~~SELENA~~
“Just me,” Cyrus declared, his voice laced with possessiveness and dominance.
I stared at him, my pulse quickening with anger. “You can’t seriously believe that,” I said, shaking my head. “You don’t own me, Cyrus.”
He glanced at me, his expression hardening. “I know what’s best for you, Selena,” he said, his tone colder now. “And that guy isn’t it.”
I scoffed, turning away. “This isn’t about knowing what’s best. It’s about you wanting control.”
“Maybe I do want control,” he admitted, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “You’re making stupid decisions.”
I clenched my fists, frustration boiling over. “Stupid? You don’t get to decide what’s right for me. You think you can just waltz in and dictate my life?”
Cyrus exhaled sharply, his jaw set. “You don’t get it. I’m protecting you from guys who only want one thing.”
“Like you?” I shot back, my voice rising. “You can’t stand the thought of me being with someone else.”
He pulled the car to a sudden stop on a quiet side street, making my heart race. “What the hell, Cyrus?” I snapped, glaring at him.
Cyrus turned to face me, his eyes blazing. “I know what guys like him want. They want to use you, just like I did. But I’m different now.”
I laughed bitterly. “You’re not different. You’re still trying to control me, and it’s pathetic.”
He leaned closer, his gaze intense. “I’m trying to keep you safe. You’re too naive to see what’s really happening.”
“Safe?” I echoed, incredulous. “You’re not my protector. You’re just scared I’ll find someone better.”
Cyrus’s expression darkened, and he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “No one is better for you than me,” he said, his voice low and firm. “You’re mine.”
“I’m not yours,” I shot back, my voice trembling with fury. “And I never will be again.”
He sneered, shaking his head. “You think that guy cares about you? He’s just playing the nice guy act.”
“At least he’s not treating me like a possession,” I retorted, my voice sharp.
Cyrus’s eyes flashed with anger, and he leaned in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You don’t understand, Selena. I know what’s best for you, and it’s not him.”
I stared at him, my heart pounding. “You’re delusional if you think you can just claim me like some prize.”
His jaw clenched, and he looked away, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “Fine,” he muttered. “Go make your mistakes. But don’t come crying to me when you realize I was right.”
“I won’t,” I said firmly, pushing the door open. “I don’t need you, Cyrus.”
He didn’t respond, his eyes fixed straight ahead, refusing to look at me. I slammed the door shut behind me, my chest heaving with anger and frustration. As I walked away, I heard the car engine roar to life, and Cyrus sped off, leaving me standing alone on the empty street.
Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back, squaring my shoulders. I didn’t need Cyrus’s approval or his overbearing protectiveness. I was going to live my life on my terms, no matter how hard he tried to control me.
~~
Arriving home in the Uber, I hurried up the driveway, my heart pounding. I prayed no one would be around to see me. Thankfully, the house was quiet, and I slipped inside, moving quickly up the stairs. I closed my bedroom door behind me, leaning against it for a moment to catch my breath.
I had promised myself not to cry, but as soon as I was alone, the tears came. Why was Cyrus so possessive, treating me like I was some rare diamond he couldn’t let go? Just weeks ago, he acted like I was trash, and now he wanted to control my life again. He had been the center of my world, the one I couldn’t do without. I had wanted his touches, his affection, more than anything back then.
But now, when I had finally started to move on, he wanted to jump back into my life, acting as if he hadn’t hurt me, as if I were some toy he could play with whenever he pleased.
I wiped my tears, sniffling as I made my way to the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the traces of my tears and the ache in my chest. This would be the last time I cried over Cyrus, I vowed to myself.
Returning to my room, I heard my phone buzzing from inside my bag. I pulled it out and saw Marco’s name on the screen. Quickly, I cleared my throat, not wanting to sound like I had been crying.
“Hi,” Marco said as soon as I answered the call, his voice filled with concern.
“Hey,” I replied, trying to keep my tone steady.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his worry evident.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Sorry about Cyrus,” I said, forcing a small smile even though he couldn’t see me.
“Oh… don’t worry about that. I understand,” Marco said reassuringly, and I felt a wave of relief.
“Thank you so much,” I said, my voice softening.
“I just wanted to check on you,” Marco continued gently. “I’m here for you, Selena. Whenever you need to talk or just hang out.”
His kindness was like a balm to my raw emotions. “I appreciate that. I really do.”
“Do you want to meet up tomorrow?” he asked, a hopeful note in his voice. “Maybe we can grab coffee or something?”
I hesitated, glancing at my reflection in the mirror. “I’d like that,” I said, smiling faintly. “Tomorrow sounds great.”
