"Noen..." I pull my hand from Jaden's grip, although it wasn't an easy task, and ran it through my hair. I felt chills run up my back as his eyes burnt through me. He looked me up and down, then did the same to Jaden.
"No, Rose. It truly is hilarious how much attention you seek sometimes." I let my hand fall to my side, my expression showing disbelief for sure. What he said was uncalled for and frankly, hurt.
"Whats going on guys?" I heard Milo say uneasily. I held eye contact with Noen, hearing whispers from the gang, now circling around us. I assumed everyone finally made it back, just in time.
"Whats going on?" Noen gave a sarcastic smile, now looking at Milo who I guessed was not to far behind me, saying Noen's gaze didn't fall to far to the left. "Whats going on? Ha, Unbelievable." Noen shook his head, letting out an angered laugh that cut short. "You should know. Rose tells you everything, doesn't she? And in fact you were there for most of this, wern't you? Milo?" Noen stabs at Milo and I hear a sharp inhale.
"Noen, come on man." It was Sebs turn to try and poke at the issue at hand. "Lets calm down and walk this off, nothing's happening."
"Nothing's happening?" Noens voice rose and he met my gaze again, this time fire burning behind his pupils. "Obviously something is happening, you've got to be blind to see that Rose and Jaden are obviously together, maybe even messing around." I felt Jaden step up behind me, I felt his anger start to boil.
It was odd how I could feel every single expression from everyone surrounding us, except for Noen. I saw anger and I heard anger but I couldn't feel anything from him, not like I could with everyone else, even if I couldn't see them, I felt them near me. I felt myself shake nervously in place, melting under Noen's stare.
"Its like she couldn't help herself, I know some of you have seen it. Jaden's been trying his shot for this entire leg of the tour, cant you see it? And its not like Rose doesn't poke back." Noen ran his hand through his hair, not loosing eye contact with me. "She met me, she got clout off me, and she made me fall for her. At her first shot into the spotlight she took it and left me, for him." He lifted his hand, his finger pointed at Jaden. "Its the stupidest thing I've ever experienced, how she can ever so slightly move and think she has all this height above me. I made her! I MADE YOU!" Noen raised his voice to a yell, directed at me, the group whispers raising again. I've never seen Noen like this before, it was hard to believe that it was him even in front of me.
"Dude, pipe down, that a little extreme." Milo chimed again from behind me. I felt myself starting to fall apart piece by piece with every word that fell from Noen's mouth. Every stab of comments that strung from him.
"Extreme? No, Milo, whats extreme is that you are trying to say anything to defend her. I made you too. Without me, you, and her, would be nothing." And with those words, I felt everything inside me collapse. I couldn't feel anything anymore, no ones emotions were in touch with mine and I found myself incapable of talking. Noen knew it too, because with his glance back at me, he had to take a double take. He knew at that point that I was hurt and he was the one who did it, that I wasn't okay anymore.
"Noen's sort of right." My head couldn't have turned quicker. Payton was letting in now, walking slowly towards Noen. "He did give a lot of fame to you Milo, and he gave all your fame to you Rose." I heard Jaden laugh, stepping up behind me.
"Yeah okay, like people didn't follower her for her own personality. She isn't all Noen." He said sternly, making Noen bite his bottom lip harshly, and shake his head.
"Be one to talk Jaden. You've been caught, that's the only reason you're standing up for her." Cynthia stepped forward on Noen's defense, her arms crossed against her chest.
"Of course you would say that, because you haven't been caught yet, bouncing between every guy on tour." Chase was the one to talk now, walking to my side and smiling as he knew his words would set fire. It was the first thing he has said to address the issue we all have been waiting to address. Cynthia felt it too, we all saw that the comment hit deep into her bones, her soul even.
"Really, Chase? I thought we were bestfriends? You cant see this? Way to throw shade by the way, who's petty now?" Noen questioned, getting no response from Chase. I assume that took a jab at what thy discussed in private, about the breakup. "I guess since he's over there, why don't you join us Sterling?" I shifted my gaze towards Sterling, her dark eyelashes batting in disbelief. "Oh come on, you know, you've seen them. You're Roses best friend, so you know."
"Yeah, I know. I know a lot. I know that Jaden has feeling for Rose, and that you have feelings for Rose and I know who Rose has feelings for. And maybe, if you would have been paying any type of attention or even, maybe, don't let me sound so dumb here, but maybe, if you had heard the truth and not just what you wanted to hear from Jaden, you would have heard him say the truth, who Rose sees and cares for the most." Sterling stepped to the center of us, shaking her head. "So yeah, I know. What I didn't know was the amount of rude and uncalled for words you were capable of saying in your entire lifetime." With those words she hugged me and stood next to me.
"Whatever, start this war between us, we will see how long it lasts before the truth comes out and the followers find out who they actually want to support." Payton rolled his eyes as he pulled out his phone, his eyes widening at the screen. "Jackson how long have you been live streaming for?"
And just like that the entire group fell silent, and my soul left my body. Nothing. Nothing could redeem me from this. Nothing could bring back the truth, the actual truth about how I felt. Unless I spoke up, spoke up about how madly in love I've fallen for Noen. About all the little moments of joy he brings me, and about how it was a mask I thought I wanted when me and Jaden had little moments of connection. I could end all the fighting, but also break Jaden's heart. I would be the bad guy either way. All I had to do was speak up. Open my mouth. Speak Up Now!
"Great, perfect. Now the whole world will know about this. Nice heads up, Jackson, real sport." Chaser said, dragging his feet towards the van. Everyone slowly followed, whispering among their chosen group, giving glances towards me and Noen, as if mentally choosing which point they agreed with.
"Come on, lets get you back to the hotel." Milo took my arm, Sterling joining my other side.
At least now I knew who I could truly count on in the life of social media. But that boy, the washed out pink blonde boy who stood in front of me a minute ago, the boy who raised his voice and had fire behind his eyes...
That wasn't Noen Eubanks.
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I'm so sorry that this is a short chapter, I have had a lot going on and a lot of school and basketball stuff going on. These next few chapters are going to send heartbreak into every single one of you, but remember, there has to be heartbreak before it can be heartwarming. :)
I hope you have an amazing day and that you drop a vote or a comment. I love to read and respond to most of them. Tell me how your day is or a problem you are struggling with. Id love to help and listen. Tell me about your crush or about your puppies.
Anyway, I hope someone told you, you look gorgeous and to have a good week.
