Chapter 15
chapter
fifteen
“I thought I had more time to fix it. Turns out time isn’t something you get back.” - Haven
CYRUS
The concert goes forty minutes longer than planned. I’m so tired that I ignore Declan calling my name as I stumble past the VIP section and barely make it to the suite. Haven follows me, my little shadow but doesn’t touch me.
We don’t speak until we reach my bedroom. I turn to look at her and try to summon my normal sarcasm.
“You want to come in? If you do, the rule is no clothes allowed.”
“Cy, are you okay?”
She always does this. Ignores my snarky comments and cuts right to the core.
“I’m fine.”
Stepping into my room, I turn to close the door. Haven is right there, like she is going to follow me.
“What do you think you’re doing,” I ask, glaring down at her.
“I’m making sure you’re alright. You look like you’re about to pass out. I don’t need you falling and hitting your head or something.”
“I told you, I’m fine. I don’t need a babysitter. You’re not my girlfriend or mother, and if you come in here, then I really will fuck you. So, stay the hell out unless you want me to make you scream as you come all over my cock. Got it?”
Her cheeks turn red, but she doesn’t move.
“That’s what I thought.”
Flicking my wrist, I slam the door in her face before I lock it, then slip into the bathroom.
I barely remember showering or getting into bed, but that doesn’t stop me from waking up at 3:33 a.m. like clockwork.
Fucking witching hour.
Sitting up, I’m thankful that there is no headache. I grab my bag and reach in for my songbook, but my fingers skim over Haven’s journal. I shouldn’t keep reading it, but I have a long history of doing things I shouldn’t.
Pulling it out, I arrange my pillows and turn on the lamp beside the bed. I can see my reflection in the mirror as I settle back and don’t dare stare at myself too long. There are far too many demons in my eyes that I have no interest in tackling this early in the morning. If ever.
Opening the journal, I flip to where I left off. Of course, it’s about that fucking night. The one night I wish I could go back and change.
Haven’s Journal Entry – Patrick’s 18th Birthday
Today is supposed to be a day of celebration. Instead, I’ve been staring at the wrapped gift on my desk for an hour, crying my eyes out.
My friendship with Patrick has been deteriorating slowly, and I’ve been in denial for the last four years.
His birthday party is at my father’s beach house, and I didn’t get an invitation.
That says it all. I mean, yes, Cyrus probably sent out the invites, but it’s not a surprise party, and Patrick could’ve made sure that I was on the list.
But I don’t care about an invite right now. I am going to that damn party tonight. I’m fighting for my friendship because I’m not letting Cyrus win, again. I’m tired of him coming between Patrick and me.
Cyrus came in like a parasite, slowly taking over everything and destroying all in his path.
He single-handedly made me a pariah in my own school. Every one of the girls I thought were friends turned on me one at a time. There is nothing like the allure of being friends with someone who is going to be famous.
Then one day, I woke up, and the only person who would speak to me was Patrick.
But things between us have been strained for the last few months. It feels like Cyrus is finally getting what he has always wanted. I can see it in his eyes. Patrick is struggling to hang on to our friendship when Cyrus makes it so damn hard. He undermines everything.
Cyrus’s goal is to see me miserable and alone, and so far, he is succeeding.
But what Cyrus fails to understand is that I’m not weak. No matter what he does, I will keep fighting. So, I’ll make one last-ditch effort to get my best friend back.
So here I go. Keep your fingers crossed.
And if Patrick really doesn’t want to be my friend anymore, then he can look me in the eyes and say the words.
-H
I close the journal and then my eyes, not needing to read the next entry to know exactly what happened that night. It was the night that changed everything. It was the night that I finally went too far.
Silent tears slide down my face, burning like acid where they touch.
Haven was right. I ruined everything.
“Chug, chug, chug, chug,” everyone chants as Patrick and I chug the beers. I finish first to a roar of applause and hold my hands in the air like I’m the heavyweight champion of the world.
That’s when I see her. Haven is standing in the crowd, a gift in one hand and a red solo cup in the other. She looks…happy. She has a tiny smile on her full lips, and her green eyes are fixed on Patrick. Not on me where they should be—Patrick.
I march over. “What the hell are you doing here? I sure as fuck didn’t invite a loser like you.”
Those around us are quiet as Haven looks up at me. The smile falls from her face.
“This is my father’s beach house, and this is my friend’s birthday. I don’t need you to invite me.”
