The phone rang, but Arya still didn't pick up.

I'd been calling her for days now, trying to apologize to her for what I did, but she never answered. Either she was so pissed at me that she didn't want to hear it, or she got her phone taken away. Even though Arya was nineteen, Mr. Gupta could be crazy sometimes. I wouldn't put it past him.

Maybe the secret had to do with Mr. Gupta.

The others all loved Mr. Gupta, and I didn't mind him either, but I saw through his shit. He wasn't as sweet as he made himself out to be. He had some crazy tendencies. Arya always used to love me for noticing that when the others were blinded by it.

Back when she loved me, which seemed like a century ago.

"Hello?" Arya answered on the tenth call.

I sat up on the couch with a grin on my face. "Arya." I couldn't help the happiness I felt knowing she was finally picking up.

However, her sigh of annoyance wiped that grin off my face real quick. "What do you want, Kenji?"

I couldn't miss the gentle sound of music in the background or the sounds of other cars. Was she driving?

"I just wanted to apologize for what I did to you." The Rasmus was playing in the background. The Rasmus was one of Arya's favorite bands in high school. It was good to know she still liked them. "I'm really sorry, Arya. I never should have gotten involved, and it was a spur of the moment thing. I shouldn't have fucked things up for you and—"

"Save it," Arya cut me off, making me jerk my head back. "I don't want to hear your bullshit response."

"I'm not bullshitting you," I said.

"Well, I don't want to hear it."

"Arya..."

"No," she said in a frighteningly calm voice. "Save the shit for Darian." I frowned. "You should know me better, Kenji. I hold grudges."

I gulped. "Yes, but Arya I—"

"I don't want to hear it." I clamped my mouth shut. "You fucked me over, it's only fair for me to do the same in return." I didn't like where this was going. "I'm heading over to Camila's house right now."

Confusion spread through me. Why would she go to Camila's house when Camila was...?

Rosalyn!

"Arya."

"I'm going to pay little Rosie a visit." My face blanched. "Just like you exposed my plans to my parents, I'm going to expose your ass to Rosalyn so she'll know the cheating ass-fucking bitch that you are."

Air caught in my throat.

How did she know? Who fucking told her? Then it hit me.

Darian.

Darian told Arya. How could he do that when he knew Arya was my number one hater? How could he do this to me? That wasn't his secret to tell. He could keep Arya's secret away from me, but he couldn't even do the same for me?

I was going to deal with that motherfucker later. Now, I needed to get my ass to the Alvarezs' house.

I jumped from the couch and sprinted to the door. I didn't even bother putting my shoes on or grabbing my watch or even my wallet. I only reached for the car keys, and I ran out of the house. I slammed the door shut without locking it before racing to Honoka's Hatchback.

I knew my socks were going to get dirty. I knew I left my license home and if I got stopped, I was fucked. I knew I looked like a mad man and my hair and clothes were probably all over the place. I didn't look fly nor was I acting fly, but I didn't give a damn. There were more important things at hand, like Rosalyn.

As soon as I reached the car, I flew into the driver's seat and sparked the ignition with Arya still on the line.

"Are you really going to drive, Kenji?" Arya asked, stalling my movements. "After last time." My stomach dropped. I knew what she was referring to.

The accident and Camila's death.

Right as she said that, all the fear, anxiety, sadness and every negative emotion I felt when it came to those two subjects hit me full force. My breathing became ragged as my fists trembled around the wheel. I couldn't do this. I'd never driven a car without Darian with me. Not after the accident. I didn't know if I could do this. I would have to drive with all those cars and all those turns and all those sounds. I would have to do it alone. I couldn't do it. No. I couldn't.

"Would you look at that? I'm almost at the Alvarezs' house."

No.

"Arya, please..." I said with my voice so defeated that it scared me.

Man, I sounded like such a pussy, but I didn't give care right now. I wanted her to stay as far away from Rosalyn as possible.

"Beg, Kenji. At least you get the chance to beg. I couldn't beg you to not tell on me to my parents."

Guilt added into the mix and my trembling increased. She was right. I never should have done that. God, I was such an idiot.

I had to do this. I had to drive this car alone, and I had to drive all the way to Rosalyn's house. I had to stop Arya. I wasn't going to allow her to fuck this up for me. I knew what I did was wrong, and it was coming back to bite me in the ass, but I had to try to make it right. I had to.

"Time is ticking Kenji," Arya taunted.

