Chapter 2 - KARINA

I walked into the oversized house completely numb as my surroundings and all the noise around blended into one. Dayton was saying something, but I couldn't hear or understand what he was saying. Maybe it's because my vision is clouded with tears, or the fact that there is a persistent ringing in my ears, I can't seem to get rid of it.

Somehow, I managed to make my way to my bedroom, throwing myself onto my bed as I finally broke down into loud, heavy sobs. This hurt more than the tears I cried in Day's arms, probably because I finally realized how much of a joke I had been.

I am sure he's laughing at me heartily. I must have been some amusement to him and his friends. A joke they will never get tired of cracking.

Pathetic piece of shit.

I'm not sure how long I had my face buried inside my pillow as I cried like a fucking ghoul, but I suddenly felt arms wrap around me gently on both sides.

"Just let it all out," Chloe's soothing voice whispered gently into my ear.

"It's going to be alright," Ashley says gently.

I cried more and so loud it could bring down the roof, but I didn't care, my best friends were here, and suddenly nothing mattered anymore.

Noticing I had calmed down, Ashley and Chloe turned me to face them and also get some air since I had been crying into my pillow for a while. My eyes were puffy, red, and swollen so badly that I could barely see. I heard a shutter sound, and I knew someone had taken a picture of my face.

"Dayton, seriously?" Ashley asks in a deadpanned tone

"It's for keepsake," I can hear the joy and cheekiness in Dayton's voice.

"Gerrout, go and get her some ice cream and chocolates," Chloe says, shooing Dayton away.

He grumbled but didn't resist and left.

"Want to tell us what happened?" Ashely asks

"Ash, don't rush her; allow her to calm down," Chloe scolds.

"She looks calm enough to me," Ashley defends herself.

"Besides, if we don't know what happened, how are we going to comfort her?"

Chloe was rubbing my back in a gentle circular motion to calm me down better, while Ashley talked, threatened, begged, and pleaded before she finally gave up and just sat beside me quietly.

"You are scaring me, do you know that?" she finally says, concern in her tone.

"H-he cheated on me," I said in the tiniest croaked voice I could muster from my parched throat.

"What?"

I can't tell if she genuinely can't hear me or if she just can't believe her ears. Chloe handed me a glass of water to help me.

Ashley looked at me, confused and angry at the same time, but her eyes held softness and pity.

Clearing my throat gently, I repeated audibly, "He cheated on me."

"Who? Jayden?" Chloe asks dumbly.

Ashley looks at her like she's dumber than the chicken in Moana at this point. It took her a moment to finally register what I said before she flew into an outburst.

"HE WHAT?! HOW DARE HE?" she yells angrily

Ashley and I stare at her, genuinely confused. I forgot about my heartbreak, while Ashley forgot about her anger as we watched Chloe rant and swear, something she never does, by the way.

"How did you find out?" Ashley asks once Chloe is done.

"I saw it with my own eyes, he was having sex with some girl in a hotel," I said, showing them the message I had received earlier.

"THIS FUCKER! HOW DARE HE IMMA HAVE HIS HEAD!" Ashley roars.

Chloe was also not taking this well. "How could he do such a thing? If he was tired of you or if he was upset about something you did, why did he not come to you? He's awful for this."

"I always knew he wasn't worth the effort, but this is too much," Ashley says

"Does Ria know?" Chloe asks.

"No, I just found out like an hour ago," I say hoarsely.

"Let's get back at him," Chloe says

Ashley and I stared at her like she had grown an extra head because an idea like that is something only Ashley and Dayton could have thought of, and the fact that it came from Chloe is another shock, since she's the sweetest one in our group who always chooses humanity over revenge.

"Why are you guys staring like that?" Chloe asks innocently.

"UH-uh, nothing, we were just shocked," Ashley says.

"And how do I do that?" I ask

"Damien," Chloe says.

"HELL NO! I'm not allowing that, Bruh, of all people, think of someone else, please," Ashley says firmly.

"After what happened last time, I doubt he will still want to talk to me," I tell Chloe, but she looks determined; it's crazy.

"He's perfect, do you know why?" Chloe asks, looking at us with expectant eyes like we can read her fucking mind.

"Jayden really hates Damien's guts since you guys have broken up. Seeing his ex with his Op is going to piss him off really bad. " Chloe says.

"I do not support this idea," Ashley says

"It's not a bad idea, though," I say, avoiding Ashley's questioning eyes.

"You- I have nothing to say to both of you," Ashley says, glaring at Chloe and me.

"Besides, Damien legit still likes you, like, have you seen the eyes he gives anytime you are in his line of sight, so I think this is a solid plan," Chloe goes on, completely ignoring Ashley's daggered stare.

"I do not support this," Ashley says.

"He makes a good rebound, though, I mean, he is hot and quite a nerd, perfect for her," Chloe says, feeling quite smart.

"Why don't you go date him since you admire him so much?" Ashley says, rolling her eyes

"Nah, I prefer older guys," Chloe says, laughing.

"This is stupid, guys," Ashley says

I just sat there watching Ashley and Chloe arguing over what I should do with my love life. I think it's funny that they are the ones stressing while I do absolutely nothing. But then again, what can I do? I really liked him, hell, I loved him, and yet he played me in my face.

Pathetic.

Yeah, maybe I do need that rebound to get over him.