The next morning, I swear it felt like my head was going to fall off my body. It pounded terribly and my eyes ached along with it. What made matters worse was the flashbacks from last night flooding in. I didn't necessarily care about throwing my drink on Zera, but I faintly remember Cayden's reaction, and she didn't seem impressed. She even left the room after I told her—and to only make it all worse—when I woke up she wasn't in bed. Then again, maybe she woke up early?

That's what I'm hoping for at least.

Heading out into the living room, my stomach felt like it was twisted in knots. I really hoped I hallucinated Cayden's reaction last night.

Why would she have any reason to be upset over something like that? Well, unless she still has feelings for her ex?

No, I'm definitely jumping to conclusions.

Besides, I can't even think about that right now—or I might actually throw up. My hangover really isn't a good combination with all of this.

What definitely didn't help my ramped thoughts was seeing Cayden laid out on the large couch, her phone in her hand, and a cover draped over her. Did she sleep out here?

No... I'm overthinking. Maybe she fell asleep out here or she came out here this morning to not disturb me while I was sleeping.

Still, I couldn't help the anxiety eating at me. "Good morning..." I trailed off, hesitantly choosing my next words carefully. "Did you sleep out here?"

Cayden looked up from her phone, her dark eyes meeting mine. "I fell asleep, yeah."

I tilted my head at her tone. She didn't sound like her usual self. And she also didn't say good morning back.

She's probably tired.

Cayden laid up from the couch, stretching slightly before standing on her feet. When she walked past me into the kitchen, I couldn't help but furrow my brows. She didn't even kiss me, much less look at me.

"You don't seem like your usual self," I said, trying to keep my tone calm. But the truth is, I was freaking out on the inside. I hated overthinking, but I'm hoping that's what I was currently doing.

I carefully followed her into the kitchen, "Is everything okay?"

Cayden turned the Keurig on, grabbing a mug from the nearby cabinet. "Not really," she said. "We need to discuss last night."

"What about last night?" I asked, even if I had a feeling she was referring to the Zera situation.

Cayden popped the coffee pod into the coffee maker before staring directly at me. Looking at me as if she knew—that I knew—what she was talking about. "Vi, you know exactly what I'm referring to."

"Zera?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest as the black coffee began filling up her shiny black mug.

"Was throwing your drink at her really necessary?" she asked, even if her tone was completely calm and neutral—I still felt defensive. Maybe it was the fact that it felt like she was sticking up for Zera in some way. Choosing her over me.

"Yes, I mean, she first accused me of befriending her since you were her ex, and then she started being rude—"

"Vi, it still doesn't mean it was right," Cayden gently cut me off, leaning against the counter while her dark eyes traced my face. I could tell she felt bad for saying what she was saying, but it was as if she felt obligated to. It still didn't make any of this better.

"So you're sticking up for her?" I asked, and I hated how insecure and weak that sounded, but internally... that's how I felt.

Like Cayden was sticking up for Zera.

Cayden shook her head almost instantly, sighing through her nose with furrowed brows. "No one is sticking up for anyone Vi," she said. "If I was, as your girlfriend, I'd stick up for you, but in a nonbiased way—and in my own moral opinion—I think what you did was incredibly wrong."

I frowned. What Zera said was messed up and Cayden didn't even want to hear me out—she just cut me off, deciding that no matter the instance, it shouldn't have happened. But I completely disagree and Zera was morally—since we're throwing that word out there—wrong for saying what she said.

"She said we wouldn't last past this summer Cayden," I said, and I noticed my tone was growing in volume along with irritation. I was officially getting frustrated—it felt like I was disagreeing with someone who played for Zera's team. Someone who was also my girlfriend.

"And you... threw your drink on her for that?" Cayden asked, which only made me shake my head. "I get you were upset, Vi, but the situation didn't need to escalate that far. And as her friend—"

"Friend?" I asked, cutting her off unconsciously. I felt jealousy rip so hard through me it practically hurt. "Oh, so you guys are friends now?"

Why didn't I know about this? Why didn't she tell me?

Cayden leaned off the counter, standing up fully. "I'm not saying we're friends to that degree, but we're cordial, yeah."

I couldn't help but scoff. I don't know how I feel about them being friends or even cordial. Do they text? Or meet up every once in a while? Maybe they run into each other and catch up for a while? Does Cayden still have feelings for her? Is that why she's still cordial with her?

