Love's A Bitch

Chapter 17

I COME BEARING GIFTS!!!!!! LAB HAS RETURNED! I KNOW I PROMISED A CATCHUP, IT WILL BE COMING SHORTLY, JUST PLEASE BE PATIENT.

ALSO I STARTED WORKING ON A NEW BOOK CALLED "ROAD TO DAMASCUS" SO PLEASE GIVE IT A LOOK/READ. IT'S A DIFFERENT GENRE BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE IT.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Breakfast the next morning was awkward, to say the least. Seated outside on the veranda around the large patio the seven teenagers all avoided eye contact as they ate silently, the only sound was that of cutlery clattering against the plates, heavy sighs and the ever subtle clearing of someone's throat.

Ryan and Reed sat at opposite ends of the table. The former had a pensive look on her face as she slowly sipped from her glass of water. The latter had a scowl on his face as he held his glass of orange juice against his bruising eye.

He remembered being the last one on the beach as he watched Ryan walk Augusto to his car. He remembered cursing at himself for losing his cool. He remembered feeling guilty but he'd never admit that, especially not when he witnessed the embrace between Ryan and Augusto. It was seeing that tender moment between the two that put him in the foul mood.

"So...what happened to your face Reed?"

The whole table fell silent as all eyes darted between Johnny and Reed.

Johnny had been the only one that seemed to be enjoying his breakfast the entire time, clearly oblivious to the thick atmosphere. It was when he slowed down stuffing his face with pancakes and looked around at his friends that he noticed the unflattering bruise that covered his eye.

"It's no – " he started, but was cut off by an unannounced guest.

"Rihanna beat the shit out of him, that's what happened," Augusto waltzed up the stairs of the veranda and took the empty next to Steffy before casually swinging his arm onto the back of her chair. He let his eyes give her a one over, making sure to slow down at her chest before meeting her eyes and flashing her one of his charming smiles.

Augusto was also sporting bruise or two on his face. His top lip was busted and a small part of it had turned an ugly plum purple. The bruise extended itself to his left cheek stopping just under his eye which had a darker bruise of its own. Needless to say, Reed had done a number on him.

"You sure I can't change your mind sweetheart? And before you tell me I've got the wrong plumbing, just give my pipe a try, it be the right fit."

Filipa couldn't contain her laughter as she watched Steffy turn red at his comment. Soon after the whole table was in a fit of laughter, even Reed's deep scowl eased up a bit.

"And what the hell happened to you? Better yet, who are you?" interjected Johnny.

"I'm Augusto Rodriguez, a friend of Rihanna. As for my face, Meyers beat the shit out of me," Augusto extended his hand to Johnny who took it.

"I'm Johnny, a pal of Reed's."

"Auggie, did you put any ice on your face. You're a bit too much too look at this early in the morning," teased Ryan.

The response she got was the mentioned flipping her the bird.

Amara smiled at his crudeness and Ryan's unbotheredness. The two really were something else.

"I can go fetch you some ice from the kitchen," she offered.

She knew she hadn't hit him but a part of her felt guilty for what Reed had done.