Exhale

Chapter 24: Tender Spring

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9, 55, 27, 3, 16, 4

Home
11:30 pm

Marley

The first thing I did was take a shower. Today's been draining, everyone's exhausted and on edge, me more than anyone.

I toss my clothes in hopes of finding pajamas. I finally find the strawberry set and hurry to throw it on. I settle into my bird chair and turn on the TV.

I have a few minutes until Zuri and Roman get home.

I know Z is mad. I just hope I can explain everything without her killing me in the process. I had no fucking clue Vicky knew about Zane. I would never tell someone like her anything that sensitive.

I just can't believe she stooped that low; she's always been so obsessively jealous of Zuri, even though I reassured her we're just friends.

"No one can be just friends! I see the way she looks at you." I shudder in remembrance.

I still don't know when Zuri found out about us. Why didn't she ever say anything?

I wonder if she has questions. I'll ask her when she gets here.

Roman

We make our way up the hall, and I grab my keys. Unlocking the door, I look over my shoulder to see Zuri staring right back at me.

"Jesus Zuri, just take it easy on her, yeah?" I wait for a response, but she just keeps her arms crossed.

"Please open the door." She asked tiredly. I nod in agreement, opening the door. I let her in first and locked it behind us. When I closed the front door, I heard Marley's door open.

I set my things down and take my jacket off. Marley emerges from the hallway, and she leans against the wall before I can promote peace. Z gets right to it.

"Did you really tell her about my childhood?" She asks, setting her things down.

Marley folds her arms, and her eyebrows furrow in defense.

Zuri scoffs and walks closer.

"Back then, all the times she hung out with us, and you and her made it seem like we were all friends, did you tell her then?" She stands in disbelief.

"I never said anything, even when she was a complete bitch to me. Why didn't you ever defend me?" Her brows furrow and her eyes tear up.

Marley hesitates. "I never told her anything. I don't know how she found out."

Zuri turns her back, wiping her tears. She rubs the bridge of her nose with both hands, pacing.

When she stops, she's standing by her room door.

"Some of the worst moments of my life came from that man; I can barely breathe thinking about anything he put my family through." She chokes, clutching her stomach.

"And now the one person whom I  didn't want to know, knows, and she is sure to make sure everyone knows. She already yelled it in front of half of the school at Emmy's tonight." She takes a shaky breath, " Just leave me alone, I don't care anymore."

Her hands fall, she opens her room door, closing it behind her.

.

.

Maybe Roman can cheer things up for all of us.

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