Bitter Sweet

26. Bad News

"Why didn't you tell me?" Stephanie asked once Daniela invited her in. It was early in the morning, and she woke up from that dream again. Except this time, it was the memory from two nights ago when Julio had pinned her against the wall and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. She had kicked herself for ruining the moment by being her coward self, but he acted like a gentleman, and she loved him for that. She decided she needed to speak to Daniela about Henry and Jason. It felt like unfinished business and though Julio had a way to soothe her doubts, he was at the shop where he put in twelve hours fixing rich people's cars. He was nowhere near to calm her down when her doubt rose one more time.

"Tell you what?" Daniela asked taken aback.

"That you and Jason were a thing."

"What? We were never a thing!" she replied convincingly.

"You don't have to lie, Henry showed me the picture he keeps under his pillow."

Daniela dropped her gaze. "I see."

"Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were best friends!"

"Right, sure we were," she replied dryly.

"What does that supposed to mean?"

Daniela decided to tidy up the living room as she replied angrily. "If we were such best friends, why did you abandon me when I told you I was pregnant?"

"I didn't..." But Stephanie had to stop herself. She did abandon her, she saw that now. "I just distanced myself."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is," she came to a halt. What the hell was the difference, she thought. "You were seventeen and having a baby! That freaked the hell out of me."

"And you don't think it freaked me out? I mean, I was the one who was pregnant. But instead of you being there for me, you decided to leave to your fancy college all the way in Phoenix."

"Hey, don't blame me for wanting a career, just because you screwed your life it didn't mean I had to screw mine."

"My point is," replied Daniela slowly. "I didn't tell you about Jason because you were going to hate me. You had a thing for him."

Stephanie let out a laugh. "For Jason? No! He was like my brother."

"Sure, like your brother," she rolled her eyes which angered Stephanie.

"If you thought I had a thing for him, why did you sleep with him?"

"Because... because I was horny and he was the only guy that was willing to do me."

Stephanie started to slow clap. "Wow, classy, you were always so fucking classy, Daniela."

Daniela threw one of Henry's stuffed toys at Stephanie, Stephanie blocked it with her hands. "Fuck you, Stephanie, you always thought you were better than me. You were the smart one, the pretty one. I thought once you failed at everything, it would drop you from your fucking cloud, but no, you're still that bitch, aren't you?"

"I'm being honest," Stephanie replied firmly.

"Well stop being so honest, ok? You never cared for me or Henry, why are you all of the sudden showing an interest?"

"Because I do care."

"Shut up, after you left without saying good bye, I realized where I stood in your eyes."

"Daniela," Stephanie started feeling so crushed. Daniela spoke the truth and it was hurtful. "I'm sorry for not reaching out sooner, I was so selfish."