It Was Always You

Chapter Seventeen

Kristan was boiling inside with rage.

She snatches a cup from someone's hand and throws it at him. It hits him right at the back of his head as liquid splashes over him and drips in his hair, down his neck and all over his shirt. Some of the people surrounding them stop what they were doing and stare in shock that she had done that.

He slowly turns to face her. His lips thin, his eyes flashing with his own anger, his shoulders stiff. She didn't care, however. Not after that little speech he had just given her. And she felt like giving him a piece of her mind on the matter. Walking up to him, her chin slightly jutting out with her shoulders back her own eyes flashed with fire.

"How dare you. I know you pine after that stupid slut! My cousin doesn't care about you in case you haven't noticed Jared. She's got something bad for that friend of yours. I see how you look at her, how jealous you get when she's around other boys that isn't you. You got the hots for her that you try so hard to hide. But newsflash dickhead! Everyone can see it, even her and she still doesn't give a fuck." She laughs hysterically.

She gets right into his face, and he doesn't move an inch. Poking his chest as hard as she could she spats, "You're going to regret this day you ever thought to reject me like that."

She then twirls around thinking she was saving face when she nearly fell on her ass. Righting herself up she stumps heavily away out of the room nearly tripping over her own feet, pushing people out of her way.

He just stood there watching her go. All the anger inside him quickly fades away as the people who had been watching goes back to the party that was getting out of hand. He was now irritated more than anything and a bit frustrated. Turning back, now soaked with punch and alcohol he looks to Evan who was completely oblivious to the entire interaction and was still flirting with the same girl. In that moment he decided against going up to him.

What did he care anyways?

He got offered to an international college next year and he was thinking of taking it. He wanted to get away and just leave everything behind. He needed to get away, needed the space to get his mind in the right place. To mend the broken heart he has and hoped the feelings would fade if he wasn't around the people who are the cause of breaking it.

And he decided he wasn't going to tell Evan about it.

His friend was only going to try and follow him, and it was time he gained his own way. He loved him like a brother, but he needed a break from him. He needed to be on his own, they both did. Evan needed to create his own path now that they were in their last year of high school. He couldn't expect him to follow him for the rest of their lives.

Besides, he had Mila now.

If they were going to stay as a couple then he couldn't stay here and watch them together. Couldn't stand to watch them grow and become something more. Just thinking about it caused his heart to twist and sink. Clenching his fists he looks away from his best friend and heads back the other way. Pushing past people, he needed to get out of here.

He was going to walk out the front door, not saying a word to anyone that he was leaving but decided against it. Instead he heads back to the den. Upon entering he shakes his head seeing Selena holding a trashcan under Mila's head, throwing up while also holding her hair in her other hand.

Ian was on Mila's other side, slowly rubbing her back as she continues to puke whatever her stomach had left. Sensing him there he looks up to see him standing in the doorway looking both disgusted with a sadness he's seen to often on his face lately.

"Think she's about done." He softly states gaining Selena's attention.

As an answer Mila moans and tries to sit up. "I feel horrible." She mumbles, holding her stomach.

"Good." Jared snaps out harshly.

Coming to stand right in front of her he crouches down to her level.

"What the hell happened to you?" His sister asks with wide eyes as she stares at his soaked hair and shirt.

Suddenly the anger came back as Kristan's words begin affecting his thinking. "Since you made a complete full of yourself in front of me and whoever else, I think you deserve it."

"Jared!" His sister gasps out in shock from the tone of his voice and the choice of his words.

Ignoring her he stands back up, never taking his eyes from the girl who was playing with his heart and his feelings. "Let her take care of herself." He states bitterly and stalks right out of the room without a backwards glance.

Selena stares after him completely flabbergasted. Something out there happened. Something that got him angry and emotional. And she means to find out what it was that caused him to act out in such a way towards Mila who did absolutely nothing wrong.

"Um, that was a bit harsh." Ian mumbles looking just as surprised as she felt. "He always gave her a hard time, but I don't think I have ever heard him talk to her like that."

They both look to Mila and saw the tears brimming her eyes as she looks to the doors that Jared walked out of. Biting her bottom lip her body begins shaking from the emotions that were rolling through her at Jared's attitude and words.

"Mila, he didn't mean it. He never does, you know that." Selena whispers to her, reaching up and wipes a lone tear that finally fell.

"I'm going to bed. Can you just end the party for me?" She gets up swaying a bit causing her to hold her head to stop the room from spinning.

"Let me help you to your room." Selena quickly stands next to her to prevent her from falling.

"No." She whispers as the word wobbles a bit. "I'll be fine." she just wanted to be alone to curl up on her bed and just cry herself to sleep.

"Okay, we'll make everyone leave and come back in the morning to help clean up." Her friend says gently as she walks out the room and heads up the stairs to her bedroom.

As soon as she closes the door she was comforted by the silence that envelopes her. Leaning against the door she sighs heavily to control the hurt that was burning inside her. Looking down at her hand she sees the necklace still clutched in her fingers. Untangling it she puts it on and rubs the ornament close to her heart. Tears obscure her vision even more.

Heading to her bed she stops to see another wrapped gift lying there waiting to be opened. Slowly picking it up she takes the card that was taped to it and opens to read,

Dear Mila,

I wanted to present you with this gift. I know you two have your ups and downs but know that he really does care for you. Happy Birthday!

Love your forever sister, Sel.

Putting the card aside she unwraps the gift and burst into tears. It was a framed photograph of her and Jared the night of the homecoming dance. It was a two picture collage. One of them smiling, the other of them laughing. She sat there on her bed for a long time just staring at the pictures, wondering what had gone so wrong for them.

Putting the frame on her nightstand by her bed she watches something flutter to the floor. Frowning she spots an object that had fell from the frame that she didn't realize was there. Picking it up there were words written down.

Oh, there's this one too.

Flipping it over she sees it was a picture of her and Evan at the homecoming this time. She couldn't help but hold it to the one of her and Jared and compare the two photos. She looked way happier, more vibrant with Jared than she did with Evan, and it made her a bit sad. Suddenly tired she dressed down to just her underwear and the necklace and as soon as she hit the pillow she was instantly asleep with tears staining her cheeks.