*Trisha*

I'm aware there are awful people in the world, I've had to deal with a few myself. Some people go to great lengths to make other's lives hell.  After glancing at the photo in James's mail, I realize he also has to deal with some pretty awful people as well.

"What is taking you so long?" Casey asks once her window is rolled down. Her and Evan have been patiently waiting for me to retrieve the mail, but they have been waiting a while now. All I keep thinking is, thank GOD it was me to grab James's mail and not one of his sisters.

"Coming." I say dryly, shoving the photo back into its envelope and heading to the SUV.

"You ok, Trisha?? You look like you've seen a ghost." Evan studies me, but I say nothing. It's not my place to show them this picture. I shouldn't have seen it or read the sentence underneath it either. This was Gallo's mail. Not mine.

"Yeah, let's head to the Avalon so I can give James his mail."

Poor James. Like he isn't having to deal with enough with this shit life he leads, now he has to worry about this on top of it all? Especially knowing he is under home confinement and unable to do anything about it? I should text Nate. He'll know what to do. Maybe he can help. 

Evan ignores my lack of response and, instead, turns on the radio. Of course, as always, one of Nate's songs is playing. I pull out my phone and text Nate, knowing he will text me right back. For the most part, he is pretty good with that.

But I get no response from him. Any other day, I would then text Paul and ask him what to do about something like this, but I've been avoiding him and not answering his calls. He's tried a few times to smooth things over with me, but this is brand-spanking-new, and I need some time to digest our breakup. Thinking Paul has been in love with Moretti for months leaves me feeling sour towards them both. I feel deceived. Like Paul wasn't really in it when it came to dating me. He seemed like he was at the time.... both times. Was he just messing with me? No. He watched over me and took care of me during some of my hardest seasons in life. Physically and emotionally cared for me. I can't ignore that. Casey is right. Maybe Paul just pushed Julia onto the backburner, knowing she was taken.

That would mean I was his second choice. Second best, and Julia came in first place. She's the winner. She always fucking is.

Then again. Everyone comes in second place to Nate for me,  so I can't really say anything because I would have done the same damn thing. If Nate ever did finally come around and want me... I would dump whoever I was with in a heartbeat for him. No doubt about it.

My mind wanders away while we drive and listen to Nate sing his heart out on the radio. I see Casey in the front knows the words by heart which reminds me how she was once a fan. I wonder if she still is even though she's seen all the ugly sides of Nate.

We pull up to the Avalon back entrance and I hold on to the mail tightly, dreading having to give this to James.

*****

*James*

"She passed out from the pain. I warned her it would hurt like hell without any medication." Paul wipes his forehead when he comes outside. He explains what happened to us all. Trisha, Evan, and Casey just showed up, and I can feel the tension between Paul and Trish.

"They don't have injectable numbing agents here like they would at normal hospital. We could have taken her in, but I think with the state Julia was in, they'd probably admit her to psych for observation. We've already been down that route." Jonah says with exhaustion. The poor guy had to stitch Julia's hand up while she was in the middle of a manic episode. I can't imagine what him and Paul had to endure, never mind Julia. 

Today has been eventful right from the get-go. While Jonah and Paul were tending to Julia in the bathroom, Mike ended up getting sick once more. Jeremy thinks his time in Julia's apartment is up. He may need to return back to his regular Avalon room to get an IV for fluids.

"He's still not answering." Paul lifts his phone and shakes his head.

"Who?" Trisha asks but doesn't make eye contact with her new ex. She doesn't know what went down today, does she?

"Hey, Trish. Why don't you come over here and sit with me. I'll tell you everything." I pat the free space on the outdoor couch, and she gives me a questionable look.

"Okayyyy..." 

Casey and Evan join us, each pulling up a chair wanting to be filled in as well, while Paul, Jonah, Jeremy, and Trevor chat near the firepit.

"What's going on?? And what are they talking about, Julia passing out from the pain and injectable numbing agents? I'm so lost." Trisha begins, but when I go to take the mail from her, she flinches and pulls it out of my reach.

"Wait... There's something concerning in your mail, James. Tell me what's going on first."

"Concerning? Concerning how? Another bill? I'm used to that, sweetie." I chuckle, but the look on Trisha's face has me worried. I give her a quick rundown of what happened between Nate and Julia, Nate storming out with Ren, Julia hurting her hand, so I can move on to whatever the hell I got for mail.

"Jesus Christ, today was an eventful day. Wait. So, no one knows where Nate is???" Trisha asks. Casey leans over and pats Trisha's knee.

"I'm sure he's just somewhere cooling off. You know how he gets." Casey consoles her friend.

"I know EXACTLY how he gets. Which means his somewhere is at a fucking bar. Oh my God, if he's at Sully's I'm going to wring his neck."

"We don't know that he's there." I look past Trisha to Paul who meets my eyes. We are both thinking the same thing. We DO know Nate. We also know he's crap at handling things in a healthy manner. 

Before I get a chance to sift through my mail, knowing I will need help actually opening the envelopes, Julia comes out. Her hand is wrapped in a huge white bandage, her eyes are sad and teary, and she purposely steers clear of Trisha. Good call, babe. Especially the way Trisha is looking at Julia right now.

"You fucking did this, bitch. We can't find him because of you." Trisha stands up and points at Julia, scaring the living daylights out of the poor thing.

"Trisha..." I pull her hand, so she sits back down but she is anything but calm right now. I would not put past her to start a catfight with Julia the way she's throwing daggers for eyes at her.

"I never meant to hurt you." Julia chokes out and my heart drops for her. None of this is Julia's fault. Not one bit of it. 

"Yet you do it anyway. Now where the fuck is Nate? Huh? Because he turned his phone off. If he is where I think he is, I swear to God, Moretti-"

Julia turns away. She looks like she's about to cry. I want to go over and hug her but also want to be here for my friend Trisha too. I'm a bit stuck in the middle here.

Julia says something to Paul, but no one over here could hear her. But we hear Jonah and put two and two together.

The color drains from Jonah's face. "I- I can't be the one to go there. I know my limits. The last time I went there it messed me up for a while."

"I'm not asking you to." Julia says with her eyes on Paul and only Paul. "Come for a ride with me?"

 Paul inhales and nods.

"Let's go."

"They don't really think that's where he went though, right?" Trevor asks once Julia and Paul leave the Avalon. God, I hope not. The man needs to stay sober. His body can't handle the toll alcoholism takes on it.

"I will kill him if that's where he is." Trisha says in frustration. "But James.... your mail."

"Oh yeah, what has you so frazzled anyways?" I ask but when I look over at Trisha, she looks nervous. "What is it? Something to do with the trial? Did they change their mind about this? Are they sending me to pr-"

"No. No, God no." Trisha cuts in right away. "Nothing to do with that."

Whew.

"This was in with your mail." She holds up an envelope with shaky hands. It has my last name scribbled on it. I know the handwriting and begin to feel lightheaded.

"I don't want to open that." I shake my head, gaining everyone's attention.

"James, it's already open. It was never sealed shut."

"Did you see what was inside?" I rub the back of my neck knowing nothing good ever comes from this. It's happened before. Trisha nods and the expression on her face makes it known this is bad news.

"Just throw it out. I don't want to know."

"James. You should see it through. It's a photo."

"It's always a photo."

*******