He brings his eyes to mine and I can see him give me a look of disappointment. But not in me, in himself.
“I tried,” he whispers back.
I look at my brother who is breathing hard.
“How long?” Bray asks.
“Zach I thought you knew,” I say, eager to try and calm him down.
“How long?” he repeats, this time louder and I flinch.
“Let’s not make a scene,” Zach says as he steps up to stand in front of me.
“Bray let’s g-” Ry tries to reach out and get him to leave but everything happens in a flash.
Bray rears his fist back and before I know it, it’s connecting to Zach’s jaw, who just stands there as my brother punches him.
“Brayden, what the hell?” I shout as I reach for Zach, seeing blood forming from a cut on his lip.
“Alright, let’s go.” Ryen yanks him back and Brayden doesn't fight her.
“Cadence,” Bray whispers. Disappointment in his tone before he gals at me, sorrow filling his eyes and then turns to leave.
I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I don’t know what the heck just happened. But when Bray is out of sight, Zach turns to look at me.
“Cadie, please look at me,” Zach says, but I can’t force myself to look at him. “Please.”
“I can’t, Zach.”
He doesn’t reach for me. He doesn’t move. The silence in the hallway hurts more than it should, and that’s when I realize my phone is still playing music. I reach for it and turn it off, and I feel so many mixed emotions buzz through me.
I start walking down the hall, not sure what to do but Zach stops me, grabbing my elbow gently and turning me to face him.
“I’m so sorry, Cadence. I didn’t mean to lie to you.”
“You told me that you were going to tell him. I thought he knew,” I say, sadness seeping from my words.
“I know, Cadie,” Zach says, reaching for my face and pulling my head up to look at him. “I am so sorry. I know I fucked this up. I always fuck everything up.”
I pull his hands from my face.
“What are you talking about?” I say. “You don’t fuck everything up.”
“Cadence, did you just see the look on your brother’s face? It was betrayal. I have never seen him look at anyone like that.”
“Well, maybe if you had told him like you promised me he would.”
He dips his head and I feel a sour feeling form in my gut. This doesn’t feel good. I hate that we’re fighting right now. But I trusted Zach. And maybe I should have been braver and fought harder to tell Brayden myself. Maybe this shouldn't all be on Zach but he told me he would take care of it.
“I’m so sorry, Cadie.” Zach steps up to me and tries to cup my face again, but I step out of it. “Please. Let me make this right.”
I sigh. I know I don’t want to do this, but nothing feels right at this moment.
“Maybe you should just let me go.”
“What? Cadence, no.”
“I think it’s probably for the best.”
