Inviting the Virgin: Dealing With the Aftermath (Old Version)

Twelve :Two Faced:

            "What?" The screech of Stella's voice was high among the rest. There was such a loud roar that had erupted after I questioned Adam about the camera it was hard enough for me to hear myself think.

"You," I shouted across the table as my hands slammed onto the glass. The bottles and cups jumped, rattling. My body was upright midway through a launch towards the smirking bastard. The only thing keeping me back was a pair of arms wrapped tightly around my midsection.

"You asshole," I spat at Adam.

There was a gut wrenching twist that held my intestines in a knot. It felt more like Zack was playing jump rope with them instead of just holding me back from dealing a good sense of justice.

"You lied to me?" Stella continued to shriek.

If I hadn't been consumed with rage I'm sure my eyes would have rolled at her priorities. Really? She's mad that I lied to her? I thought she would have been more relieved to hear that I hadn't.

"Eden," Jordan's serious tone took me by surprise. Her feet no longer dangled over my shoulders. Even Jordan's change in tone wasn't enough to cut through the chaos that had erupted.

As the steam escaped through the ears I took in the anarchy. Adam and Carter were now shouting at each other over the spilt secret. Infuriated Adam shoved Carter's shoulder making him slip off the arm of the couch. Stella and Jordan were both whining at me to get answers to their questions but I was too occupied with elbowing Zack to get him to release me.

"Let go," I groaned angrier with Adam dismissing my threats than Zack's tight grip.

By now Adam had Carter in a head lock. Most of the attention had been turned towards their fight and all I wanted to do was join in. If I jumped onto one of their backs I'm sure Jordan would tag in.

"No, just," Zack grunted against my thrashing, "Just calm down, Eden." He was able to pull me back with ease. Instead of sitting me on his lap, he planted me in-between his legs. His hands still pressing down my heaving shoulders.

"You fucking ass hole," I cussed once again. The feeling of betrayal used to be something foreign but was oddly familiar now.

My eyes skittered towards Mimi who had been awfully quiet this whole time. She was like our Holly, only there to fill a seat and help out if needed. I expected her to be staring at her phone, ignoring the commotion but instead she was looking at me. Unlike her cowboy boots and plaid shirts I'd grown used to, she wore skinny jeans and her hair was pin straight.

Even after I'd pushed her into the pool and thrown her under the bus with Stella, her look was off concern. She mouthed the words "Are you okay?" but I ignored them. No, I was not okay. Nothing about this was okay.

"I'm sorry," Carter tried to apologize but it was far too late for simple words.