I wanted to scream, shut up bitch! But I chose to remain silent. Instead, I took in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. I did it a couple more times before finally reversing out of the parking spot. My heart hammered in my chest, and I felt like I was going to pass out from the heavy feeling in me, but I kept going. I turned the car and sped out of the apartment. I was speeding and I knew I was being reckless, which made the anxiety even greater, but I had to.

I had to get there before Arya.

I knew the Alvarezs' house like the back of my hand. Yeah, Arya had been there numerous times too because of Camila, but I had been there numerous times because of both Camila and Rosalyn. I had the upper hand. I just had to use it to my advantage. I pulled the windows down so the air could blow in my face, hoping it would calm me down a little.

It didn't.

My breathing was still ragged, and I clenched the steering wheel as tightly as I could to ease the tremor in my hands. My eyes scanned my surroundings viciously. I had to focus due to how fast I was moving.

"Arya, I'm begging you." I didn't even try being badass anymore. I allowed my desperation to fill my voice. "Please. Please, don't do this."

"Why not?" she said. "I'm not like you, Kenji. It's hard for people to stay in my life, and I admit, it's my fault. Most leave because of me, but Camila isn't the case. Darian also didn't leave because of me, but unlike Camila, he's back, but you don't like that do you?"

"I'm over it."

"Sure," she scoffed. "So over it that you fuck me over by telling on me. How petty can you get, Kenji? Lucky for you, I'm petty as hell, too. Don't do shit if you can't handle a clap-back."

"Arya, I swear—" My desperation was morphing into building anger and something else I couldn't comprehend.

"Don't swear on shit you don't mean," she said. I closed my eyes briefly, overwhelmed by the emotions flowing through me. "Get your ass over here soon, pretty boy. I won't want you to miss the big revelation."

"Arya, plea—"

She hung up.

I growled and punched the steering wheel before yelling at the phone hung up on the windshield. "Fuck you, Arya! Fuck you!" I yelled as loudly as I could, trying to blow off some steam.

The whine of a vicious car horn got my attention, and my head snapped to the side. My eyes widened at the car that was dangerously close to me. I swerved slightly to the side to stop myself from colliding into the car. I jerked with Honoka's Hatchback, and the other driver flipped me off before driving on. My breathing increased even more and my vision blurred slightly as the trembling increased in my limbs.

I almost crashed... again.

I almost died.

        Oh God.

I continued to call Arya. Over and over again, but each call went straight to her voicemail. She was ignoring me, but I kept calling, over and over again. However, the more time passed, the worse I felt.

        I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this!

However, I kept driving. Even as I felt like I was going to die any moment. Even as I felt like everything was going to crumble around me. Even as I felt like I couldn't breath, and I couldn't see shit. I kept driving.

I had to get to Rosalyn.

That was all that kept me going. Seeing her smiling face in my mind and seeing her eyes sparkle like they always did when she looked at me. Even though we didn't talk as much as before, we still made sure to call each other at least once every two week. Sure she was my girlfriend for two years, but most of all, she was my best friend. She would always be my best friend, and I didn't want to lose that. I couldn't lose my little Latina.

I refocused my mind to maintain my attention on getting to Rosalyn and fixing things. Not on the overwhelming fear pulsing through my veins. Not on the nagging voice that kept psyching me out. Not on the terrible state my body was physically in at the moment. Not on my fear of driving this damn car and regretting it for the rest of my life like I did that night of the accident.

No. I blocked all of that out and focused on Rosie.

Before I knew it, I came to an aggressive halt in the Alvarezs' driveway. Rosalyn's Jeep was in the driveway, alone with another car.

Arya's Jeep Wrangler.

        Shit.

I yanked my seatbelt off and flew out of the car. I was at the front door ringing the doorbell and banging on the door like no one's business.

"Rosalyn!" I yelled, continuing to bang. "Please! It's me, Kenji! It's Kenji!"

No one came, so I banged harder.

"Come in," Arya's voice cooed, and blood drained from my face as my arms fell down.

         No. I wanted to believe this wasn't happening, but I knew it was. The fake sweetness of Arya's voice reminded me of that.              

Once I swallowed the knot in my throat, I turned the knob until the door gave way. I entered the house with cautious steps. 

"We're at the dining table," Arya said, again cheerfully.

I made my way into the dining room, which was next to the kitchen. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was Arya sitting on one of the dining room chairs with her legs crossed and a smirk on her face. Her eyes stayed on me while mine moved to Rosalyn, who stood beside her.

"What's going on, Ken?" We met each other's gaze. "Arya tells me that you have something to say."

I slowly shook my head with my lips curled into my mouth. I wasn't ready to tell her. Not yet. Things were still too fragile between us.

