CATRINA

I wave my hand to catch his attention but he seems too much into his conversation with his friend. I don't know who his friend is but I hope we'll get to talk later. He knows that I love him and he loves me, back. I know he won't leave me. Now that he's graduated and will be off to college for further studies, I fear that he'll break off things with me and move on whereas, I'll be left alone.

I don't want my friends to know that Connor is ignoring me. They'll pounce on this opportunity to show me how Connor will dump me and how I'll be left to watch him flirt with some other girl.

The first part hasn't turned out to be true but I think I saw him talk to that girl, Megan, a senior just like him. The girl couldn't keep her fingers from touching my boyfriend's chest and Connor didn't pry her hands off him.

I shake my head, pushing those thoughts out of my mind. Connor won't cheat on me like that, will he?

I am standing here beside his car in the school's parking lot. He has come to pick me up as usual even after he's no longer a student here. To get his attention, I take out my phone from my pocket and call him but he doesn't pick up, doesn't even take his phone out of his pockets. Urgh! I am pissed. I need him right now. I need to tell him that I am not my parent's biological daughter. My parents adopted me when I was little. Now I realised why Fiona hates me. She already knew that I am adopted, seems like our parents confided in her about my origins and that's why sometimes I felt left out. I ignored it thinking that Fiona was the baby of the family but now I realise that I really wasn't wanted by them, not after Fiona's birth.

I have been waiting since morning to feel Connor's arms around me, soothing me of the pain I feel whenever I think of the pity-filled glances, my parents looked at me with.

Finally, Connor makes his way to me and I put on a smile on my face, trying to hide this new insecurity brewing up in my mind. What if he doesn't want to be with an orphan? I know that he doesn't get along with his father but from what I heard; his father would never disown Connor permanently. Sending Connor to this high school, away from home was supposed to be a punishment.

"Hey Connor. Why are you ignoring me? Did I say something?" I ask when he stops in front of me, insecure about myself. His face is smiling but his eyes are not. They are expressionless, I can't see the warmth in them anymore. It feels as if I am a stranger to him.

"I don't usually talk to cheating sluts, you know. You are no longer my girlfriend. I enjoyed you when you were tight enough but not anymore. You don't interest me anymore," he says, emotionlessly and I am shocked. I stand, frozen in my spot, not quite able to interpret his words. He called me a cheating slut.

Focusing on him, I try to sort this out.

"What are you talking about?" I ask, moving forward to clutch his arms but he shakes me off and I stumble back.

"Don't touch me with your filthy hands, slut," he says, angrily and quickly gets into his car before driving off. He doesn't look back, neither does he say anything.

