Page 13 of Silver Tears

I throw my phone on my bed and stare up at the ceiling. Am I a bad girlfriend? Ryan has had none of my time lately. I grab a shower and eat some of the hotpot Dana has left in the fridge. I’m ready to crawl into my bed and sleep, but Ryan’s text is on my mind. Sighing, I throw open my wardrobe and pick out an outfit. I check Ruby’s TikTok account, and I see she has posted while at the party, so at least she will be there. I call a taxi and twenty minutes later the car pulls up outside Harrison Reed’s house. Entering the house, I weave my way through the crowds. People from school greet me as I pass them. Being a Silver, everyone knows who I am. Making my way through the living room, I spot Ruby in the kitchen and make my way to her.

“Moo! You came!” she says excitedly, pulling me into her arms. “How are you?”

I shrug. “Exhausted and worried. Have you seen Ryan?”

Ruby shakes her head, scanning the room. “He was here earlier. He’s probably smoking weed somewhere.”

“I’m going to go look for him, okay? I’ll come and find you soon.” I leave Ruby dancing with a few other girls from school and head into the back garden. I spot some of Ryan’s friends, but he isn’t with them. Re-entering the house, I climb the stairs, thinking maybe he’s in the bathroom, however he’s not there either. I’m passing one of the closed bedroom doors when I hear a female voice moan Ryan’s name loudly. I pause. It can’t be. He wouldn’t be in there with another girl, right? I place my hand on the door handle as I hear another moan. Steeling myself for what I suspect I might find; I take a deep breath and swing the door open. My mouth hangs open as I take in the scene before me. My eyes fixate on Ryan’s naked arse.

“What the fuck?” I hiss, anger replacing my initial shock. Ryan’s head whips around at the sound of my voice.

“Oh, don’t stop!” the naked girl moans beneath him.

“You cheating fucking bastard!” I yell, hands on hips, as I glare at him in utter disgust. I don’t wait to hear his excuses. I spin on my heels and run down the stairs as fast as I can and out of the front door. When I hear him call after me, I break into a jog, eager to put as much distance between myself and that cheating scumbag as I possibly can. I swear to myself when I hear him call my name and hear the sound of a car start. The stupid idiot has the nerve to come after me. I pick up speed, running as fast as I can.

“Babe, get in the car.” His car pulls up alongside me.

“Fuck you, Ryan,” I hiss, refusing to look his way.

“If you get in the car, I’ll explain.”

I guffaw, finally giving him my attention. “You’ll explain. Did you accidentally get naked, and your dick somehow slipped into her vagina?!”

“Babe. Come on. I’m a guy. I have needs and you, well, you were giving me nothing. She was just a means to scratch an itch. You know it’s you I want, honestly.”

My eyes widen at his audacity. “Oh, so it’s my fault you cheated!”

“No. Yes! Well, maybe if you’d been a proper girlfriend.”

I am so mad I can’t even speak. Fists clenched, I march forward. I hear him swear under his breath and his car door open. He jogs up alongside me and tries to grab at my hand. “Go away,” I order him. “I don’t want you near me.”

He doesn’t give up, moving in front of me, blocking my path. “Baby, please listen to me.” I try to step around him, but he blocks my way. “Will you just wait!”

A car screeches to a stop beside us and I assume it’s his mates, so I don’t look over when someone climbs out.

“I don’t want to talk to you. Now, please, move,” I say calmly and forcefully.

“You heard her, pal. Get in your car and go home.”

I blink, recognising the owner of the voice. My eyes snap to him. “Seb!”

Seb gestures at the car and I see Archer is driving. “Get in the car, Mills.”

Ryan goes to grab for my arm and Seb reaches out with his bandaged arm and stops him. “You need to back off and do as she asks you.”

“This is none of your business, Collings,” Ryan seethes. He watches as I jog around to Archer’s car and climb into the back seat.

“I’m making it my business. Now here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to get back in your car. Mills is staying with me.”

“Mills,” he repeats with a scowl. “Is this why you won’t put out for me? Are you seeing him behind my back?” Ryan bellows at me through the window, banging on the glass.

“Touch my car again, fuck-face, and I’ll beat you black and blue,” Archer warns him coldly. It does the trick. Ryan holds his hands up and backs away from the car. “This isn’t over, Milly. We’ll talk tomorrow,” he promises as he walks backwards to his car. Seb watches him get inside before he returns to Archer’s car. As he fastens his seatbelt, Ryan screws past us, glaring at us through his driver’s window before he speeds off into the night. I let out the breath I hadn’t realised I was holding in.

“You okay?” Seb asks me, turning in his seat to speak to me.

“I’m fine.” I fold my arms across my middle, refusing to meet his eyes. “You didn’t need to step in.”

Seb cocks a brow as he continues to study me as Archer pulls away. “I think we’ll disagree on that one. What has he done to have you so mad?”

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