"You do have something to tell her, Kenji," Arya said while rising out of her seat, and she walked towards me. "I figured, I should give you the honors of telling her. It's the respectful thing to do, and it's your secret, not mine. I'm not going to make a repeat of last time with Clay and the others."

Exactly. My secret. I should choose when to tell it.

I narrowed my eyes at her, but her demeanor never shook. Rosalyn reached for my arm to grab my attention.

"What's this about, Kenji?" she asked again, folding her arms this time.

"You tell her, or I tell her," Arya said, "your decision."

Fuck you.

"Rosie." I reached for Rosalyn's hands, and I held them. "You know I love you, girl."

She quirked a brow. "And I love you, too."

That statement alone broke my heart. How could I tell her this?

"Remember when we got back together?" I said, and she nodded. "Darian and I were also reconnecting."

"Okay..."

I knew she could feel the perspiration on my palms. "We weren't just reconnecting, there was something between us. Something that started after you broke up with me."

Rosalyn's grip loosened. "Like what?"

"We were friends with benefits," I confessed. Rosalyn released my hands. "But I ended it after we got back together."

Rosalyn took a step back and wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't like where this is going."

"No, listen," I said, "it only happened, at the most, three times." Rosalyn clasped a hand around her mouth. "When me and you started dating again, Darian and I only kissed and did some other stuff three times. I was faithful every other time, and those three times were only a lapse in judgment."

Rosalyn watched me in disbelief as her hand came down. "That's why you broke up with me. You broke up with me for Darian." I cast my eyes down. "Fucking look at me! You did, didn't you?"

I nodded. "I love you, Rosie." She laughed, humorlessly. "I really do, but it wasn't working out between us."

She slit her eyes. "But it works out with Darian?"

"This isn't about me and Darian, it's about us."

"There is no us!" she yelled while stomping her foot. "And it's because of you. I broke up with you before because you neglected me. Then you broke up with me because you found Darian and your guilt was eating you alive. The guilt that came from you cheating on me three fucking times."

"At least he's telling you," Arya said while examining her nails. "I had to nudge him in the right direction, but he told you. Give him credit for that."

"Fuck that," Rosalyn said while throwing her arms up. "He should have told me right after it happened. I thought we had a better relationship than that. I thought we were honest with each other."

"R-Ros-sie," I stuttered, and I cleared my throat. "Rosalyn," I said more assertively.

"You bastard," she said, staring into my eyes with the blankest look I had ever seen in her eyes. For the first time, my little Latina's eyes didn't sparkle. "You son of a bitch."

I flinched at the venom in her words. "Rosalyn, please." I closed my eyes, trying to gather my emotions together.

"Cut the bullshit, Kenji." She wasn't having any of it. I opened my eyes to see her tear-filled ones.

"Rosie," I started, taking a step towards her, but she pushed her arms out to keep me back. I stopped in my steps, but we maintained eye contact.

"I don't want to hear it." She shook her head with a humorless laugh. "The whole time we got back together you were fucking Darian on the side?" My expression fell at the hurt and anger in her voice. "You were fucking me in the day and fucking Darian at night?"

"We never fucked." I averted my gaze, too ashamed. "And it only happened three times."

"But you kissed and did other stuff?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"We never fucked while me and you were dating," I clarified.

"So you fuck now, great!" Rosalyn laughed, but once again, there was no humor in this situation. "You're unbelievable, Kenji."

Arya was frowning now. "Rosalyn, come on." She rested a hand on Rosalyn's shoulder. "Don't you think you're being a little too hard on him. He cheated. Okay. At least he only cheated three times, and it was a mistake. Who doesn't make mistakes?"

"Whose side are you on?" Rosalyn took a step out of her grasp. "I thought you'll be on mine since you're the one who forced him to tell the truth."

Arya said nothing.

"I'm so sorry, Rosalyn." I took a step towards her even as she continued to take one back. I eventually stopped and pleaded with my eyes. "I'm so sorry, girl."

"You're not even denying it." Rosalyn's voice diminished to a whisper as a tear finally fell, leading to the fall of many others.

I shook my head. "No, no, no. Please don't cry, Rosie. Don't cry." I grabbed her arm and cradled one of her cheeks, but she slapped my hands away and glared at me.

"How can't I?" she shrieked. "How can I not cry when my ex-boyfriend of two years cheated on me? When my best friend of two years betrayed me like that?"

That was what broke my heart the most. I didn't only betray our relationship, but I also betrayed our friendship. That was what made the tears well up in my eyes.

