Chapter 45

Chapter 45

"You're coming to the party, right? It is my birthday." Rob said taking a sip of his soda.

"What? Your birthday? Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry I didn't realize. Happy birthday!" Alison greeted.

"Later midnight will be my birthday, so, you'll be coming right?"

"I don't know... I don't think a party is a place for me." She glanced at Zoe considering their last incident that happened at the party.

"Oh, come on! Just this once." Zoe added which made her eventually give in to their request.

They walked into one of their mutual friend's house that hosted the party. The music was blaring, the room was already crowded with sweaty and drunk teenagers. Walking inside made Alison flashbacked to the scene with Tristan forcefully kissing her which made her shivered at the thought. Brushing away the thought, she tried to keep up with Zoe, Rob and Loraine who were already far in front of her when she spotted him sitting on the couch comfortably with a sexy brunette, her slender body sat on his lap with her hands snaked around his neck. She's that cheerleader. Without realizing, she had stopped walking and stood there gawking at the new couple, he noticed her presence locking their eyes for a brief moment before he broke the stare, rolling his eyes away and annoyed to even look at her, he turned back his attention to the flirtatious cheerleader. Taking in the scene made her heart squeezed the life out of her. Why does it hurt so much? Quickly, she tried to walk away from the nauseating sight and made her way to the kitchen, frantically pouring whatever liquor within her grasp into the empty cup and downing it quickly, feeling the burning sensation that helped ease the tension from her clenched throat down to her stomach for a brief moment. You already chose to let him go so, let him go even though it crushes you seeing him with that girl... It freaking hurt like hell. He's so cold towards me that it hurts seeing how he was so warm towards her.

It was almost midnight and they were already preparing the cake for Rob, counting down the few seconds until it was officially his birth day. Alison finally caught sight of Layla and Shane as they gathered waiting for Rob to blow out the candles and they continued back to partying. Alison was about to greet Layla when she was dragged outside by her. Walking out of the house to the garden, they stood by the side of the house which was quieter.

"Al, you're my friend and so is Jason. I'm just worried about the two of you. I don't get to see him anywhere. He wouldn't pick up any of my calls and even Loraine is getting worried about him. And I can feel that you both very much still care about each other and maybe you just needed to talk things out." Layla blurted out.

"Lay, I just hope that you'd understand it's a decision I made and I need you to simply accept that. We're just... we can't, anymore." Alison forced out her words, though it aches just saying those words.

"Whatever happens, whatever is going on, I'm sure you both can talk it out. He truly cares about you and so do you. You do realize how he changed after you both broke up. It feels like it's happening all over again, but worst. I'm worried, Loraine's worried. It's not doing you or him any good. Just talk to him, please." Layla expressed constantly looking over her shoulder towards the door.

"Layla... of all people, I would be the last person he'd listen to. You've forgotten that he hated me as deep as a wrath from hell." She recalled how he purposely ignored her each time they passed by, as if she was invincible, even after the day he helped her at the carpark, he was back to his cold demeanor which only shattered her already broken heart, if that was even possible.

"I'll leave you both to talk." Layla nodded towards Loraine who walked out together with the last person she wanted to see.

"What are you doing? Layla!" Alison exasperated, warning Layla with her low and dangerous tone but she just left with Loraine, leaving Jason alone with her, a sudden chilling change of atmosphere.

"Talk." He talked curtly. His cold bluntness seeped through her heart.

"What?" She was puzzled.

"Loraine said you've an important thing to tell me." He sounded impatient.

"I uh... Thanks for helping me the other day... at the carpark." She thought of getting that out of her chest while he simply shrugged.

"What happened to your face?" She asked noticing the bruise on his lower left jaw, again.

"None of your business." He said firmly.

"Look, we noticed that you're always having bruises and Loraine... and all your friends are worried about you. They truly care about you. Please take care of yourself at least for Lor-" She was expressing how she felt when he cut her.

"You don't get to tell me what to do. I get to do what I want and don't flatter yourself thinking it's about you. And don't you dare bring Loraine into this. I've been taking care of her since you're still busy hooking around with every guy you see." He retorted earning him a sudden stinging pain on the cheek. She can't believe it. She had slapped him. Although she was used to hearing mean things, it was different when he was the one to say it to her. How dare you! Rubbing his jaws, he let out a chuckle shaking his head and walked away from her glaring furious stare.

