open my messages and find Harlem in my contacts and write him a message.
Jesse: I hope you got back safe and sound. Thank you for a fun night. Sorry you could not be here with me <3.
My phone vibrates almost instantly.
Harlem: we are back safe and sound. Don't worry your pretty little heart. Although I don't think I'll be getting any sleep anytime soon. Nikki and Ashlynn are still drinking here at the apartment. :(.
Jesse: ahh, poor baby..;)
I waited a few minutes but Harlem didn't respond. That's not like him. Then I wonder if he is upset. I was only jokingly making fun of him.
Jesse: Harlem, I was just playing with you. Don't be mad..please <3
I waited a few more minutes and still got no response. This time, I opened my phone and called him. It rings twice and goes to voicemail. "Hi, you've reached Harlem. You know the drill". The phone beeped "Harlem, call me back. Please don't be mad at me. I was just playing with you. I didn't mean it. Please don't ignore me. Just call me back. I don't care what time it is". It's been over an hour and I have not heard back from Harlem. Maybe his phone had died. I tried to tell myself. Exhaustion is sinking in and before I know it, I am in a deep sleep. I woke to the sound of my little sister's voice coming from downstairs in the kitchen. I lay there for a minute when I realized, crap! I fell asleep. I hope Harlem didn't call me back. I grabbed my phone. Zero missed calls and no texts. I got up and headed to the shower, deciding I should get ready and go see Harlem. We were just planning on hanging out today, opting to wear jeans and a T-shirt. I made my way downstairs, "Good Morning Candice, I see we are bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning". My little sister laughs as she watches her morning cartoons. I grab a cup of coffee and head outside for a smoke. I decided to send Harlem another message and let him know I will be on my way soon.
Jesse: Good Morning Harlem. I hope everything is okay. I didn't hear back from you. I am going to leave my place in about half an hour. Did you want a coffee, Miss you <3
I press send and wait for him to respond. I finished my coffee, and still no reply from Harlem, so I went inside to ask my parents for a ride. I went into the kitchen and my father and stepmother, sitting at the kitchen table drinking their morning coffee. "Good morning kiddo, how was your night last night", dad says to me with a look of curiosity. " Morning dad, it was good. The new club is quite fun. Would it be possible for one of you to drop me off at Ashlynn's? I want to spend the day with Harlem before he goes back home". My stepmom looks at me like she wants to say something, but doesn't. "I have to head out shortly to run some errands I can take you".My father says to me.We are heading to Ashlynn's and I still have not heard from Harlem. It's making me nervous for some unknown reason. My father clearly can tell something is bothering me. "What are you thinking about, you know I can tell when something is bothering you". I sigh, hesitant to say what's on my mind, knowing he will probably make me feel worse, seeing that he is not a fan of Harlem. " I was texting with Harlem last night when I got home and then all the sudden he stopped replying. I tried calling him but it went to voicemail and I still have not heard from him this morning either. It's just not like him to not respond. I don't know, I just have a bad feeling that I can't shake". I wait for him to start bashing Harlem but he doesn't, he just shakes his head" Jesse, follow your gut, it's normally an indication prompting us that something is not right, you're a smart kid". That is all he says. Great! Now I am even more nervous than before. We stop and grab coffees quickly and send Harlem one last text." Hey, be there in 5 mins, I got coffee <3. My phone dings almost instantly. It's Harlem. " I'll meet you downstairs, we can go for a walk". I am looking dumbfounded at my phone now. Why is he being so abrupt and why did he answer all the sudden? We pulled into the parking lot of Ashlynn's apartment. I gave my dad a kiss on the cheek and thanked him for the ride." Remember kiddo, trust your gut". I just shake my head, silently understanding what he is implying. I grab our drinks and exit the car and see Harlem coming out the entrance of the building. Something is definitely off, he looks almost pre-occupied. "Hey, what happened last night, you just stopped texting" I say as I hand him his coffee. He grabs his coffee and our hands touch. I noticed he kind of flinched as our skin touched."Harlem, are you okay? You don't seem like yourself". He looks away from me and starts walking out of the parking lot."Harlem, where are we going", I say almost breathless. "Let's take a walk and go sit in the park". We walked in silence till we reached the park and sat down. I didn't say anything as I was hoping he would start explaining why he was acting so weird. But he doesn't. He is just blankly staring off and sipping his coffee. I can't take it anymore. I need to know why he is being so cold and distant. "Harlem, you know I was just joking with you last night. You never get this upset when we joke around. We had such a good night. I don't understand why you are being so cold towards me. I'm sorry if I said something to upset you". Quietness, he still just stares off into the distance. I grab his hand to get his attention, but when I do, he grabs it away. "Harlem, what the hell has gotten into you. Why are you being an asshole, look at me". I put my coffee down on the bench and grabbed his face with both my hands to make him look at me. As he turned, I saw what looked like scratches around his collarbone area." Harlem, what happened, how did you get these scratches?" I said a little panicked, thinking, had he got into a fight or something. He is looking at me very nervous like he was thinking really hard about what to say. It's a look I will never forget.. "Jesse, I, um.. I, Jesus, how did I even let this happen? You need to know how unbelievably sorry I am Jesse", his eyes almost watering. Shit, this is bad. I can feel it. "Harlem, I don't understand what you are trying to say, what does you being sorry to me and you having scratches on your chest have to do with one another". As I say that, I started to put two and two together. It's like he can see I am putting it together. He reaches for my hand but I quickly pull it back. "Say it Harlem, say it to my face what you did, TELL ME you coward". I am almost shaking. How could he let this happen? I thought he loved me. That it was us against the world. How could he betray me like that? Tears are starting to form in my eyes but I am trying so hard to hold them back. I don't want to give him satisfaction. He is anxiously running his hands through his hair. "Say it, how could this happen and with..oh my god, who was it Harlem ''. I am now realizing there is a very big possibility that it could have been my step sister or worse, Ashlynn. He wouldn't do that. He knows Ashlynn and I barely get along. He would not do such a horrible thing. I am looking at the person I thought I knew. My childhood friend, my best friend. I could no longer hold back the tears. Harlem went to grab my hand again. " Don't touch me Harlem, who was it? ''. He looked at the ground. Gosh, I know I am going to hear what I don't want to hear. "It was Ashlynn, I'm so sorry Jesse. I don't even know how it happened. My phone died and we started taking shots, lots of them. The next thing I know, I am waking up naked in Ashlynn's bed with her laying across me". At this point, I am now standing pacing back and forth trying to comprehend what he just told me and trying not to completely fall apart. Harlem is just sitting there watching me pace until eventually I hear'' Jesse say something, say you hate me. Tell me how disappointed you are, but please don't let this mistake ruin what we have". I stopped pacing and turned to look at him, anger now erupting in me, how dare he say that to me. ". You don't get to ask anything of me Harlem, where is that bitch? Anyway, I bet she is so proud of herself, isn't she". At this point, I am so angry and plan on just telling Ashlynn what I really think of her. I turned and started walking, almost running back to Ashlynn's apartment. Harlem comes running up grabbing my arm. "Jesse stop..talk to me. Who cares about Ashlynn? We are all that matters right now". I stop and this dark laughter comes out. "Harlem get the hell away from me so help me god, if I want to confront Ashlynn there is nothing you or anyone can do about it. So stay out of my way". Walked into the building not even waiting for the elevator. With how mad I am right now, I take the stairs two at a time to the fifth floor. I don't even knock, I just walk right in. As soon as I enter the apartment, Ashlynn is sitting on the couch like she was expecting me. "I guess Harlem told you we slept together" she says, all smirky. And now I am seeing red.