I glance at the drink and know immediately it’s root beer. I smack the cup from her hand. Haven gasps as the brownish liquid splashes on the floor and all over her new pink Converse. She jumps back and stares down as I laugh with everyone around us.
“Like I said, you’re too much of a nobody to be here.”
It comes out in a whisper, but I make it clear I want her fucking gone. The fucked-up thing is, I’m not sure if that’s true anymore. I quickly shut that thought down.
“Yeah, why are you here? Nobody wants you around.”
“Take a hint, loser, and get out.”
“You’re the definition of try-hard.”
“Oh, look, she’s going to cry.”
“God, I’m getting second-hand embarrassment.”
Haven’s eyes dart around to all those staring and tossing insults at her, but she doesn’t react and lifts her chin. That just annoys me more. Fucking break already.
“Stop it,” Patrick yells from beside me. He turns in a circle and glares until everyone quiets once more. “This is my party, and Haven is allowed to be here. If you have a problem with that, then get the fuck out.”
The group quickly shuts up and continues with whatever they were doing.
Patrick glares at me.
“That includes you.”
Shit.
I groan, but another idea crosses my mind, and I plaster a smile on my face.
“Fine. Sorry for being a dick, Haven,” I say, and she narrows her eyes at me.
Haven shakes her head like she’s trying to figure me out, but can’t. Instead, she focuses on Patrick.
“I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to bring you your gift,” she says, holding it out.
“Thanks, and you’re not intruding. You’re always welcome to be here, you know that, right? Cyrus was supposed to invite you.”
Patrick looks back at me.
“I thought I had,” I lie.
I watch her carefully. She glances at me before shrugging.
“Yeah, of course. You know me, parties aren’t really my thing.”
“Patrick, come here,” Vex yells, waving in his direction. “You have to hear this.”
Patrick takes the gift from Haven with a smile and hugs her.
“I won’t be long. I’ll find you. We need to catch up.”
He takes off before Haven can say a word. Perfect. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and guide her into the middle of the chaos. She tries to shrug me off, but I won’t let her.
“So, here is the thing…Patrick wants us to make peace. And honestly, I’m tired of fucking with you,” I say.
“You could’ve fooled me,” she snaps back.
“We’re doing a challenge tonight. No matter what I’ve said or done in the past, if you do this with us, it will wipe the slate clean. You’ll be a legend, and there is nothing I can do to tarnish your image after.”
“Bullshit.”
Haven spins and tries to walk back the way we’ve come, but I grab her arm and tug her back.
“Let go.”
“No. I’m not lying to you.”
“Cyrus, you don’t even know what the truth is anymore. Just yesterday, you told your mother that you didn’t finish the milk. I watched you drink it from the container and put it in the fridge empty. When you lied, I got in trouble.”
“That was a joke.”
“Did you see me laughing while your mother yelled at me? I’m not falling for another one of your stupid tricks.”
Four guys from the football team march through the crowd holding a beer keg like a throne. I use that as an excuse to pull her closer.
“What if I can prove it to you? It’s customary to do a senior challenge at the prom party. I’m sure you’ve heard about that, but since it’s a gorgeous night, we decided to move it to tonight.”
Haven crosses her arms.
“I’m serious, just watch. Hey, Sherry!”
The head cheerleader looks over, and her face lights up as I beckon her over.
“Hey, sexy,” she says, then looks at Haven. “Hey, Haven. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, and whose fault is that?”
“Stop, we are moving on from that. I told you, I’m calling a truce,” I say, working my magic. Sherry rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. “Sherry, I was just telling Haven about the senior challenge. Now, I think if we let her do it with us tonight, then it will fix all of her…image issues.”
I give Sherry a wink and hope she picks up on what I’m trying to say.
Haven splays her fingers on her chest.
“My image issues? I didn’t have an image issue until you. And what the hell are you doing a senior challenge for anyway? You graduated last year.”
I brush off the comment like I do everything else she says.
“Why not, it’s fun. Look, If your image was stronger to begin with, I wouldn’t have been able to ruin it.”
Her mouth falls open, eyes full of fire. I love it. The angrier she is, the happier I am.
“Anyway, as I was saying. I think it will go a long way, and I recognize that I’ve played some part in your fall from grace. So, let me help fix it. What do you think, Sherry?”
“I don’t know,” Sherry says.
“Schools almost over, I don’t care about my so-called image. I’m leaving.” Haven whirls around, and I make a face at Sherry to fix it.
“Haven, the senior challenge is always epic,” Sherry says.
Haven stops and looks over her shoulder.