She walked towards the garden trying to catch her breath but her arm was yet again gripped by someone. Looking up to the owner of the person who gripped her arm brought cold sweats on her forehead. Tristan.

"Well, well. Fancy seeing you here, without the knight in shining armor to protect you now." He slurred, his breath smelled of alcohol.

"Let go of my hand before I remind you what I can do to you." She gritted her teeth, wriggling her arm from his strong grip but to no avail.

"Doubt it, doll." He smirked pulling her towards the darkened side of the house. No one will be saving you but yourself, Alison.

"Don't try to be funny or I'll scream my lungs out." She threatened making him to stop.

"Oh, will you now? Come on, doll, just want to have a bit of fun. Saw your picture the other day, you've got nice perky tits. Give a little flash, will you?" He continued to slur, his other hand gripped and squeezed at her breast which completely repulsed her that she screamed then immediately became a muffled with his hands covered over her mouth. She bit his hands making him cursed immediately lifting it from her mouth, at the same time loosening his grip giving her the chance to kick him the second time at the exact same place she did the last time making him hunched over in pain.

"You don't mess with me!" Alison cried out running back to the house, searching for familiar faces. Once she saw Zoe, she demanded to immediately go home.

"Why? The party just-" Zoe noticed the troubled expression.

"Please! I just want to go home, now." She paused suddenly as she saw Tristan panting, his eyes darkened staring straight toward her.

"What did he do to you?" Zoe asked almost in a whisper, she followed the direction her friend's similar intense stare towards Tristan. She pulled Alison away from the room wrapping her arms around her shoulder without hesitation looking for Rob while Tristan immediately backed away as soon as he saw Zoe.

"We're leaving. Now!" Zoe asserted to Rob. He did not question any further noticing how serious Zoe was and they made their way to their car.

"What happened, back there, Al? God... I'm so sorry. It's all because of me, isn't it?" Zoe sat beside Alison at the back sea, while Loraine sat at the front with Rob, who was driving, turning her attention to the two girls sitting at the backseat.

"No. He's just born a jerk." She replied which made the car suddenly screeched to a sudden halt.

"Who the hell? And what the hell happened, Al?" Rob suddenly turned around giving her his full attention, waiting for her answer, with rage.

"Nothing." "Tristan." Alison and Zoe said at the same time with Zoe earning a glare from Alison.

"Look at your reddened wrist, Al! He grabbed you, didn't he? This is serious, Al. You can't keep hiding as if nothing happened. I saw the look on your face when you saw him just now. Obviously, he did something to you. Now, tell us." Zoe insisted not caring the death glare she received from her which turned into a defeated expression.

"He pulled me to a corner and... asked for a flash. Said he saw the picture from school." She stated, her voice slightly shaken after realizing the reality of the event once she said it out loud, excluding the fact that he grabbed her breast, in a darkened alley.

"Damn, jerk!" Zoe exasperated, at the same time vaguely hearing Loraine gasped and Rob cursed under his breath.

"I'm sorry, this is all because of me. I'm sorry, Al." She sighed.

Reaching home, she took a cold shower not caring how late it was already. She just needed to wash away what happened today. She saw Jason wrapping himself with another girl right in front of her, humiliated by him and was harassed by a perverted jerk, all in one unfortunate night.

The rest of the weekend was spent with her locked in her room, thinking. About her past, about her life-long best friend who had vanished from her life forever. About herself, what kind of person was she exactly, she still found herself in all the mess she was in. About what was going on in her life currently, about the problems revolving around her. Was it all a coincidence or was it all because of her that caused all the trouble, and lastly Jason. How much she missed him, but at the same time, how much his words had pierced her already broken heart.

Each evening, she would drive to the lake after sunset and sat at the other side of the lake, as compared to her, or their, usual bench. She sat at the bench looking up at the infinite illuminated starlight. Learning to be grateful and thinking how small she was as compared to the vast universe. Not realizing that he was at the other side of the lake staring at the same night sky.