Aftermath: Act I

You sat on the couch in your childhood home. Across from you was your step-mother. You'd told her something had happened between you and Tegan, but not what.

You shakily held the teacup in your hand as you started to talk. "Tegan is cheating on me."

Sophie shot up, furious. "She WHAT?"

"M-mom, sit down." You waved your hand, and she sighed before sitting back down. "About a month ago, at a party, Tegan spent the night with this guy. I figured it would just be a one night thing, but then it evolved. She's not coming home until the mornings, if she comes home at all. She's not even hiding it." You hung your head and tried to hold it together.

"I'm gonna give her and this guy a piece of my mind! Who's the guy she's whoring herself out to?" Sophie spat, her anger only building.

"Jake... You know, the bully from high school." As you said it, you noticed all she and tension fade from her.

"Oh, is that all?" She asked, a bit more distant.

"What? What do you mean 'is that all?' He's fucking my wife!" You shouted back, spilling your tea.

Sophie smiled and shook her head, "well, she's not anymore, is she? It sounds like Master's found another one." She bit her lip and squirmed in her seat.

"Mom? What the fuck are you talking about?" You felt anxiety rising in the pit of your stomach. This couldn't be happening...

"Well, after your father passed and Jake became mayor, I was getting close to losing the house. But then Jake bought it and even put it in my name! All he asked for was a date and I couldn't say no! He's so suave! Anyways, the date was amazing and we came back here. He fucked me better than I'd ever been fucked before! After that, I couldn't stay away. I'm his secretary, you know. What I wouldn't give to be master's wife... It seems like Tegan might be the lucky girl... I really thought it was going to be Emma." Sophie seemed almost wistful as she spoke.

It was too much to process... Just when you thought you'd heard the worst of it, she mentioned your best friend. "W-why did you think it was going to be Emma?"

"Oh! I guess you haven't really been around. Well, after you left, Emma was pretty broken up. Master and Emma eventually hooked up and she even ran his mayoral campaign! She's been practically crawling behind him— well sometimes he literally makes her crawl. I think she might even be pregnant! I'd love to be able to have one of his children... I owe him everything and he's so wonderful. I know you have a negative view of him because of some silly past mistakes, but he's an amazing guy. Tegan's lucky to have him!"

"Don't you mean she's lucky to have me?" You weren't even hiding the tears in your eyes now.

"Aww, honey, it's so sweet that you think you can compare to him. He's so much better than you could ever hope to be. Tegan is better off with a real man." She smiled sweetly. There was no venom in her voice; she sounded completely sweet and genuine. Like she was just stating simple facts.

You stumbled out and ran to your car, wheezing as you tried to breathe. You pulled out your phone, only dropping it a few times, and texted Emma.

"Em?"

• Oh, hey? It's been a bit. Is everything okay?

"Please tell me you're not with that douchebag, Jake. You know how much of a dick he is!" You sent the message and waited for a reply. There was a lot of typing without anything coming through, until finally...

• Um, that's Mr. Mayor to you, thank you very much. How dare you message me all this time only to complain about the love of my life? Jake is twice the man you'll ever be. Unlike you, he didn't leave me. He stayed and was there for me all through it! I thought you were wanting to chat and reconnect since you were in town, but I guess not! Jake said you'd be like this. He said you'd judge me or still hold a grudge, but I wanted to think you were more mature than that!

"Em! He's an absolute monster! He's fucking Tegan, and he's apparently been fucking Sophie! How can you say you love a man like that?" You were in disbelief. Where the hell did this 180 come from?

• If she's with him instead of you now, then good! I bet you couldn't even satisfy her anyways. Better leave her to a real man. I know that Jake isn't a one-woman man, but I don't care. He said to send this to you if you responded like this. He was right. You're a loser.

• See ya, bitch!

The way she looked up at him with pure love and adoration... She wasn't lying. And, unfortunately, you knew who that dick belonged to. You were trapped. You weren't sure where to go. Who did you have left?