Chapter 154: There’s Always One Left Out in Every Trio[June’s POV]
Ian’s stupid smirk dropped. Next thing I knew, his arms were around me, holding me against his chest before I could even think about pushing him away.
And God. His chest was hard. My stupid forehead literally rested there like I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. Ew. Kill me.
"Hey," Ian whispered, all low and soft like he wasn’t the literal spawn of Satan five minutes ago. "Don’t do that. Don’t cry over him. Not when I’m right here."
Oh my god. Oh my GOD. My whole body wanted to glitch out of existence. I shook my head against his chest.
"Stop. Just...stop, Ian." My voice cracked. "You don’t get it. Ren’s my first love."
"I do." His grip tightened like he was trying to glue me to his ribcage. His breath literally tickled my ear.
I hate how my whole body shivered.
"I understand. Just know you’re enough, June. More than enough. You don’t have to change a damn thing for me to notice you. I see you. I’ve always seen you."
Something cracked inside me. Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe it was his voice, maybe it was my last two brain cells, or maybe it was the fact that nobody has ever said they liked me out loud before....and of course the first one to do it had to be Ian Han.
Part of me wanted to shove his smug ass into a locker, kick him in the balls, scream in his face for every time he’s humiliated me, every time he got under my skin until I wanted to punch a wall.
But another part... God help me, another part of me just melted, because being noticed feels like a drug and I’ve been starving for it.
And then. Out of the corner of my eye.
A familiar figure passed by the hallway. Heading out.
Marcus.
Oh, shit.
I snapped out of Ian’s arms, scrambling to grab my clothes
"Hey, what’s wrong?" Ian raised his brow.
"I’ll be right back," I waved, already sprinting down the hall.
Thank God Marcus didn’t see me hugging Ian.
"Marcus!" I called, chasing after him as he went down the stairs two steps at a time. My lungs were already screaming, but I didn’t stop. "Wait! What’s wrong?"
He didn’t answer. He just kept going, like he didn’t hear me. Or like he was trying not to.
"Why are you leaving without me and Ash? Are you bored already? Did something happen?" My voice was getting breathless, panicky.
He didn’t stop until he hit the bottom of the stairs and reached the door.
I caught up. "I thought you were having fun playing beer pong? What happened?"
Nothing. Just him standing there, lips trembling like he wanted to talk but the words were choking him.
"Marcus." I grabbed his arm, trying to calm him down. "Please, just...talk to me."
Finally, his lips moved.
"Ash. He’s..he’s..." His voice cracked.
"What happened to Ash? Is he okay? Do I need to go check....please, Marcus, talk to me!"
"Ash. Ash and Dominic." Marcus’s voice cracked. "I saw them... making out."
"Ohhh. You’ve found out."
He blinked at me. "Ohhh, I’ve found out? That’s it? You knew?"
"Oh my God, Marcus..."
"Guess I shouldn’t be shocked," he cut me off, shaking my hand off his arm like I was contagious. "You guys are close. I was always the other friend." He scoffed,.
No, don’t say that.
"Marcus, what are you even saying? Ash just..he just needed time, okay? He was going to tell you!"
"Of course you’d defend him. You probably started it all."
"Wait, what? What does that even mean?"
"You think I’m mad because Ash is gay?" His laugh came out ugly. "Who told you I didn’t already know? You think I’m homophobic or something?"
"What? No! That’s not..."
"Don’t lie, June. That’s exactly what you mean." His eyes were holding in tears.
"Really, that’s not what I..."
"I don’t care that he’s gay." His voice cracked again. "That’s his business. If he’s not ready to come out to me, fine. But him and Dominic?" He spat the name like he hated the name.
My stomach sank. Oh no. Oh no.
"I thought you guys were my friends."
"Marcus, we are your friends..."
"No." His voice cracked. "There’s always one left out in every trio. And guess what? It’s me. Always me.
He shoved a hand through his hair, pacing, furiously. "I told you how much I hated the Glass Circle. How they made my life hell. And you..." his voice wavered, "you still went after Ren."
I shook my head to listen to him.
