Chapter 18: CONFRONT

Scarlett POV

I looked over at Alex from across the breakfast table for just one second too long. His attention was on his food, so I didn't notice when I looked at him, but Sienna did. I quickly turned my attention back to my food as she loudly cleared her throat. The heat rose to my cheeks.

"Alex, would you like more roast beef?" Sienna held out a perfectly cooked slice on her fork and her voice was as sweet as syrup.

"This is mine for you. Only the best for the best," she gushed.

That made me feel jealous, but I forced myself to ignore it and concentrate on my food instead. It bothered me that Sienna could be so honest and shameless without giving it a second thought. I was good at hiding these things and not letting them show. I wish Alex could see me that way, look at me the way he looks at... I shook off the thought and stopped it. Attention, Scarlett. I thought Alex would always have my back as long as I knew his heart was with me. So it was.

I went to my room to take a shower after breakfast, still thinking about everything that hadn't been said. But as soon as I turned the corner, Sienna was standing in front of my door with her arms crossed, as if she had been waiting. Her eyes looked at me as if to challenge me.

"What's wrong?" I asked while letting out a sigh. It was too tiring for me to deal with Sienna's questions again, but I had a feeling she wouldn't give up quickly.

Sienna raised her chin, making her face look tougher. "Scarlett, how many times have I told you? You can't like him. He is not your type," she said in a very authoritative voice. "I'm saying this because I care about you too much."

I could feel anger and fury rising in my chest, making my heart twist. How many times? There are too many. It wasn't the first time Sienna had told me not to get close to Alex, but I could tell she meant it this time. It made me angry, and all of a sudden I didn't want to let her off so easily.

I crossed my arms and said, "Oh, I see. So you're telling me not to like him because it's good for me, right? Or... maybe it's for you?"

The color of Sienna's face changed, but she stood her ground, a smile appearing at the edges of her lips. "Say it again, Scarlett. It's crazy to think that he would ever be interested in you. You're not at all like him."

While I was trying to keep my cool, a flash of anger came over me. "How do you know? Sienna, what kind of person is he?"

She smiled and said, "Because I know him. He's strong, sure of himself, and driven. He's not interested in shy little girls who stay out of the way. He needs someone who is on the same level as him and can push him. He was too fast for you to keep up with."

There was something hurtful about her words that I wouldn't let her see. So, this is how she sees me: this small, unimportant version of myself. I forced myself not to respond by biting my lip. Sienna, that may be how you see me, but it doesn't mean it's true.

I took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eyes. "You say all of this, but it sounds like you want to keep me away from him for your own reasons, not mine. What do you think, Sienna? Do you care about me or is this all for you?"

In a split second, Sienna's confidence shook, but she quickly covered it up with a sneer. "Oh, please. Do you not believe how smart you are? He always acts like he's a hero by looking at him with those puppy-dog eyes. No, Scarlett. He's not. He's cruel, he's-"

"No reason? It looks like you know a lot about him, right?" I spoke up, making my voice louder. "But you're always with him and trying to impress him," she said. There are times when it seems like you like him.

Sienna's cheeks turned red, and she quickly turned away, letting down her guard for a moment. "Scarlett, don't be silly." It's not about me. This is about you and your innocent crush on a guy who would easily crush you.

I felt a strong urge to fight back.

"I think you might be right, Sienna. He might not be who I think he is. But that doesn't give you the right to tell me who I care about. You're acting like... like you're the only one who deserves his attention, which is pretty sad." I let out all my piled up anger in one breath.

Her eyes got smaller, and her face turned cold. "How sad? Do not do that, Scarlett. You have no idea what he's like."

My voice got stronger as I shot back, "Then help me understand. Explain to me why you want to keep him for yourself if he's such a bad person."

The fact that Sienna didn't say anything told me a lot, and for the first time, she looked unsure. For one beat too long, she was quiet. At that moment, I saw something raw and vulnerable in her eyes.

"Fine," She finally said, in a low, steady voice.

"Do you want the truth?" I don't think you could handle it. Alex isn't interested in girls their age who don't know what they want. He wants to find someone with the same goals, drive, and... She paused, as if she were thinking about what to say.

"His darkness. Scarlett, that's something you'll never understand."

My chest hurt, and anger and fury were swirling inside me. Why does she treat him like she owns him? As if she can tell me who I should care about and who I shouldn't?

I didn't back down and took a step closer. "Maybe I don't fully understand him, Sienna. One thing is for sure, though: you won't tell me how to feel. You won't be able to control me with your own insecurities."

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Insecurities? That's really fancy. From the girl who can hardly look at him without becoming red."

"You're right, Sienna." I answered her back, calmly. "Perhaps I do get tense around him. I may not know him as well as you think I do. What that means is that I can still get close to him if I want to."

Sienna's eyes got very small and her face turned into a scowl. "Scarlett, you're wrong. Not to cry on me when everything goes wrong."

But I stood my ground and looked her in the eyes. Her words hung in the air, heavy and sharp. I said in a soft voice, "Maybe I'll make a mistake. But I'll get to make it at least."

There was a moment of thick, charged silence between us. No one spoke, but the words that were meant to be said rang in the area between us. I saw that this isn't just about Alex. This is about us and the people we're becoming.

The way Sienna shook her head made it impossible to read her face. She clenched her teeth and said, "Don't say I didn't warn you, Scarlett."

It was clear how mad she was at me.