Butterflies (A Before You Exit fanfiction)

Chapter 8

MARIA'S POV

Okay. so we're walking to the park now and I'm so nervous! I mean, what is Jeremy gonna say? Oh shit, we're here. And there's Jeremy.

"Um.. hi" I stuttered.

"I have to talk to you guys, about Kaitlin. Follow me." Jeremy said. Then, he turned and started to go towards the park bench that no one was around. Okay, either this is just a trap or what he is going to tell us is really bad.

"So, I see by the looks on all of your faces that you put together the pieces." Jeremy stated.

"What do you mean?" Jenna asked.

"I mean you know that Kaitlin convinced her dad to promote your guys' dads," he said while pointing to me and Jenna, "and that she convinced your dad," pointing to Kristina, "to drink more and that it was no big deal. Also, you overheard mine and Kaitlin's conversation about her plan to get Toby, because apparently she loves him, and to also get Before You Exit's money. Am I right?" Jeremy asked.

All three of us girls just stood there, shocked.

"I'll take that as a yes. But there's more. Kaitlin is going to try and convince the boys that you guys are trying to use them for their money. Then, while the boys are all mad and upset over you guys, she'll take their money and say it's for a charity, when it's really for her. But the boys will love her so much that she will get away with it. And, she's planning to kill you three while the boys are avoiding and ignoring you and never tell them. If they ask, she'll just say that you guys were upset that she caught you and went back to Vermont. Also, if you three, or anyone for that matter, gets in her way, she'll hurt them. So, there you go. That's Kaitlin's plan that she's been working on ever since her dad told her that he was gonna promote two of his workers within the next few months, 5 months ago." Jeremy said, now completely out of breath.

There was silence for about 2 minutes. Then, Kristina, Jenna, and I burst out into tears. Jeremy brought all of us into a hug and said, "But the good part is that I'll be going to Orlando with you guys. I've been pretending that I'll help Kaitlin for 5 months, and I decided that today was the day that I was gonna tell all of you that I'm on your side."

"Why would you do that for us?" Kristina asked.

"Because all three of you are my best friends, and I can't just sit back and watch you guys break, or even help Kaitlin do it." Jeremy said.

"Thank you so much. We are so lucky to have you as our friend." Jenna and I said.

"Yeah, we really are. But wait, where are you gonna live?" Kristina asked.

"Well, I convinced my parents to let me live with my aunt and uncle, since my parents are barely home and my best friends are moving away. Yeah, it took awhile, but it was worth it. Plus, my aunt and uncle are really laid back, and they don't mind if I'm out with my friends 24/7, as long as I tell them where I am if I'm going somewhere, and when I think I'll be back." Jeremy said.

"Wow." we all said.

"But there's one more thing that I left out, and it's really bad..." Jeremy trailed off.

KRISTINA'S POV

"But there's one more thing that I left out, and it's really bad..." Jeremy trailed off.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Well do you remember when you saw your dad and mom fighting?" he asked, pointing to Maria.

"Yeah. Why?" she asked.

"Okay... well... um... he's working with Kaitlin. Maria, you're the main threat to Kaitlin because you like Toby, so she convinced your dad to help her. She said that they will split the money they get..." Jeremy trailed off.

That just broke Maria. She ran off, sobbing.

JENNA'S POV

Oh my god. I hope Maria is okay. I wonder where she went.

"Guys come on! Follow her!" I shouted to Kristina and Jeremy.

A few minutes later of running after Maria, we had to take a break. We were all out of breath.

"Damn Maria and her long legs. For once, I wish she doesn't run so fucking fast." Kristina said, while panting.

"Tell me about it." Jeremy and I said.

Then we hear muffled sobs, but barely. They sound like they're coming from the forest behind us.

I gave Jeremy and Kristina the sign to be quiet and follow me.

After a few twists and turns in our journey to find Maria, we finally found her sitting behind a tree, crying into her knees. We all rushed over to her.

"Shh. It's okay, Maria. It's okay." I comforted.

"But what if it's not?" Maria asked, through her sobs.

"It will be. You have three people here who would never let you down. We will all help you through this." Kristina said.

Jeremy kneeled down next to Maria and said, "I am so sorry for upsetting you. I just thought that you guys needed to know the full truth of what's happening."

"Don't apologize. I'm glad that you told us. I'd rather you tell me instead of finding out later on and that you knew and never told us. And I'm sorry about back there. I didn't mean to scare you guys. I guess my reflexes took over." Maria said.

"Don't apologize!" Jeremy, Kristina, and I all yelled at once, then we all giggled.

