Mending Wounds

Chapter Sixteen

“Are you sure you don’t want to join us downstairs?” Alex called from the door.

I looked over my book then shook my head “I prefer staying here and be anti-social”

“Can you be anti-social another day?” Alex said as she took a seat next to me on the bed “It’s Jeremy’s birthday party. Please”

I put the book down when I heard her beg, then turned to her considered “What is this really about Alex? It can’t be just about me not coming downstairs for a birthday party”

She started tearing up almost instantly “I don’t know what to do” she said “What if this is the last birthday I spend with Jeremy? We’re 6 months away from the end of his two years here”

I reached out to her hand “Alex, no, don’t think like that. I know that Jeremy will not leave you behind. I know for a fact that he will apply for an extension to stay here with you, or maybe he will ask to be relocated to be here permanently. Alex, worst-case scenario, he will take you home with him”

She shook her head “No, I can’t ask Ben to relocate here if he doesn’t want to and you know I can’t leave” she cried “If I move with him, I will lose you. I don’t want to have to lose either one of you because of this. It feels like I have limited days with both of you. I don’t know what will happen and who I’m going to lose in a few days. I mean I try to make every-day count, but this is stressing me out and I’m scared shitless or leaving one of you behind”

I frowned “Please don’t think of putting your relationship and future because of me. If going back to Jeremy’s hometown is what you have to do, then that’s what you have to do. You and I will always be best friends and no distance will change that” I hugged her from the side “If my plans work out eventually, I will be following you in a year or less. If not, I will have a reason to get on a plane and get the f**k out of here”

She hugged me tightly “I love you” she said sobbed.

“Of course, you do. I love you too” I told her “And sure, I will be Anti-social another day”

I then pulled away from her embrace and wiped her tears away “Can I borrow something to wear? I wasn’t really prepared”

“Wow, agreeing to meet my friends and let me dress you; If I knew that me crying does that to you, I would have done that a long time ago” she giggled as she rubbed her eyes.

She then got up and went over to her closet “One piece or a bikini?” she asked.

“Your choice” I told her knowing that it would make her feel better dressing me up like a barbie.

“Let’s do one-piece” she said before throwing the one piece at me “Good?”

I nodded before heading to the bathroom.

Before I closed the door, Alex called out “Could you also call and make an order for pizza? The usual pizza party meal thing. I will meet you downstairs” before I could object, she walked out of the room.

With a sigh, I walked into the bathroom and changed into the swimsuit. I slipped on the back one piece that slightly fitted around the boobs tightly due to its being a cup smaller than I am, otherwise, the swimsuit was hugged everywhere else perfectly. After adjusted the tie shoulders and let down my hair, I walked back into Alex’s room and called the pizza place.

Just as the call center picked up my call, Cole walked into the room. I pointed at the phone causing him to take a seat on the bed instead of leaving. Throughout the whole 6 minutes call of me ordering and asking the employee to reply to the order twice, Cole watched me closely while I paced the room.

When I hung up, I texted Alex that the food has been ordered and it will take 40 minutes to get here.

“Are you going to talk to me or keep ignoring me?” I heard Cole asked.

I dropped my phone on the table “Sorry, I was just texting Alex about the food” I told him then turned to my mirror to deal with my hair “What’s up?”

“I miss you looked like a 5-years old in those knee-length shorts and shirts” he said “As much as you look breathtaking, I wish you wouldn’t wear this out in front all those guys downstairs”

I turned to him with my hands in my hair mid-action. I glance at him annoyed.

“And I know that I can’t tell you not to do so and I am not telling you what wear and not to” he said as he raised his hands in the air “It’s not like it ended it well last time”

When I passed by him to get the slippers on the other side of the bed, Cole caught me wrist and tugged me toward him. His surprising force causing me to land on his lap. A smile played on his lips as he helped on of my legs over his lap, so I was straddling him. He placed a kiss on my forehead, then cheek, followed by another on my nose.

“You look beautiful as always” he whispered.

