Omegle

Chapter Twelve

I just needed an escape. An escape from everything. As much as I loved Mattia, I needed a break. Driving around, late at night felt amazing. It's like I forgot everything existed. It was just me against the world.

"Let's go somewhere. Far." I said.

"How far?" Joseph asks.

"Anywhere but here," I respond.

"We can't leave the city."

"Why not?"

"Because I have to be home in the morning."

"We will. Trust me. Let's just go." I convince him. Meanwhile, my phone was blowing up with texts from Mattia. I knew he wanted to know if I was safe, but I couldn't text him. I had too much guilt from what happened with Alejandro. It was eating me up inside. This is why I needed to just be gone, even if it's only for a little.

After stopping to get food, we just go. Neither of us cared where we were going. Being with Joseph felt secure. I had a connection with him I didn't have with anyone else. It was like we were made to be best friends. It was nothing more than that.

It was about 4 am and my phone was still blowing up with texts from Mattia.

"Where are you?"

"Hello??"

"I'm really worried."

"Alejandro told me you left with Joseph."

"Why did you go out with Joseph??"

"TARA??"

"Answer me please."

"I love you."

These texts made my heart sink. I knew he only cared about me and wanted to protect me. I almost forgot how Mattia made me feel. I decided to call him.

"Hey. I'm sorry." I apologize. I hate that I scared him.

"It's okay. I'm just happy you're okay. Where are you right now?" He says. I could sense the fear and urgency in his voice.

"I'm at home." I lied. I just wanted to make him feel better.

"I should come over."

"No, it's okay. I'm gonna go to bed."

"I wanna talk to you, though." He said while his voice was cracking. It broke my heart.

"Can we just talk in the morning?"

"Sure, I love you." He said. Even though he's told me that he's loved me before, it completely changed at that moment. It felt so much more real.

"I love you too." As soon as I hang up I start to cry. I've never felt anything like I did with Mattia. "Where are we?" I ask Joseph.

"I don't know, why?" He responds.

"Let's just go home," I say. I didn't need an escape anymore. I had Mattia, he was my escape.

"Are you sure?"

"If you want to."

"Okay, let's go." On the ride home, I was asleep for most of the time. We got home at around 7 am.

I woke up the next morning at about 11 am. When I first woke up, I texted Mattia.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey, wanna come over today?" He asked.

"Sure, what time." I wanted to tell Mattia about everything that happened last night. I couldn't not tell him about Alejandro.

"Earliest you can get here." He says. I got ready and then started driving. When I get there, we go into his room.

"Mattia, we have a lot to talk about." I start. As nervous as I was to tell him, I knew what I had to do.

"What? Is there something wrong?" He asks, concerned. He sits next to me, putting his warm hand on my thigh. When he did this, the only thing I could think of was Alejandro.

"Alejandro, uh," I stuttered. I didn't know how to tell him.

"What'd he do?" I could tell he was angry. He knew exactly what Alejandro did.

"He tried to get me to sleep with him."

"No, he didn't." As much as Mattia knew it was true, he wouldn't accept it.

"Mattia, please."

"He's my best friend, he wouldn't do something like that to me."

"But he did. And he has before."

"Do you hate Alejandro so much to the point where you have to ruin our friendship?"

"No, Mattia he's done this before." I tried to convince him, but he wouldn't believe me no matter what I said.

"How would you even know that?"

"It doesn't matter, just please-"

"Please what, Tara?" He cut me off, "I don't think I can be with someone who tried to ruin my friendship with my best friend." At this point, tears started streaming from my eyes. I thought everything would be okay.

"Mattia, please just hear me out."

"I don't want to. I know it's a lie. He wouldn't do that."

"Fine, we're done then." I leave with tears falling from my eyes. I didn't wanna be with Mattia if he was so oblivious to the truth. It was hopeless.

On my drive home, my phone starts to blow up. Alejandro texted me, obviously angry with what I did.

"Why would you lie?" He starts. The fact that he was going this far to look like the victim made me realize why I hated him so much.

"I didn't lie." I respond.

"You did. You tried to ruin Mattia and I's friendship."

"Fuck you. You put your hand on my thigh, you tried to get with me. I can't believe how far you will go to defend your character." I snapped. I couldn't just let him feel like he won.

"I don't recall any of this, Tara. You're just really desperate for attention." I couldn't even respond. I was in tears. Once I got home, I went straight upstairs. I just wanted to be alone. Forever.