I feel lost. I don't have my own parents, now I don't have him. How am I going to live now?

~~~~

Days pass by in a blur and I am still stuck in the past. I can't seem to get it out of my mind, that my own sister somehow managed to ruin me. I was adopted, but still she is my sister. How can she do that to me?

"Here's your coffee, Ms. Catrina."

I am startled out of my thoughts when the waitress hands me my to-go cup. Thanking her and putting in a proper tip for her, I walk out of the café only to run into Connor.

Fuck! What's with him. Why can't he just let it go? I can't forget his words, not after what I had to go through. He is partly responsible for where I am today.

"I am sorry." He steadies the cup in my hand and I take a step back, maintaining the distance.

I only nod at him, not quite looking into his green eyes and make a move to leave but he quickly raises an arm to block my way.

I huff in frustration and glare at him. This close, I have to crane my neck all the way to look into his eyes. They hold so much warmth and understanding and something else in them, that I take a step back, unknowingly.

"Are you busy?" he asks and I have this urge of saying yes but I shake my head. It's like my body has a mind of its own around this man.

"Can you please stay with me and we'll go back into the café and have your coffee? I'll also buy you your favourite cream pastry," he says and I am tempted. It's surprising to know that he still remembers my tastes.

"Fine. But only once," I say, trying to be firm in my resolve to keep him away.

"We'll see," he says seriously and then steers me in the direction of the café by putting his palm on my lower back. I stiffen at the gesture and turn to look at him.

"Don't overthink this please," he says and somehow, I detect a sense of vulnerability in his voice. He looks desperate today so I give in.

Walking into the café, he selects a table on the far corner of the café and I know because he doesn't want anyone to hear our conversation. He pulls out a chair for me after taking my coat and I wait for him to settle down.

I wait, not knowing where to start from and what to say. Should I talk about the break-up? It's clear that he was mistaken and his lack of trust is what caused our break-up but at this point, I feel defeated. It's like we aren't meant to be and it is always easier to take the coward's way.

"A rouble for your thoughts," says Connor, placing the sweet pastry in front of me.

"How are you?" I ask evading his question, hoping to have a civilised conversation.

His gaze turns assessing now as if he's not quite sure of how to answer my question. I just shrug at his secretive behaviour and take a bite of my cream pastry, stifling a moan. It's delicious and like forbidden fruit to me since the calories in it directly settle in my hips.

But today I need the added strength. This conversation with Connor especially after knowing the exact reason of our break-up is one, I never thought of having and here I am today sitting in front of him when he wants to get back with me just because he feels guilty.

"I am fine. How are you? I came to know about your parents," he says after a long time of staring at me which has unsettled my nerves further.

"I am fine. They didn't love me as much as they did Fiona but still it felt like a huge hole in my heart after they passed away. Coming to this town was my way of starting anew," I reply not quite looking at him in the eyes. He knows about my address and that my parents passed away. So, I am sure that he knows about me being an adopted daughter of the St. Clair's.

"What do you mean?" he asks frowning. I shrug not wanting to accept it myself. It would sound too pitiful if I told him myself.

"Umm. You know they always preferred Fiona. My red hair and brown eyes made me stand out," I say, getting more and more uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation.

"You are beautiful, Solnysko. I am sure your parents were just protective of you and maybe Fiona was just jealous of you," he offers and I shrug, not paying attention to his words about my family. Still, his nickname for me manages to send a sliver of pleasure down my spine. I try my best to ignore it.

"So, what do you do?" I ask, trying to change the subject and he catches it, raising a brow in question but plays along.

"I own an investigation agency," he says proudly and I know that he achieved his dream.

"That's great but why this town?" I ask unable to quite believe that Connor came to this place to build his career. He could've chosen a city where he surely would have got more clients.

"This is my hometown. I was born here and I also had to take-over my family's business after my father... retired," he says, nonchalantly.

Great. I managed to get out of a bad place and straight into hell.

"Oh. I never could have imagined about this being your hometown. You were like a rich spoilt brat in high school," I say, trying to keep the painful memories at bay but failing miserably.

He leans forward and reaches over the table to capture my wrist when I dig my spoon for more of the pastry. I look up and my gaze collides with his which are intent on mine. I am caught in his spell and once again I fear that I'll lose myself in him, forgetting my existence and become completely dependent on him.

"I am sorry for the way I broke-up with you, Catrina."

I stifle a sigh and jerk my hand back from his hold. He lets me but the tingles caused by his calloused hands remain.

"It was a long time ago, Connor. I am sure you've moved on because after all this time, I have," I say, maintaining a firm expression on my face so that he realises that I don't want to be with him, I can't. There are just too many painful memories that I don't want to revisit. Not now, not ever.

"Just go out on a date with me, only once. After that if you still don't want to be with me then I'll not force you," he says, a little too desperately and this is the second time when I have seen him so vulnerable. He always put up a dominant façade in front of me. I knew then that he tried to mask his true nature but didn't pry. Now, it's like I want to know what is hidden beneath that mask of dominant playboy. I want to know if he had any feelings for me. Did he love me even a little?

I don't answer him for a long time, confused by my own emotions and by the look in Connor's eyes. It's like he has changed. He's no longer dominant, ordering me around. He's quite matured but still fierce and I am on the verge of an emotional meltdown.

Shit! This is what I feared will happen if Connor ever tried to use my emotions against me.

"You wanted to take me out, I am here," I say, trying very hard to sound firm.

"Yes, but for a dinner. Not in a café, not like this," he says shaking his head a bit with a hopeful look on his face.

"Only one dinner, Connor and let me make very clear that I don't intend to get back with you." I say, and feel confident that I didn't sound weak or unsure.

His eyes flicker a bit but then he takes a deep breath, straightening in his seat and then nods once.

"Okay," he says and I nod. Somehow his agreement to this date unsettles me. The thought of him wanting to take me out only as a form of closure pains me.

Suddenly, I feel unsure and some inner instinct of mine wants to give into Connor's attempts. Ignoring my inner conflict, I finish my pastry and walk out of the café leaving Connor to brood and I hope I still stand with the same decision when this date is over.

~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading.

This is my last weekly update. After today, I'll mostly update once in 10-15 days. I apologise for this gap in my updates.✌️

The reason behind this is that I'm not able to write qualitatively at the moment.

Also, I need more readers/ votes. 🤞

But I don't want to make you 2-3 readers wait for the next update so I'll be continuing to update once in 10-15 days. 🤗

Wish me luck and all the best to whoever reads my story. 🤞

May you all have the strength to achieve your goal. That's what I am in need of right now!

Lots of love,

Desari Skies ❤️