I was left dumbfounded and filled with a rage I couldn't describe. Not because of what Andrew did, but because I didn't want him to stop. Then he just left me there alone. He left!

The rest of the party was a complete blur to me and I wasn't myself until the next day when I woke up and getting ready for brunch with the trio. October was reaching its end and the time had come to say goodbye to my new favorite witch Elena. She decided to take her sisters half of the painting and Evelyn agreed to complete the balance that she would hold on to her half. A true Yin and Yang.

Folding up the couch and gathering her things we were surprised to not see Evelyn out and wishing her sister off. Worried, we both agreed to knock on her bedroom door and tear it down if no one answers. Elena banged on the wood of her sister's door and when all we got is a shuffled silence she unlocked it with her spare key and entered with me following behind.

We stopped in the doorway and screamed.

Evelyn was in bed, completely naked with the blanket pulled up to her neck...and her partner was Keiko.

"What the fuck is this!" I shouted in shock, not sure if I should stare or turn around.

Keiko rested her head on Eveyln's shoulder. "Afterglow."

"You two..." I stopped. "... together? I mean, when did you two....how? Seriously what the fuck?"

"Wow," Evelyn said, "You really are like a broken record when you're nervous."

I just looked at Elena for advice, she sighed. "Sister is pansexual...and it looks like your friend may be a lesbian."

"Bisexual actually." Keiko corrected.

Eveyln wrapped up her bundle of blankets and exited her bedroom for morning coffee, gently smacking my cheek "That'll do pinky, that'll do."

Elena followed her sister and Keiko, like a guilty puppy caught chewing on a house slipper, stood next to me in her bundle of blankets.

"When was I gonna know?" I asked her, somewhat offended. "Didn't you trust me?"

"I haven't known for very long myself, it happened during my trip back home last year. I was scared to say anything." Keiko pout, "Are you mad?"

"No," I said rubbing her shoulder, "I'm not mad...but we are going to be late for brunch."

Keiko's eyes widened and grabbed my hand. "Please don't tell Jasmine."

I pressed my lips together and turned an invisible key with my fingers before throwing it over my shoulder. I wouldn't dream of it. Relieved, she fixed herself up, got dressed, and together we took a trolley to the Coffee Bean.

Jasmine and Beckett were already there and I admitted I was a bit disappointed, this was supposed to be a girls day out but whatever. I took it as another chance to mend the bond I had recently broken. Taking our seats at the table in the center of the diner we all hugged and ordered breakfast.

Jasmine mostly held her conversations with Keiko which was nothing new, but it seemed like when I tried to chime in or talk with her I immediately got blown off. Jasmine was acting pissy towards me again as usual. It left me sitting there poking at my eggs wondering what the hell could I have possibly done to her this time.

Beckett mentioned the party last night and the success of my art and that turned on a series of babbles between him and Keiko while Jasmine remained quiet and burned her eyes into my skull. She suddenly smiled at me and began cutting up her waffle when Keiko brought up Andrew's painting.

"Good to see you're becoming close friends with my crazy neighbor," She smiled sweetly. Taking a bite of her syrup-soaked breakfast. "Despite my warning."

"Yes, I am. " I replied.

"He's actually very sweet," Keiko added. "A bit silly but who isn't."

Beckett went to add in his own opinion before Jasmine put her forks down and looked straight at me. "Are you fucking him?"

Our table grew silent and I looked at all three of them before answering. "Excuse me?"

"Are...you...FUCKING HIM!"

She practically screamed at me and people around the café were beginning to take notice. Quite irritated me, I took a sip of my orange juice and answered her calmly. "No. We are just friends."

"Really?" she hissed. "Because you seemed to enjoy his tongue down your throat last night."

I shook my head in disbelief. "You were watching us?"

"The whole gallery was watching you." Jasmine laughed. "Does Riley know? Better be careful my dear, you're becoming quite the slut."

I put my forks down. "What is your problem?"

"You!" she pointed, raising her voice. "You are my problem! Since day one every time someone opens their mouth its gotta be about you. Isaiah would come home from school and just talk about how cool Cora is and Cora this... He never talked about me like that."

"Well, I'm sorry your brother liked me more than he did you."

"He worshiped you!" Jasmine yelled, that pent-up rage finally coming out. "Just look at you! There's nothing special...you're not even that pretty!"

Beckett tried to take Jasmines' hand and calm her down but she swat at him so I let my own frustration take over and ended up yelling back. "Then why are you even friends with me!" I shouted, "Why did we hang out? Why did we have lunch together in school? If you despised me so fucking much why are we even here right now!"

