Chapter 7: Epiphany

I woke up at 5:35. I was already in a foul mood. My shoulder was stiff and aching. I rolled over to check my phone. Dave, Trish, and Alexi had messaged me.

Hey man, call me later. Dave

Jaxon please call me when you can. Trish

Kid, I'll have someone pick up your car from the school for you. Alexi.

That was some good news. I wouldn't have to drive to the school now. I could just stay here all day. I wanted to go back to sleep, so I took some more of the pills. It knocked me out till about 2 pm. I woke up and felt pretty comfy. My shoulder was still tense.

I walked downstairs and hopped on my laptop to check my emails from the day before. The top email was a tabloid. The cover page was a photo of me and Edythe in the parking lot after the accident. It was titled Jaxon and the New Girl. This wasn't good. People would blow this out of proportion. I ran back up to my room to grab my phone.

I checked my Instagram. The fan accounts had posted the photo all over the platform. I immediately flagged the photo.

Trish I need you to get these posts taken down on Instagram, do whatever it takes. Jaxon

Ok. Trish

I sent Edythe a text she hadn't messaged me all day and this wasn't good. She was on a global magazine cover and her face was being blasted all over social media. She seemed like a private person and now she was going to be the center of attention because of me, that irritated me.

Hey. First let me say I am so sorry. I didn't expect a poportizzi to get a photo of us here, especially during an accident. I'm going to do everything I can to get it taken down. Again I'm sorry. Jaxon

I put the phone down and leaned back on the sofa. I was worried that she would hate me for this.

I looked back at my phone. Edythe had read the message two minutes ago. I figured she was upset and I couldn't blame her.

I laid the phone back down. There was no point in messaging her again. I would wait till she replied.

There was a knock at the door. I walked over to it and opened it up. It was Alexi and he had my car.

"Damn kid you look like shit." He said. He walked into the house and went straight to the liquor cabinet.

"Yeah that's what happens when you get hit by a car." I said.

Alexi poured two glasses of vodka and passed me one.

I wasn't opposed to drinking this early today. I didn't have anything to do anyway.

"What are you going to do today?" I asked.

"I'm thinking of going into Seattle and finding a nice club to spend my night." He said with a smile.

"That must be nice. I would go with you but I need to keep a low profile, the tabloids are covered with my face right now." I said.

Alexi nodded. "I saw the headlines earlier. Who's the girl?" He asked with a smirk.

"Just a girl at school. Her mom was the doctor who examined me at the hospital." I said.

"Did you fix your arm with the practice I taught you?" He asked.

"Yes it's as good as new." I said.

"Good. So next week we will have another meeting at Apollo's. The factions will pay the tribute then." Alexi said.

I nodded.

"Have you found your mole in Rictor's operation yet?" I asked.

"I have a candidate in mind." Alexi said with a smile.

"That's good." I said.

"Well I'm going to let you rest and I'm going to go find me a place to lay my head for the night. He said with a crooked smile.

"Ok you have fun with that." I said with a chuckle.

He started to walk to the door.

"Oh I will. And for the love of God Jaxon get a real fucking house!" He yelled.

I just chuckled. It felt good to laugh. With everything that had happened yesterday and now this Edythe situation I was a little gloomy.

I went to lay down on the sofa and I turned the TV on for the noise. I looked at my phone again. Edythe had left my message on read for 35 minutes. She was definitely pissed. I figured I had one more shot.

Hey I'm going to walk into town. I know I'm probably the last person you want to see or even talk to. But will you go for a walk with me? You never know a rogue van might come out of nowhere lol. Jaxon.

I laid the phone down and went upstairs to change. It would be good for me to get some air and besides I was hungry and I didn't feel like cooking. That diner wasn't that far from here.

I put on some black jeans and a black hoodie and a pair of sneakers.

I walked downstairs and grabbed my phone. To my surprise Edythe responded.

Okay. I'll meet you by the diner in town, in 20 minutes. Edythe

This was progress. Maybe she wasn't that mad but I wouldn't do anything to agitate her.

I was going to walk to town. It would help with the stiffness.

