【COZEN】Bloody Painter x Reader

❥Chapter 33: Unfolding - pt. 1

Before everything started...

I was happy by myself, or spending time with (Y/n), I always minded my own business and focused on whatever studies were laid in front of me.

Until that person appeared... until he appeared.

"You're Helen right? I'm Tom, I'm (Y/n)'s friend."

A cheerful voice broke me out of my thoughts, I looked up at him, a blond boy with glasses looking down at me with a smile on his face.

His introduction was quick and it confused me, I wanted to pay him no mind, but after saying he was (Y/n)'s friend I decided to listen, for the first time I probably didn't wanna leave a bad impression on someone, on someone who was friends with the one I cared about.

We both talked for a bit during break, I tried asking him how he became friends with (Y/n) only for it to be avoided, nothing but empty answers.

I found it weird, I found it weird how he suddenly decided to push aside that fact and yet... I moved on.

Days passed and I hung out with him more, realizing how kind and cheerful he was.

It felt nice, It felt... new.

As more days passed, Tom introduced me to another friend of his and (Y/n)'s — Aiden — the moment my eyes laid on him my first impression was nothing other than just a very weak boy, he avoided to look at me in the eye, his face showing nothing but pure guilt even if he hasn't done anything wrong.

And that put a very weird taste in my mouth, I shrugged it off in the beginning, all I wanted was to change my ways and see if I could open up and make new friends, after (Y/n) changed my perspective on people.

___

"Helen." That familiar voice calls out to me again, the usual cheerful blond boy who always talked to me happily, I expected that happy face all the time I looked up at him, but today I was met with a solemn expression on his face, confused I only tilted my head wondering what happened.

"I need to talk to you about Aiden and (Y/n)."

What could it be?

My expression faltered after hearing those words, a sudden pressure on my chest, my heart sinking especially after hearing that name. I only nodded in response as I looked down at my desk, my eyes scanning the small pieces of paper filled with drawings made by (Y/n) safely placed on my sketchbook.

Tom and I started meeting at the rooftop, it would be our usual meet up spot whenever we were on break or after school. As I opened the door I was met by Tom, his back facing me as he looked down at the students below.

"Tom?" I called out his name and he was quick to turn around, he fixed his glasses as he cleared his throat, he sits down on the floor motioning for me to sit next to him, and I did, there was a moment of silence and it felt quite tense I never understood why.

"Helen... I've been meaning to talk to you about this without (Y/n) finding out." He finally speaks up, breaking the ice a bit, he fixed his white sweater as he continued, "a few days ago, when I started talking to you it seemed like (Y/n) didn't like that."

Confused I looked up at him, my face showing pure confusion as to why he was saying such things though I never said anything in return and let him finish whatever he was gonna keep talking about.

"When (Y/n) found out about it, Aiden came up to me telling me they weren't comfortable with the fact that I was talking to you," I could hear Tom's voice was hurt, confused even whenever he said their name, "I never understood why, so... Aiden said that (Y/n) was only being friends with you cause they felt bad for you." He continued, "the moment they saw you, they genuinely thought you would be fun for Maggie's group to bully you."

My brows furrowed in surprise, that same sinking feeling on my chest coming back to me.

"(Y/n) told Aiden to not tell anyone about it... but Aiden decided to tell me, because he knows it was wrong for (Y/n) to say that, so... I'm just warning you Helen, If I were you I wouldn't be friends with someone who talks behind your back like that and try to make you a target."

"Why are you still friends with them?" I quickly ask, looking at Tom in the eye, betrayal and confusion could be seen on my face as I looked through his glasses, my reflection visible on them.

"Who said I'm still friends with (Y/n)? I stopped talking to them the moment Aiden told me about what they said." Tom quickly responds, defending himself and explaining everything right away after I asked. "I don't blame you, Helen. You don't have to believe me, but don't come to me saying I didn't warn you, I'm only doing this cause it's the right thing to do, and that's what friends do." Tom slowly gets up and pats my shoulder as he walks away.

I only looked down on my hands as I was by myself the entire afternoon, my hands were shaking but I wasn't sure why. Was it anger? Betrayal? Something I wasn't sure to believe?

It was a mistake from me to not go right away to talk to (Y/n) and confirm if everything they said was true, but what if they were lying?

I ended up avoiding them, everytime they came to me I would walk away, sit on another table to regain my thoughts, think about everything that Tom said to me.

After all, Tom only said what he heard from Aiden.

Aiden.

Something snapped slightly in me as I remember Tom's words: "Aiden came up telling me..."

What if it was Aiden making everything up from the start?