What if that's why Cayden was so hot and cold with me at the beginning of all of this? Because she still had feelings for Zera. She didn't know who she wanted so she went cold and distant on both of us until she decided.

Maybe I'm reaching, but the thought of it still makes me want to throw up.

"You know Zera said you were cold with her, which was around the same time you were giving mixed signals with me," I said, walking closer to her, surprised by how easily I was spewing my thoughts. "Were you getting over her still? Or maybe contemplating who you wanted?"

I know this was very straightforward, but It was something I had never thought to contemplate. Cayden getting over someone still—or even being tied between us both.

Cayden pinched the bridge of her nose, inhaling a deep breath before briefly exhaling. I could tell she was barely keeping it together, and I felt bad for irritating her to this point, but I needed to know.

"Avina you cannot be serious right now."

I knew when she brought my full name out she was serious—and the conversation managed to escalate quickly—quicker than I could keep up with. Even if her tone was still calm and neutral, her body language was easily revealing that she was incredibly over this conversation.

"Don't Avina me right now," I said, my tone growing even more irritated which contrasted with her gentle tone. Now isn't the time to whip out my full name like some Uno wild card. Especially with the numerous thoughts regarding her and Zera eating me up inside. I wanted to know what was going on in Cayden's head. I wanted to know if Zera was still in the picture, which it seemed like she was by the way Cayden was standing up for her and claiming they were cordial. "Do you still have feelings for her?"

Cayden's brows furrowed, blinking a few times as if she hallucinated what I just said. Or maybe hoping she did. "Are you seriously asking me this?" she asked, standing up much straighter. "After how much I've shown you and told you I love you and only you—you're actually asking me if I have feelings for my ex?"

I pursed my lips realizing the question was out there. She has always shown and told me how much she loved me, why was I questioning her?

But the answer didn't matter now. It was too late. I'd already asked it, and the sad part is—I meant it.

"I... I guess?"

Cayden inaudibly scoffed at my answer, shaking her head as she fully looked away from me. The air was tense between us, and I felt... anxious. I didn't want to fight. I didn't want this all to spiral into a breakup, but it appeared that it was leading to that, and quickly.

Even so, I still needed to stand my ground, especially since Cayden only wanted to stand Zera's for her.

"You clearly don't trust me," Cayden said.

I inhaled a breath—I didn't know whether that statement was true or not, but the statement alone made me want to cry—along with her tone. She sounded disappointed. And per usual, I wanted to walk away from this issue, and avoid it for as long as possible. Avoid all the difficult emotions and trust issues. And it wasn't helping, that I still felt weird about Cayden taking Zera's side over mine.

Which is why when the next words flew out of my mouth, I couldn't stop them. "I think I should stay at Jade's for a little while."

Cayden's face fell slightly, her eyes finally meeting mine. The silence grew incredibly tense between us as she processed what I just said.

I wanted to scream at myself for sabotaging this conversation that could've been pieced back together. I didn't need to take it there. Take it to such an extreme level. We could've compromised and moved past what seemed like our real first fight. We could still spend the day together staying home watching comedy movies with a bunch of snacks until the sun sets and we shower together before getting ready for a nice dinner out.

I wanted that. And I wanted to say, no I didn't really mean that... I'm just scared and I didn't know what to do.

But I couldn't—I couldn't bring myself to say those words. At this point, I felt locked into what I said. Like I couldn't take it back now.

I was hoping Cayden would decline the suggestion and insist that we discuss this more in-depth. I hoped she'd see that I was only self-sabotaging myself and even our own relationship because I wasn't ready to admit my unwanted feelings or move past the fact that she took her ex's side.

Instead, she said, "Yeah, I think that might be a good idea," her tone was quiet but still calm as she turned toward the Keurig with her back to me, stirring her cold coffee.

I swear I felt like someone had swung a baseball bat into my stomach, knocking the air from me. How did such a little issue lead to this?

I had never felt so far away from her. Suddenly, she felt like a stranger—and the possibility of her actually becoming one chewed a hole in my stomach. Our shared lives could possibly be coming to an end, which without a doubt, made me want to crawl up into a ball and cry.

I think this was their first real fight... How do you guys feel after reading this? I won't lie, I felt sad just writing this chapter. Do you think Cayden was wrong for being upset with Vina? And do you think Vina might've taken it too far?

Love you all,

Weekendlustt