This chapter is dedicated to
-depressedsunflower-
Thanks for the support❤

*

Just trust me...

Roxie was already long gone with Lan.

By that, I mean like seven minutes ago, but I was still pondering on her words, trying to figure out what she actually meant by that.

Why is she so confusing?

Why is my life so confusing?!

"Stella--" I looked up to see a pair of girls I wasn't in the mood to talk to.

"I'm sorry if we pissed you off or anything, it's clear you don't look so happy," Tianna said.

"Yeah...I'm not so happy, what do you want?" I asked.

"I...we just wanna say we're proud of you...you showed how brave you could be...we all heard about what happened on Friday," Amber said.

Brave? I guess nobody knew how fast my heart was beating on the inside.

"Sure...thanks," I blandly replied.

"I'm serious, you...you actually did that for Cheryl of all people...it's...it's fascinating," she continued.

I just nodded in reply.

"Okay...I get it, you don't wanna talk with us, we're just pestering you. Then fine, we've tried to mend things with you...but no...you keep on pushing us away. What else do you want us to do to show you we're sorry. We all made mistakes but you're making it seem like we're so unforgivable," Tianna said.

I looked up at both of them.

"Tianna is just being a little impatient there, but please understand us..we..."

"Fine...I forgive you," I said putting my gaze back down on the book on my desk.

I figured out keeping grudges won't do any good, it'll only cause me harm, confusion and make my life so complicated.

So yeah, I'll let it go, I used them, they used me, they hurt me, they ask for forgiveness, I forgive them...End of chapter.

"Are you for real? You've forgiven us, so...so we're like friends ag--"

"We're not friends again...isn't it clear, we can't be friends anymore, a lot of things have changed. I forgive you, we can say 'hi' to each other when we cross path in the hallway, but that's it....nothing else. Nothing more," I interrupted.

"Oh.." Amber blurted.

"Yeah...I guess that's how it'll be, if time will heal...I don't know yet but for now, I'll love to keep my life simple and far enough from unnecessary drama," I continued.

"Okay..fine then," Tianna said, a small smile creeping on her face for the first time she got here.

She stretched her hand for a handshake and I accepted it.

I looked back at my book in a way that shows that we were done with the little conversation and I don't know if they got the gesture because I could still feel a presence standing at the front of my table.

"Anything els--" I looked up but noticed that it was neither Tianna nor Amber.

Timothy.

Super cute but hot Timothy.

"Oh," I blurted, trying to take in the shock.

My heart beating like crazy inside my chest. He doesn't need to take me this unawares all the time. I might die from a heart attack if he keeps on doing this.

"I...I didn't know you were here," I said.

Actually, I didn't know that he even remembers me anymore.

He sat down on Roxie's empty seat which was just beside mine and that was when I realized that he was holding a bag.

"Here," he said, handing it over to me.

"What's it?"

"It's just snacks, okay...I figured out you don't go out for break that often anymore so I decided to get you something," he replied.

So he does notice me everyday. I was trying so hard not to flush bright red.

"So, you just show up after years of not saying a word to me and then, try to get to me with a bag of snacks...seriously? What do you take me for?" I snapped.

"Please let's keep 'years' aside, I just felt like you weren't always in the mood to interact yet and this, that attitude was the thing I was trying to avoid," he replied.

Oh...was he gonna leave now?

"But I won't just leave because I already got here," he continued.

"I didn't mean to snap at you like that," I starter before taking the snack bag from the table.

"See...I took the snacks."

He smiled.

And I was grateful for that, having a conversation with him beside me was quite rare now and I know how much I needed it so I'm not just gonna let it slip away like that.

"How are you?" He asked.

"You ask me that question all the time," I replied.

"Ofcourse, I need to, I know you're still going through a lot, trying to find out your true personality, trying to adapt back to normal life routine and stuff, I really care," he replied.

"I dunno...just hoping if we could talk about other things, other things apart from my problems just like the way you talk with other girls...with Claire, like the way you talk with her that makes her smile every two seconds," I blurted.

Did I just say that out loud.

He looked at me squarely in the eye.

"C'mon Stella...you know you aren't 'other girls', everyone is different. You won't talk to your dad the way you talk to your sisters but that doesn't mean you don't like them all so much, right?"

"Well..." I started.

"It's fine, but around you, I feel like there's more than just joking and laughing around. I speak to them all, right...but you're like the only one I can be real with. The only one I can talk to about things that are really serious about my life...things that don't necessarily need to be fun or funny but equally important," he said.

My heart melted. I guess I couldn't ask for anything more.

That was just me being selfish...again.

"In that case, let's talk about you then," I said.

"What else about me? I already told you."

"No..no you haven't, I feel like there's a few points you're missing out on," I argued.

"You mean, something like my mom and siblings suddenly asking about you," he teasingly replied.

I almost choked on the cookies.

"What?"

"Yeah...I wasn't lying. I mean, I can understand Tristan's motive, but my mom and sister's...yet to be known. I think my mom really wants to apologize for what happened the last time you two met, which was apparently the first time though," he answered.

"I'll also love to meet them too, especially Olive," I genuinely replied.

"That'll be really nice of you."

"So I guess you and Tristan are on good terms now."

"Kinda, my dad made us promise to be on good terms before he passed away. We won't want to go against his wishes but atleast we're learning how to keep up better with each other."

"What about Zach?"

"I guess he got what he wanted. He got a share out of my dad's properties. Tristan did too, my mom and my sis."

"And you?" I asked.

"Surprisingly, I did too. I never thought my dad would trust me enough to hand over any of his assets to me. I was shocked he did, given that the will was written over three years ago. He actually did care for me but it felt like as I grew older, the more we get separated, but well...it's past now," he said and I could notice his drastic change of mood

I didn't know what to say or do, if it were to apologize or just hug him tight and share the pain he was feeling with him.

He slipped his hands into his jean pocket and brought out a piece of paper.

I opened it gently but quickly due to my curiosity.

It was like a letter written to him, a letter from his dad.

"It was found in the will, he told our lawyer to give it to me once he passed away," he informed.

I read it and it talked about how much he loves him and how he'd always wanted him to be a great, self dependent person. He also knew that his days weren't much anymore and told him that he should take care of his mom and sister too.

I folded the paper back and gave it back to him.

I felt bad. It would have been better if his dad had showed him the love he needed a little earlier, he wouldn't have been this broken.

I was urging to hug him and this time I did. I pulled him in for a hug and he hugged me back almost immediately.

"Thank you."

~~~~~
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