“Perfect,” Marco said, sounding relieved. “I’ll text you the details.”
“Okay,” I agreed, feeling a little lighter. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Selena,” he said softly.
“Goodnight, Marco,” I replied, ending the call and holding the phone to my chest for a moment.
As I settled into bed, I couldn’t help but replay the events of the day in my mind. Cyrus’s sudden reappearance had thrown everything into turmoil. I had thought I was done with him, that I had moved on, but his behavior today had reminded me of why we were better off apart.
I reached for my phone again and scrolled through my messages, trying to distract myself. Marco’s call had lifted my spirits, and I found myself smiling at the thought of meeting him tomorrow. He seemed genuinely caring, a stark contrast to Cyrus’s intensity.
After a while, I set my phone aside and closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep. Tomorrow would bring clarity, I hoped a chance to focus on moving forward rather than dwelling on the past.
~~
“You slept off really early yesterday,” Mom said as I yawned, heading to the fridge for a can of milk.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes following me with concern.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied, reaching for a cup from the cupboard. I poured the milk, gulping down most of it in one go.
“Easy, girl,” Mom said, her voice tinged with worry. She knew something was off, but I didn’t want to burden her, especially with her being pregnant and the gender reveal party just two days away.
“Nothing, just tired after the date,” I said, forcing a smile. She gave me a knowing look but let it slide, trying to keep the mood light.
“I’ve been having symptoms that your new sibling might be a girl,” she said, trying to cheer me up.
“Seriously?” I asked, my interest piqued.
“Yes, I really think it’s a girl,” she said, her face lighting up.
“You’re sure?” I asked, a hint of excitement in my voice.
“Not completely, but I checked Google, and it mentioned some symptoms of having a baby girl,” she said, her smile widening.
“Mom, stop deceiving her. You told me the same thing with Anya, and she turned out to be a girl,” Reggie said, rolling his eyes as he walked into the kitchen.
“I’m not deceiving her,” Mom protested, making me chuckle.
“Haha, let’s wait and see,” Reggie said, then turned to me. “Get ready to pay that money, or you won’t have a boyfriend ever in your life.”
“Shut up,” I said, rolling my eyes at him.
“Boyfriend?” Grey asked, walking in.
“She has a boyfriend?” Blue echoed, entering the kitchen too.
“Who the hell is he?” Ezra demanded as he joined the group.
“Selena has a boyfriend?” Dad asked, stepping into the kitchen as well.
Oh, shit!
“No… Reggie was just saying if I don’t pay the $10k, I’ll never have a boyfriend. That’s all. No one said anything about me having a boyfriend,” I clarified quickly.
“Oh,” they all said in unison.
“I was almost thinking about crushing his little balls,” Dad muttered.
“Honey!” Mom scolded, rolling her eyes.
“What? She’s still a kid, right, boys?” Dad said, looking around.
“Yes,” they all chorused.
“Seriously? You know I’ll have to get married someday, right?” I pointed out, exasperated.
“It’s unfortunate, but that will happen. When the time comes, we’ll decide,” Ezra said, and Dad raised his hand for a handshake, which Ezra accepted.
“Looks like you all want to eat dinner somewhere else tonight,” Mom said sternly.
“No!” they all chorused again.
“So, let her decide for herself. If she brings a boy she wants to date, then so be it,” Mom declared, silencing them. They knew better than to argue, especially with the threat of no dinner and Dad potentially ending up on the couch.
“Funny,” I said, laughing at their collective silence.
But deep down, I knew I’d never introduce any boyfriend to my siblings or Dad. They’d scare the life out of any guy they had caught me with.
“I’m hungry,” Anya groaned, rubbing her stomach as she walked in.
“Food is ready, honey,” Mom said, guiding her to the dining table.
Just then, the door opened, and Cyrus walked in. Oh lord!
He greeted everyone, his eyes avoiding mine, and I felt a wave of relief. He and Ezra headed to Ezra’s room, and I prayed they’d stay there until I left the house.
~~
After breakfast, I went to my room to get ready for the day. The last thing I needed was another encounter with Cyrus, especially under my family’s roof. I quickly changed into a simple summer dress and grabbed my bag. I had plans to meet Marco later, and I wanted to put last night’s drama behind me.
As I walked downstairs, I heard muffled voices coming from Ezra’s room. My heart pounded when I recognized Cyrus’s deep tone mixed with Ezra’s. I moved quietly, hoping to slip out unnoticed.
“Selena,” Cyrus’s voice called out suddenly. I froze at the foot of the stairs, taking a deep breath before turning to face him. He was standing in the hallway, his eyes unreadable.
