Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 123

The atmosphere in the kitchen is incredibly tense, and you could cut the tension with a knife. I feel a lump rising in my throat, and I press my lips together. Kent's reassuring hand moves up my back to my shoulder blades, and I sigh, attempting to relax.

"Kent," Piper begins, clapping her hands together. "Is there... some reason you're holding onto Juls like that? Is she already that intoxicated?" She asks in a mean, condescending manner, and Kent squeezes my shoulder.

"Juls is my girlfriend," he responds without hesitation, and her eyes nearly roll back into her head. I half-expect her to become possessed, climb the walls, and have her head spin in a circle.

That's a bit of an exaggeration, but I do notice her eye twitch. Not a lot, just twice, as her right eye betrays her while her mouth tries to maintain its unflinching smile. It's not working.

"I'm sorry; I think I just hallucinated. Did you say she's... she's..."

"She's my girlfriend," he repeats calmly, and this time her smile falters.

"It can't be. She's been gone for months."

"Juls and I have been seeing each other since exams. We're coming up on close to two months at this point," he says defensively, and I feel my heart rate increasing.

There was a time when Kent used to kiss Piper at these parties, when he'd do anything to avoid being caught with his true feelings exposed. There was a time when he and I had to lie to her to protect our personal lives. Hearing him say it so boldly, repeatedly to her, was making my body heat up.

"You're kidding," she deadpans, and he and I shake our heads. "Are you serious, Kent?" She snaps, and his expression darkens. "Juls? The loser who always has her nose in her books and can't even make eye contact with people?"

I try not to flinch at her comments, but the truth is she thinks that because I'll never look at her. There's something about Piper that makes me shut down completely. It all stems from an insecure place, knowing she's in control and assertive about everything. Every time I see her, I feel like I'm back in high school.

"You and I are a perfect match. We're alike! We come from the same kind of family, we're in similar degree programs, you've practically been making out with me like we're dating at this point!"

"The last time we even touched was months ago. When was the last time I even saw you?" Kent asks, furrowing his brows. "Why would I date you?"

"Why wouldn't you? Everyone wants you, Kent, except you!" She shouts, and this argument is starting to attract attention. People come in from the party, eager to get the inside scoop on this drama. "I knew you were emotionless, but I didn't realize you were also an idiot!"

"That's crossing the line!" I burst out, finally finding my voice. She's always been able to shut me down, make me feel weak and useless, but not this time.

The kitchen falls silent after my outburst, and anger courses through my body as I stand next to Kent.

"You can say whatever sideways crap you want about me, Piper. Do you think you're the first person to say this stuff about me? At least come up with some new material!" I exclaim. "Kent is not emotionless, you... you know what! Maybe he just doesn't like you!"

I watch Kent's face crack a faint smile when the word 'you know what' leaves my mouth, which he quickly conceals and returns to his scowl.

Piper is a bit lost for words. I've never stood up to her so firmly before, and she clearly isn't used to it.

"It seems you've grown a backbone while you were away, hmm?" She quips, and I shrug.

"What do you think you'll achieve here?" I retort, and she gets an evil smile as she pulls out her phone.

"I have a little video I think you both will enjoy," she says, tapping away on her phone with her acrylic nails. "I believe it will make you see reason, Kent, and stop acting like a fool."

"I'm not interested in whatever you think will change my mind," he replies, and she rolls her eyes, selecting something on her phone and then showing it to us.

"See anyone familiar on there?" She asks in a smug tone, and the two of us squint our eyes at a black screen displaying a frowny face and a message in white typewriter text that reads: 'video failed.'

"I don't see anyone, Kent, do you?" I inquire, and he shrugs.

"Nope," he responds, and she immediately flips the phone back around, furrowing her brows. She tries again, but it doesn't work once more.

No matter how many times she attempts it, it won't work. I'm quite proud of him for this, as it makes her look like a fool. I laugh and kiss his cheek, which sends her into a fit of rage.

"You two should not be together!" She screams, and I glare at her, unimpressed with her behavior. "This is ridiculous! I know I have this video somewhere, and if you want it to remain private, you'd better."

"What?" Kent asks, raising his eyebrows. "Go on, what should we do, Piper? Especially since you can't even find this video."

"I knew you two were getting a little too cozy months ago," she accuses, pointing a finger at us. "I went outside on Halloween, and imagine my surprise seeing Juls and Kent wrestling in her bedroom!"

I roll my eyes at her thinly veiled attempt to provoke our friends and embarrass us, but she's not done yet.

"Kent is pinning her down; they're face-to-face. They looked way too comfortable for just friends, if you ask me."

"And what's your point?" Kent snaps. "We're two adults. I understand this is difficult for you, Piper, but not everything revolves around you."

"Why don't you just tell everyone what you did?" I ask, crossing my arms, and she shrugs.

"I filmed it, obviously. I warned Kent that if he didn't stop this nonsense, I'd send it to anyone I could think of. So, when I get a good copy, I'll start sending it." She shrugs.

"You did what?" Mark asks angrily, his beer can crumpling slightly in his hand, and the color drains from her face. "You filmed two people in a private moment? You really are an unhinged person, Piper."

"Oh, it's nothing compared to what she really did with that tape," Kent reveals, and Piper's cocky smile wavers. "Do you want to say it, or should I?"

"I have no idea what you mean," she says, trying to mask her nervousness.

"Piper tried to sleep with me to blackmail me with this stupid video," he announces to the room, and I reach my hand up to his shoulder and give it a squeeze.

"What?" Kyle asks, looking at Mark and Abby for any indication that they knew about this. Nobody did; it was Kent's secret.

"Come on, Kent," she sighs, crossing her arms.

"No, you know what you did, Piper," he says in a serious tone. "You took advantage of my emotions on Halloween and dragged me upstairs. I wasn't so drunk that I went through with it, thank goodness."

"Oh, is that the story you're telling everyone?" She laughs incredulously, and I feel a sharp pain shoot through my chest.

Kent said he didn't, that he never had. I believed him and stood by him after he told me the truth the last time.

"We didn't have sex, Piper," he says firmly, and she shakes her head.

"That's not true," she smiles with an irritating grin. "Is that what you told Juls?" She laughs, and I blink, looking at him.