"Because I promised my brother!" Jasmine choked, "I hated you, you were so pathetic. But Isaiah was like, be nice to Cora she doesn't have a lot of friends or Watch out for Cora while I'm in college....he was always about you. Even the night he blew his brains out you were the last person to see him alive, while I got nothing!"

Thinking about Isaiah brought back a lot of painful memories for me, even when Andrew brought him up I would push it to the side. I didn't ask for that burden, and it was not something I was comfortable talking about...especially in a café where people were watching the scene Jasmine was creating.

Like always, she was screaming and shining like the bright little star she was and making me feel more worthless than a speck of sand in the ocean. This time was different as I was finally seeing what she was hiding behind for years. All the snarky comments, the "I'm just kidding" after hearing something hateful. Jasmine really did hate my guts. I should have known it was just a fairy tale for the high school beauty and cheerleader captain to be best friends with the washed-up nobody.

After Isaiah died so suddenly she must have felt like she owed him something, like it was her duty to pick watch out for me. I wanted to cut her off, to tell her I'm done because despite her just putting up with me over the years I truly loved Jasmine... and these words right now were killing me. I found the tears unstoppable as I remained defenseless at her table.

"Are you done?" I finally managed to say standing from my chair I got ready to leave.

Jasmine jumped up from her chair. "As a matter of fact no I'm not! I've had to listen to you whine and complain for years even when I was struggling between homes and having a baby. You hate Elizabeth...you won't even hold her."

"I don't hate her I'm just not good with babies! Not like I made you spread your legs you enjoy doing that on your own." I didn't hold my breath. "Plus! You force Elizabeth one me and rub her in my face like you love reminding every damn day that you got something that I can never have."

"It's not my fault you weren't strong enough to fight back." Jasmine snapped, "No you took the easy way out and got your uterus cut out...that got you a lot of attention from the boys in school."

"I was dying! And I not once fucked around with anybody!!" I defended. "Even now with Andrew...I can be friends with a guy without having sex with him."

"He's another one!" Jasmine spat her face blood red. "How many times did I warn you? Huh? How many? That guy is an unstable dangerous psychopath! I have seen him lose it for no reason."

"He has PTSD from being overseas! He's a marine struggling with his own demons...just like Isaiah."

Jasmine's eyes widened, and she pointed her index finger at me. "Don't you dare compare that worthless piece of trash to my brother?"

My shoulders slumped from the tense rage fueling inside of me. I was losing both my patience and energy on her. "Why?" I asked, "Why do you hate him so much?"

"Why do you care about him so much?" Jasmine countered, "Is it because you think he's another charity case for you to ignore your problems on? Or is it because he's tall, with a great head of hair and has a big dick."

I stepped back at that last comment. "Oh? And how do you know Andrew has a big dick?"

"Because I've fucked him!"

I threw my hands up in defeat, "There it is folks!" finally happy with my answer to this rather pointless fight. "I knew it... I just fucking knew it. She Elizabeth his?"

Jasmines' jaw nearly dropped onto the table. She wasn't expecting me to turn this argument around. The whole café had fallen silent...all eyes were on us now.

"What?" she asked dumbly.

"Is...SHE....his?"

"Answer the question Jazz." Beckett suddenly said, breaking his silence.

Jasmine just glared at me, "No, and I've got tests to prove it."

I nodded and let out a long sigh. I was still mad, hurt, depressed but more than anything relieved. Grabbing my purse I rubbed Beckett's shoulder and kissed Keiko on her head before turning around to leave. "Well, consider your burden lifted because I'm done with you."

"Where the hell are you going?" Jasmine said, her voice hoarse.

I held the café door open and took a deep breath. "Now," I shouted back at her loud enough for the whole place to here, "I'm going to go fuck your psycho neighbor!"

 I just experienced the most aggressive walk ever. Being so steamed by what would definitely be my last fallout with Jasmine that I practically ran to Marina. Breathless beating on Andrews front door. He was another I planned to cut down to size.

Avoided me all week only to show up late as the most important even of the year for me then suddenly vanish. Then there was the kiss. His lips have made contact not once but three times with mine. Leaving a paralyzing print each time. The moment his door flew open I jumped up and swung as hard as I could, my hand striking his face. Causing him to drop the spare part to the motorcycle he was cleaning and stumbling backwards, tripping over his one foot.

"You...are an ass!"

I went to throw another one, but he caught my wrist and twisted me around, hooking my into an embrace. That was all I had in me. I was broken, exhausted, and a completely emotional wreck. Andrew remained silent as I slumped over in his arms and just cried. His grip loosened as he turned me around holding my close as I wilted to the floor.

Ah the fight that finally ended it!  Painful memories brought up the truth and secrets are out.

What did you guys think about this chapter? What is the most shocking thing you feel like you learned?