Better ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 35: The Sisterhood

"Are...are you okay?" Alexandra asked, a sliver of concern crossing her eyes. "Y/N? Hello?"

"I...I...I need another drink," I stuttered, starting for the servers.

"Whoa. Hold on. Let's not get drunk during a time like this," she said, blocking me so that I wouldn't go to the waiters. "Listen, I know this is not looking good, but I need to know -did you know he took those?"

I shook my head. "No. I had no idea. I...I didn't even...he never asked me."

I could feel her scan me, sincere concern filling her eyes. She didn't expect that to be my reply. Then again, I didn't anticipate what she had revealed. Naked pictures of me...photos I never recalled taking. Something I never agreed to. That was what he was showing to them -to those guys I didn't recognize. At least, that was what she claimed. To be honest, I didn't know if she was trustworthy, but I had no choice but to believe her.

"Are...are you sure you really saw that?" I asked, biting my lower lip. "I mean, are you sure it's me? Are you sure they're really...those kinda pictures?"

Her stare met mine directly, nothing but utter genuine sincerity floating at the surface of them as she swallowed, "Listen, I know I'm a bitch, okay? I get that, but I know what I saw, and I know that your boyfriend is making a fool out of you right now." She came closer, a new emotion finding her gaze as she asked, "Now, are you being for real? You honest to God had no idea about those pictures? None whatsoever?"

Trembling, I shook my head. "No. We never even discussed anything involving a camera."

She scanned me quickly before squeezing her eyes shut. I could tell she was digesting everything I had told her. Then again, that made both of us. I couldn't believe what I had learned. I mean, Kellen showing nudes of me? That seemed impossible. At least, that was what I told myself. In the end, it wasn't so much that I couldn't believe what I heard rather than it was I didn't want to believe it. The whole situation almost made me feel sick to my stomach.

"Kellen, you fucking swine," she huffed, opening her eyes and bringing them to me. "You look pale. Do you need to sit?"

I nodded, "Yes...please."

To my surprise, Alexandra wrapped her arms around me tenderly and began to slowly steer me up a set of nearby stairs. Her touch was so gentle and filled with kindness and she smelled so nice. Just like a perfumed lily. Her warm hold on me was almost soothing, but despite that, I couldn't get what I heard out of my head.

Kellen. I thought I could trust him. I thought he was a good guy. At least, I had thought that. Ever since the day before I was struggling with seeing him in a positive light. I trembled at just the thought of being in his bed. I shuddered at remembering his touch and how he had been so eager. If those pictures were real, then it all made sense. He wanted me in that vulnerable position to get what he wanted.

Alexandra led me to an unoccupied seat, and I slid into it, huffing, "I'm such a fucking idiot. Why did I trust him? Why did I...why did I let this happen?" I hunched over, massaging my temples with my fingers. "I should've known he was up to something. I should've known."

I could feel her eyes examine me before she sighed, "Don't beat yourself up. You're not...you're not the first girl he's done this to."

I perked up. "What? What do you mean by that?"

Alexandra fidgeted with her fingers before replying, "A little over a year ago there was another girl he was seeing. She wasn't apart of any of the sororities, so I didn't know much about her. All I knew was that she was seeing Kellen." She crossed her arms over her chest as if to hug herself and continued, "They had been seeing each other for a few months when supposedly Kellen convinced her to go to his room with him so they could...consummate the relationship. A lot of us knew she was nervous...but we just told her it was no big deal. None of us knew what would happen, though."

It was as if she was a different person. The Alexandra who I had seen that evening in my dorm room was suddenly replaced by someone who looked like they were destroyed by both shame and sorrow. To be honest, it was an expression I never thought I'd see on her, but it did do one thing. It allowed me to see a much more human side of her and it was a side I appreciated a great deal.

She let out a haggard breath and pressed, "A couple days after they did that, she was stopping by the ADA House to see Kellen. She went to his room to see if he was there but only saw his laptop open and what she saw on the screen..." She paused before swallowing, "He had images and videos of her -of them- having sex on there. Videos and images, she never remembered taking. God, she was so upset. I still remember how she came to us SOA girls...but we just brushed her off." She ran her fingers through her hair. "We thought she was just being dramatic about it. We figured she was just pretending like she didn't agree to it because it wasn't long before word about the video and pictures got out. We all just figured she was embarrassed. None of us stopped to questioned Kellen. We should've. We should have listened."

I scanned her quickly. "What...happened to her? Is she okay?"

"Besides a tarnished reputation and now having major trust issues, I'm sure she's fine," Alexandra answered. "She transferred schools and changed her name from what I heard. She was so devastated that she actually changed her identity. Do you know how wrecked someone has to be to do that?"

"Can't say I blame her," I shrugged. "Being in the same place she was, I can see why she did that. It's pretty embarrassing."

Her bright eyes locked onto me, pain filling them. "I know. Marianne and Jean were the only ones who believed her. They trusted what she said, and I wish I could've been like them. If Marianne were here instead of me...she'd know the right things to say to you."

She dropped her eyes, most likely trying to hide the pain. She was thinking about Marianne. I could see that. They must have been close, that was all I could deduce. But I couldn't just ignore what I had just heard her say. If Marianne were there instead of her. Did she mean if Marianne had been the one to survive? Was Alexandra feeling guilty about being there?

"Hey," I murmured, flashing her a small smile. "I know I never knew Marianne, but I'm sure she'd be proud of you right now. I mean, what you did...you didn't have to. Technically speaking, you could've ignored it. But you didn't. You told me." I reached over and rested my palm on her arm. "Thank you for that."

To my surprise, she placed her free hand on top of mine and whispered, "I don't wanna be a bad person. I'm not a bad person. I just...I just want to do what's right this time. I don't wanna fuck up again."

I smiled, "You're not a bad person. You're right about that."

The corners of her glossed lips drew up slightly as she sniffled, "Y/N, I'm so sorry for before. I...I never meant to hurt or scare you like that. I was just being a jealous bitch and I'm so sorry for that."

"Don't worry about it," I replied. "Sorry if I made you feel threatened."

"You have nothing to apologize for," she smiled. "I figured from the start we wouldn't last. Hell, I'm surprised we made it as long as we did." She paused briefly, adding, "If it means anything, you and Jean would look way cuter together than you and Kellen."

Despite the severity of the situation I was facing, the two of us began to giggle as if we were small schoolgirls. Strange as it sounded, we laughed until we fell into each other's arms. We laughed so hard our stomachs hurt. We laughed until we cried, and I couldn't help but feel somewhat okay.

**Bello my lovelies! So, did y'all expect Alexandra to be this way? Were you expecting something more bitchy? Let me know! I'm not sure how many chapters we have left, but this is most likely going to be the longest book in the trilogy. Actually, I think it is already. Don't worry, there's more, so stay tuned! Thank you so super duper much for everything! Y'all are da bestest! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross