==Hi, everyone! SURPRISE! I decided to keep this chapter short and sweet because there wasn't a point in dragging it out if I only wanted one thing to happen. But seeing the final word count had me thinking. I promised an update for you guys but I knew the length of this chapter would probably bum people out or even be annoyed at me. I mean, it practically looks like I put no true effort into these things! So what better than to do a double update?! They're both short but have a purpose. They will definitely be longer after these two. I'm sorry the word counts aren't very consistent at the moment.==

Yellow Claw - "Friends In the Dark" feat. Otis Parker

The faster we rise, the deeper we fall. You never knew, but you have it all. Friends in the dark is all that we are. Then when the lights come one, we break up. I wanna feel you; I can't be without you tonight. I don't want nothing if I can't be with you tonight. I can't feel your love in the morning when I wake up feeling cold inside, and I can't stop myself from falling when we do the same things every night.

Haunted: Collapse into Caliginosity

Chapter 60:

Double Standard

Am I truly a transparent individual? Before my very eyes, everything I had been building up to seemed to have had no consideration or recognition. Macca and that stranger...Why? He just took it in his hands to passionately kiss her in front of hundreds of people, and she let it happen. I didn't know what to think of it. Had this relationship with him been forming while I wasn't present? Was she using me to make him jealous? Have my attempts gone so unnoticed that this has become acceptable behavior?

I was so lost in the labyrinthine of my mind. Now I didn't know how to feel about the crackling sensation in my chest. A part of me wanted to be sad about witnessing my future mate be affectionate with another man, but another part wanted me to be angry. This entire time I've known her, she's done things with me that a lover would do, but yet we're not in a relationship? And now this stranger has somehow made her fall head heels for him in a shorter amount of time? How could that be possible?

My fingers tightened around the armrests of my chair because of the thoughts. Could Macca be so conniving? No, surely she wouldn't be intentional about these things. I knew the kind of person she was. She was better than what I was currently viewing her as. I've seen so many videos of her giving back to communities, interacting with people who adore her and even being surprised with multiple babies to play with. She had a kind heart and an untainted reputation.

But still...if she didn't want to be with me, then why do we do things that lovers do? How could I possibly not fall in love with her if we did things like that? Maybe instead of reaching out to her, I needed to find out the truth. My window of time had closed itself on me. I just missed my chance to be with her.

Nya's small, tender hand rested on top of mine. "I'm sorry," she whispered, noticing the conflicting emotions running along my face. "Maybe it just wasn't meant to be."

I didn't meet her eye. The potential truth penetrated a raw nerve.

With the battle coming to an end, people all around the arena began leaving. "Ready?" Cole beckoned to us all, getting out of his seat.

"I suppose," I sighed, not bothering to give Macca another gaze. As we waited in line for access to the stairs, my free hand was snatched and tugged. I stopped to see who it was, and was surprised to find Macca. Her glimmering hazel eyes were still bright with happiness from the victory, or maybe it was happiness from the encounter with the stranger. Anyway, she was once again clad in white to, for what I now assumed, show appreciation for our friendship.

"Hey, can you guys meet me outside in the back?" she wondered.

"Behind the arena?"

"Yeah. Nobody will stop you, I promise."

"Sure!" Nya answered for me.

"Great," she cheerfully replied. "I'll be out there as fast as I can." She gave my hand a squeeze before jogging back to the rest of her group who just competed against each other. They loaded back into the car with the equipment from the show in their hands, started the engine, and drove out of the area as if they were kings of the world.

So what do you think Macca is doing? Is she being a hypocrite on purpose or are things just not going her way? Thank you SpitfirewaterNinja and RandomDragon for reviewing! :)

RandomDragon - It's okay! I hope you start feeling better! :)