Thursday.

The end of the weak (pt. 2)

       

Estelle walked immediately back into the room to find Rebecca holding the phone to her ear. "Why the hell are you calling my sister?" Estelle stood in complete disbelief of what was happening. She could not hear what Cedric was saying in response, but she felt like snatching the phone out of Rebecca's hand. "Becky!" Estelle exclaimed as she walked towards Rebecca, hand extended in reach for the phone, as her sister remained sitting on the bed with a furious look on her face. Rebecca put a hand up, stopping Estelle in her tracks before she could reach the phone. "What the hell is there to talk about? How the hell did you get her number? Explain what Cedric? What the hell is going on?" "That's Cedric?" Stephanie exclaimed in a loud whisper. Estelle stayed silent listening with an angry look on her face. She looked up at Estelle, locked eyes on her, then looked back down at the floor. "We do need to talk, Cedric." Rebecca said angrily. After a few indistinct mumbles from the phone, Rebecca hung up the phone and put it down. There was a second of silence. Estelle did not know if she should be afraid, but she was. "So what happened?" Stephanie blurted out. "He said he wants to talk." Rebecca mumbled.

Estelle didn't know what to say because she didn't know how much Rebecca knew. "How did he get Estelle's number? Why did he call her?" Stephanie asked, genuinely confused. "He said him and Estelle exchanged numbers at my birthday party in case she had any other back problems. He's been trying to reach me to talk, but I was ignoring his calls so he reached out to her." Rebecca explained, staring down at the floor. She was visibly tired. "What does he want to talk about?" Estelle chimed in, trying not to appear relieved. "I don't know. He sounded like he didn't know." "You have to tell him about the situation." Stephanie pressed. "I know. I just.. I don't know what to do." Rebecca sobbed. Estelle began to feel her role as a sister again. It was then that she decided this would be the end of her and Cedric. For good. "I say you guys meet up tonight to talk." Estelle said, sitting down next to her big sister. "I'll make you some tea." Stephanie said. "No, I'll do it." Estelle offered quickly. She grabbed her phone and headed to the kitchen.

Estelle: We have to meet ASAP

Cedric responded immediately.

Cedric: Meet me at my house

Estelle: Be there in 15

Cedric sent Estelle his location as she hastily microwaved some tea for her sister. When she arrived back into the room she found Rebecca staring at her own phone along side Stephanie on the bed. "What's going on?" Estelle questioned to the silence. "You tell me." Rebecca said looking up at her. Estelle's heart dropped. "What do you mean?" she tried to say confidently. "Imani just texted me something crazy." Rebecca responded. "It's not true, Becky." Stephanie chimed in. Estelle lost all the taste in her mouth. Rebecca, eyes still red and puffy from crying, shook her head as if looking for a way to make sense of things. "What did she say?" Estelle said with barely any tone in her voice. Rebecca got up immediately and pushed Estelle out of the way to head out of the room door. "Where are you going?" Stephanie yelled. Rebecca continued without saying a word, slipping her feet into some slippers and grabbing her car keys off of the table by the door. "Becky!" Stephanie exclaimed. Estelle could say nothing; she just stood in the hallway outside of her room. Before Rebecca could head out the door, however, she felt compelled to say something. "Becky.." she said softly. Rebecca headed out the door after putting a coat on. "Becky!" Both Stephanie and Estelle yelled. Rebecca got in her car and slammed the door shut. Estelle ran up to the car and slapped the driver door window. "Rebecca! Talk to me!" Rebecca pushed the door open with such force it hit Estelle in the arm. "What do you have to say, Estelle?! What is there to say?!" she screamed. Jaw clenched, eyes red, Rebecca stared into Estelle's face with an anger Estelle had never seen before.  "I'm so sorry." Estelle whispered into a cry. "You're my sister." Rebecca said as it turned into a cry. "I thought I loved him. I.. I don't know. But I love you more." Estelle sobbed. "I'm so sorry." Rebecca wiped her tears, and attempted to regain some composure. After a few moments of silence and sniffling, Rebecca looked up at Estelle. "Keep him." She said just before closing the door and driving off. Estelle stood there with her heart heavy with regret. "Estelle..." Stephanie finally said in an accusatory tone. Estelle walked inside the house without saying a word. There was nothing left to say. Estelle grabbed her car keys and headed for her car. "Where are you going?" Stephanie asked, annoyed. "I have to try to fix this." She responded before getting in her car. Estelle drove directly to Cedric's house but didn't see his car there. She pulled into the driveway anyway and decided to wait for him to get home. She called him but there was no response.

Estelle: I'm at your house. Where are you?

Hours passed before she had exhausted all her interest in social media and taken a short nap. She texted Rebecca.

Estelle: Can we talk please?

Three dots appeared and disappeared. She called her sister, but she didn't pick up. She decided to drive home, and when she pulled into the driveway, she was admittedly relieved that no one was home. She crawled in bed, completely submerging her body within the covers, and crawled an emotionally drained sleep.

The next morning she woke up, showered, brushed her teeth, and got ready to drive to Rebecca's house to talk to her face to face. She was nervous, but she was hopeful she could overcome to giant wedge she had created between she and her sister. Upon arriving she noticed Cedric's car in the driveway alongside Rebecca's. She took a deep breath and decided that perhaps a three-way talk was necessary. She rang the doorbell, and as footsteps drew nearer, she heard the sounds of laughter growing louder. It confused her because it didn't match the tone that she expected the house to have. "Stop" Rebecca said playfully, opening the door with a bright smile, barely paying attention, and Cedric holding her from behind and kissing her neck. Within the microsecond of time in which they had genuinely not known who had knocked on the door, and the time they realized it was Estelle, their faces dropped instantly into a serious manner. Estelle's face looked up in utter disgust.

"Coward."