Sebastian Hernandez's Point of View:

Our last date went so well and I have been thinking about ways to top it. I want to do all the things I didn't get to do with Jasmine, because of her selfishness. I want to show Ria just how much I appreciate her in every way that I can but lately, she has been a little distant. I don't know what's happened but she has been tight-lipped whenever any of us mention anything about Jeremy. I know she dislikes him because of what he did but normally she was more open and enthusiastic about getting revenge and now it's as if she's just not.

Jacob, Rex, and I were currently at the cafe about to help my mom and dad unload some of the inventory. It was a Friday morning and Ria was having a party later so we had to do it now. Her parents were going out of town for the weekend and not surprisingly they permitted them to host a party at their house. I swear Ria's parents are one of the coolest set of parents I've ever met. With a new baby on the way, everyone wanted some time to unwind.

"Drink some of this before you boys get started," Dad told us as he set a glass pitcher with some water and lemons and cups down on the counter.

"Sure thing dad," Rex didn't need to be told twice as he was already drinking a glass full.

I rolled my eyes and dad laughed as he ruffled Jacob's hair a little before going inside. Normally he would catch a fit if someone messed up his hair but whenever my dad did it he just stayed silent. This isn't something we talk about but Jacob's dad walked out on him and his mom when he was seven and he's an only child so it's just been him and his mom for a long time. When we first met I was a little jealous whenever my parents would give him or Rex too much attention because I was so used to having all the attention on me but we overcame that and become more than friends we're brothers at this point.

Jacob and I were the only children in our family and if I were to lose my dad I don't know what I would have done or how I would have coped. For a long time, Jacob felt guilty for looking up to my dad but I had to tell him that it was okay for him to look at my dad as a father figure because I knew he needed that and my dad was totally okay with it.

We started grabbing crates filled with beverages and loaded them into the back of the cafe. It was distracting and I almost forgot about Ria's weird behavior, almost. I wondered if I was the only one to notice how she was acting so I decided to ask.

"Hey does Ria seem weird to you?"

Jacob and Rex shared a look before looking back at me. Well, that was interesting.

"What was that look?" I asked as I set another crate down.

"N-nothing," Rex stuttered and I rolled my eyes he was hiding something.

"It's nothing bad," Rex reassured me. I took comfort in that. If it were something bad I knew I could count on him to tell me.

"She's not planning on breaking up with me is she?" I asked jokingly but I was kind of serious.

Jacob rolled his eyes and nudged Rex with his shoulder, "just tell him before he loses it"

"Fine!"

Rex puffed out a breath "Katy said-"

"Oh so we're admitting Katy exists now," I interrupted him.

"Oh shut up," he snapped much to my amusement "anyways Adrianna has been plotting Jeremy's demise"

"You know she hates it when you call her by her full name," I pointed out.

He just looked at me before throwing his hands up in the air, as if wondering why that was the information my brain held onto.

"Whipped," he mumbled but I definitely heard him. I just chose to ignore it.

"Why would she not tell me that?" we were doing this together so why was she being tight-lipped about this.

"Maybe she doesn't want you to talk her out of it," Jacob spoke absentmindedly.

It got me thinking. Why else would she not tell me? I knew she was brainstorming ideas but I haven't heard anything about this because she doesn't want me to know the details. I was totally over Jeremy at this point but Ria needed the satisfaction of it all which is the only reason why I'm helping but how can I help her if she doesn't let me in? And if what she plans to do is crossing a line would I abandon my sanity and cross the line with her or would I walk away?

I honestly can't decide without knowing what's happening but I guess I have to wait to see.

"She's been my girlfriend for a while you would think she'd tell me this" I sighed.

Boom!

The guys and I all turned around to find my mom standing over an empty crate that she must have dropped. Dad stood beside her and shook his head at me when I went to help her. He used his head to point off into the distance repeatedly as if telling me to run far, far away. I didn't know why he was acting like that until my mom shouted at me.