Ezra followed him out, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. “You okay?” he asked, glancing between us.
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “Just heading out.”
“Where to?” Ezra asked, crossing his arms. I could tell he was in protective mode.
“Just meeting a friend,” I replied, keeping my tone casual. “I won’t be long.”
Cyrus’s gaze bore into me, but he didn’t say anything. I turned away, feeling his eyes follow me as I walked to the door.
Once outside, I exhaled in relief, the warm summer air a welcome contrast to the tension inside. I started walking towards the park where I was supposed to meet Marco. My phone buzzed with a text, and I pulled it out to see a message from him.
**Marco:** _”Just got to the park. I’m near the fountain.”_
**Selena:** _”On my way. Be there in 5.”_
I quickened my pace, eager to get away from the awkwardness with Cyrus and find some semblance of peace with Marco. When I reached the park, I spotted him by the fountain, looking relaxed in a light blue shirt and jeans. He waved when he saw me, his smile making me feel instantly better.
“Hey,” Marco greeted as I approached. “You look… relieved?”
I laughed softly. “Yeah, I am. It’s been a weird morning.”
“Want to talk about it?” he asked, his expression inviting.
I shook my head, wanting to leave the morning’s stress behind. “Not really. Let’s just enjoy the day.”
Marco nodded, understanding. “Sounds good to me.”
We walked along the park path, talking about lighter things-movies we wanted to see, places we liked to visit in the summer. Being with Marco felt easy, like a breath of fresh air after the storm that was Cyrus.
As we strolled, I caught sight of a small ice cream stand and pointed it out. “Feel like getting something sweet?”
“Absolutely,” Marco said with a grin. “My treat.”
We got in line, and I ordered a chocolate cone while Marco chose vanilla. We found a bench under a tree and sat down, enjoying the ice cream and the pleasant weather.
“I’m really glad you came out today,” Marco said after a while. “I’ve been wanting to spend more time with you, but I didn’t want to push.”
I smiled at him, feeling a warmth that wasn’t just from the summer sun. “I’m glad too. I needed this-just some normalcy.”
He reached over, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “You deserve it.”
I looked down at our hands, feeling a mix of emotions. There was a part of me still tangled up in the mess with Cyrus, but being with Marco made me feel like there was a way out. A chance for something different, something better.
We sat there for a while, talking and laughing, letting the afternoon pass by in a comfortable haze. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt hopeful about what the future could bring. And as we finished our ice cream and started walking back, I knew I wanted to see where things could go with Marco.
~~
Returning home later that afternoon, I felt lighter, more at ease. I opened the front door and was immediately greeted by Anya, who was clearly excited about something.
“Selena! Come quick!” she said, tugging at my hand.
“What’s going on?” I asked, following her.
“Everyone’s in the living room, talking about the party,” she said, her eyes wide with anticipation.
I joined the rest of the family in the living room, where Mom was sitting with her feet up, a list in her hands. Dad was beside her, helping to sort through decorations.
“There you are,” Mom said, smiling at me. “We’re just finalizing the plans for the party. How was your day?”
“It was good,” I said, smiling back. “Nice to get out and clear my head.”
Reggie glanced up from the pile of streamers he was holding. “Did you bring a boy home?” he asked, winking.
I rolled my eyes. “No, Reggie. Just hung out with a friend.”
“Good,” Dad said, giving Reggie a warning look. “You know the rules.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Reggie said, waving him off.
I sat down on the edge of the couch, watching my family prepare for the upcoming event. It was comforting to be surrounded by their chatter and laughter, a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt whenever Cyrus was around.
As I helped Mom with the list, my phone buzzed with a text. I glanced at the screen and saw a message from Marco.
**Marco:** _”Had a great time today. Let’s do it again soon. “_
A smile tugged at my lips as I quickly typed back a reply.
**Selena:** _”Me too. Thanks for being so understanding. Let’s definitely hang out again.”_
“Who’s that?” Mom asked, noticing my smile.
“Just a friend,” I said, tucking my phone away.
She gave me a knowing look but didn’t press further, turning her attention back to the list. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Today had been a small but significant step toward moving on from Cyrus and reclaiming my life.
As the evening wore on, I helped with the preparations, laughing with my siblings and chatting with Mom about the party. The warmth and normalcy of the day eased some of the lingering tension from my encounter with Cyrus.
Later that night, as I lay in bed, I thought about the day’s events. Marco’s kindness had been a bright spot in a week filled with chaos. I knew I had a long way to go, but for the first time in a while, I felt hopeful about the future.
TBC