I gave him a small smile as a reflex, which caused his smile to grow wider. Before I could open my mouth to speak, he leaned toward me again attempted to capture my lips with his. I leaned back before leaning back in and dropping my forehead against his chest.

I sighed “We talked about this, Cole” I told him.

“We haven’t” he pointed out “In fact, we haven’t even talked about what happened last night”

I tried to move away from his lap, but he gently gripped on my waist and pulled me back to where I was.

“We need to talk about his, Sophia” he said, almost sounding desperate.

“Okay, fine” I told him “We can talk about it tonight. I need to be downstairs right now”

He nodded, but when I tried to move away again, his grip on my waist tightened and held me in my place.

“Being a few minutes late won’t hurt anyone” he smirked as he moved one hand to stroke my cheek.

He watched me, then tilted his head to the side to get a closer look at me “Yeah?” he said, more like asked for permission, then reassured “Just a few minutes”

 I nodded, despite my brain yelling at me not too.

He nudged my nose with his, something he always does right before he plants a kiss on my lips. This time, this time he pulled away with a small smile playing on his lips before nudging my nose with his and pulling back again. He wasn’t teasing me, he wanted me to be the first one that initiates the kiss.

Shakingly, I placed my hands on his chest shakingly then leaned. As I brushed my lips against his, my actions came to halt before jumping off his lap in panic when the door was knocked then pushed open a couple of seconds later.

“Sophia?” Derek called as he pushed the door open looking around the room. His eyes landed on Cole for a minute confused “What are you doing in here?”

He pointed to where I was leaning against the dresser across the room “Nothing, just talking to Sophia” he said “Which you’ve rudely interrupted by your ass that can even wait for an answer”

He flipped him off like the younger brother he then turns to me “Are you done being fashionably late? And where the f**k is the pizza?” he said.

“Damn, watch the language” I said as I moved away from the dresser as I uncrossed my arms “Someone is getting hangry”

He gestured to the door “After you” he said.

“We’re not done talking” Cole told his brother “Shut the door on your way out, will ya”

He ignored his brother as he made his way to me “C’mon, Alex won’t let the part begin without you”

“I’ll be down in a few more minutes” I said “Go, I’ll catch up”

As if I was talking to the wall, I was grabbed by thighs and thrown over Derek’s shoulder. My hands instantly flew to my butt to prevent an accident from happening.

“Derek, What the f**k?” I screamed.

He continued to walk out of the room with his over his shoulder.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I said as he carried me down the stairs.

“Stopping you from making a mistake” he said “Cheating is not a good look on you”

With that, I went completely quiet and stopped fussing. I made a note in the back of my mind that moment, I had to come out to Alex and Cole about my breakup with Ben and figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do with the Cole situation.

When Derek put me on the floor, I grabbed on his wrist to prevent him from walking away “Derek, you know me” I said, voice slightly over a whisper “It wasn’t like that at all, I promise”

I wasn’t lying, I wasn’t cheating on Ben, Ben and I are already broken up. I was lying at the same time though; I was lying by hiding the breakup from everyone other than Cole who already knew about it.

He held out his pinky to me. I smiled and linked our pinkies before sailing out promise with pressing out thumb together. He smiled at me before flicking me on the head and leading the way outside.

There was a lot of unfamiliar faces around the pool, and a few I remember from when Alex was back in high school and a few of Jeremy’s work friend. Her friends were friendly though, I talked to a few of them when I was sitting on the table eating watermelon and having iced tea with a few of her friends.

Eventually, everyone ended up talking to someone else around the table. Other than me on the table, one of Alex’s new friends was sitting across the table on her phone. When she noticed that we were the only two on the table, she closed to phone and took a seat next to me with a smile.

“Sophia, right?” she asked.

I nodded with a smile, feeling more cheerful and loose than I usually am.

“Dalia” she introduced herself.

