Star: Tyler, The Creator

20. Fade

Two Days Later

"Rose."

Rose looked up.

"Fuck you so quiet for?" Tyler asked.

"You ain't even touched your food." Frank replied.

They had gone for breakfast together, but all Rose could think about what that stupid fucking text she saw on Abel's phone two nights ago.

She hadn't told them yet.

"I'm not even that hungry."

"Nigga this is your spot. You love this shit." Tyler nudged her.

She sighed.

"You gon' spit it out or do we have to force it outta you?" Frank asked.

She looked up at him.

"What is it?" Frank continued.

"Don't tell me you told me so." Rose looked at Tyler. "It's Abel."

"What now?"

"Two nights ago we were at his place and he left for a little. He got a text and it was from B, it was like, i missed you last night let me know when we can hang out again or some shit like that." She groaned, sinking into the booth seat. "It's all that's been in my head."

"So it was from Bella?" Frank asked.

"It had to be. Who else is B?"

"You have to talk to that nigga." Tyler replied.

"That's the thing. I trust him. Like am I insecure if I'm suspecting something? Is that fucked up?"

"Nah, I'd be trying to get it out of him too."

Rose looked down.

"Fuck, I don't even know."

...

After a busy day, Rose laid in bed waiting for Abel to get out of the shower. It was late at night at his place.

Her heart was beating every time the thought of going through his phone would come up.

It was literally right there, charging.

She bit her lip, taking it in her hands. Abel had a lock on his phone, but she'd already seen the passcode.

Rose unlocked it, quickly looking through some texts.

His manager, friends...there it was.

B.

She clicked it, hoping to find nothing incriminating.

Rose read the texts.

They went up to two months back.

As she scrolled she came by some nudes of her; it was definitely Bella.

so you're for real seeing her now?
-B, one month ago

yeah. i should've told you before you left for NY. it was good seeing you at the show again.
-Abel, one month ago

To yesterday's texts,

come overrr
-Abel, yesterday, 11:23 pm

she left?
-B, yesterday, 11:34 pm

yeah a few hours ago.
-Abel, yesterday, 11:35 pm

on my way
-B, yesterday 11:40 pm

To texts from this morning.

Rose coming over today. don't text
-Abel, 5:15 pm

okay, missing you already.
-B. 5:30 pm

Abel opened the door, Rose getting up angrily.

"Fuck you."

She threw his phone at him.

"What the fuck are you doing—,"

"You made me feel bad for not trusting you. You were fucking cheating this whole time."

Abel was silent.

"You called me fucking crazy!" Rose pushed him.

She took the necklace off and threw it at him.

"I never wanna fucking see you again. Fuck you."

Her eyes were welling up. Rose grabbed her stuff before Abel grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry..." He breathed, looking down.

"Why would you say all that shit just to cheat?"

"It was business, Rose," he sighed, "You wouldn't have wrote all that shit for the album if you didn't feel anything for me." 

She scoffed.

"So you used me?"

"You got your check. And you'll keep getting that check. Look I'm sorry,"

He began to walk over.

She took a step back.

"And you were just gonna continue to lead me on?"

"I didn't expect to like you more than I thought. I was gonna break up with you. Bella knew."

Rose couldn't even look at him.

"I don't want anything to do with you, ever."

"I really did fall for you."

"Fuck you."

He pulled on her arm.

"Rose, I'm serious. I didn't expect to fucking fall for you this heavy—,"

"Let go of me."

She walked out.

...

Rose wiped her eyes, unlocking the door to her loft. She didn't feel anything—she did feel stupid enough for not following her instincts in the first place. Fuck this stupid industry.

Her phone rang.

It was Tyler. She ignored it, and the rest of his texts too.

She made a vow to herself to never catch feelings for anyone in this fucking business.