He dragged his hands on his face, and kept going.
"I let it slide, because fine, whatever, you liked him before we even became close. But now Ash? With Dominic? The same guy who accused him of murder?" His breath caught. "That’s who he’s kissing?"
My whole body went cold.
"Marcus, everyone deserves a second chance. I know they.."
"Don’t do that. Not them!" His voice snapped, echoing down the stairwell.
"They made middle school hell for me." He shoved both hands through his hair, tugging at the roots like he could rip the memories out. "I hated myself because of them." His chest heaved, voice cracking as the name tore out of him. "Especially Ian."
Ian. My heart stopped. Of course it’s Ian. Of course he hates him the most. And all I could think about was the fact that I just kissed him.
I wanted to claw my skin off. I wanted to erase every second of it.
Marcus’s hands clenched into fists, shaking. "The only thing I had left from my mom and my sister, they destroyed it. Ian smashed it like it meant nothing."
He looked wrecked. And I...God, I wanted to vanish.
"And I let you talk me into coming here." His voice was seriously shaking. "To their party. Their house. Their rules. You think I didn’t notice Ian staring at you the whole time? And you..." his voice dropped, "you loved it."
"Marcus!" My throat cracked.
He wasn’t entirely wrong and God that made it worse.
"You did. Don’t lie." His chest heaved. "You’re just... an attention seeker. Crushing on Ren for years when he doesn’t give a fuck. Dressing like this..." he gestured at me..."so everyone stares. Isn’t that what you always wanted? Their attention?"
The words sliced me open. Tears stung, but I blinked hard, swallowing them back, because no....he doesn’t get to gut me like this.
Even tho he was right.
I was disgusting. I hated myself for kissing Ian back. For moaning. For letting him in. For not saying no sooner. For being weak enough to fall apart in Ian Han’s arms when I knew Marcus was right here hurting.
I really didn’t do it for their attention. I just want to be a normal freaking teenager! Why is it so hard?
"Marcus." My voice trembled, but I held it. "Don’t do that. Don’t tear me apart just because you’re angry. Don’t say shit you’ll regret. That’s not fair."
My heart was pounding so hard.
"You know what?" Marcus’s voice cracked. "You and Ash can just stick to your little friendship. You’re made for each other anyway. Both of you. Glass Circle over me." His jaw tightened. "I’m done, June. I’m done with this friendship."
And then he turned. Just like that. Turned his back and walked out through the gate like he was deleting me and Ash from his life.
"Marcus! Wait!" My throat cracked. "Don’t say that. Don’t....don’t make a big deal out of this!"
I stood there frozen, hot tears streaming down my face before I even realized I was crying.
My chest hurt. My stomach hurt. Everything hurt.
What the hell is happening to me today?
Why is everyone taking turns stabbing me with words?
What did I do? Like seriously... what did I do to deserve everyone being so freaking mean?
I couldn’t hold it. I broke, sniffling, shaking, wiping at my cheeks like that was gonna stop the flood. But, it didn’t.
My hands fumbled for my phone. My fingers were slippery with tears, but I still unlocked it. Still pressed his name.
"Ash..." My voice cracked the second he picked up.
"June?" He sounded panicked. "Are you okay?"
"Marcus..." I choked. "Marcus just left." My throat was closing. "Can you...can you come downstairs, please?"
"I’ll be right there."
I hung up, my hands was still shaking, staring at the black screen like maybe it could absorb me too. Then I just waited. Waiting for Ash like he was the only safe thing left in the whole damn world.
Marcus’s words still echoed.
Why would he think like that?
Why would he think we say that to me?
He was suppose to be my safe space.
My knees felt weak. My palms shook.
And then....footsteps.
I looked up, blinking through the blurry tears, and there he was. Ash. His face was pale with panic, his eyes widened.
"Ash..." My voice cracked as he rushed up the last steps and wrapped me in his arms before I could fall apart even more. The second his chest hit mine, I just broke, sobbing against him.
"I think I just made a mistake," I whispered into his shoulder, trembling. "I just want to go home."