Chapter 2
Jacob turned and started brawling with Franklin, filling the room with screams and scuffling. Melody clutched my hand in panic, her nails digging into
my
skin.
“Sophie, make them stop! Jack will get hurt if this goes on!”
yanked my hand free, and she stumbled backward, falling onto the table, scattering glasses everywhere. The cups shattered, and beer splashed across her white dress, staining
it with a yellowish tint. Beer dripped down her hair, leaving her trembling, looking helpless and pitiful.
The fight stopped at the commotion. Jacob immediately came over, roughly shoving me aside to wrap Melody in his arms, panic written all over his face.
“Melody, are you alright?” he asked, his voice filled with a concern I’d never seen.
Melody looked at him, teary–eyed, and, with a voice full of grievance, said, “Jack, let’s break up. Sophie is my best friend–I can’t hurt her.”
Jacob’s face darkened instantly, and he shouted at me, “Sophie, why do you have to ruin everything? Can’t you stand to see us happy?”
Franklin, fists clenched, stepped forward, ready to punch him again. I held him back and grabbed a nearby beer bottle, pouring it over Melody from head to toe, drenching her
completely.
Without thinking, Jacob raised his hand and slapped me hard. The sound echoed, and the room fell into stunned silence. Everyone froze, including Jacob, who looked at his hand in shock, his expression conflicted.
“Sophie, you started it! Apologize to Melody right now!”
I replied, enunciating each word coldly. “What if I don’t?”
His eyes were full of disdain. “Then we’re done. You’re no longer my ‘bro.“”
Franklin’s face turned red with anger. “Jacob, are you even a man? Hitting a woman like
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that I stopped him, my voice sharp. “Franklin, this is between me and him!”
Franklin looked at me, hurt. “Sophie, are you out of your mind? He just hit you, and you’re still defending him!”
I held his gaze, silent but resolute. Frustrated, he scratched his head. “Fine, do whatever
you want! It’s none of my business.” Yet he stood by my side, watching Jacob warily, ready
to intervene.
Traised my chin, my voice laced with scorn. “A bro“? A ‘bro‘ I’ve slept with for five years?”
“And a best friend‘ who steals my boyfriend?”
“A bitch and a dog–a perfect match. Just looking at you makes me sick.”
With that, I slapped Jacob hard. “This is for everything.”
I grabbed Franklin and walked out without looking back. Behind us, Jacob’s voice rang out in anger, “Sophie, don’t regret this! If you don’t apologize now, you’ll never get another
chance!”
As we walked, Franklin kept glancing at me. “Hey, Sophie, are you alright? Is a jerk like him worth crying over?”
I glared at him, biting my lip. “You’re his bro‘–you’re not much better.”
He sighed and gestured to my face. “Does it hurt?”
Suddenly, I let out a loud wail and dropped to the ground, sobbing. It hurt–a pain so deep it felt like there was a hollow hole in my heart, like everything had slipped away.
Franklin panicked, crouching down next to me, pulling out a pack of tissues. “Hey, hey don’t cry! You held it together in there, and now you’re crying like this. People are gonna think I did something to you.”
I cried, heartbroken and raw, until I had hiccups. Sniffling, I finally looked up. People passing by were shooting Franklin suspicious looks, and he was sweating nervously. It was ridiculous, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Franklin’s eyes widened in horror. “Sophie, you might as well go back to crying. Your laugh
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is terrifying.
I wiped my face with a tissue, my voice raspy. “Let’s go–to your place.”
