The Arrangement

Chapter Fifty-One

Blair

I'm not usually one to revel in the drama but when I'm being forced to stay here in this fucking cabin against my will, the least I can have is some entertainment. 

Is stirring the pot the right thing to be doing right now? Probably not. 

In a way I'm actually helping them because god knows they need it. Especially if the way Ashton is sulking at the other end of the table is anything to go by. 

That whole situation with Carter is like nothing I've ever seen before, and something tells me it's going to take a lot longer than two weeks to figure out the issues in their fucked-up relationship. But for now, it's Henley and the very evident jealousy he has with their relationship to trudge through. 

I thought that it was weird that all his animosity was directed towards them instead of at Jamie, but now I completely get it. Where they're all undoubtedly paired off, it's obvious Henley wants more from Carter. All his snide comments and the way he obviously tries to rile him up just proves that. 

He wants his attention, but Carter is too focused on Ashton and Henley doesn't like that at all. 

"I'm not fucking jealous" Henley declares to the table glancing round at us all and boy he is definitely jealous it's so obvious, especially as he goes on into a rant. "Why the fuck would I be jealous of their fucked up relationship" he snarls. 

"He can't even admit he likes dudes" he scoffs pointing to a very tense Ashton before turning his attention to Carter. "And you," he snarls. "You're ridiculous, your whole focus is always on poor Ashton and his sexuality complex, it's pathetic" 

I don't know if he's trying to convince himself or us that he's not jealous but either way I really don't think it's working. 

Lennox doesn't say a single word, he doesn't seem pissed about it at all either. In all honesty he genuinely seems to be a bit relieved by all of this. He's the peacekeeper, I saw that straight away and something tells me he's been attempting but failing to keep the peace between them all for a long time now. 

"Now is not the time to be bringing any of this up" Carter cuts in, a clear attempt to shut Henley down which is an obvious mistake because that only seems to make him explode. 

"Not the time?" Henley snaps, "Yeah cause it's never the fucking time is it"

I can literally feel the tension and frustration emanating from Carter, yet his expression doesn't even change. He looks directly at Henley and his tone is just as emotionless as his expression. "What exactly are you trying to say Henley? come on spit it out" My gosh he's even more of an ass than I already thought he was. It's like he has the emotional range of a flannel. 

I think the most emotion I've seen him exude is right after Ashton stormed out of the playroom and yesterday when he revealed what Jamie tried to get him to do. Other than that, there's nothing. 

It isn't Henley that replies though as he stares back at Carter with his mouth practically hanging open. 

"That you spend so much time trying to control everything, including me, you forget that there are four of us in this relationship" Ashton comments from the other end of the table, only now deciding to say something and every part of me wants to applaud him, I think I would if I were capable. 

There's the slightest flicker of something in Carter's expression but it's barely recognisable. "Five" He snaps back, practically ignoring everything that's just been said. His eyes flicking over to me and I instantly shake my head. 

"Nope I'm not a part of this anymore" I say, "And you just completely dismissed what Ashton and Henley just said" I note trying to draw back his attention to the matter at hand. 

"What are you now our fucking therapist?" He snaps at me, letting his stoic mask falter in a clear lapse of control. 

"For the next two weeks it looks like I am" I chuckle taking great pleasure in the way he glares at me. "Now I think what Henley is trying to say is, this is meant to be an equal relationship between you all but clearly that isn't what's been happening." 

I don't know what it is about what I say that he doesn't particularly like, but he suddenly slams his fist down on the table. Anger radiating from almost every inch of him. 

"Because I'm the criminal in all of this right? Isn't that what you're trying to say. I'm the one at fault here" he snarls at me. Defence seeming to be the only reaction he's capable of giving right now.  

I try really hard not to roll my eyes at him and thankfully the attention is drawn away from me when Henley bites back. "Yeah, you fucking are." he roars his own hands slamming down on the table. "Ever since you brought that fucking psychopath into our lives everything has gone to shit and you just ignore it, like you ignore us" he then says gesturing between himself and Lennox. 

And there it is. 

"What so you are jealous?" Carter chuckles as if mocking Henley, the utter insensitivity coming from him actually causing my mouth to drop open. 

Henley doesn't even warrant him a response as he storms straight out. We all watch him go, Lennox included and hear the sound of a door slamming moments later. 

"Wow you're such an insensitive prick, you know that right?" I can't help but say and there's a bite to my tone that even surprises me. 

He goes to open his mouth to say something, but I completely shut him down before he even gets chance. "You literally don't listen to anyone do you?" I hiss at him, not even giving him a chance to respond before I'm snapping at him again. "Do you even care about what he just said?"

His expression softens slightly and his shoulders sag, "Of course I care" he then admits, with a solemn tone. 

"Well then, I think you need to actually show it for once" Lennox replies and rises out of his seat. He heads off in the same direction as Henley and I really hope he can do something to make him feel better because the hurt I saw on Henley's face was actually hard to see. 

There's a tense sort of silence that falls around the table as me, Carter and Ashton sit around not saying a word. The two of them just locked in a stare off that says a million things but nothing all at the same time. 

Finally breaking eye contact, Ashton rises and comes towards me, "Do you want me to take you back to your room or?..." he says trailing off giving me the option to say otherwise. 

I can tell he's really trying to not push my boundaries, and I am appreciative of that so instead of giving him the same attitude I've been exuding all morning I drop it slightly for now. 

"Thank you Ash," I say with a soft smile, "But I kind of want to go and sit outside if that's okay?" 

Nodding he lifts me out of my chair and carries me out of the kitchen, neither of us even bothering to look back at Carter. Leaving him to stew in his own self-pity and hopefully come to his senses about the piss poor communication skills that he has.