The Time of Your Life || c.b

Eleven

I sat and spoke to my coworkers for a while. It seemed to brighten my mood a bit knowing that I had some people to talk to if I needed to. I didn't love my job; I wasn't really a great cook and my waiting skills were decent at best, but I loved working with the people there. They were funny and made me smile to be around. That was something I needed direly at the moment.

I finally said goodbye after speaking to my boss, Mitchell, and explaining that I wouldn't be able to take as many shifts due to my current situation. He offered to give me my paycheck early so that I could put down a deposit on a house as soon as possible, but I had money saved up just in case something like this ever happened, not to mention I didn't like owing people, even if it was just a few hours at the coffee shop.

Next on my list was to call Austin. I hadn't spoken to him a whole lot since everything that happened when I moved to LA, but he deserved to know my situation too. I also knew that if finding a new place to stay didn't work out, I needed to be able to talk to Austin about moving back into my bedroom at his house.

Austin and Maddison were still together after months, and she had actually just moved in with him not too long ago. They seemed to really love each other, and although I was still hurt and didn't really speak to Maddie anymore, I was insanely happy for the two of them. They deserved to find some love in their lives, and I was glad they had each other.

"Hey, Aus," I said to the voicemail machine after calling him a second time with no answer. He was probably working. "I uh... Warren and I broke up and I'm trying to find a place to stay. I think I'll be able to find a place but I wanna talk to you about the possibility that I don't find anywhere to go. Call me back whenever, I guess. Love you, and say hi to Maddison for me when you get this." I hung up my phone and sighed. It seemed like lately Austin and I hadn't been the same. We didn't feel like brother and sister anymore.

I drove down to the mansion after. I hadn't been there in a long time and I didn't even know if anyone would be home, but I hoped for the best anyways. I reached the front gate a half hour later with a box of donuts sitting in the passenger seat. Two cars sat parked inside the gate, one I recognized as Sam's, and the other I couldn't tell who's it was. Probably a friend of Sam's, I thought to myself.

I pressed the button on the side of the gate that would buzz inside the house to let them know there was someone here. There was no answer, so I tried again. I waited a few minutes before I watched the large wooden front door open. Out stepped Elton. Maybe that car was his? He could have gotten a new one.

"Aggy? What's up?" Elton called to me as he pressed a button that unlocked the gate. I left my car parked on the street and walked in through the gate.

"Some shit went down and I figured I should pay you guys a visit. Doesn't look like anyone's really home, though." I replied with a nervous laugh.

Elton nodded. "Corey and Devyn are in Florida actually, and Colby was in Kansas. I think he's coming home tomorrow, though. You can come around then if you want to?" My stomach dropped a bit at the mention of Colby. We had had a falling out about a month ago over Warren and his secrecy, and we weren't exactly on the best of terms anymore.

-----

"Agnes, he's still cheating," Colby deadpanned as we sped down the highway on our way home from filming a video for his channel at a trampoline place. I didn't want to believe him, unfortunately.

"He says he's not seeing her anymore. Warren isn't cheating on me so please stop telling me he is," I replied. I was sick and tired of being told by Colby not to trust my own boyfriend. This was my life and I didn't give him permission to try and run it as his own.

The argument became somewhat heated after that. I was frustrated and I could tell Colby was too. Deep down I knew he was right, but my pride and confidence refused to allow me to crack.

"Sometimes I swear you're so stupid, Agnes," Colby said to me angrily. "Where does he go all day? He can't be avoiding you all day every day for no reason. It makes no sense."

I sighed. "He loves me Colby."

This set him off. His fists were white from being clenched so hard. I'd never seen Colby so frustrated — no, angry was a better word — before.

"He doesn't fucking love you, Agnes! Get that into your head! He doesn't. Love you! God, you're so naïve! I'm so sick of your stupid 'He loves me,' excuse. It isn't true. You know it isn't. So grow up and let me know when you've realized it. Get out of my car, I can't see you right now."

I was shocked and hurt. Nobody had ever spoken to me like that before, and I had definitely never expected such a chill guy like Colby to. As he pulled over and I climbed out of the front seat, he looked at me in a way that made me feel sick.

-----

I really couldn't stand going home and being alone at the time, so I explained a part of what happened to Elton. I told him I needed a place to stay for just until I was back on my feet. He offered the pull-out couch in the garage as a bed, and I graciously accepted. "I'm sorry for this. I'll look for a place and get out of your hair as soon as I find one."

Elton nodded and took me into the garage to get the pull-out couch ready. He grabbed some blankets and pillows from a closet upstairs and I cleaned the area up a bit. I continuously thanked Elton for his generosity until he told to me shut up before he changed his mind. He said it jokingly of course.

I ended up driving home to grab some clothes. Elton offered to come, but his girlfriend Amanda was home and I wasn't sure if she would like that. I grabbed a few days' worth of clothes and my toiletries, along with a few other things I wanted to keep with me. I also decided to clean the apartment up a bit so that when I came to pack my things up to move out, it wouldn't be a disaster. As I was finishing up cleaning the fridge out, I heard keys jingle in the door lock.

In walked Warren and the girl, er, Jessica. I pushed my hurt into the back of my head and furrowed my brows. "Warren? I-I thought you weren't coming back for a month...?" I asked him. My voice was soft. I could see pity in his eyes.

"We uh, we haven't left yet. I forgot a couple things. Why are you cleaning?" he seemed to still care. I didn't fall for it.

"I'm staying with a friend and I didn't want the house to be a mess when I come to move out." I didn't dare look at Jessica. My heart hurt thinking about Warren having feelings for someone who wasn't me.

Warren mumbled something along the lines of him thanking me, then retreated to his room. He left Jessica behind. I caught her eyes as I turned around to grab the disinfectant spray off the counter. I smiled shyly at her.

Jessica cleared her throat as I went to turn around again, so I stopped and looked at her expectantly.

"I'm uh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you and Warren were still together all this time, honestly. When I found out I asked him to choose who he wanted to be with. I didn't expect him to choose me..."

I smiled slightly. She seemed really nice. It meant a lot to hear that she didn't want him hurting me. "It's okay. Even if you did know, it's his fault for what he did," I replied, then added, "No hard feelings. He really likes you, and him and I weren't good together anymore. It was for the best."

Jessica nodded and thanked me softly, giving me a gentle hug. I wasn't sure how, but I actually kind of liked this girl. No wonder Warren left me for her. Jessica was a great girl.

Not long after, the two lovers left me alone in the apartment. I didn't cry. I didn't feel anything, to be honest. I finished up my cleaning and then took a quick shower before picking my bags up and locking the apartment door behind me.