer to the yelling.

I knocked on the door, knowing it wouldn't do much. I banged twice as loud as the first attempt. They clearly heard me as their voices suddenly went silent. The aunt, Angele, looked at me with huge shock. "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING HERE?" she asked.

I honestly didn't even know how to answer.

Before I could explain myself, Caitlyn ran up to me and hugged me. I hugged her back, having no clue about what just happened. While I was confused, Angele started talking again. "Oh, so this is how it is, huh? You disrespect me and when you can't handle it, you bring back up?" This just made me more confused.

I looked at Caitlyn for context, but she ignored my silent question and answered her aunt.

"I didn't call her. She came because she was worried about me. Unlike someone who's just here for the money my parents left."

I felt like this wasn't really my conversation, but I couldn't leave my best friend alone with this angry woman. "YOUR PARENTS DIDN'T LEAVE SHIT! THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING IN THEIR ACCOUNT. THEY WERE BROKE FOR GOD'S SAKE!"

Oh. That was new information for me.

Caitlyn told me her parents left her a lot for her 18th birthday but that she got it earlier because they passed away. I guess she lied about that, which is completely understandable. I didn't expect her to defend herself for that.

"YES, THEY DID HAVE A LOT! YOU JUST USED EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING YOU OWN IS DESIGNER!"

I felt so bad for Caitlyn. Imagine your own aunt using all the money your parents saved up for you. That would piss me off so much.

I offered Caitlyn to come with me and figure something out tomorrow, but she refused. She decided to stay with her aunt. "Really, it's fine Clara, just go. She will calm down in a couple of minutes."

I didn't believe her for a second, but I knew she wouldn't come home with me as I knew how stubborn she could be.

So, I left. I told her she should really answer her calls, and she winked at me, making it clear she got it. I was still uncomfortable leaving her like that, but I had my little sister with an ex-best friend at home, so I knew I should go home.

***

When I got home, I sent Josh to his house and put little River to bed. Before she fell asleep, she said something that surprised me a little. "I really like Josh; he should be here more. I miss when he used to be here all the time."

I mean, I understand her. He was a big part of her life when he and I were close. He practically lived here. His parents were always on business trips or long vacations, so he always felt more at home with us, as we rarely left our house.

When my parents and I heard the news about moving, his parents decided to find a house close to ours so Josh could still live nearby. They eventually found a house a bit close, but it was a 15-minute ride away, so they begged our new neighbors to exchange houses for an extra bonus. They finally agreed after four months to move.

But even after all that, we rarely see him. We moved in August and its now mid-November. He holds some serious grudges against me, and I still don't understand why.