"You had a girlfriend all this time and didn't tell me?"

Well shit! Running into the distance seems like a great idea right now.

***************************************************************

Arriving at the party and meeting Sarah was one of the highlights of my day because I got to see how Jacob would look all flustered over a girl. He was the silent brooding type and I could already tell that he was smitten with her by the way he let her latch on to him.

Ria and I were currently getting ice and chips because they ran out. I went in ahead of her completely ignoring the fact that she tried to give me her money. As if I'd let her pay for anything while she's around me. When I got back I noticed that she was still distracted by her phone and the text that Sarah sent to her. It was clear that her plan was being carried out now if the text from Sarah was any indication, what I didn't understand was why she wouldn't just admit it to me. She knows she can tell me anything.

"Did you get the ice?" she asked me as I handed her the chips.

I looked at her was she that distracted that she didn't see me put them in the trunk.

"I already put them in the trunk"

"You were staring at your phone" I decided to just be straightforward and ask "want to tell me what's going on?"

She took a while to answer but eventually told me what she was keeping a secret for so long. I almost wished that she hadn't told me because what was I going to do with that information. Her brilliant plan was to get Jeremy drunk, have Sarah lead him to her guest bedroom, have Chris cuddle with him take a picture and share it around the school. I could think of a million reasons why that plan wouldn't work. Now I see why she didn't want to tell me because this was absolute madness.

"Are you serious?" I couldn't believe this was her plan.

"As serious as a heart attack"

"You can't do that," why couldn't she see reason.

"And why the hell not?" she pressed me.

"Firstly that would haunt your conscience and secondly you could go to jail for something like that," I whisper yelled trying to drive my point home but she was too far gone.

She just shrugged, "I don't care and I won't get caught"

I sighed, "This is a bad idea Ria"

"He deserves this," she said it quietly so I wouldn't hear her but I did.

"Even if he does how can you live with doing something that only a person like him would do?"

She went to say something but stopped herself. I waited for her to speak but she didn't say anything. I blew out a breath and started the car. I headed for her house, I hoped that she listened to what I said and changed her mind.

The ride home was tense, Ria was busy thinking about whatever was in her head and I was left to wonder whether or not she heeded my warning. I was all for getting revenge but not when it resulted in me becoming exactly like the person I was getting my revenge on. What Jeremy did to the both of us was messed up but what Ria planned on doing was cruel. When I pulled him to the house she got out and marched into the house leaving me to bring in the ice on my own. I wasn't going to make her bring it but I'd appreciate it if she waited on me.

I grabbed the ice secured my car and went into the house making a beeline for the kitchen. I put the threw out the ice water from the melted ice and restocked the coolers. When I was done I decided to look for Ria to make sure she wasn't doing something stupid. I saw Rex and Katy in a corner whispering to each other. I would have teased them about it if I weren't so worked up.

"Have you two seen Ria?" I asked as soon as I reached them.

They jumped apart from each other as if the other had a contagious disease.

"Nope," Rex shouted just as Katy said, "haven't seen her"

I took a deep breath as I looked around the room.

"You should ask Michael," Katy suggested when she saw my forlorn look.

I mentally slapped myself up the head. Of course, her brother would know where she was. I thank her quickly and went in search of Michael. I found him in the living room holding a glass vase.

"Have you seen Ria?" I asked him desperate for her location.

"She just went upstairs"

"oh shit," I mumbled as I took off.

"What's going on?" he asked confused.

"Your sister is about to do something stupid"

"Shit," he cursed as he quickened his pace.

I was almost at the top of the stairs when I saw her, Sarah, and Chris looking down at her phone. I saw when Jeremy suddenly swayed out of the room with a furious look on his face. I saw his hands ball up into fists and I knew what was about to happen next before even seeing it but before it could happen I acted.

I saw him aim for her and I took the hit instead what I didn't account for was me losing my footing and tumbling down the stairs or the terrified look on Ria's face when it happened.