Chapter 24: Chapter 24

pray that Tobias' explanation is enough to make everything okay again.I stand in complete shock, rooted to the spot on the floor. Did Jane really just say that? Beside me Jake starts choking, slapping his chest to regain composure.

"What did you just say?" Jake wheezes, his eyes narrowed directly at Jane.

"Tobias. Loves. Emily." Jane repeats bluntly, rolling her eyes. She dodges out of our way and begins heading down the road towards the direction Dylan disappeared, leaving Jake and I rooted to the spot in shock.

"What the hell just happened?" I ask, breaking the tense silence between us. I turn to look at Jake and his jaw is tensed, blue eyes blazing with fury. He whirls around on his feet, storming back in the direction of his car. I scurry after him, running a hand through my hair.

He slides into the car, slamming the drivers door shut. I slow down as he rolls down his window, pointing at me —

"Get in the car Emily."

I nod my head and walk around the car, sliding into the passenger seat. Jake immediately slams on the gas, the car lurching forward and down the dark road. I look at him worryingly from the corner of my eye, my stomach a bundle of nerves.

"Jane isn't telling the truth, she can't be. It's a lie to cover up her guilty actions." I tell Jake. His foot on the gas presses down further and the car revs loudly. I place a hand on his arm —

"Jake! We need to talk about this before you do something you'll regret." I tell him firmly. His eyes briefly flicker over to connect with mine and I recoil backwards from the intensity in them.

"He's not doing this to me again Emily, I'm going to kill him." Jake responds bluntly, training his eyes back on the road. I sigh heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose as I think of a response to calm him down. Before I can, he parks his car in front of the house, killing the engine before jumping out.

I follow after him, wondering whether I'll have enough time to warn Tobias of the hurricane about to emit inside the house.

"Where is Tobias?" Jake yells, slamming doors open downstairs. He disappears inside the room for a second before re-appearing, moving onto the next. I stand by the front door, my hand over my mouth as I watch everything go in destruct mode.

Myra appears from the kitchen, holding a mug of tea, her eyes wide.

"What the hell is going on?" She asks, dodging out of the way as Jake barges past her into the kitchen. He immediately comes back, standing in front of Myra and placing both hands on either side of her face.

"Sorry Aunty Myra, I didn't mean to shove you." Jake murmurs, leaning over and placing a quick kiss on her forehead.

"Tobias!" Jake yells up the stairs, quietening as he waits for an answer. I take the chance to run up towards Jake, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"Jake, please calm down." I plead with him, hearing a bedroom door open upstairs. Tobias appears at the top of the stairs, his hair ruffled messily on top of his head. He's shirtless with grey jogging bottoms lying loosely on his hips.

"Get down here." Jake says firmly up at him. Tobias raises his brow at his cousin, looking completely unfazed by a furious Jake.

"What the hell have I done now?" Tobias asks him, remaining on the top of the stairs. His voice sounds raspy and low, as if he'd been sleeping a few moments ago.

"I've just been speaking to Jane." Jake responds, his chest rising heavily up and down as he struggles to calm himself. At the mention of Jane's name, Tobias immediately perks up, pushing himself off the wall he's leaning on.

"Really? Where is she?" He asks, sounding genuinely interested. He clears his throat and walks down a few steps before stopping, eyes full of suspicion. A few seconds pass between the two men who are having a stare off —

"You're going to hit me, aren't you?" Tobias says bluntly, glaring at Jake.

"Depends on what your answer is."

"My answer to what?" Tobias asks him, sounding completely clueless.

"Jane is breaking up with you." Jake says, missing out the part where she's already moved on with Dylan. Tobias' eyes widen  at the news but quickly masks over with anger.

"What?! Why are you telling me that and not her?" He yells down the stairs at Jake. It's my turn to frown at Tobias, he genuinely appears oblivious to the whole situation. From his reaction, him and Jane are still together and this was the first he's hearing of the break up.

So why is Jane claiming Tobias is in love with me?

I push past Jake quickly, running up a few steps to put myself between them both. Right now, the last thing this family need is Jake and Tobias at each other's throats again.

"Emily, get out of the way." Jake mutters quietly, motioning for me to move. I hold my head high, shaking my head.

"No way, I'm not letting you two rip holes into one another."

"He wants to hit me because Jane's breaking up with me?" Tobias yells in disbelief, raising both of his hands up in the air. I take a step forward, my eyes connecting with his.

"Look Tobias, don't get mad at what I'm about to ask you, okay?" I say gently, almost as if I'm taming a raging bull. . . Make that two raging bull's.

"Okay. . . Go on?" Tobias responds, appearing just as confused. He warily glares at Jake from over my shoulder, keeping a firm eye on him. I blow out the breath I'm holding, the words about to come from my mouth sounding absolutely ridiculous.

"Jane broke up with you because she thinks you're in love with me." I say quickly, watching Tobias carefully for his reaction. His face remains emotionless and he stands frozen to the spot for several moments.

"Well, are you?" Jake asks impatiently from behind me, glaring up at Tobias with fire in his eyes.

"That's ridiculous." Tobias finally replies, his eyes staring deeply into mine.

"Can I speak to you in private Emily?" Tobias asks quietly and I turn towards Jake, his entire body rigid. I know Jake doesn't believe him.

"I won't be long," I tell Jake quietly. He gives me a slow nod, pain flashing through his eyes. His features crumple up as his eyes flicker from me over to Tobias —

"Don't do this to me Tobias, not again." Jake pleads, his voice cracking vulnerably. An overwhelming stab of pain hits me in the chest at the sound of his voice and I watch Myra guide him towards the living room, attempting to console him.

"Are you coming?" Tobias asks me quietly, his words spoken in a hushed whisper. I tear my eyes away from a distraught Jake, my throat closing up. I can't find the words to respond so instead I nod, following Tobias up the stairs.

The entire time I picture Jake's face and the pain in his eyes and I silently