Cause and Effect || Jonah Marais

23

   Tour is over. That was our last stop. I still hadn't told anybody.

   We arrived back at the house and ran inside, enjoying being back in our own home. But I lifelessly threw my bags to the side, walking down and flopping on the couch.

   How could I have any energy when the day before I was raped but couldn't tell my friends to keep their lives safe?

   "What's wrong, Emma?" Jonah asked, sitting down next to me.

   "I'm just a little jet lagged, that's all." I said.

   "We're ordering pizza. What do you want on your half?" He grinned, playing with my hands.

   "Pineapple, please." I giggled, knowing Jonah's stance on pineapple on pizza. He gave me look of disgust before nodding and going to relay my order.

   I pulled out my phone, going to Instagram in hopes of the fans cheering me up. I looked through some edits, liking and commenting some of them.

Corbyn hops down next to me, putting an arm over the couch.

   "What's wrong?" He asked quietly. I gave him a look of fake confusion.

   "Nothing! I'm great." I lied.

   Apparently I wasn't a very good liar.

   He gave me that look that says "come on dude I know you're lying." I groaned.

   "I'm serious! I'm great, just a little tired." I tried to keep my cool.

   "Emma, I know something is up. You don't have to tell me, but you should tell someone." He said in a hushed voice.

   I just nodded and returned to my phone. When Corbyn didn't leave, I looked up and raised my eyebrows.

   "Can I help you?" I said bitterly. I felt bad for being so mean to him, but I couldn't let myself slip up and let my secret out.

   Corbyn sighed. "When you're ready to talk, just let me know."

   With that, he stood up and walked away.

~

   "Who the heck ordered pineapple?" Daniel shouted as we unboxed our pizza. I raised my hand and giggled.

   "That would be me!"

Everyone gave me an appalled look as I took my pizza and sat down at the table.

We all ate our dinner, talking about random things like we do every time we have a group meal.

As I was collecting everyone's dishes, I felt someone grab my arm.

"Can I talk to you?"

"I'm doing the dishes." I responded.

Jack jumped up. "I'll do them!"

I sighed and handed the plates to Jack. I followed Kennedy into her bedroom, sitting down on her bed.

"What's going on?" She asked me. "Everyone is really worried about you."

"I don't know why everyone keeps asking me that! I'm fine!" I threw my hands up in exasperation.

   "Emma, I've known you forever. Something is wrong. Please just tell me." She pleaded.

   "I'm telling you, Kennedy, I'm fine." I was getting a bit angry that she wouldn't just accept my answer.

   "You're not!" She raised her voice. "You haven't been ever since last night when you left the club early!" She stood up.

   "You don't know what you're talking about."

   "Everyone is worried about you, Emma! You won't tell me, you won't tell Corbyn, and you are acting weird around everyone! Even Jonah can see it!" At this point she was full-on yelling.

   "Calm down, Kennedy. I'm just sleep deprived!" That had turned into the excuse that was replacing the truth.

   "Friends don't keep secrets like this, Emma." She said.

   I knew what I had to say next, no matter how much it pained me.

   "Then maybe we aren't friends."

   Her eyes hardened, and I could see a layer of sadness appear in the brown circles.

   "You're not thinking straight. Let me know when you are ready to be honest with me."

   She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

   I decided that, instead of breaking down, I kept myself together. I walked out and sat down on the couch once again.

   Jonah approached me and sat down beside me.

   "I heard you and Ken fighting in there. Is everything alright?" He asked as he played with my hair.

"Yeah Jo, I'm good. It was just a disagreement." I managed a fake, toothless smile.

"Okay babe, just tell me if anything's up."

"Thanks babe. I love you." I said.

"I love you too." He gave me a quick peck before standing up and walking away.

I was just about to settle in and watch Riverdale when Daniel came running over to me.

"Emma, I need to talk to you."

   I sighed. "Now?"

   "Yes. Now." His eyes were filled with urgency so I took his hand, letting him drag me into the bathroom.

   He locked the door and turned around.

   "What's wrong?" I asked anxiously. I stared into his ocean blue eyes, waiting for a response.

   "I cheated on Kennedy."

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A/N:
GUYS IM SO SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED IN AGES
I have been very busy and I've had major writer's block. I want you guys to have the best content possible but I am confident in the rest of the chapters. Thanks for sticking with me <3 <3

Word Count: 855