Crash and Burn

30. Christmas Eve

AN: Please read the AN at the end of the chapter.

December 23rd

I groaned as I shifted to make myself comfortable. The lumpy old couch didn't do anything to ease the aching muscles that I got from working at the restaurant all day. With how much time I had to commit to the studio, I couldn't get a full-time job so I took up shifts to wait on tables at the restaurant after my internship ended. "Oh, you're back." I craned my neck over the couch and saw Mel all dressed up. "You look nice. Where are you going?" She froze and stared at me wide eyed. "I forgot something in my room. I'll be right back." Well that was weird. She came back out with her eyes trained on her phone. "I'm going to dinner with some friends." I quirked an eyebrow at the obvious lie. "Sure. Do you know what time you'll be back?" I wasn't trying to be strict but we lived in a really bad neighborhood and I wanted to make sure that she was safely home before I went to bed. "I'm not sure but you don't have to wait up." She leaned down to give me a hug and pecked my cheek when she pulled away. "We both know that I will."

I scrolled through social media as I laid on the bed. There was no way I could get a proper rest if I stayed all night on the couch so I made the most of the few hours that Mel was gone. It was closing 2am and I was getting increasingly worried. Mel sent me a text that said she wouldn't be home early but something about that filled me with dread. I heard the front door slam shut and swung my legs off the bed. I barely made it out of the bedroom when I came to face a clearly distraught Mel. "Why didn't you tell me?" I felt like my whole world froze. Was she talking about everything with our parents? Only one other person knew about it. Demi. I cleared my throat and placed a frown on my face. "Tell you what?" She looked like she was about to lose it. "About Demi cheating on you!"

Oh. That.

I just shrugged and made a move to walk towards the couch. "I didn't want to make her the bad guy. It was a decision that she made when she didn't have a clear mind so I don't blame her." I did, but not anymore. I left that part out though. "I didn't talk to you for a whole month because of that!" Yeah, I know. I was there too. "Can we just forget about this? It's in the past. I know how much you look up to her and I didn't want to ruin it for you. She made a mistake, big deal." I plopped down on the couch and winced when I felt the pain shoot up my spine. "A mistake that she regrets. She told all of us, you know. Her old team already knew but she just told her family too. She was a mess after she told us and we all know it's because she still loves you. I had to follow her home to make sure that she was all right." Now I was mad. I stood up and spun around. "Oh really? Then tell me why the fuck is she with that guy. Don't you think I still love her too? You don't know how much it fucking hurts to see all those photos of them kissing and holding hands, Mel." The sympathy almost bled out of her after I said those words. She made a move towards me but I shook my head. "I have a shift at the restaurant tomorrow. I need to go to bed." Hurt flashed across her face but she just nodded and walked into her room.

I woke up early the next day. My shift at the restaurant didn't start until noon but I was already ready to leave the apartment at 9am. I went into the bedroom with my pillow and started beating Mel with it. "Mel, wake up for sec." She groaned and put her hands out to stop me. "What do you want?" I grasp the pillow tightly with both my hands and suddenly felt nervous. "Demi's address." Her eyes widened and she shot up. "Why?" There was like an angel and a devil on each shoulder. Tell her; no don't. "I need to go see her. We haven't spoken since Thanksgiving and I need to find out why she told you guys." Tell her half the truth it is, then. She narrowed her eyes at me. "How did you know that she moved? Are you stalking her?" What the fuck? "No! I'm not stupid. I watch her stories and it's pretty clear that she did. Either that or she gave her old house a complete makeover and made it smaller." It took a while to convince her, but eventually, she caved. I have her address and I have time. Now all I need to do is grow some balls to face her.