ROSE

57. Game

"Does that mean you're going to leave soon?" Rita said as she cut the cucumbers to make a salad, as I tried to find something to eat.

"I don't know when exactly, they said they will call." I explained, pushing the pizza in the oven.

"Ugh, You can't leave me here alone." She groaned.

"I'll come back. You'll survive it for a couple of weeks." I placed my hands on my hips, looking around to make sure that everything is ready.

"You'll come back and find me having a new best friends. I'll hang with Dylan alone too." She tried to tease me.

"Let me help you." I took the tomatoes to cut them with her. "You just reminded me that I have to tell Dylan too."

My phone started ringing. I looked down at it to see Beth's name popping on my phone screen.

"Who is it?" Rita asked as I cleaned my hands to answer.

"Beth." I grabbed my phone.

"Why is she calling?" She frowned as I waved my hand at her to stop talking as I accepted the call.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Bella." I could hear the smile in her voice.

"Hey Beth." I walked out of the kitchen.

"How are you? You're missed, girl. Where have you been?" She said.

"Around. Miss you too, how have you been?"

"Good, good, anyways, listen, we're having a party tonight before we leave for the cabin and honestly half of my friends are lame and aren't coming so come with us. By the way, you can bring whoever you want with you." She said.

"I don't know if I can, Beth." I tried to slide out of it.

"Oh, you can't be sorry for not being able to come. You have to come." She said. "Common, I'm going back to my city in a few weeks too so I don't know when is the next time I'll be able to see you. By the way, tell Anthony to come too because I can't reach him."

"I...can't."

"You can't reach him either?" She asked.

"Uhm..." I looked at Rita that was still in the kitchen and she was also talking on her phone.

"Are you guys done or what?"

"Kind of." I bit my lip.

"Oh, too bad for him. His loss. Anyways, I have to go. I have to see you tonight okay? I'll send you the address. Bye." She hung up. I huffed. Why do I always have to be put in situations like this.

I walked back to the kitchen.

"No, Tia. You weren't forced to do anything at all, you did it because you wanted to. I just can't trust you anymore." She looked at me and rolled her eyes. I went back to continue the salad. There was a silent as I heard Tia mumbles some words that I couldn't get a hold of then Rita adds "listen, the only reason I answered is to put an end to this. You keep calling and texting as if everything will be fine when you keep pushing me to talk to you. It won't and I will never forget what you've done because it's not something small." There was another silence then she picked a higher tone. "But it is a big deal and you don't get that."

I looked at her and she just turned to look away. I looked back down at the vegetables that I was cutting.

"I'm not." She said. "I'm done talking and I said what I needed to say, Tiara, please don't call me or text me again because it's annoying. Bye." She hung up then let out a frustrated long huff.