chapter 4.30
Beau
I had such a splitting headache. Just being next to August and Briar was making me sick. Literally. I didn't realize this would affect me so much. I knew in my heart once he showed back up in our lives that this could happen, but I didn't process it. Briar was with Daniel. She wouldn't cheat, would she? Especially since the asshole was so dangerous. But last night, August snuck out of our room at 3 AM. I knew exactly where he was going.
"Beau...," August said with a worried voice. "What's wrong?"
Pinning him with a stare, I said, "Where were you last night?" Us guys bunked in a huge room to keep the costs low and Amber bunked with Etoile, but Briar suspiciously had her own room. And that was exactly where he went. I knew it.
He chuckled nervously and lied. "I-I couldn't sleep, so I took a piss outside. You know how beautiful the skies are here in Windenburg. So many stars out."
"Don't fucking lie to me, August. I know where you went. And I can't believe you both would do something like this. Do you realize you're playing with fire?"
Briar jumped in, "Beau...I don't know what you're trying to say, but leave August alone."
"That was an extremely long piss, August," Ethan added. "You didn't come back to the room until three hours later."
Ethan was the one who noticed August gone in the first place and woke me. My blood boiled that they would be so bold to sleep together. Like no one would notice.
"Guys, you need to chill. I took a walk down the cliff trail to the water. My God. What is this? The Spanish Inquisition?"
I couldn't take it anymore. He just spun more lies right to my face. I bolted to my feet and pointed at him. "I know you went to Briar's room and slept with her. Don't fucking lie to me, August!"
"Beau, stop!" Briar ordered, pulling on me. I was mad at her but angrier at August. I knew he pushed the relationship. Briar wasn't like that. She was a people pleaser--one of the fucked up reasons she was with Daniel in the first place. August knew this could go horribly wrong. What was he thinking?
"I did not, Beau. Stop being so fucking jealous."
Amber held up a hand and said, "Guys! Calm down."
"I'm sick of your shit," I spat. I couldn't stand being in the same room with him, so I stormed out of there, and down the stairs. August chased me.
Finally, he stopped me, pulling on my arm. I whirled on him, crossing my arms. "What the fuck, August? You want to tell me more lies?" My heart pounded with rage.
"No...I....uh..." he stammered looking guilty as hell.
Glaring, I asked, "You what?"
"What do you want me to say? You know if this gets out what could happen. Why are you talking about it in front of Ethan for God's sake?"
"What does Ethan have to do with anything?"
He pulled at his hair. "Ethan is friends with Daniel. You know what could happen if he finds out. Don't you care?"
"Oh my God! You admit what you're doing is dangerous!"
"Beau..."
"First of all, Ethan is no friend of Daniel's and would never say anything. Second of all, it's you who's putting her and yourself in danger. Stop this shit now, August, before more people get hurt."
Looking down, he said almost in a whisper, "It's too late for that. She doesn't deserve that asshole. After graduation, we're going to go to school together here in Windenburg."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He was already making future plans with her. It sliced through me like a cold blade. "What about our plans, huh? We were supposed to go into criminal justice together in San Myshuno. Become roommates. Are you just chucking all that?" My voice cracked on the last word.
He was dumping me even as a friend. For my sister.
I felt crazy, totally unhinged. How could he do this to us? He didn't care about me anymore? My mind reeled as my throat thickened. I grabbed him and yelled, "Why are you doing this? Do I mean nothing to you at all?"
"No...I just...I..."
Tears sprang to my eyes. "Just go to hell, August."
I pushed him back, but he grabbed me and shushed me, rubbing my cheek. "You know I care about you, Beau. I do...it's just...she needs me."
All my anger melted with his touch. Why was I so weak around him?
Dropping my head down on his chest as tears rolled down my cheeks, I whispered, "But I need you, too."
Next update is on Monday, January 15th
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