"I can't believe what I'm even witnessing right now," Jaci said, her dark eyes darting between the three of us. My stomach twisted with anxiety, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for her next words. "I mean seriously Jade?" she asked, diverting her attention fully to Jade.

Jade tilted her head. "What do you mean seriously Jade?" she asked mocking her tone. "You made your choice, which was incredibly disheartening toward your own friend of over three years. I didn't find anything wrong with Vina finding happiness with Cayden. You did."

Jaci scoffed. "Sebastian was your friend too Jade, and Vina still messed up by lying."

I tried tuning them out—hoping to not engage in this conversation yet again. It felt like I was repeating the same conversation Jaci and I had the night she officially found out about Cayden and me—and it's incredibly triggering. The same fight or flight feeling is pounding through me like alarm bells.

"News flash—she lied because of your exact reaction right now! She assumed we'd act this way, and while I didn't, you did and currently still are," Jade said, her tone growing irritated. "Are you seriously oblivious to what and who you're sticking up for?"

"I'm sticking up for someone who was lied to—someone, whose girlfriend went off with their best friend in no time at all. I'm sticking up for not only Sebastian but myself—for all of us matter of fact. We were all lied to for weeks," Jaci said, looking at me. When her dark eyes meet mine, I felt my heart practically shatter in my chest. The air left my lungs and I almost thought I'd pass out. "And you... you're the most manipulative liar I've ever met. I genuinely can't stand what you did."

I couldn't help the tears welling in my eyes—my bottom lip trembling on its own accord. That... really fucking hurts. Wow.

"Don't fucking talk to her like that," Cayden said, rising from the booth to face Jaci completely. "You need to leave—none of us want you here."

This actually feels like a repeat of the Sebastian situation. I can't help but think back to him storming into Cayden's condo—almost mixing him and Jaci up given their similar ways of approaching this never-ending situation.

"No one is manipulative for being scared, Jacinda. People make mistakes. One day you'll make one and karma's a bitch so I can imagine no one will forgive you." Jade said. "I know Vina and I won't forgive you for making the mistake of siding with an abusive asshole."

I squeezed my eyes shut for a brief moment. I want to scream—yell—or just say anything. Anything that stands up for myself, but I just can't. I feel stuck, a mixture of sadness and anger swirling within me. I'm done saying why me? At this point, she just needs to leave me and everyone else in my life alone—and I know I have to be the one to say something.

I shook my head, meeting Jaci's stare. "Honestly, no one asked you to come over here, and you're acting like we still wanted to be your friend when in reality we've all moved on. Maybe you should too," I said, shaking my head. "It's honestly concerning that you still feel the need to obsess over what happened. I understand I lied and that I'm now dating Cayden—I had my reasons and you have yours for not moving past it. Sure we're all out to dinner and the irony of us all meeting is insane, but we're past it, and you should be too."

Jaci shook her head, "I don't have to move past anyth—"

"Jacinda stop. I'm incredibly tired of this reoccurring topic. If you can't move past it then drop the topic because there's no point in rediscussing it with no outcome," I said, my voice growing louder in volume with more strength behind it. I could tell I surprised everyone, by the way, Jade and Cayden's brows raised while Jaci's stare diverted to the ground—clearly embarrassed. But I didn't feel satisfied. I needed her to finally leave me alone. "It's sickening that you can choose my ex-boyfriend over me when we were friends way before Sebastian and I met—and the fact that he was abusive towards me only makes this worse. But at the end of the day, you're missing out. Not us. Enjoy life being Sebastian's best friend because we surely won't be there for you anymore."

Jaci's dark eyes glanced back up at me, her eyes growing glossy. She quickly blinked the tears away, her expression turning cold as she backed away from our table.

I frowned, hating that it had to come to this.

I stood from the booth, standing beside Cayden. "Can we go?" I asked. I genuinely didn't want to be here anymore—not just because of the situation but what followed it.

Cayden didn't hesitate to nod, retrieving two-one hundred dollar bills from her leather wallet. "Don't worry about your meal Jade," Cayden said, laying the bills down on the table.

Jade nodded gratefully, grabbing the card she previously placed down with the check before looking back at Jaci. "Can you just leave?" she asked Jaci, but the blonde just stood there like she was stuck. "Seriously, go."

Jaci looked between us all, backing away and heading over to the table filled with people I didn't recognize.

Jade looked back at me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, knowing I was fine, but at the same time, I wasn't. Something was definitely off, but I didn't exactly want to discuss it. I knew Cayden definitely saw through me—which we'd discuss later privately—but I could tell Jade was somewhat convinced that I was fine. However, I still needed to convince her more and I knew that it would be the best option currently. I don't need her worrying about me, and besides, I think it's best for our recovering friendship if we try to fully move on from all of this.

"I'm good J-bug. I'm just over all of this," I said, but she only raised a brow. She's not fully convinced. "We'll make up for this ruined night at the club tomorrow."

I knew mentioning a lighter topic, would help somewhat throw her off, even if she brought it all up again tomorrow.

"You really want to go?" she asked, a smile pulling at her lips. I nodded, forcing a smile as Cayden guided us out of the booth. "Okay... I'll text you to check up on you later. Love you."

"Love you too," I said, forcing the cheeriness in my tone when my stomach felt like it was a giant sucking hole. Feeling completely empty and drained.

"And Cayden it was nice formally meeting you," Jade added, gathering her purse and wallet.

"Likewise Jade," Cayden said, guiding us away from the table with a wave directed at Jade before she rested her hand on the small of my back.

As we walked out, I noticed the restaurant looked much more lively than it did before. Then again, it might be the contrast against my mood.

I knew there was no coming back from what Jaci did, but it still hurt to verbally acknowledge that we were no longer friends. I hate that it hurt, especially since I didn't deserve to carry this pain when she was the one who caused it.

Why can't she feel sad? I mean she almost cried but then she fought it away... did I really not mean anything to her? Over three years of friendship down the drain over her siding with my abusive ex-boyfriend... How does that not hurt her unless she really didn't care about me?

It's entirely unfair, and it leaves me—yet again—questioning our friendship.

At least Jade and Cayden were there and helped stick up for me. Oddly enough, this only grew Jade and I's bond along with my trust for her.

I just hope I can finally live my life without the excess drama from something that previously unfolded. I'm finally happy and moved on from this entire ordeal. Why can't everyone else move on too?