Chapter Twenty one: Coming Undone Part 1/2

Song(s); The Mess I Made - Parachute

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"This is by far the best story I've ever read." Caroline smiled flipping to the next page of Annabelle's story "I love the suspense and the love affair it's interesting. Do you mind if I possibly keep it to finish reading it?"

"Yeah, of course." Annabelle said shocked

Setting the papers on the table James walked in "Hello ladies, reading again Care?" he asked looking over her shoulder

"It's Annabelle's story, you were right she is an excellent writer."

"Thanks again Caroline for reading this. I have to get to work before I'm late and get fired." her raven haired friend said grabbing her coat and bag before leaving.

An angry Dalton stormed into the house to his bedroom then to the kitchen "You were in my room? And you took my stuff. Where is it Caroline?"

"Yes I was in your room and it's gone." His sister shrugged

"What do you mean it's gone?" He asked his voice raising

Caroline stood up in front of her brother inches taller then him "It is gone. And you will not be doing it ever again."

"You're such a bitch Caroline. Now I understand why mom left and dad hates you." Dalton's voice said full of rage and each word seemed to be dripping with venom "And now I hate you."

James walked toward the two siblings "That's enough man, that's your sister. Apologize to her Dalton."

"You're not my father you can't make me do anything so fuck off James." he said

"Dalton what happened to you? You never used to be like this." Caroline asked shocked with her brothers anger

His attention turned back to her "I finally realized something, you are the fault of everything." He said jabbing a finger to her chest "You're the reason mom left, dad hates you and you're the reason Andrew did all those things to you. You can't help but get involved in everyone's damn business. And for that I honestly wished you were never my sister."

"Dalton stop being a dick. It's just all those drugs you've been taking." James said angry with Dalton's behavior

"You're one to talk. You're no Mr.Perfect, tell my sister what you really did and do when she's not around you." Dalton smirked "You know what, fuck you guys I'm going out."

"You need to stay in tonight Dalton." Caroline said finally finding her voice

"I'm not going to listen to you Caroline." he laughed walking toward the door

James stopped him by setting a hand on his shoulder "You're sister said you're staying in so I suggest you do it."

Dalton's newly found anger got the best of him and he did something that not only shocked James and Caroline, but himself as well. His fist collided with James's mouth.

"James!" Caroline cried out running over to him "Are you alright?"

Dalton took one last look before walking out of the house to Rachel's waiting car outside.

"I'll be fine, I've been hit worse." James shrugged as Caroline tended to his busted lip

"Your mouth is bleeding and you have a busted lip great." she rolled her eyes putting a cloth to his lip

Taking Caroline's hand away from his lip James smirked at her "I think it makes me look tough. What do you think?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes "It makes you look so tough a six year old wouldn't dare bother you for lunch money."

"Har,har so funny Care." He replied stepping out of the bathroom to her bedroom where her dress was laid out for the dinner tonight "Blue dress?" he asked

"It's more of a dark blue, not just a normal,regular blue." Caroline shrugged as she went through her closest for her tan Oxford heels.

Grabbing the dress, Caroline stripped out of her jeans and T-shirt slipping the blue dress over her head.

"Fancy." James said eyeing the dress which hung loose on Caroline "It's a little old for you isn't it though?"

"Old? It's mature I think." She shrugged running her hand down the front of the dress straightening the fabric "Seth bought me this a year ago and I never wore it." Caroline froze her mind going straight to the kiss

Walking over to Caroline, James put his hands on her shoulders "You alright Care?"

She nodded her head "Yeah, fine. Just got a lot on my mind." lacing up her oxfords she smiled "Okay I'm ready."

"You look beautiful. And we're late." James laughed looking at his watch

At the restaurant there was way to many famous people to count on two hand for Caroline. The only ones aside from James that she personally knew were Emma and Seth who was the last person she wanted to see.

"Hey, you're wearing the dress I bought you!" Seth greeted Caroline

"Oh, yeah I am." she smiled looking around

He frowned at his best friend "Care, look I'm sorry about what I did but you've got to let it go."

"If I do you can't tell James." Caroline whispered

"Tell James what?" speaking of the devil Caroline thought

"Nice going Seth. I wanted to surprise you, I was going back to New York for a small visit and I was going to take you." She said lying through her teeth and sending a small glare to Seth

James smiled "New York? That will be a good visit I can't wait." His hand grabbed Caroline's lacing their fingers together and pecking her on the lips before taking her away in a different direction

That whole night anytime Seth came a few inches near Caroline she'd be sure to get as far away from his as possible. James caught on to her behavior the second it happened. He blew it off as maybe her and Seth go into a fight.

"Okay what's up with you and Seth?" James finally asked curiosity finally getting the better of him

Caroline looked innocently at him but guilt shown brightly in her eyes "What are you talking about?"

"Every time he's near, you get as far away from him as possible." he explained

Looking at Seth for a brief moment then to James, she grabbed his hand pulling him outside "That day, when I hung out with Seth all day. Something happened."

"What do you mean something happened?" James asked confused

Caroline drew in a deep breath "Seth, he.. well.. he kiss me." she finally got out

James stood there stunned no words could escape his mouth, running a hand through his hair he looked at his girlfriend "Did you kiss him back?" he asked

Shaking her head furiously, the petite blonde frowned "No, of course not James. Now can we drop this please?"

"You tell me our friend kisses you and you expect me to drop this?" he asked laughing bitterly "What kind of fantasy world do you live in?"

"The kind where I know I'm not the only one with a guilty conscience. Don't deny it either, I seen you with your ex Ahna." Caroline said crossing her arms over her chest

The brown eyed man looked at his shoes guilty as ever "It was a mistake Care."

"What was a mistake? What are you talking about?" she asked confused stepping towards him

James only took two steps back "That night when I came over with roses, I well..." he trailed off

Caroline's hand flew to her mouth in shock, her eyes grew with tears. No words could escape the trembling girls lips. Before her stood the man who could never hurt her, or so she thought "I feel sick." she whispered walking away from him

James looked at her face, those beautiful blue eyes turned to an ocean of sadness as he didn't finish his sentence. She shook as the tears fell and the betrayal and hurt crossed her face. What he'd done was far worse then Caroline, but in reality James realized it wasn't even her fault she had no control over Seth kissing her. But him, sleeping with his ex, now that he had complete control over. Just all those emotions he once felt for Ahna came rushing back the moment he seen her and touched her. Now all James had was a big mess to look at that he had made.

He watched her walk away, he should've kissed her on the spot, hold her face begging for her forgiveness but in the end he walked away to his back to her. James knew he should've turned around and call out her name but, something inside him wouldn't let him. Maybe it was his pride he didn't know at the moment. All he knew was he was staring at the mess he made and he needed to fix it.

Caroline walked away, just like that. She wanted to go back and tell James she will forgive him but one thing held her back her pride. James and her were similar in that compartment they couldn't swallow their pride sometimes especially when it was needed. Walking down an empty street, Caroline let out a loud sob falling to the ground. The pain in her chest was by far the worst pain she'd ever experienced.