My smile grew wider “Dalia. I’ve heard a lot about you from Alex” I told her “She told me all you and raved about your designs. Your work is amazing”

She smiled “Thank you!” I told her “I heard a lot about you too. Alex is always blabbering about you. She’s always Sophia is this and Sophia is that”

I giggled “That’s my best friend”

We talked a bit more about Alex, her previous school, and a little more about her crushing on one of her siblings which I am praying to God isn’t Cole. And just at that thought, Cole and I held eye contact from across the pool where he was standing with some of the other guys and having pizza.

He smiled at me, then pointed at his pizza asking me if I was one. I gave him a small smile back before shaking my head and pointing at the watermelon I had in my hand, the fourth watermelon I’ve had in my hand. Cole smiled knowingly, he knew that once there was a watermelon in front of me, it was hard for me to eat anything other than that.

“You and Cole?” Dalia asked.

I turned to her as I tried to keep a straight face “What about Cole and I?” I asked.

“You guys are back together?” she asked.

I looked taken aback at her knowing something that I haven’t shared with her yet.

“Rowan told me you guys were dating for a while and that he dumped you hard” she explained.

I look over to where Rowan was next to Alex, she eyes me before smirked at me.

I turned to Dalia “Of course she did” I said “He didn’t dump me. It was a mutual break up that went bad, and we are not together, we’re just friends. Just don’t listen to Rowan and don’t trust her, she’s a snake that likes to twist things and spark fire wherever she can for entertainment”

She nodded “Not a big fan of Rowan?”

I shook my head “Not a little” I said.

“Me either” she said “Be careful though, she’s spreading s**t around about you. She said you’re sleeping with Derek”

I shook my head “Never”

“I figured she was lying” she said “She knows I have a crush on him, and Alex told me about you dating Jeremy’s friend”

“Uh, Ben” I smiled sarcastically “Yeah, I DATED Ben for a while. We broke up, I mean I broke up with him by avoiding him and blocking him without a warning”

She looked at me confused.

I leaned back against my chair “Piece of s**t was trying to convince me to give up my virginity to him for a while. Little did I know that I was always the other girl and that he was already engaged to someone. When I caught him, he didn’t even try to explain himself, he just ran after his ACTUAL girl, not me”

“Oh, I’m sorry” she said reaching out for my hand “I didn’t know”

I gave her a small smile “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. Don’t tell Alex though, I have told her any of this yet” I turned to her then looked at her confused “I don’t even know why I told you about it just now”

“Alcohol does that to you, makes you comfortable and honest” she chuckled then pointed at the plate “And you, my friend, had quite some”

I shook my head “I haven’t had anything to drink, and I don’t drink”

She looked at me confused “Sofia, you’ve had a popsicle that has alcohol in it and the watermelon you’re having is full of it” she said then point to the side where there was a watermelon under the table with a bottle of vodka stuffed in it “Rowan had two of them socked overnight”

I dropped the watermelon that I had in my hand to the side “I’m going to go wash up and lay down for a bit” I said.

“Please do, I’m sure it will hit any minute now” she said “Do you need me to walk you there?”

I shook my head feeling funny as I got up “I think I can find the room on my own” I told him “Thank you though”

As soon as I tried to walk backward, I bumped into someone. When I turned around, I looked up to the tall figure standing in front of me.

“Surprise” Alex smiled from next to him “It took a lot of convincing and pushing, but I managed to get this stupid boy to drag his ass over here”

I looked at Alex then back at Ben, then around the place trying desperately to find an exit or someone to help me get out of this situation without making it into a big scene.

“Aren’t you happy?” Alex asked.

“Sophia” Ben said reaching out for me.

I shook my head as I backed up from him, only to bumped into another figure.

“What the f**k are you doing here?” Jeremy said.

“Get your ass out of here, Jeremy, I’m not here for you. I’m here to talk to Sophia” Ben said, he then ignored him and started to talk to me like Jeremy wasn’t even there “Why haven’t you been returning my calls and messages all this time? I wanted to talk to you”

“Like hell, she will she want too after what you did, prick” Jasmin spoke up.

