Olivia

"Did you hear?" I heard Cain's voice say, causing me to move my eyes away from watching the way Noah's hand stroked my leg.

I didn't expect for Cain to look so... haunted. His hair was a mess, his eyes were practically bulging out of his sockets. He's hands were fidgeting with the hem of his black sweater. Whatever it was that he was about to tell us, it couldn't be good.

"Did we hear what?" Tyler asked him. We were all looking at him now, anxious to hear the gossip he was about to spill.

It's only been the six of us lately, though Jax wasn't at school today. Ever since Seren and Zane completely abandoned our friend group for their not so secret little romance. Maybe they thought we wouldn't notice the way they're always together now. The way that neither of them have been around, or answering our messages. They way Zane was always touching her. The drama between Zane and Jax, not to mention the fight between them the other day.

Not that Jax was in the wrong to be jealous. I mean, he's been dropping hints about him and Seren hooking up for the past month. Typical, isn't it? For all the boys to be fighting over her. That's how it's always been. It's how it always will be. Pretty little Seren, the apple of everyone's eye.

We did notice. We're not the idiots that Seren thinks we are. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes just at the thought of her. Even when she wasn't around, somehow she was still the focus of everyone's attention.

"What's going on, Cain?" Trinity asked, she was looking at Cain the way we all were at this point. Morbidly curious as to what he was about to say. I felt the pit in my stomach rise the longer that Cain didn't say anything. The look he was wearing... it was the look people wear before they're about to tell you someone died.

Cain took a deep breath, glancing around the cafeteria like he didn't want anyone else to hear. Finally, he pulled out the empty chair from beside Benji, and sat down. He leaned forward, opening and closing his mouth like he wasn't sure he had the words.

"Jax was arrested last night." Cain said quickly, his eyes scanning over us all like he was gaging our reactions.

"What?" I gasped out, at the same time Trinity spit the water out of her mouth.

"Holy shit." Tyler let out, forcing his chair backwards like he was about to hop out of it. "For what?"

"Did he and Zane get in another fight? Was it about Seren?" Noah asked Cain, causing my jaw to clench. See what I mean? Somehow it's always about her.

"Listen, guys..." Cain's voice had an edge I hadn't heard before. He sounded both pissed off and reserved at the same time, like whatever it was, it was horrible, and he didn't want to be talking about it.

"Spit it out, man." Tyler barked at him, clearly frustrated that he didn't have information about his best friend.

"Jax was arrested for... rape." Cain said quietly, and he lowered his eyes as he said the last word. I felt the word's impact in my gut, like the stab of a sword. Jax was arrested for what? No. It can't be. Jax wouldn't rape someone. I know Jax. Jax is my friend.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Tyler practically yelled at him. His voice was raised enough that kids from the tables near us began to look. Once Tyler noticed that, he lowered his voice. "Cain, what the fuck? That's not true, man. It can't be."

"Tyler's right, you've got it wrong." I agreed with him. "Jax wouldn't rape anyone."

"Who?" Noah's breath tickled my ear as he spoke, as his face was pressed up to mine.

Cain took another deep breath, and he looked around again. When he directed his eyes back to us, I could have sworn there were tears swimming in them.

"Jax was arrested for raping Seren." He said finally, and his voice was so quiet that I'm surprised I heard him at all.

No one spoke as we looked around at each other. I knew we were all feeling the same thing, the kind of shock that makes it impossible to find any words.

"Carter told me. He brought her to his lake house last night, while we were all at homecoming. Zane called the cops, apparently. It's... I mean... I don't..." Cain stopped after stumbling over his words. He closed his eyes, while we were all left in a silence made of disbelief.

"It's been going on for a while, apparently. I guess Zane knew. It happened when we went up to the lake house, apparently." Cain said finally, and I saw the way his fists curled up into balls.

"What the fuck?" Noah said quietly, and I felt him shake his head. "Jax did that? While we were all there?"

"Cain, are you sure?" Benji asked, his voice was pained and I could see the way his hands were shaking.

"I'm sure. I talked to Carter, and then I talked to Zane. Zane didn't want to tell me, but when I told him what Carter told me, he confirmed it. Apparently, Seren isn't doing so well."

"Well, can you blame her?" Trinity asked out, though it was clear the tone of her voice she wasn't looking for answer.

"Poor girl." Noah added.

"Wait." I said, looking around at my friends. "How do we know she's even telling the truth?"

Everyone's heads flicked to me at the same time, and I could see the surprise on their faces from my words.

"What?" Cain asked me, his eyes narrowed.

"Well, I mean, you remember that night? Seren was drunk. She and Jax were cuddled up in the hot tub! How do we know she doesn't just regret having sex with him? I bet that's what she just told Zane to try and make him feel better. They started hanging out the week after we went to the lake house."

Trinity's mouth was open as she stared at me, making me want to reach across the table and shut it for her. Benji's mouth had turned into a scowl, Tyler was nodding like he was agreeing with me. Cain was glaring at me. I shrugged, as if in a response to all of them.

"I mean, do we really trust Seren over Jax? Jax is our friend. Seren just sits here and acts like she's better than all of us." I raised my hands up in front of me as I said it.

"You're a fucking bitch, Olivia." Cain spat at me, shaking his head. He stood up quickly from his seat. "I believe her. And if any of you were her friends, you would too."