Chapter 12 - And do you think I care? (2)

A U T U M N

I had spent hours crying in the bedroom like I just lost my soulmate. It was true, Jess was more than my best friend, she was someone I had considered as a sister. The fight broke something inside me.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand as I walked to the kitchen. "I hope I have some ice cream." I opened the fridge and found none. "What a bummer." I kicked the fridge and regretted it immediately.

I was in no mood for going out. I didn't need to see a mirror to know that I looked horrible. My eyes were swollen and my hair was a mess. "Maybe I should just call a delivery." I was about to walk to my bedroom and grab my phone when I heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" I shouted but no one replied. I tightened my ponytail and walked to the door. I hoped it wasn't the weird guy from across the hallway.

I swung the door open and was enveloped in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I swear I won't touch any drink ever again." It was Jess.

I thought I've had no more tears left yet tears were rolling down my cheeks like a stream of the river. "Why are you doing here?" I asked her, still sobbing, once we pulled away.

"I want to apologize. I'm so sorry I was such a bïtch. I shouldn't have told them about you and Joe. It was stupid." I saw tears stained in her eyes and I knew she was feeling as bad as I was.

I gave her another hug. "I love you."

"I love you too!" She leaned down and picked up the plastic bag from the floor. "And I bought a peace offering." She pulled out a huge tube of Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

I literally jumped on the floor. "That's my favorite!!"

Jess smiled. "I know. Let's get some spoon and dig in."

I locked the door behind her and followed her to the kitchen. Jess has been here before, she helped me unpack my things on the first day, so she knew her way around. She picked up two spoons from the drawer and put the Ben & Jerry tube on the counter. I joined her and sat on the stool.

"God, you're like my guardian angel. I was so pissed I couldn't find any ice cream in the fridge." I dug the ice cream and ate a spoonful of Chocolate Chip Dough Cookie. It tasted like heaven. I moaned. "It's so good!"

"I still love the Chocolate Fudge Brownie," countered Jess. She put the spoon down. "Autumn?"

"Hmm?" I looked up and saw her looking at me with a serious look on her face.

"Why didn't you tell me about your breakup?" asked her truthfully.

I frowned. "What?" I had no idea what she was on about. "What breakup?"

"You and Tyler." One brow raised on her forehead. "Why didn't you tell me that you guys broke up?"

Now I was surprised. "We didn't break up. I mean, we had a fight last night but we didn't break up." I replayed what happened last night in my head and I didn't recall us saying anything about breaking up.

"Oh." Jess sat back and looked confused. I knew her for years, I knew what that look for.

I put the spoon down and leaned forward on the table. "Jess, what is it?"

"I just—" She paused and bit her lips as if she really didn't want to say it but in the end, she was my best friend and she would say it even if it hurt. "I saw him with someone after you left."

I swallowed. "Who?"

Jess shrugged. "I don't know. She's blonde and quite tall." She flipped her hair on one shoulder. "But Colton knows her. I forgot to ask him." She fished out her cell phone. "I'm gonna text him now."

I didn't need to get the name from Colton, I could guess that it was probably his ex. I thought I was prepared but when the reply came in, it still hurt. I couldn't believe he went to see his ex after what happened last night and this morning.

"So what are you gonna do?" asked Jess once she saw tears in my eyes. Her hand went to hold mine and I was glad I wasn't alone.

* * *

T Y L E R

"Ty?" called Faith once we finally caught up with what happened in our life.

I lowered my mug and licked my top lip. "Yeah?"

Her expression turned a little sad. "I'm sorry for what I did to you before." She shook her head as if she was in disbelief. "I was heartless. I left without a word."

My neck felt a little tense. I was completely speechless, I had no idea what to say. It has happened roughly three years ago and I thought I've over it yet it still stung.

When we first met yesterday, I thought we would get a new start but now she was asking for my forgiveness. It got me speechless. When I finally recovered, there was only one question I had to ask. "What happened?"

Faith suppressed her lips tightly as she stared at the light latte-colored paint on the wall behind me. She slid her gaze back to my face and I could see tears in her eyes. "I thought I was going to die."

I stared at her. Wide-eyed and surprised. "What?"

She let out a deep sigh and when she finally spoke, she took me by surprise one more time. "I had colon cancer, Ty."

♥