Consequences of the Heart

Chapter 48

Quinn's POV

"Okay yes that is Mandi, but the reason she is here is because Brick and Penelope couldn't make it so they gave their tickets to Mandi and Bay." Now that I can believe but that doesn't explain why Brenton is acting very out of character from how is normally. "You swear that you had no idea that she was going to be here tonight?" Brenton shakes his head running his hand over his face. 

"I was just told an hour or so." I start putting the pieces together understanding that hearing that news must be why he freaked out. "Then why are you acting like a druggy looking for their fix?" I ask and Brenton looks behind me before turning his attention back to me. 

"I just think since your dad is due to come home tomorrow that we should get home and relax." I sigh thinking that maybe Brenton is right and I start feeling guilty about the way I have been talking and treating him. "I am sorry Brenton, I know you are just looking out for me and I shouldn't react the way I did." Brenton smiles at me kissing my forehead. 

"It's okay, I still love you." I wrap my arms around him giving him a hug. "Let me say goodbye to my friends and gather my stuff, then we can leave." Brenton nods his head looking relived. "I will meet you out at the car." He says kissing me again before heading to the car and I head back over to my friends. 

"As much as I would to stay and party, Brenton and I are going to head home." My friends look at me oddly. "You have only been here for a couple of hours and you were just starting to have fun." I nod my head grabbing my purse and make sure I have everything. "I know but my dad is coming home from the hospital tomorrow and I think rest is the best thing." My friends look at me like they don't believe me. 

"We just miss you Quinn. It seems like ever since Brenton came home all of us haven't really hung out like we used to." Hearing this makes me feel guilty because it is kind true that since Brenton came back I have been all about him. 

"I know and I am sorry about that, I really am." Emery scoffs kind of blowing off my apologize. "How about I plan the next party for all of us?" Most of my friends but Chris look at me like they could care less which breaks my heart a little bit. 

"I just find it odd that Brenton pretty much begged you to come tonight, then out of the blue he wants to just up and leave." My gut agrees with Chris but my heart is now torn between pleasing my friends by staying and pleasing Brenton by going home. "I don't know okay." I say storming off into the house fed up with this torn feeling because it always makes me feel like a bad person no matter what I decide to do. 

I walk into the kitchen where I just happen to run into Mandi of all people. "Quinn right?" She asks and I nod my head not sure what to make of this encounter. "Brenton's girlfriend?" I nod my head again as she slips from her cup. "Is Brenton here?" She asks looking around and I feel myself not able to hold myself back anymore. "Can I ask you something?" Mandi looks at me puzzled but judging from the smile on her lips tells me another story. "Sure, I don't see why not." I take a deep breath knowing that if Brenton or his buddies aren't going to tell me then Mandi will. 

"Ever since Brenton came home I have felt something off with him, and then I heard the story about the night that he vanished for hours." Mandi nods her head with a small laugh. "Are you talking about the night Cord and Brick found us at the tattoo parlor?" It is my turn to nod my head to her but I am not smiling. "What about it?" I am not sure how to ask the question that I want to because of fear of the truth. 

"I told my friends about it and they seems to think that something was going on between the two of you, then that very same day Brenton left very early morning and when returned home his tank top was ripped and his shorts were sagging." Mandi just looks at me like I am speaking a different language. "You can guess what I am thinking." Mandi takes another drink inclining her head. 

"Let me give you a piece of advice. If you're going to confront me then be woman enough to ask me the real questions and stop beating around the bush." I am a little taken back from her tone of voice but she does have a point. "Did anything happen between Brenton and you while overseas?" Mandi looks impressed for moment and places her cup down. "The truth is that yes something happened between Brenton and I while we were overseas." My heart drop into my stomach and I suddenly feel sick.

 "What exactly happened overseas?" I ask right away wishing that wouldn't have come out of my mouth. "He never told you?" I shake my head and Mandi kind of laughs, and I feel the sense of déjà vu to the day I was in Nick's apartment and found out the truth. "Brenton and I has sex while overseas, and we had sex over and over again." Mandi gloats in a taunting tone of voice as I feel tears fill my eyes. 

"Have you two had sex since he has been home?" I ask and I see her shake her head through my blurry vision. "It wasn't because of lack of trying on my part but he said he couldn't do that because he loved you." Hearing this strangely doesn't make feel any better.

 All of sudden there is a large commotion near the front door and I quickly push past Mandi and go to see what is going on. I push past people who are cheering and taunting the fight wanting it keep going, but when I push myself to front I see it is Brenton fighting with some random guy, and I suddenly look at the doorway to see Nikki standing there with a smug look on her face as she winks at me.