Listen to Epiphany by Taylor Swift

"Wow, I was brought here as a distraction?"

I said moving closer to Tristan, I ignored his intimidating height and looked him in the eye. I saw the pain in his eyes as he met my gaze, it didn't change the pure hatred surging through me.

"I wanted to tell you, I was scared you would leave," He said and tried to avoid my eyes.

"You wanted to tell me? When Tristan? When?!!!"

I pushed hard at his chest with each question, he didn't budge. I pulled away and broke down, I had never felt so worthless and heartbroken in my life, the feeling was worse than being disowned by my family.

"Why?" I sobbed grabbing my hair in my fists, I felt like I was going crazy. Nothing was making sense, I felt used, I felt like an idiot.

The sound of my cry filled the house, I didn't care if they were all watching me. My life meant nothing to them, they probably saw me as this kid they could use as an experiment to help their son.

"Cassie..."
I raised a finger stopping him, I didn't want to hear more of his lies, all he ever did was lie to me, did he even love me? Or that was another lie to keep me here?

"I hate you! I hate all of you!!!"
I screamed in tears.

"That was the reason you never asked about the baby even when I was not showing," I said looking at Mrs. Sanchester and Nana. They were good actresses, pretending to be worried about my health and that of the baby's.

"Seems like my job here is done, let's see how you overcome losing another important person in your life, Tristan."

Karen said with a satisfied smile, she told the cops she was ready to leave. She took a glance at Adrian and winked at him.

There was a long silence in the room after the sound of the siren faded into the night.

"I never wanted this. I didn't want you to leave, that was why I lied. I know what we did was very selfish."
Tristan broke the silence with a pained tone.

"But you chose me, Tristan, you picked me yourself! You made my life hell!"
I screamed at his face.

"My family, my boyfriend, my friends, you took everything away!!! Does my life mean anything to you at all?"

"Even you Nana?"
I turned to look at her, she kept her face down. I admired her so much, they all knew about this, they planned this.

"You guys never cared, your son's life was far more important to you. You didn't care about how your lies were going to affect my life, it was all for him. You all disgust me, I can't even look at you without seeing you all as monsters."

"We are so sorry, we didn't know how to tell you, we didn't expect all that to happen," Mrs. Sanchester said stepping forward but I stepped back.

"We are really sorry, Chloe."
Nana said softly.

"Sorry is not going to change anything! It won't change what people think about me, it won't heal anything, I lost everything because of his lies and it was all for this, a distraction?"
I sobbed almost choking on my tears, my head was starting to ache.
I didn't know which to pay attention to, my head pounding or my heart aching.

I turned to look at Tristan, after everything I went through for him. I forgave him, I cared so much about him, I loved him even after seeing the kind of person he was, but what was it to him? A distraction.

He ran both hands through his hair with a groan, he kept his eyes tightly shut. He opened them and stared at my wet face and puffy eyes.

"I didn't want you to find out this way, I wanted to explain everything to you myself. I know I was wrong but I don't regret picking you..."
My hand connected to his cheek shutting him up, I regretted believing him.

"Hit me all you want, Cassie. I deserve worse, I know I don't deserve you but you're not a distraction to me anymore!"

"You're not worth loving, you are not worth any happiness Tristan Sanchester. I hope you are well now, cause I'm done."
I gave each of them a dirty look and headed for the front door.

"Cassie, please wait."
Tristan grabbed my forearm from behind stopping me.

"Don't touch me!"
I pulled my hand away.

"Find another distraction, I'm done and I hope I never see your face or that of your family again, don't even think of coming after me. I can be a psycho too you know."

"Stay. Away. From. Me, all of you!!!"
I shot him a glare and walked out of the house.

The house that held so many memories, both good and bad. Everything was a lie, he was using me all along. I shook my head as I walked out of the gates.

It was cold outside, my flimsy nightgown and flip flops didn't help.
I walked down the sidewalk with my arms around myself not sure of where I was going. No one was outside here, I heard Tristan bought this part of the town to avoid clingy neighbors and to keep to himself.

I shook his name out of my head and continued my walk, I didn't know where to go. Should I return to my family?

On second thought, I didn't want to be near my family, they threw me out when I needed them.
I haven't heard from my dad since the day we hung out.

I sneezed as the cold entered my body, the cool breeze scattered my hair. I was too busy comforting myself with my hands to arrange it.

I wished someone could drive-by and give me a ride, I didn't care if it was a serial killer or a kidnapper. I wanted to be far away from this part of the town, away from these heartless people that called themselves humans.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered what just happened, I found myself in deep tears again. I was glad no one was outside here to hear me cry my heart out, I kept walking with tears blurring my sight.

I got tired and stopped, my limbs felt numb from the cold. I slumped on the cold ground in heavy tears, have you ever felt so broken and worthless in your life? Cause the feeling was horrible.

I didn't have a family, I couldn't return to school because everyone kept staring at me with disgust like I was trash.
Maybe I was trash, all my exes treated me like trash.