I watched her silently as she continued to cry. "Not only do I find out you never liked me that way, but now I find out you cheated on me with a guy. Since when are you gay, Kenji?" I didn't even have the strength to deny being gay. I was too numb. "Since when do you choose Darian over me? The guy who made your life a living hell while I was there for you through everything! What did he do when you needed him most? That's right. He didn't do shit! He only made things worse for you." I blinked rapidly due to the harshness in her words. "Yet, that's the guy you choose over me. Was his dick so great that you had to sacrifice all we've been through?" I couldn't speak. "Was he so amazing that you had to throw away two fucking years of friendship and a healthy relationship?" I still couldn't speak. "Answer me, Kenji!" she hollered while stomping her feet. "Answer my fucking question!"

She choked on air as her tears fell harder. Before I knew it, Rosalyn hid her face with her hands as she cried her eyes out.

"Rosie." Arya moved over to pat her back, and the calm demeanor was gone. When she looked at me, her expression was one of shock.

What was there to be shocked about?

What did she expect would have happen when shit went down?

"I'm so sorry, Rosie." That was all I could say. "I'm so, so sorry."             

        I took a step forward to grab her as she her shoulders shook more aggressive.

However, before I could reach for her, she slapped my hands away again, glaring up at me. "Get out!" She furrowed her brows, even as the tears continued to fall.

"Rosalyn..." I stumbled back. I couldn't say I was shocked, but hearing it felt hauntingly real. "Please."

"Get out."

"Rosalyn," Arya scolded her.

Whose side was this girl on?

"Get out, Kenji!" Rosalyn pointed at the door, her expression not softening. "Get the fuck out of my house! Go to Darian." My lips quivered as I fought back my own tears. "Get out! I don't want to see your face ever again. I don't want to ever hear your voice again." My eyelids grew heavier as she spoke. "And I certainly don't want to ever be around you again."

"Y-You don't m-mean that." I stopped myself from talking. If I spoke too much, I knew I would cry.

"Oh, yeah?" Rosalyn glared harder, and I didn't even know it was possible. "Get out!" she repeated, walking to push me back. I stared at her with a numb look. It kept the urge to cry under bay. "If you can throw away our relationship and friendship like it means nothing, so can I. Get out, Kenji! Get. The fuck. Out!"

We stared at each other for a few seconds. Her glaring and me observing her every facial reaction as my vision blurred. Her demeanor didn't waver and as I stared into her eyes, the terrible realization hit me.

She meant it. She didn't want to see me or hear from me or even be around me. She wanted me to get out, and she wanted me to get out of her life. I didn't know if it was permanent but for the time being, she meant it.

I swallowed the lump in throat with my eyes still on her before turning around with my hands in my pockets to walk out.

"Don't come back, Kenji." Her voice broke at the end, but she kept going, "I swear to God, don't come back." Her voice broke off into a quiet whisper at the end.

Before I walked out, I heard the familiar sound of Rosalyn bursting into tears again. I walked out of the Alvarezs' house for what could have been the final time.

My little Latina hated me. For good reasons.

With that solemn thought, I made my way to Honoka's car with the blankest look on my face.

When I reached the Hatchback, I opened the door, but before I could step in, someone hollered, "Kenji!"

I turned to spot Arya running over to me, and she stopped beside me with apologetic eyes. "I shouldn't have done that," she said, and she swallowed. "It didn't feel good."

"What did you expect, Arya?" I bit out.

"I didn't expect it to be like that." Her expression softened. "I'm sorry I did that to you and Rosie."

I narrowed my eyes and leaned down to be eye level with her. "Fuck you, Arya."

I could finally say it to her face.

Her eyes widened as I entered my car, making sure to slam the door, and I started the engine. I backed out of the driveway like a mad man while Arya stood still, watching me until I was out of view.

I finally didn't care about Arya Gupta.

The only thing I cared about was the image and sound of Rosalyn's desolate cries.

That image was the last thing Ineeded to release tears of my own as I drove to God-knows-where. I criedsilently, allowing the tears to fall one after the other without even wipingthem away, all throughout the whole drive.

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* What do you guys think about Arya's revenge? Kenji and Rosalyn? What's in store for the boys? What about Kenji and Arya's relationship?

* This chapter is dedicated to @YoungAuthor531. Thank you for supporting this book through everything and for being there from the beginning. I really appreciate it and I've been meaning to dedicate a chapter to you for a while now, but I kept forgetting as life kept interfering. But thank you so much. 😊

* You guys are gonna like the next update 😉