rags to riches | jeff wittek ( DISCONTINUED)

Chapter Eight : Tears Left To Cry

apologies for not updating soon enough. i recently got a seasonal job, and lately i've been feeling emotionally detached from reality 😢😅 please bare with me for the next month or so because i don't know how to handle this new schedule. idk if i'll be able to update every single week but i'll try my absolute best.

it sucks too because i'm so excited for the rest of the story but i have to prioritize school (don't worry, i have a month left). i feel like this is more a filler chapter but i needed it to get the story going.

♫ Easily - Bruno Major ♫

"Mia. I think this is as clean as it's going to get." Donovan tells me, holding onto my shoulder as I scrub down the coffee table. A sigh escapes my lips while I plop down on the brown couch behind me. "Are you trying to impress Jeff?" Audrey wiggles her eyes brows, nudging my shoulder as she sits next to me.

Ever since that whole debacle with Jeff last week, I've been anxious and excited to see him again but I didn't think it would be here, at my place. My friends have been teasing me about the whole ordeal, saying that we're eventually gonna be a couple but I'm not even invested in developing a relationship or that into him. 

"No. I just don't want our house to look a mess for guests." I never wanted to invite David over mostly because people now a days have a hard time accepting that not everyone can live in luxury. Not to say that David might not be understanding but I feared that I would get treated differently because of it. Our apartment was the size of David's living room alone.

Donovan groans, "Is Jeff really coming? I don't get good vibes from that guy." Audrey playfully hits him on the chest before reassuring me, "He's just jealous that someone extremely handsome will minimize his chances of being able to get on with you." I roll my eyes, "I'm not looking for anything, especially with Jeff. I'm just happy we can get along because we see each other often."

The two of them whisper with one another as Zenica walks out the hall in a red tube top she paired with some high waisted ripped jeans. I bring my fingers to my temples, "Zeni, you do realize Todd is with Scott on tour right now?"

"Oh baby, that doesn't stop me. If we're gonna be on the vlogs, I gotta look good." She winks before checking herself in the mirror. The three of us decided it would be embarrassing if she was the only one that was dressed up. As usual, I had no "going out" clothes that fit.

I chose some high waisted jeans and an orange long sleeved top. We all regrouped in the living room while Audrey scrolled through movies to watch. After about fifteen more minutes of waiting, the doorbell begins to obnoxiously ring multiple times. 

I walk over to the door and open it to see David, Jason, Zane, Jeff, Natalie dressed in costumes. "Happy Halloween!" David smiles at me, before bringing a disposable camera up to my face and the flash almost blinding me. My eyes immediately meet Jeff's but he quickly looks towards the ground. I ignore it and step to the side to allow them inside.

Jeff didn't even bother to say hi as he walked right by me. Should I even be surprised to think we could be friends? He obviously said those things because we were alone.

"Oh my god they're really here." Zeni says just above a whisper as the three stand up and walk a few feet closer. "Guys this is Audrey, Zeni, and Donovan." I gesture towards the three, skipping their introductions since they knew who they were.

"Jeff you are hotter in person." Zeni smirks at him. His cheeks flush red before stepping up, "Imagine how I feel staring at you right now." Jeff winks, extending his hand out for her to shake, in which she mimics his actions. I notice the two of them staring at each other for a few minutes longer and I uncomfortably shift in my position. "Damn Ellie, if I knew your roommate was this beautiful I woulda came over sooner." He smirks at her.

I was completely at a loss for words as I watched them. It made me upset realizing that this was this first thing he has said to me all day, and hasn't gotten over calling me Ellie. I thought this bickering was finally over.

The talking around me is drowned out, as I see Jeff and Zeni giggling and flirting with each other. I'm usually never the jealous type, I've seen Jeff and Natalie flirt countless of times prior, but this interaction hits different. It sent butterflies to my stomach that almost made me feel nauseous.

"Miella?" Donovan shakes my shoulder, snapping me out of my trance as I realize that everyone is staring at me, "David asked you something."

"What?" I ask, unaware of what was happening. "Can you be on the vlogs again? Everyone wants more of you." He questions, a hopeful look spread across his face. Everyone intently stares at me, waiting for an answer. I told myself that once was enough. "I don't know if I want to."

"C'mon Ellie, we've known you long enough to know that there's a reason you don't want to be on camera." Jeff says, slightly annoyed with Audrey closely standing next to him.

Once again, I uncomfortably shift on the couch, not knowing how to respond to his question. Donovan looks at Zeni, waiting for her to say something but instead she looks down at her feet. "And your point? It's not like she has to explain to you why she makes certain choices." Donovan snaps, inching closer towards Jeff.

Everyone was in complete shock, including myself to see him react this way. "Alright man, calm down. I was just messing with her, she knows what's up." Jeff defends himself, throwing his arms in the air.

Donovan scoffs as he rolls his eyes, "Does she really? You and I both know the answer to that." I reach for his arm, pulling him behind me. When I look up at him, his attention set on Jeff.

"Hey, why don't I show you what's left of the apartment!" Zeni perks, finally saying something after twenty minutes. She has her arm around Jeff as she leads him into our quaint kitchen. He follows her without another word from the both of them. "In all seriousness Mia, please don't ever feel like you're obligated to be on camera. I understand." David walks up to me, a sympathetic look on his face.

Before I could say anything, my phone rings and I excuse myself to my room as they all begin go converse once again. "Hello?" I speak into my phone.

"Ate, something bad happened." I hear Emmanuel frantically speak into the phone. His breath was shaky, a concerning tone lacing through this voice. "What's wrong?"

Multiple scenarios go through my head at to what could possibly be the reason that he was calling me late, especially since it was 11pm there. "It's dad, he had a heart attack."

I didn't think that one of my ultimate fears would come true. My heart almost felt like it stopped as I struggle to keep a steady breath. I hold onto the desk beside my, trying to stabilize myself. "I'm getting on the closest flight there." I tell my brother, continuously blinking to try to stop myself from crying.

"Ate, you can't. I'm not supposed to tell you. He's stable right now but they're stressed because the insurance isn't covering much."

I know my brother had good intentions but telling me made it even worse. I'm glad he wanted to keep in updated but I know that if I go, they'll be mad at him, as crazy as it sounds. We spent the last thirty minutes talking and after we got off the phone, I immediately broke down.

Sometimes I don't even realize that i'm building up emotions like this. It's hard. It's hard and it fucking sucks. It may sound easy to just hop on a plane and go see them but then it's not at all. Saving is hard when every time you get paid there are constant bills that need to be accounted for.

I miss my family so much. And it's even worse knowing that I can't be there with them to go through this hard time.

My door slowly opens and David peeks his head through. Once he sees me crying, he immediately gets next to me and pulls me unto his embrace. I hated the fact that this is the second time David has seen me so vulnerable. I tried my best to calm down but I just kept crying and crying while he rubbed my back, no questions.

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1506 words