“I wanted to talk to her.”

“You fucking liar. How can you stand there and lie some more? You can’t be serious!”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, I got her to confess that she still cares about you.”

“You did, did you? You must be so proud of yourself.”

I remain quiet.

“This is just like you; you lie all the fucking time. Sometimes I think you believe your own delusions – no one is that good.”

“You keep calling me a liar, but you’re the liar. Remember when you promised to stop coming after me?”

“Stop deflecting you stupid bitch!”

“Whoa.” “Tonya.” Aden and Danatha interject simultaneously.

“No! Why the hell do I have to listen to this nonsense?! You’re the fakest bitch I know! I told you my shit and two seconds later Danatha and Sybil are here? Didn’t you think for one second that they should have heard about it from me? It’s like you run a tabloid; that’s how quick you are to notify everyone that you have the latest scoop.”

“If you think–”

“Shut the hell up! Let me finish. Then I dare you to say anything after that. I fucking dare you!
“You never for one second thought about how London would feel knowing that you know something so embarrassing about her, did you?!
No, you only thought of your fucking self! I never asked you to do any of that. I chose to trust you against my better judgement and for what? For information about a relationship that’s the equivalent of half a summer in little Italy with the exotic girl?!
“I mean, I don’t blame you. The only interesting thing about you is your little ‘Jane the Virgin’ skit. Of course, you’re going to milk it for all it’s worth.”

“Excuse me, but–”

I put up my hand, stopping Aden in his tracks.

“No, I want to hear it.”

“You’re such a hypocrite. If it were least only to me, maybe I’d tolerate it, but you’re just an all-round snake.”

“Get to the point. Also, I’d like to remind you that I was here for you when you needed me.”

That only causes Tonya to start laughing hysterically.

“You delusional bitch! You can weasel your way out of everything; I swear to God!”

“I still haven’t heard any proof of my supposed lying skills.”

“Oh, what about how you claim that violence repels you, but you keep lying to your fuck-toy over there, that you can forgive him for what he did? One day, you rant about how his actions are unforgivable, the next you’re going to live with the guy, alone for two weeks! Which one is it? Are you or aren’t you averse to violence?”

“That’s not even–”

“Oh, let’s move onto Danatha for a minute. Why do you go to her and comfort her about any of her boy troubles, only to turn around and complain that she has too many – how did you put it? Dick tales, wasn’t it? Why don’t you tell her what you really think of her fucking around with Jude?!”

“What?” Danatha’s voice is a soft sound in the background.

“Go ahead, you fucking snake! How can you be such a fake bitch to your own best friend?! You keep saying how stupid she is for staying with JD after all this time. And oh, remember when you said that she’s only doing Tango to secretly get it in with Nelson?
“And don’t even get me started on the stupid shit you say about Sybil behind her back. Seriously, how do you always pretend to be friends with someone when you consistently think you’re so much better than them?!”

I look over at Danatha. She’s frozen – shocked.

“You done?”

“Done?! Hardly.”

“Really?”

“BITCH, LET’S GO! You think you’re better than Mackenzie, because what? You’re a house mouse and she’s popular with everyone? You think you’re the only one who cares about your brother all the goddamn time! Like, who do you think you are anyway? Now your parents are dicks because they went to get your brother some help?! For real?
“You even think you’re better than your own mother! Who does that? And now you dragged this poor idiot into your life with your fake deep kindness. Aden, ever notice how sometimes, she slips up and her kindness evaporates for a while – like a technical glitch?
“You know what else, McKay? You’re fucking pitiful. You let this guy hit you, and kiss – no, let’s call it what it really was: you let him sexually assault you, and you still took him back. This fucker made you cry several times and you think that’s love?
“And don’t fucking tell me that it is because we all know you’re only with him because he’s rich and famous.”
My throat closes. I’m going to pass out if she says anything about the scholarship.
“Don’t even try and deny it. There are plenty of decent guys in our school who would have dated your dumb ass if you gave them the time of day. I’m not even going to go into your beloved two-pump-chump, Ky the chlamydia magnet. It’s humiliating enough that I’m associated to the girl who loves domestic abusers!”

She gestures in Aden’s general direction. I don’t even dare look back.

“You’re pathetic. And then you go straight back to suck his dick because at least you get to stay in a fancy hotel, right? Tell me, saint McKay, what exactly don’t you do that a whore doesn’t do? You’re with a rich guy, you’re having sex in the hotel room he’s paying for. I mean, this is some shit you just can’t make up!
“And let me just add a little detail: why don’t you tell Aden that you’re incapable of love after your fucked-up behaviour with Uncle JoJo? Did you even tell him how much you loved that fucker after he died despite all he did?! He has the right to know if he’s stepping into that role, you know; those are some big shoes to fill. At least next time he punches you, he’ll know why you’ll be crying, but still be begging to be fucked.”

She laughs crazily.

“Now I’m done. I fucking dare you to say something.”

I’m drenched in tears, but I don’t back down.

“You hurt me. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You needed to hurt me as much as London hurt you, right?”

She opens her door, motioning for us to leave. Danatha doesn’t even hesitate; she walks right out.

“Get the fuck out.” Tonya spits.

“I forgive you.” I say once I make it outside.

“Keep that shit for yourself; you’ll need it after messing up your own life just because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

I feel sick, covered in a sheen of sweat and shivering from the cold inside my heart. Everything that Tonya said, got to me – even the things that were blatant lies. It’s simply hard to not believe a person who has known you for so long. She seems to have a bay window to my soul at times. She spoke the truth in its harshest form, and for that I can’t fault her.

Aden pulls out his phone, mumbling.

“Three minutes.”

I vaguely think about nodding without being quite present enough to know that I did it. We ride to the Montecristo in silence; both of us looking out of our respective windows. As soon as we step into the room, Aden’s hands settle on my shoulders making me jump forward before turning to him, surprised.

“Are you okay?”

The distance that I assumed was there is nowhere in sight. All I see is concern on his features. I tilt my head in confusion.

“Aden?”

As the raspy sound makes it out of my throat, I feel weaker than ever. He nods and patiently waits for me to get my bearings.

“You’re not mad?”

His lashes make a sweeping motion in the direction of the floor.

“I am.”

“Oh,” is all I can manage. I lost him too.

“But McKay,” He hooks his finger under my chin. “I need answers.”

“What answers?”

“I trust you, so it’s your side of the story I want to hear.”

“You want me to explain?”

“Yes.”

The emotions come flooding back with unprecedented speed, and Aden, as only he would, catches my falling frame and holds me together as I begin to sob. I stop him a few moments later and pull away, startling him. He’s probably struggling to keep up with my mood swings. But he’s right; for his kindness, his comfort and his loyalty, I owe him some answers.

“I love you.” I stammer. “Tonya said so many things today. She wrapped the lies in truth until they were indistinguishable. But what I can wholeheartedly tell you, Aden, is that I am in love. I won’t let anyone cheapen what I feel for you.
“As for the rest, I’m not a hypocrite; I’m a flawed person like any other. And even as my flaws manifest, I choose to live my life anyway because I know that I try to be a better person every day. I’m not going to apologize for growing. I know I have a lot to grow still, but I swear I’m not a bad person just because–”

“Okay.”

I stare at him, even as my vision blurs fast. Does he not believe me?