Safe haven

I tipped my bottle of beer back taking a generous sip while Janelle just sat there staring at the drink in front of her. “This is your way of calming me?” She asked facing me. “We can always talk about your problems?” I suggested turning in my seat to face her. “No, thank you.” She answered picking up her drink and downing it in one gulp. She sat there while the alcohol made its way down to her stomach.

“What I don’t get, is why are you here helping me after what I’ve done?” She asked while motioning for the bartender to bring her another drink. “Because it’s not my place to judge you.” I answered. “And I also know you need someone to listen and not insult you.” I said.

“What if I don’t want someone to talk to?” She asked. “Then we sit in silence and enjoy our drinks.” I answered lifting my drink in the air before taking a sip. “You are really not going to ask me about why I did it?” She asked sounding annoyed. “Nope. Not my place.” I replied.

“Is this some kind of reverse psychology?” She asked. “Again. No. I’m just here for incase you need to talk.” I said. I watched her play with her fingers before she picked up her drink and took a sip.

“Ruby is probably going to require that they kick me out of her room.” Janelle started to say once she placed her drink down. “I don’t think Ruby is that kind of person. She knew from the start that it was you.” I replied. “I should’ve apologized for what I did to her on the first day of moving in.” She said drawing her fingers through her hair. “Maybe. But it doesn’t change things.” I informed her.

“I know. It won’t fix what I did to her. I get that.” I nodded at her confession. “She is better than me. Even after everything she still let me live with her and treated me decent while I treated her the opposite. Travis is right. I am a monster.” Janelle said taking a sip from her drink.

“Why did you do it?” I asked. “Secretly take photos of her while she was only dressed in her underwear?” She asked in return. “Yeah.” I answered trying not to show my disgust. “She wasn’t lying when she said I did it to get on the team and on Isabella’s good side.” She answered.

“I grew up liking to cheer people on. I started out young as a cheerleader and my captains before Isabella was nothing like her. We had our initiation like any other but nothing like what Isabella had in mind. She made girls make out and have the football team watch. With me, it was a little different. She knows my weakness. A.K.A Damian. She used it to get what she always wanted; humiliate Ruby and destroy my chance with Damian." She stopped to down the last contents of her drink.

"For my initiation, she required that I take half-naked pictures of Ruby and post them all over the school grounds. Even on social media." I bit back a growl. "Why, Ruby though? I mean she is so innocent, funny and a good person. Why would anyone want to hurt that?" I asked.

"Isabella slept with the whole football team behind Damian's back. He had no clue at that time and once he mentioned Ruby's name when he noticed her. He called her beautiful and cute. Isabella didn't like it. He told her that Ruby reminded him of me when I used to be young." She looked away wiping off a tear.

"Innocent, beautiful, and cute." She repeated the words. "Isabella made sure that he never calls any girl beautiful except for her. So, when she humiliated Ruby, she humiliated me as well." She said. "Does Damian know it was you who took the pictures?" I asked. "Yes. That's why he pushed me away for good. And now Travis." Her voice broke at the mention of Travis's voice.

"I never disappointed him as much as I did today. He was the only person who still believed in me and I ruined it." I just sat there taking everything in. "I hurt her, didn't I?" Janelle asked with tears in her eyes. "Yeah...you did." There was no point lying to her.

"Isabella slept around while dating Damian?" I asked when I suddenly realized something. "Yes." She answered. "And until today, he has no clue?" I asked. "No."

"But Travis knew." I said smirking when I realized what happened. "Travis found out, didn't he? She then lied to Damian by telling him that Travis wanted to sleep with her and he believed her." Janelle nodded. "Son-of-a-bitch." I muttered downing my beer.

"She made Travis not tell Damian but he ignored her and still went to tell Damian. But he chased him away and told him that he was a backstabbing friend. Travis will never break someone's trust to satisfy his own needs. Damian was the bad boy while Travis was the good boy who kept Damian on the right track even after his mother remarried." My ears perked up at the mention of Damian's mother remarrying.

"She was divorced?" I asked. "Uh, yeah. According to her; her husband left her for another woman. They moved here over fifteen years ago. I've known Damian from preschool." She answered. For another woman? That was her excuse? "Do you know her maiden surname?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure. Damian didn't change his surname when his mother remarried. It's Collins." She said. "His mom's name?" I asked. "Marie." She answered wearing a frown. "Why?" She asked. "It's just a hunch." I answered realizing that he can be the one I was looking for all along.

"Do you know him from somewhere? Please don't tell me that you've slept with him and carries his child." Janelle said making me almost choke on my beer. "No. I'm not that irresponsible when it comes to sex. And he is so not my type." I answered paying the bartender.

"Where are we going?" She asked when I stood up. "I'm going to get you back to the dorms and check up on Ruby." I said helping her up when she almost tipped over. "Are you a lightweight when it comes to drinking?" I asked. "Uh, yeah. I've never had this much to drink in my life." She mumbled.

"That's on me." I said steering her out of the bar and called for a cab who took us back to the dorm. I helped her up the stairs and into our room where we found it empty. Janelle went to lie down on the bed while I called Travis when I noticed I had a few missed calls and messages from him. "Sugar, you will give me a damn heart attack." He answered his phone.

"I'm fine. I just had to deal with Janelle." I answered. "How is she?" He asked. "Honestly. I have no idea." I replied. "I shouldn't have yelled at her like that." He said sounding guilty. "Is Ruby there with you?" I asked. "Yes." He answered chuckling. "She is kicking Zack and Connor's butt while playing PlayStation." He continued.

I smiled and leaned against the wall. "That's good. Thanks for taking care of her." I said. "No problem. I just think today things got said that built up over the past few years." He said making me nod. "I just think that this needs to stop and we know who that one person is behind all of this." I said.

"I'm with you on that one." Travis agreed.