It wasn't raining at the moment and the fresh air made me feel better. One of the benefits of Forks was the nature. I walked for about ten minutes till I made it to the sidewalks of the town. I was trying to figure out what to say to Edythe. I knew that this would pass and the ghouls on social media would find something else to fantasize about, but still Edythe didn't deserve this.

I walked toward what I thought was the diner and then I saw Edythe leaning against the wall of the building. She was wearing light blue jeans and a rain jacket. She looked amazing as always. Though she wasn't smiling she looked ticked.

I walked up to her. She just looked at me with a cold stare.

"Hey." I said. I didn't exactly know how to apologize for this, what could I say.

"Hi." She said. Her voice had an edge to it.

"Ok let me say that I am extremely sorry. I had no clue that people would take photos of us up here. I should have realized it but I didn't expect it. I've contacted the accounts and the magazine that ran the story to take it down." I said.

"Does that ever work? I mean there are always stories about you, they use old images of you." She

"It works most of the time and if it doesn't I buy the company." I said.

"You just buy the company, how does that solve it?"

"Well they won't be able to run articles about their boss now would they." I said.

She just stared at me and shook her head.

I sighed. "This will blow over quickly trust me." I said.

"Jaxon but what about now, my face is all over the internet." She said.

"I know, I'm trying to get them taken down but it will blow over these hyenas take advantage of whatever they can. By tomorrow they will have something else."

She just stared at me.

"I'm sorry Edythe I really am. I was stupid to think that they still couldn't find me here." I said. I hung my head down.

"Jaxon, I think we shouldn't talk for a while to make sure this blows over. My family is pretty private and they aren't exactly happy with this situation." She said lowly.

I just stared at her. That hurt a bit for some reason.

"Yeah, that's fine whatever you need." I said. I masked my voice. I would keep my mask up now with her too.

"I'm sorry Jaxon." She said and it sounded like she meant it.

"I am too." I said and I turned and began to walk off.

She didn't say anything.

I walked back out of the town. It began to rain. It was fitting for how I felt at the moment. I was so irritated, not at Edythe, just at the whole situation. If I never had come here I wouldn't have caused any of this, Edythe and her would still have their privacy. I wouldn't have met her and then I wouldn't have to deal with this. I only had one thing to blame for all of this and it was Julius. It that bastard never let this region fall and become disordered I wouldn't have to be here.

I couldn't figure out why I cared so much about this, I never cared about anything like this. I made it back to my house and found the bottle of vodka Alexi left.

I drank the rest of the day. I figured it was the best way for me to spend my time. This exile was going to be exactly like I thought a living hell. I was stuck on a primitive planet and I was alone. I had my assignment but there was no one to keep me company. I stared at my reflection in the large window in the kitchen. I looked the same though something was off. I just couldn't pinpoint it. It pissed me off and I punched the window cracking it and causing my knuckles to bleed.

I sat down on the couch and drank the rest of the bottle. That was all it took, I passed out and when I finally woke up it was about 11 a m the next morning. My head was throbbing and so was my body.

Everything about the previous day flooded back in. The conversation with Edythe, how she looked so upset. The whole situation was a mess and there was nothing I could do about it. She wanted space and that's exactly what I would give her. This was my fault and it only seemed right for me to be the one to pay for it.

Sunday was more or less me sulking around the house drinking and trying to figure out what I needed to do.

I couldn't stop thinking about Edythe and it was making me mad. There had been plenty of girls that I could forget but what was so important about this one to make me fixate about her. She was no one to me. It was an endless cycle. I would talk myself up to text her then I wouldn't. It was maddening.

I thought about ditching the next day but that would look bad and it wouldn't help matters. I figured that most of the student body would be focused on Edythe and I but with us not interacting that would kill any of the rumors that may start. I would have to wait and see how it plays out tomorrow.

AN Ok guys I need some feedback. How do you all like the story so far. Sorry for long gaps between posts. I've had some writers block and I started writing ahead and had to connect the parts. Also I've written an Edythe version of this story. Should I post it in this story or make a new one. Let me know what you all think.