DAISY

Yesterday around this time, he said words that I wanted to believe, and today he took them away easily.

I froze staring at the two happy people having coffee together.

I hate him so much.

"How do you know this much about him?" I heard her but I couldn't bring myself to speak with my eyes welled up, I'm sure I will end up sobbing if I attempt speaking. "Daisy?" Kate calls again.

"I live at his place." My voice hoarse when I muttered.

"What the fuck?" I noticed the surprise in her exclamation even though my eyes were glued to the person across the diner.
He must be enjoying his date's company, his eyes were fixated on her.

"I know, I wouldn't if I knew too."

"There's more you're not letting out. What is it?"

Kay smiled and look down at the mug in front of him before lifting his eyes and they found me. His smile instantly widens.

Isn't he ashamed of himself? He has a girlfriend, even for Riley's sake he could've respect himself.

"Is complicated," I mumbled and swallow the lump in my throat.

"More reason you should tell," Kate suggested.

I sniff and divert my eyes from him, I don't know what it is but I've never felt this way for anyone. Why does it have to be?
"We have to work," I tell her.

"Rob and Papa will cover us. We have a whole hour to ourselves." She pulls me by the arm back to the empty locker room and turns the lock.

Maybe I needed to be away from him, maybe I can't stand seeing him with anyone. Maybe I want him to myself alone.

Kate sat on the bench next to me and stare for a while before she begins. "I'm all ears, tell me what the stalker out there has to do with the reason you look suddenly depressing."

My lips fold between my teeth, I focus on my thumbnails and vocalize the truth. "We used to be best friends."

There was a long silence before Kate suck in a deep breath. "You and him?" She questioned, confusedly.

I hesitated but answered anyway. "Yes. Me and Kaiser."

"Wow." She shift back, I can feel her eyes pouring on me, I only choose to ignore and focus my blurry vision on my trembling fingers.

I find myself telling her everything from the start until yesterday evening when he concluded ripping off everything left in me.

He claims to love me.

He left me in the middle of an abyss where I have no guidance or tendency to choose the right path.

If only he has any idea how much I would give to be loved by him, It makes me hate myself for that, I shouldn't be doing that, I shouldn't be stealing the love that's not mine. I can't be that selfish, am I?

Riley needs him more than I do, he's her family. I can't be greedy. That's why I pushed the one person I had spend my life waiting for, he is the other part that makes me complete.

Although right now I don't even know what he wants, he's with a whore out there having coffee.

"This is a lot to digest. That man out there is Kaiser Chandler and your childhood best friend." Kate asked after the long narration of my messed up life.

I nod small and exhale.

"Then why won't you tell Riley about everything?"

"I can't, she's going to hate me."

"You wouldn't know if you don't try."

She has no idea. What I did to Riley is unforgivable. I can't confront her, I don't know how to.

"You would hate anyone who has been kissing your man behind your back, someone who lied to you for months when they had every chance to admit the truth."

Kate watched me with sad eyes and nod in agreement. "What did you tell him?"

"To go back to her." My voice was brittle.

"Well, he's probably with someone that's not her." She exhales a playful laugh.

"He will do anything he wants, he has everything. He controls everything."

"Is going to be okay." Kate held my hand and promised.

Her promise reminds me of my mom and I immediately know she's wrong.
"It doesn't get any better."

"I'm sorry about your mom, Daisy."

"Fate won't stop until it screws me to the scratch." I try to smile but I end up exhaling a sob.

"Come." She pulls into her arms, and it feels a bit better, not being alone. "I'm here for you. I promise. Call me any time if you need anything, okay?"

"Thank you."

KAISER

I came home late last night, even then I wanted to go upstairs and get her to tell me why? Why she pushed me away.

She gave me signals, I am sure she wants me. But right now I don't understand her.

The more I think about her the more Riley kept screaming in my head.

Which she has every right to, I left her out there without a car to get herself home, I came back late with busted knuckles, she should be more than mad.

She cleaned my hand and kept accusing me of fighting Caden.

She has no idea it wasn't Caden I punched, it was my life and my fucked up fate.

I've never benefited from what I want in this place that's called the world. For once, why can't I get what I fucking want?

The whole night I texted her multiple times, I even tried going to her room when Riley fell asleep.

This morning when Riley suggested going shopping for Thanksgiving, I desperately waited for Daisy to join us, but Riley didn't invite her and I decided to let go. But while walking around the aisles of the grocery store I text her.

Yet she didn't reply. It began getting to me and I know I will go crazy if this persists. I had to go to Reagan and practically begged for those pills to calm my nerves but instead, she insisted I bring her to West Bay for a coffee.

"She works here?" Reagan asked.

"Yes."

Her eyes wander around the luxury restaurant.
"It's a good place."

"I know."

She sips her coffee before leaning closer and asked: "How's she doing?"

Remembering all the information I have so far, I know Daisy is not doing well.
"She's falling apart and so stubborn to let me in."

"You're the stubborn one also." Reagan accused with a smile and bring her hand over mine.

"Not really," I smirk.

Her brows arched at me. "Uhm?"

I had to chuckle and defend myself. "I'm offering to change."

She hesitated for a while, examining me like all the time on our sessions. "Why not change, you don't have to offer."

I smile small and lowered my gaze to the black coffee sitting at the table.

Is easy, right? Change without offering.

I swallow and exhale before bringing up my eyes but instead, they fell on the radiant green staring at me.

She looks pretty like always in her uniform. Responsively I offer her a smile, She makes me fucking crazy, God knows I cannot stop until I make mine.

She held my gaze but she didn't return a smile. She looks sad. Did she learn about her mother? I should go to her.

"That's her isn't it?" Reagan asked when I couldn't stop staring, even though someone drags her away from my sight.

"Yes." I nod.

Reagan watches me with thoughtful eyes. "She's pretty, I see the reason."

"She's good," I mumbled and sink into the chair.

"Look Kaiser, you have to be honest to her."

"I told her how I feel." But she fucking dumped me in this woods and left.

"But did you tell her why we are here? To begin, you need not keep any secret from her. She needs you but she doesn't trust you."

"It's obvious, you don't have to rub it on my face." I huffed and look away.

"I'm not rubbing anything, I'm being honest with you."

"So she believes I'm lying?" I exasperatedly throw my hands around.

Reagan adds some sugar to her coffee and stirs slowly, it takes her a while, that I almost slam the table, but lucky for her, she eventually speaks.
"She's suffering a hardship that she's burying with make-up, It's there if you watch closely. Why not convince her to wash it?"

"You expect me to ask her to wash her make-up? You don't tell that to a woman, believe me, I tried. I was suspended for saying that to my high school principal, you should try too." I snort when I remember Mrs. Williams's face when I sputtered that at the gym on some stupid assembly.

"No Kaiser, you will let her trust you. Let her know you mean every word and make sure your sarcasm is put aside. If you truly love her, you will let her see what is beneath that anger of yours."

That dawned in me and I remain empty with nothing left to say.