143 - The chapter with the video

Christian

I was trying to pay attention to the professor's explanation, taking notes of everything I considered important, but I couldn't wait for that class to end and for us to have our lunch break. It was the second Wednesday in March and at the end of that week, we would officially be off for a week for Spring Break. We had it all worked out, first we would spend the weekend with my sister in Minneapolis and then we would join everyone on a trip to the Grand Canyon, where we planned to camp until next weekend.

And the best part was that now Rose and I didn't have to pretend we weren't a couple anymore, and that was turning out to be our best decision. We both still had separate bedrooms in our house, but to be honest, I couldn't sleep alone anymore, and that was amazing. I never expected to feel so strongly about someone, especially someone I spent half my time arguing with, but it was clear that I had fallen in love with that little freak and I didn't regret that feeling for a second.

I watched Camille next to me, focused on her notes, her hair, which she always used to hide her face, was tied in a ponytail and she showed off a light makeup done by Rose, highlighting her green eyes. Ever since we moved into the Ergo Iam Alpha headquarters, as Liam insisted on naming the haunted mansion where we were living, Rose and Skyller had been helping the girl get more and more dressed up, even lending her some clothes.

I checked the time on my cell phone before turning my attention back to the class, hoping the minutes would pass quickly.

" Davis, did you write down what he said before that? " Harry whispered, and I stepped away from the notebook, giving him access to my notes.

Harry wrote down what he needed quickly, everyone in the room seemed focused on the lesson, at least until the sound of a cell phone notification interrupted Mr. Morris' explanation. Everyone raised their heads, looking around for the source of the sound, but the person was good at disguising it. Probably someone making plans for their vacation week.

" Let's turn off our cell phones, people. You know I don't allow that in my class " The man complained as his explanation was interrupted by three other notifications.

But the concentrated mood of before had broken, I frowned as I observed the other students whispering among themselves, feeling that something was wrong as I felt some glances turning covertly towards me.

What's going on?

" What the fuck?" I heard Harry whispering next to me, while looking at his cell phone under his wallet.

" Silence! " Mr. Morris scolded at the aghast whispers that were spreading around the room.

I was about to ask what was going on when I felt my cell phone vibrate in my pocket. I picked it up, frowning as I saw that I had received a video from an unknown number.

"Couple of the year? The fool of the year, that's what it said" That's what the caption said. Not knowing exactly what was going on, I pressed play. My heart raced as soon as the video started, showing a bedroom, a bedroom I knew well, since I had been sleeping there every night for the last month! But as I thought it couldn't get worse, the video focused on the bed, where Rose was lying on her stomach, with her back to the camera, without showing her face, wearing only a leather jacket of mine, it was impossible for me to activate the sound of that video, but it was possible to realize that the man who was filming said something to her, and when she was about to get up the video was cut, showing a much more explicit scene. A scene that should never have happened.

I felt my face getting paler and paler, unable to take my eyes off that video for a second, ignoring the whispers of Harry and Cam, who seemed to be trying to get my attention at all costs. I was finally able to close that video, feeling a red mist cloud my vision as anger began to overwhelm me.

The glances in my direction were no longer discreet and I couldn't even pretend to care what the professor was saying anymore. I closed my notebook tightly, attracting attention from those who weren't looking at me yet, before standing up, heading for the exit.

'She's gone too far this time, it's not going to stay that way!

" Chris! " Camille called out, getting up when I had already reached the stairs of the auditorium and was heading down towards the door.

" Mr. Davis, Mrs. Martin, is there a problem? " The professor complained at the buzz that formed in the room.

I continued walking without looking back, hearing hurried footsteps approaching me.

" Christian, wait for me! " she shouted before reaching me, grabbing my arm.

" She crossed all the limits this time, ALL OF THEM" the sound of my altered voice rang throughout the hallway, making some curious people come out the doors of the classrooms to see what was going on, whispering among themselves, showing that they had also seen the video.

I didn't wait for Cam to answer, I walked quickly back, determined to get to the room where Rose was also having her theory lesson downstairs.

" Chris, you can't believe that, Rose…”

She shut up when she saw the commotion that had taken over the corridor, and I knew that was a bad sign, I made my way through the crowd, ignoring the jokes and laughter, deciding to go straight to the exit, following my intuition, losing Camille in the crowd.

My cell phone kept vibrating with messages in my pocket, annoying me more and more.

When I finally made it out of the building it was just in time to spot Brigitte leaving the parking lot at a reckless speed, making me want to throw my phone away, which still kept vibrating in my pocket.

" What the fuck! " I shouted, finally picking it up.

Most of the messages were from unknown numbers and I didn't bother to open them, contenting myself with turning off the phone afterwards. I hitched a ride with Rose, I can't even follow her now!

" Chris! " Camille finally came out of the building, looking breathless.

That's when my gaze caught on Theo's citroen parked in one of the parking spaces near the exit, making me turn to the girl.

" Do you have the keys?”

" What's that? “

" Theo's car keys, I know he's giving you driving lessons and has been leaving them in your bag, do you have them? " I asked impatiently.

I needed to get to her as soon as possible!

" Chris, you need…”

" Cam, THE KEYS! " I lost my patience, receiving a surprised look from the girl, who started to rummage through her own bag in an act of nervousness.

It wasn't long before I was inside the car, maneuvering to head home where I hoped to find my girlfriend. It took me a few minutes to arrive, my heart pounding hard in my chest as I was torn between the hatred I was feeling at that moment and the worry of finding her home, but to my relief, I spotted Brigitte parked awkwardly in front of the townhouse.

I stopped Theo's car in the driveway and practically ran to the entrance of the house, unlocking the door, hearing the glossy wood of the foyer floor creak under my feet.

" Rose " I called out after a brief glance at the living room only to find it empty " Rose!”

I ran up the stairs quickly, going to her room, opening the door in a rush only to find it empty. I took a deep breath, feeling my heart beating harder and harder as I went to my room. WHERE IS SHE?

That's when the door to the staircase that would lead to the attic caught my eye. I walked there, finding it ajar, which was strange, we always kept it tightly closed since Rose claimed that place was horrifying, like everything else in that house.

I climbed the stairs already preparing myself for what I would find upstairs. Rose was curled up on an old couch that we had taken out of the living room to put a more comfortable option, her red and swollen eyes focused on me, displaying a pain that broke me for a few seconds, making me hesitate to approach.

"Chris..." her voice sounded fearful, snapping me out of that brief daze.

I walked over to where she stood in silence, kneeling in front of the couch to look into her eyes.

"It's not true, you have to believe..." she whimpered but I didn't allow her to finish her sentence.

I brought my hand to the back of her head, pulling her face towards mine, silencing her justification with a tender kiss, taking a few seconds to pull away.

" Rose, please. Of course I believe you." I pulled away, wiping the tears that flowed freely from her closed eyes.

"What? " she didn't seem to have considered the possibility of me believing her as an option.

I stood up, sitting next to her, holding her hand as I looked into her eyes.

" Rose, I love you and I know that person wasn't you,” I pointed out.

"How? " the question came out in a sob, cutting my heart.

"I know every detail of you, Rose. It wasn't you," I reaffirmed.

That was enough to make her break down for good. Rose surrendered to a heartfelt cry, and I pulled her into my arms, wrapping her in a hug in an attempt to comfort her, closing my eyes as I heard her sobs. I caressed her arms, feeling that anger come over me again. How could they do something like this to her? Alicia crossed all the limits this time and I will never forgive her for that!