NOT A FAN

chapter 29

        Grayson pushed through the crowd of half drunk, half sober people eventually reaching me and not even hesitating to jump in with the fight.

"STOP" Grayson yelled pushing the two off of each other.

They both stopped, both breathing heavily.

Ethan wiped his hand across his bloody lip holding a dirty glare with my brother as he did so.

"Jake" I choked out.

He immediately saw me and his face went white.

"Em..." He responded shocked, quickly averting his gaze to me. He surprisingly isn't drunk right now.

I shook my head looking to the floor.

He walked towards me placing a hand on my arm as he did so.

"I'm so sorry Em- I-" he began.

"Don't touch me" I spoke quietly feeling my voice break.

I looked over at Ethan who looked equally as ashamed as my brother.

I can't believe this.

Maddie quickly ran over to me, grabbed my hand and led me out.

Thanks Mads...

The fresh air filled my nostrils freeing me from the nasty smell of body odor and alcohol.

"I don't know what to do.." I said feeling a tear fall down my cheek.

"After all Jake has been through, I thought we had finally put closure to this.... I guess I was wrong" I said throwing my hands up in defeat.

I leaned against a wall allowing myself to slide down it into a sitting position.

Maddie did the same landing right beside me.

"He made a mistake.. A big mistake. But you can't give up on him Em, he needs you" Maddie said turning her head so that she was looking at me.

I nodded.

"But i can't believe he was fighti-" I began but was interrupted when Grayson walked out of the door standing between Jake and Ethan.

It was silent as we all exchanged short glances at each other.

"Guys..." Jake spoke.

"I'm really sorry"

Mhm..

"Listen, when I saw Ethan.... I thought it was Grayson....I saw him here with Maddie and assumed Grayson was cheating on you with her... " he motioned his head towards me.

"My temper got the best of me like it always does and I punched him" he spoke, getting quieter towards the end.

"I don't expect you guys to forgive me... But I do want you to know the truth" he said looking around at all of us.

"I'm really sorry man" he said looking over at Ethan.

They did a little bro hug.

He turned to Grayson who stared at him for a moment but eventually gave in giving him a bro hug too.

Ethan, Grayson and Jake all turned to look at Maddie and I.

"Jake. You're an idiot" Maddie said standing up and rolling her eyes.

He nodded, expecting exactly that from Maddie.

Grayson walked over to me helping me up off the ground.

I smiled a small smile at him and turned to Jake who waited patiently for me to say something.

But I didn't...

I turned back to Grayson.

"Can we please go?" I asked hopefully.

He nodded understandingly.

"Do you need a ride?" He asked Jake.

"No, but thanks... I've got my grandmas car" he said not taking his eyes off of me.

Gray nodded and led Maddie, Ethan and I to his car.

I looked over at Ethan who was already looking at me.

I walked over and gave him a hug touching his busted lip as I did so.

He winced slightly.

"I'm so sorry" I spoke quietly.

He tightened his arms around me.

"I'm sorry too... I had no idea that was your brother... It was too dim for me to see his face in there" he said

"but don't' be too mad at him, okay? he was just trying to protect you"

I nodded.

"Thank you Ethan".

Ethan's pov:

I know I told Grayson he had nothing to be worried about as far as me liking Emerson... But I'm starting to regret saying that now.

Who am i kidding? I hated myself for saying that.

Because right now, holding her in my arms and talking to her makes me wish I could do this all the time.

But I can't.

She gently pulled away from me and smiled.. But it was forced, I could tell.

She caught back up with Gray and intertwined their fingers together.

He opened the car door for her and....kissed her.

I just need to keep reminding myself that she's not mine, and never was.

He closed the door once she had gotten In and shot me a smile.

I forced one back.

"You good?" Maddie asked breaking me from my daze.

"Y-yeah, I'm good" I lied, forcing another smile.

She nodded clearly not believing a word I said.

I copied Grayson's actions and opened the car door for Maddie, closing it once she had gotten in.

Tonight was.... Eventful.

A/N: sounds like Ethan's getting a little jealous..... uh oh. 🤔😏