Lies! Lies over and over!!!

"Aaahhhhh!!!!" I screamed at the dark sky, was God seeing this? I heard he doesn't leave the wicked unpunished.

I felt someone sit beside me on the ground, I ignored the familiar scent and kept screaming at the sky.

Adrian sighed heavily beside me, he must be heartbroken after seeing the real Karen, how does it feel to be used, huh? Not good right?
I wanted to say to him but I decided to ignore him.

I looked up at the sky and screamed again as if some kind of miracle would suddenly happen or at least I'd feel better, but it only made my throat dry.

I stopped and coughed from the tears.

"I'm sorry."
He apologized after a long silence.

"For not believing you and not telling you the truth. I didn't know Tristan lied about it, I'm so sorry."

I didn't say anything, he wasn't really part of this. He knew it was going to happen but I still didn't find him at fault.
He was a sweet person till Karen showed up, we went from friends to strangers.

"I know my apologies are useless right now, I don't know the right words to say to you..."

"Just stop talking."
I grunted and he nodded slowly.

There was a sudden craving for alcohol, I pinched my arms to control myself but it was fruitless.

I couldn't go to a bar like this and I didn't have any cash. My craving became stronger, this was the right time for some alcohol.

"Can you take me to your place?"
He probably had some.

"Sure, wait here I will get my car."
I nodded as he stood up.

"Adrian."
He stopped and turned to look at me.

"Don't tell anyone I'm going to your place, pretend you never saw me."

"Sure." he smiled.

It didn't take long for his grey SUV to arrive with him behind the wheels.
I stood up and rushed to the other side desperate to get away from the cold.

He reached behind and grabbed a small blue blanket, he gave it to me seeing the way I was rubbing my arms to get rid of the cold.

I wrapped it around myself and rest my head on the window as the car moved. The whole ride was silent and I was glad for that. His house was just ten minutes' drive from where he picked me.

I held the soft blanket around me as we walked to the front door, his house was beautiful and very inviting. Thick glass and shiny wood were used for the house. It had a simple structure but looked expensive.

I went to the fancy bar at the corner and grabbed a bottle of brandy and a brandy glass. Adrian watched me as I dawned the liquid that burned my throat. I was waiting for him to start defending Tristan like he always did, but he picked another brandy glass and joined me.

We sat in silence just drinking the brandy, I decided to say something.

"Sorry about Karen."
I saw his jaw clench.

"It still feels like a dream to me."
He said laughing.

Tell me about it, I just hope I wake up from this nightmare and stop myself from attending any wedding.

"She has to be the best actress I have ever seen."
He said and took a long sip, sadness filled his voice.

Talk about Tristan and his family, they deserved the Oscar's and Emmy's award. How stupid was I? I was a pawn all along.

"Oh God, I'm so sorry, I shouldn't be talking about that, you're going through a lot already."

Adrian apologized quickly.

"It's fine."
I mumbled pouring more brandy into my glass. I wouldn't mind drowning in alcohol till I feel nothing, it always took away the pain. I wanted to be numb to everything, I couldn't bear the heartbreak. I had never felt this worthless; like no one cared or loved me.

"Where is the restroom?"
I asked standing up from the stool, he showed me the direction and I left with my drink and the blanket around me.

I needed some time alone, to figure things out. I was broke and homeless and I didn't want to stay here. I shut the door and sat on the sparkling tiled floor, I buried my face in my palms and took a deep breath.

My head won't stop pounding, I dawned more alcohol to get my mind off what happened. I didn't want to think about it, it just hurt the more.

I felt tears in my eyes, I blinked it away and pulled my knees up to my chest. Was I just a distraction to him all this time? I believed him, I was starting to trust him. The knock on the door broke me out of my thoughts.

"Hey, everything okay in there?"
I cleared my throat to answer.

"Yeah."

"If you need anything let me know, Chloe."

"Sure."
I heard him leave.

I didn't want to stay here, I wanted to be far away from anyone related to Tristan. Adrian promised not to tell anyone he saw me, I didn't want anyone to know I was here. I could spend the night here and figure the next step tomorrow morning.

I finished my drink and stood up, the aching in my head worsened. It made me dizzy, my eyes were starting to hurt like someone was punching me non-stop in the eye.

I stumbled to the door with one hand at the right side of my head, I paused at the doorway and leaned on the door frame for support.

"Adrian."
I called when the pain got unbearable.

I groaned letting go of the brandy glass in my hand, it shattered on the floor making a loud sound that echoed in the building.

I slumped on the floor and clutched both sides of my head, I curled into a ball on the cold floor trying to fight the pain tearing my head apart.

I had never felt such pain since I was born, I screamed not holding back anymore.

I gripped my hair like it could stop the pain. I kept screaming, praying Adrian would show up soon.

Where did he go?!

Drop your thoughts on this chapter.

By now most of you must have noticed, Chloe has a drinking problem. She depends on Alcohol every time she has a problem.