Almost His

Chapter Twelve

ASH
"Shar?" I said dumbfounded. I looked at Chad, he just stood there in silence. Then it dawned on me. Chad was the boyfriend Shar was coming to see. I'd just got played.
Shar came out of the bathroom with a robe on.
"Ash? What's going on? Why did my boyfriend carry you into his room? Why are you even here?"
"Your boyfriend?" I mumbled shakily.
"Ash. I can explain" Chad reaches out to touch me. I took a step backward.
"Explain? What the hell is going on?!!" Shar said
I took a deep breath and looked at Shar "I'll tell you what's going on Shar. Chad and I were dating" He widened his eyes "Yes. Were. I didn't know he was the boyfriend you were talking about because I'd never seen a picture of him"
Shar slapped Chad. I did not see that coming.
"So this is why you weren't replying my texts. You were busy screwing my best friend"
She walked over to me and gave me a hug, I was surprised.
She saw the surprised look on my face and said "It's not your fault. You had no idea."
I felt my heart break. I'd seen girls get played but I'd never thought that I'd be a victim. I actually thought he was sincere. So what they say about singers is true.
I pointed at Chad shakily "I gave you my virginity. Was it all a game to you? You even acted like you had the same interests as me. You said you loved me and as the dumbass I am, I believed you"
"Ash..." I cut him off
"Was it all a bet? How much did you bet on it? Was I a tool to satisfy your sexual needs?"
I was furious. I felt angry, sad and heartbroken.
"You told me you fucking loved me!!" I slapped him.
"All that crap about me being special was all a lie?" I slapped him again.
I was about to slap him again when Steph, Dannie, Sydney and Denver opened the door.
"Shar? What are you doing here?" Steph said when she saw the look on our faces she glared at Chad
"What the fuck did you do?"
"Calm down Steph" Sydney said.
Dannie hugged Shar and I. We burst into tears.
"Don't cry." She stepped away from us, Shar held unto me. She walked over to Chad and punched him, we all gasped.
She was about to throw another punch when Denver held her
"Dannie that's enough" he said
"Let go! This son of a bitch played my friends and thought he could get away with it" She launched herself towards Chad
"Dannie get it together!" Denver grabbed her.
"Dude I warned you!" Sydney said
I was dumbfounded. "You knew?" Steph and I said simultaneously.
"Uhmmm..."
Steph walked up to him, "You knew? And you didn't tell me?"
"Did you also know?" Shar finally spoke, she looked at Denver.
He kept quiet. They knew all along and they played along. They were all in in this. I was lost in thoughts and I didn't hear what Steph said. I kept staring at the floor. I couldn't believe it.
"So you guys were in on this?" I said quietly
"How could you?" Steph said.
"Pack your things we're leaving." Dannie said.
"I haven't unpacked yet" Shar said.
"My bags are packed. I packed them earlier today" I said.
We were in the living room when Chad and Sydney walked in. I was in pain. How could he do this to me?
"Please don't leave we have rooms here __" Chad finally spoke.
"We don't need any favors from you" Shar cut him off.
"Ash. Please don't go" he took my hand.
"Don't. Fucking. Touch. Me. You disgusting bastard".
"Ash please don't say that. I can explain."
Shar clenched her fists. I could tell she wanted to punch him hard.
"You can explain? What about Shar? Doesn't she
deserve an explanation?"
"I- I swear. She never meant anything to me. You do"
"Can you hear yourself? I can never date a guy who thinks it's okay to play with a girl's feelings."
"Our cab has arrived. Let's get going" Dannie said.
"Dannie_" Chad said
"Don't. You. Dare. I don't play with these three girls. They mean the world to me. You played my friends. If you mess with my friends you mess with me and that is not okay."
"I can explain" Chad said
No matter how much he had hurt me I felt sad leaving him. Never in a million years had I thought this trip would end like this. I stared at him, my eyes filled with tears, once our eyes met, I looked away.
"You're such a fool" I said to myself.
How could I still be so in love with him even after his betrayal? I'm sure I'd be over him once we get home.

...one week later
After the episode with Chad, Shar and I kind off grew distant. We were in good terms but our relationship wasn't the same anymore. I think she blamed me for the end of her relationship with Chad.
I was in athe kitchen when she walked in.
"Stress baking again?" She smiled
"Yes. You know me" I smiled back
Awkward silence followed.
"Ash?"
"Yea?"
"Uhmmm.. I wanted to say that I'm sorry for how I've been acting this past week."
I stopped whisking my egg.
She continued "I think I might have blamed you for the way my relationship ended but you were just as ignorant as I was"
"Shar there's no need to apologize_"
"Let me finish. If I had just sent you a picture none of this would have happened. But one thing I know is that Chad really loves you Ash."
I was about to talk when she cut me off
"I know he has been texting you all week. From your reaction this past week I know you love him too. Hell, I don't think I even loved him. He's been texting you all week but he texted me just once, to apologize and tell me how much he loves you."
I sighed "That doesn't change anything Shar"
"If this is because of me, I'm okay. I've forgiven him and so should you."
I sighed.
"Let's forget about Chad for now. Back to us, can we go back to how we were?" She gave me that look she always gives whenever she does something wrong.
"Of course. We're best friends Shar. Nobody, much less a guy can tear us apart"
She hugged me, "Think about what I said about Chad, okay?
"I'll think about it. He lied to me you know", I straightened my shoulders and said "Now get the hell out of here so I can concentrate"
"I wouldn't want to get in between you and your precious flour" She left and I went back to my baking.

After dinner we all sat down to watch the new Netflix movie Work It. Shar and I were back. I could see Steph and Dannie eye each other. I was happier than ever. Shar and I were back together, business was moving well, my baking had gotten better and I'd been getting calls to style more models. What more could a girl want?
I got a text from Chad.
Well, there's the answer to that question. A girl did want more.