January's picture>>>>>>>>>>

"Out similarities bring us to a common ground; our differences allow us to be fascinated by each other." ~Tom Robbins

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Chapter 7

Aria

James is sitting at the booth which January now enters into. They start kissing each other so intensely that they don't know what's going on around them. I take a picture of them with my phone and go back to where Kate and Rose are sitting; in my car. I show them the photo. I look at Kate for any reaction but she's staring at the picture blankly. She notices me looking at her carefully, for which she raises a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, "What, I'm over him. I never was into him so much. I somehow knew this would happen but did not expect it."

"Then let's go into the café to show him that you're over him." Rose challenges Kate. All of us get out of the car and sit in one of the booths of the café. Kate sits where James would have a perfect view of her. January was gone now. We ordered three frappes and joked among each other. James approached us, smiling warily, "Hello m'ladies, can I borrow Kate for some time?"

Kate rolled her eyes and glared at James viciously, "It's Katelyn for you and no, if you would like to talk to me, you can talk in front of my best friends." She snapped. James flinched for a split second and recovered, "Kate I love you, and I don't want to lose you. Please, just hear me out for once."

Before Kate replied, I showed him the photo and asked, my voice sickeningly sweet, "If you love her, then what's this?" James' jaw dropped open in disbelief. Of course, he did not expect the turn of the tables towards him. "Do I have to hear you out, now? Puh-lease, I'm over you, okay? Just leave me alone now. And have fun with your fling." Kate stood up and left the café, sashaying her hips for extra effect. "Goodbye James." Rose and I glared at him with venom dripping from our voices and followed Kate.

Once we were out of earshot, I beamed at Kate, "That was great!"

"Thanks bitch."

That's the Kate I know. I start driving my car once all settle down, "Okay then, let's go pack our bags for Friday now, shouldn't we?"

"But that bitch is coming, right?"

"Not anymore." I reply. I pull up in our driveway. Kate and Rose get into Kate's car and drive to their houses. I retreat to Alex's room to inform today's events. I tense when I see Alex making out with that bitch. Just an hour ago her tongue was down James throat. Gross. They pull away from each other and look at me with wide eyes when I clear my throat.

"Can I talk to you in private Alex?" I grit out. "You can talk in front of me also y'know." January says in her high-pitched voice which makes me cringe internally. How did I not notice this until now?

"Don't worry Ry; she's no harm to you." Alex says, oblivious to my anger towards her. Bitch shifts her gaze towards Alex and goes out of the room after pecking him on the lips. I shut the door close urgently and sit next to a perplexed Alex, "Do you love her?"

Alex blushes, "I don't think so."

"Okay. Do you like her a lot?"

"Yeah, but what's wrong?"

"Shit. You are comfortable right?"

"What's wrong Aria?" Alex demands.

"Because what I'm showing you next might shock you."

I show him the picture. Alex looks at me not believing the picture. "This is a prank, right?"

"Sadly, no."

"When did you take this picture?"

"Today, after slipping out of the house and following that bitch."

Alex clenched his fists, "She's-"

"Let's see where she's gone now."

Both of us search the balcony, living room, kitchen and my room. Not there. We decide to check the guys' rooms now.

⭐

Alexander

I'm infuriated right now. It was hard for me to move on from Vee and then came January who me fall for her. Thank God I'm not in love with her. Or, maybe Aria is wrong.

But how can she be wrong if the photo proves her point? She wouldn't have told you if she was in doubt. And, the girl cares for you; she wants the best for you. She knows how hard it was to move on from that incident because she also had to move on.

I shook my head to stop the lecture my conscience was giving me. We have looked in Lee's, Sid's, Logan's and Ethan's rooms. Only Hunter's room was left in the whole house. I barged into his room in fury and freeze, looking at the scene unfold in front of me.

How could he?

I was stunned at the sight in front of me. Hunter's shirt was off him and so was January's. Both of them looked at me with wide eyes. Aria held my arm before I lashed out on them and broke that asshole's nose.

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths for a few seconds. "Get out of my house."

Silence.

This time I raised my voice, "Get out of my house right now and don't show me your faces ever again." Hunter smirked. Ah, that asshole.

"Come on babe, let's go." He pulled January. Aria looked at me bewildered to my calm behavior. She stopped them in their tracks,

"How long has she been your girlfriend?"

"Since she became yours."

"Ah, she's been cheating on your too then." That was Katelyn. I looked in her direction and was surprised to see her somber behavior. "She's with my ex-boyfriend. That's him." She showed me the picture, again.

"So that's why I felt that I knew you." January smirked at her. Hunter was shocked and confused right now.

Aria gritted venomously, "Now why don't you get out of the house or, should we kick your asses out?"

Wow, my sister's grown up. Hunter grumbled incoherent words under his breath, looked at Ar longingly, and walked out of the house. January followed, but not after she smirked at me and my friends.

I sighed, "Thanks Aria."

"No problem, but are you okay?"

"Kinda." I breathed out and walked towards my room. I sat on my bed with my head buried in my hands between my knees. My head is hurting because of all the events which took place today.

"You know, even I found out yesterday that my boyfriend cheated on me." A soft voice near me said. I looked up to see Katelyn staring blankly at the wall with a grim expression. Before I said anything she continued, "I know it was hard for you to like a girl after that incident. I know. It was hard for me too after-" She cut herself off. She looked at me with tear-stricken eyes, "Never mind." Immediately I pulled her into my arms for a hug. My tank top started becoming damp which meant she was crying. She was my sister's best friend; I had to care for her. "What happened?" I asked.

"Aria didn't tell you?" She asked, surprised.

I shook my head. What happened to her? What does she mean by her 'incident'? What worse could have happened? It couldn't be much worse than mine and Aria's.

"My second boyfriend raped me three years ago."

What? It was definitely bad. I tightened my hold on her. She pulled away from me and wiped her eyes.

"Come, everyone's worried about you."

"But who was that asshole?"

She chuckled dryly, "Come on. We can't keep them waiting."

"Who was he Katelyn?" Her name rolled smoothly from my tongue.

"Why do you need to know? You won't be able to do anything because he's already in jail for it." With that, she left my room.I followed soon after.

She is different from the other girls. She was nowhere to be found when I looked for her. So was Aria.

Katelyn was definitely something.

⭐

So, what do you think about the breakup. Will Alex move on, or will he crush on someone?

[Teaser: The tips of his ears turned pink.]