I looked around trying to find Andrew, he stopped them from fighting once and he can stop it again. My eyes met Cole instead who was making his way to us, he didn’t look happy to see Ben here either.

“What do you mean?” Alex said “Why does it feel like everyone knows what’s happening except for me?”

Rowan wrapped her arms around Alex’s shoulder “From what I heard bestie, Sophia and Ben aren’t really dating anymore. This girl you call your best friend is a homewrecker; she went after Ben even though he is engaged. I heard her talking about it with Jasmin just now” Rowan said then smirked at me.

“Honestly, Rowan, what the f**k is wrong with you?” Jeremy said “Get the f**k out of here, I’m done with you and your goddamn drama you bring here”

If there was one thing that Alex hated, it was homewreckers, girls that break off relationships and people for fun. The way that Alex looked at me in that second, made me feel ashamed and just made me want the follow to crack open and swallow me.

“You’re f*****g bullshitting and lying right through your teeth” Cole said “And you, how f*****g dear you show your face here. She doesn’t want to, so get the f**k out of here”

I looked at Alex “I didn’t know, I swear I didn’t know he was engaged. I didn’t know how to tell you; for f**k's sake, I’m still trying to process it”

“Sophia, can we just go inside and talk about this?” Ben said as he tried to get closer to me again.

I moved away again.

“I said get out of here, she doesn’t want to talk to you, and I don’t want you on my property” Cole said again.

“Will you shut the f**k up and stop being so thirsty, I’m trying to talk to my girlfriend here” Ben snapped “We’re having an adult conversation right now”

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Cole just as he took the first step toward Ben.

I grabbed Cole’s face and lowering it, so he is looking at me instead “Please. Don’t. He’s not worth it. Let’s just go” I told him when my attempt of getting his attention failed “Olly, please, just take me upstairs; I don’t feel okay”

His eyes dropped to mine at the nickname I used to call him when we were back together.

“Just take me to take me upstairs, please” I begged again, already feeling on the verge of throwing up.

He sighed in surrender, and I leaned my head against his chest in relief and lightheadedness.

“Those two better not be there when I get back here, or I will throw both out myself” Cole said.

As soon as my knees got weak, Cole grabbed on to my arms to hold me up.

“She had the popsicles and watermelon” Jasmin said “She didn’t know”

“Oh, so virgin Marry here doesn’t drink but whored around most of the guys here except for Jeremy? That’s rich” Rowan said.

“Where the f**k is you even getting your facts from?” Cole asked “Because they are as wrong as your choice of f*****g coming here”

“You know what” Jeremy said “I am done watching this toxic friendship here, and tired of this snake whispering all these things to you and ruining your friendship with others. Make your choice, Alex, Because I am done with this; it's me or her”

“It’s time for you to leave, Ben, let me show you the way out and call a taxi for you” Andrew said as he passed Cole and me.

When my body got heavier in Cole’s arms, he pulled me closer to him to support myself using his body “Let’s get you upstairs. You need a bed to lay on. Let me carry you there”

I nodded as I turned to him before wrapping my arms around his neck. He leaned down and tucked his arms behind my knee while the other supported my back, then followed by him picking me up and bring me to his chest.

I was quiet as he carried me upstairs. I didn’t protest when he carried me into his room, nor did I have the power to protest it. I was stressed, on the verge of breaking and lightheaded. He sat me down on the bed, grabbed a shirt from the dresser, then slipped it over my head and helped me pull my arms through the sleeve.

He then kneeled in front of me “Do need shorts?” I asked him.

I shook my head.

“Honestly, spiking watermelons, what are we? 16?” Cole sighed as he helped me under the duvet “You just need to sleep it off”

I nodded to him, understanding.

He then looked around the room awkwardly “Do you need me to get you something? Water or aspirin or something to eat?” he asked then got up “I could get Alex for you”

When he got up, I reached up to his hand “O… or y… you can stay. You can stay here till I sleep” I stuttered.

He gave me a slight smile and a nod.

Additional A/N: I made a playlist for this book, let me if you guys want me to share it.