Temptations (COMPLETED BUT IN EDITING)

Chapter 11✔

«Bon feu, bonne mine, c'est la moitié de la vie.»
«A Nice fire, good looks, that's half the life.»
~~~

Jake's memorial was tonight. We were assembled to sing and pray in his name in the courtyard. I didn't befriend him because he was Julian's best friend. However, he was the only person that wasn't mean to me. I remembered him smiling at me as a sign of sorry every time Julian did something insane to me. He couldn't do anything, but at least he pitied me. He didn't deserve such a tragic demise. I spent the week trying to determine Jake's actual death. I found nothing. Every article repeats itself; I joined the Discords group to seek information; their conspiracy theories were unrealistic and pretty fucking crazy. I searched every Reddit page, but nothing came up. I despaired; whatever they were hiding, they were doing a great job.

The ceremony started. We were standing before Jake's portrait with a candle and flowers. The chorus sang Hallelujah and many chants. Julian's group was present except for him. Juan was just standing there. Agea and Kelly were crying. It must be hard for them to lose someone close. For the first time, I could relate to them. Shawn was bland, with no emotion, his arms around Agea, he was comforting her, and then there was Thea consoling Kelly. These two have been closed lately. I despised the raw pain in my gut I felt when she was with them. I still don't understand why she chose them over me, why she abandoned me when I needed her the most. 

I accidentally made eye contact with her. I immediately turned to Xavier, next to me, humming the chorus's song.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes"

The ceremony ended at midnight, and curfew started, but we were still chatting in the yard. Xavier told me about his family and how annoying and lovely they were. He even invited me to come for Christmas since I had no plans. I was going to answer him when Thea approached us.

"Hey, Xavier."

She sat down next to him. I wiped out my phone and scrolled endlessly on Instagram to avoid paying attention to her. Surprisingly, she said hi to me.

"Hey, Thea," I responded bitterly, without looking at her.

She started a conversation with Xavier, who wanted to include me. However, my responses were reluctant and bland. She eventually got up and ran back to her new friends.

Xavier looked at me like a shocked puppy.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Girl, what was that?"

"What was what?"

"She is trying to talk to you, and you were pushing her away." He slapped his hand on the table.

"I don't want to talk to her."

"But she is your friend!"

"Not anymore."

"That is so childish. She is still your friend."

"No, she is not!" I slightly raised my voice, annoyed by him persisting me to admit something false. "She chose her friends when she walked out of the hospital door."

"I understand you are upset, but I think she is sorry about that, and you two should talk."

"Oh my God, no! She made her choice, and I am the one that should kiss her ass? What side are you exactly on?"

"I am on your side, but I don't like the drama and pettiness."

" I doubt that since you have been defending her."

"I feel like you want to drag me into this, and I don't like it." He shouted.

"No, you dragged yourself into this!" I got up from the bench." I have to go; I'm getting up early tomorrow."