"Look, it's not your fault. We know that this is a lot to handle in one day." Kristina said.

"Thanks. But we should probably tell Vinny." Maria said.

"Yeah. I'll call him and tell him to come here." I said while walking off to call Vinny.

JEREMY'S POV

"So, should we tell your mom?" I asked.

"No. It's too early now, she won't believe us. Let's wait until we get more proof and until we get to Orlando. She really loves him, and won't believe us, or even me or Vinny, when someone says that he has done something wrong, in this case something seriously bad and dangerous." Maria said.

"Okay." Kristina and I said while Jenna came jogging over with Vinny close behind her.

"That was fast." Kristina said.

"Yeah well, when your sister's best friend calls you and says to come to the park, they have to tell you something, and that Mom and Dad were arguing last night, it doesn't take a genius to know that something's wrong." Vinny said.

*

MARIA'S POV

After we told VInny everything that Jeremy told us, Vinny started to cry a little.

"What are we gonna do?" he asked.

"We can't really do anything except wait. You know that Mom won't believe us, especially if we have no proof. Jeremy will update us on anything new that he finds out." I replied.

"Okay. Well, I'm headed over to Christian's to sleepover. See ya later and thanks for the warning. I won't tell anyone about this, just don't forget to update me." Vinny said.

"Okay. No problem." the rest of us said then smiled.

"We need a code word for anything about this so that we know to stop what we're doing and listen." Jenna said.

"Good idea. But what should it be?" Jeremy asked.

"How about 'the light bulb won't turn on'?" Kristina suggested.

We all burst out laughing.

"Okay. Whatever." we said.

"Okay. I'm supposed to meet Kaitlin here in 25 minutes so shoo! Be gone!" Jeremy said.

"Okay, okay." we said while laughing.

"Well I'll see all of you in a day or two, so I'll see you guys later!" Vinny said while walking towards his friend's house.

"Bye Victoria!" we all shouted, earning us a death glare from Vinny, which just made us double over in laughter.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"5."Jenna said.

We all looked at each and yelled, "HOLY SHIT IT'S 5 O'CLOCK!"

Then a bunch of people started to glare at us. Whoops.

"Ugh. I'm so scared to stay home with my dad." I said.

"Well there's just two nights left until we all stay at your house." Kristina said.

"Yup. Well I really wanna stay at one of your guys' houses but I really gotta get home and pack. So, I'll see you guys probably tomorrow!" I said.

"Good luck! Bye!" Jenna and Kristina said.

Okay. I'm just gonna go inside, have dinner, than go upstairs, lock myself in my room, and pack. That sounds like a good plan to me.

I opened the garage door and said, "I'm home!"

"And you're late." Mom said.

"Yeah. Sorry. We woke up at noon, went over to Kaitlin's, then we had to go because she was gonna get in trouble, then we hung out with Jeremy at the park." I said, partly lying.

"Yeah. Vinny told me that he was going to hang out with you guys there." Mom said.

Crap. I hope Vinny didn't tell her anything.

"Yeah. We were playing soccer and basketball and Kristina, Jenna, and I wanted to stay on the same team so Jeremy made Jenna call Vinny because he said and I quote 'I'm gonna beat you guys even if I have to drag Vinny into the game.' It was so funny. We all kept tripping over the ball in soccer!" I said, trying to sound realistic.

"Sounds like fun. Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes and your dad is going to be home in 2 minutes." she said.

"Okay. I'm gonna eat then go and pack and shower if I have time." I said.

"Okay."

*

I'm so glad I made it through that dinner. I can't even begin to say how many lies I had to tell. Anyway, I'm just gonna lock myself in my room tonight and pack. Okay, sweats for the next four days. I'll pack the rest of my stuff.

"BABY YOU LIGHT UP MY WORLD LIKE NOBODY ELSE THE WAY THAT YOU FLIP YOUR HAIR GETS ME OVERWHELMED!" god I really love BYE's cover over WMYB by One Direction.

Okay, I have a huge pile of boxes in my closet to put all my stuff in. I have no clue how I'm gonna get the fragile boxes downstairs but whatever.

*

is this how it feels when your heart falls out? you're missing a piece you can't live without. trying to breath but your lungs shut down when your heart falls out.

is this how it feels when your heart falls out? empty inside but you're full of doubt. trying to breath but your lungs shut down when your heart falls out.

It's scary how much this song reminds me of Toby... I thought as I fell asleep.

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Hi! So this is chapter 8. Please comment, vote, blah blah blah.

Anyway, that song was Heart Falls Out by David Archuleta.

Hope you like the story!

~Maria💕