Chapter 6 Chapter 6

Brie.

I shook my head and walked away. I had no strength in me to argue with anyone.

That was when Tristan finally looked up and noticed me heading toward the back of the classroom.

"Brie? Where are you going?" he asked, confused.

Serena quickly flashed him a smile.

"I pleaded with her if she could sit somewhere else. I need to talk to you." She lied..

Tristan looked between the two of us, trying to make sense of the situation, before giving a small nod.

I walked to the back. There was an empty seat there, so I quietly sat down.

But my eyes kept drifting back to Tristan and Serena.

They were laughing, giggling loudly.

What the heck were they even talking about?

Serena would lean in to whisper something, and Tristan would burst into laughter.

Soon, the entire class started noticing them.

One of Serena's friends suddenly stepped to the front of the class.

"Date her! Date her!" she chanted.

The rest of the class immediately joined in.

"Date her! Date her! Date her!"

Honestly… I didn't know how to feel.

Tristan eventually gave in to the pressure. He stood up, took Serena's hand, and led her to the front of the classroom.

"Everyone, listen!" he called.

The class instantly fell silent.

"This is my new girlfriend, Serena!"

He announced it like he'd just won the lottery.

The classroom erupted into cheers and applause.

I pressed my lips together, staring down at my desk as I absentmindedly twisted my fingers together.

"Oh my God! To all the girls crushing on him..." Serena laughed proudly. "He's taken now."

"You guys are hot!" someone cheered.

"The hottest couple in Crestwood High School!" another student added.

Serena smiled victoriously.

"I know a lot of girls want Tris..." she said, tightening her grip on his hand. "But he's mine, so stay away."

Why did it feel like that comment was directed at me? I slowly looked up.

Sure enough… She was already staring at me.

Then she pulled Tristan closer and kissed him again but longer this time,more passionately.

My heart cracked a little more.

I gulped hard, quietly pushed back my chair, and walked out of the classroom.

I swear tears were already gathering at the corners of my eyes.

Honestly...This was torture.

I hurried into the restroom and turned on the tap, splashing cold water onto my face over and over again.

How much more of this was I supposed to watch?

Should I just tell Tristan how I feel?

It would be useless. We're step-siblings now anyway.

My feelings didn't matter.

As I dried my face, the restroom door swung open.

A group of girls walked in.

There were about four of them, and I immediately recognized one of Serena's friends.

"That's her, right? Brielle?" one of them said, pointing at me.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, two of them grabbed my arms.

"What the heck is going on here?" I managed to ask, struggling to pull myself free.

The other two stood in front of me.

Serena's friend was among them.

She let out a mocking laugh.

"We know you like Tristan," she sneered. "You can fool him, but you can't fool us, Brie."

She folded her arms across her chest.

"We can see right through you."

"That's why you've spent your whole life following him around like a lost puppy.”

"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to sound defensive.

They all burst into laughter.

"You know exactly what we're talking about, Brie!" Serena's friend scoffed. "But I'm not here to beat around the bush. I'm here to warn you."

Her expression turned serious.

"Serena is dating him now. She's always had her eyes on Tristan. The least you can do is stay away. I bet she doesn't want a pest like you hanging around her boyfriend."

"I'm not a pest. And Tristan is just my best friend," I replied as calmly as I could.

"Best friend my foot," she spat. "When you practically undress him with your eyes! Tristan baby, want to suck my boobs?” She mocked.

The girls burst into laughter again.

I let out a quiet sigh.

I guess everyone knows... except Tristan.

Has it really been that obvious?

"Just quit it, Brie," she continued. "You don't need to be his puppy, his best friend, or whatever you call yourself."

She stepped closer until we were almost face to face.

"You don't want Serena making your life miserable, do you?"

She smirked.

"Stay away from Tristan."

Her smile widened.

"Last warning from Queen Serena."

"And don't even think about telling Tristan about this. He'll never believe a word that comes out of your mouth.”

I bit my lip.

The girls finally let go of me before walking out of the restroom, their laughter slowly fading down the hallway.

I'd seen countless girls date Tristan before.

None of them had ever threatened me the way Serena already had.

This was ridiculous.

But the moment they were gone, a wave of sadness crashed over me.

I slowly slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold restroom floor, wrapping my arms around my knees.

For the first time, I wondered if staying away from Tristan was the right thing to do.

Maybe it would make things easier. For him, for Serena and for me.

Because watching the boy I'd loved for years fall for someone else...

Was slowly breaking me.