Chapter 34- Out of Sight, Out of Mind

(Blake’s POV)

I sit quietly waiting for Farrah’s answer even though I already knew it was somewhere with Brody. When I saw both of her friends at the party Friday night without her, and the absence of Brody as well, it wasn’t too hard to figure out it out.

Just the thought of it made my blood boil. It angered me to think of him being anywhere close her. She was mine….or used to be. With Brody in the way it was making it exceedingly difficult to get her back.

Farrah had a very forgiving heart and I know if she was thinking on her own I could get her back in a minute but now she had another person helping her think. I just need to figure out a plan to get him out the picture before I continued pursuing her.

My thoughts are interrupted by the sound of her heavy sigh, and she doesn’t even spare me a glace before she speaks. “That’s my business Blake. I don’t owe you any explanations.”

Although her voice was calm it didn’t make her response hurt any less. It didn’t need to be reminded that we were not together anymore. I was reminded of that every day I saw them together.  School had slowly become my hell.

“I know you were with him.” I keep my eyes on the road ahead as I spoke.

“If that’s true then why ask me at all?” She replies with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

“Because I want to you to tell me.”

I steal another glance in her direction only to find her sitting with her arms crossed looking out the window beside her. I instantly recognized the look she was wearing as her angry look. I’d only seen it a few times when we were together, but it was enough to know she didn’t like to be messed with. I knew I would get any answers from her until she was ready to talk to me again.

Once I came upon her driveway I had hoped she’d be a little bit more relaxed, but her lack of speech told me she wasn’t. At this point I didn’t even know if she would even stick around to say goodbye. I wouldn’t push her to though. I’m trying to earn her respect and trust however long it may take. I wanted her to see I was still the same guy she fell in love with but with faults just like any other person. We all make mistakes and I’m still paying for mine.

I pull in slowly and kill the engine once I park. I felt a small sense of joy that she didn’t immediately jump from the car the moment were stopped. When she turned to me and looked at me with those big brown eyes my heart leaped.

“Keys.” She says emotionlessly holding out her hand in front of me.

So that was all she wanted? Wait, of course it was. It wasn’t like I had expected her to forgive me so soon.

I sigh as I pull them from the ignition and hold them in my hand. “Can we please just talk first?”

I know it was a low holding her things hostage to get a conversation with her but I didn’t know when I would be able to get her alone again. It wasn’t exactly easy these days.

“No.” She says matter of factly. “I have a date with my television today and frankly I would much rather be spending my time with it rather than you.”

“You’re obviously angry with me. It would be better if we talked about it.”

A slight sarcastic smile appears on her face in almost an instant as she retracts her hand. “I’d rather watch all the different ways I could cover up your murder if you don’t leave me alone!” She visually calms after her threat, but replaces her once smooth features with a frown. “I don’t want to talk and I certainly don’t want to be friends. I just need some space Blake. And I’ve already broken my promise to Brody because of you so the best thing you could do is just leave me alone for a while.”

She opens the door and steps from the car before slamming in behind her. “And you can leave my keys in the car when you depart.” She finishes walking towards her house.

I let out a frustrated groan as she disappears inside the house feeling yet another setback in our relationship. Would she ever forgive me?

I wanted so badly to follow after her and I knew it wouldn’t be a problem seeing as I was on good terms with her mom, but thought better of it. I know she’d hate me for doing it, even more than she does right now.

I reach into my pocket for my phone that was beeping and pull it out to see I had a text from someone. My first thought was that it might be Farrah not through telling me off just yet, but quickly I realize it’s only Kristen when I open the message. I guess I knew she’d be contacting me soon.

Are you through thinking about things yet? We really should talk.

I let out an annoyed sigh and angrily type out a reply to her message.

We already talked.

It was only moments before I received another text from her.

No, I talked and stared at the wall for twenty minutes. I am serious this time Blake. You need to sort out your issues before it’s too late. I won’t wait on you forever.

My heart began to pick up at her indirect threat and I quickly tried to think of a way to to respond to her. I know Kristen well enough to know she doesn’t play around. Her threats were as good as promises.

Fine, I have 2 hours. When and where do you want to meet?

Maybe it was time I finally talked her and officially met her two kids. As much as I didn’t want any part of the responsibility of them part of me wanted to get to know them still. The longer she was around the harder it got to avoid them. I was running out of places to hide.

Ten minutes. I’m at Sweet Delights bakery in town. Can we meet there?

My mom’s place?  What is she doing there? I can’t have her knowing about this yet.

I’m actually on the other side of town. We’ll meet at yours. Fifteen minutes.

Silently pray that she wouldn’t put up much of a fight about it as I wasn’t ready for anyone to know about them yet, especially my mom. I wasn’t ready to be known at home or at school as a teen parent. I still had a reputation to protect.

Fine, but you better show up this time. She replies.

Relief fills me as I read the message across my screen before sending one to Hunter to pick me up.  Well, this is a good thing I think. It’s a start ad everyone has to start somewhere. At least she wasn’t holding a grudge over me standing her up last week. I was still just so mad over learning everything and I wasn’t thinking.

Her telling me I had kids was not part of the plan when I asked her here. She purposely hid everything from me until she arrived. Her only response to my anger was ‘If I had told you, would you have asked me to come?’

No, I wouldn’t. She knew the answer to that question even before she even asked it.

Yes, I was that shallow and I wasn’t afraid to admit it. No one wants kids at my age. Or for me, at any age. I never pictured myself settling down until Farrah. I shouldn’t have been so stupid as to screw it up like I did. I was just scared of how close we were becoming and I honestly never thought I’d get caught. I never would have done it if I had.

If I couldn’t be with her then I didn’t want anyone.

Farrah’s POV

“You got it.” Mom cheers happily as I enter the house.

I don’t have time to reply to her before the pie is ripped from my hands and on its way with my mom to the kitchen. Not as much as hi, hello or anything.

Instead of following her like I normally would I decide to spend the rest of my afternoon in my room watching the Boston Legal marathon that was on and waiting for Brody to call. I’d much rather stare at the flat screen for the next six hours than spend that time with my mom. Who wouldn’t?

I’m pretty sure that’s why my dad disappears every day after breakfast and doesn’t return until late at night. The human race can only take so much of that woman.

Oh who am I kidding? Animals can’t stand her either. That would explain why Mr. Darcy ran away last year. Yes, I name my animals after historical fiction characters, so what. Besides, he did sort of act like he owned the place most of the time. It was like he didn’t share some of the qualities that Mr. Darcy had.

Then there was my yellow Lab, Marie Antoinette, who suddenly took up residence with our next door neighbors. I would have to walk over to their house and collect her every day, but she would always go right back. After their five year old daughter, Katelyn, fell in love with her, I finally relinquished ownership to them and let her stay. Sadly they moved six months later though and took her with them. I was sad for a while but knew she’d be much happier with them than with me.

After a long hot forty-five minute shower and blow drying my hair I check my phone again for the third time since being home. Brody had still not called or texted me to let me know if he was alright. I mean I knew physically he’d be fine but not emotionally.  When it came to his dad his mood was pretty unpredictable.

I sigh in disappointment when I see that I have no notifications on my phone which only prompts me to visit his Facebook page. Not that he would post anything there, as he was not very public with his life, but I was curious and I had the time.

After plopping down on my bed and playing Boston Legal in the background I power up my computer and log on.  As soon as the page is displayed I hit with ten notifications. Four were from game requests and the others were from Grace and Sarah along with a few comment replies.

I smile when I come across Sarah’s page. She had tagged Grace and me in a picture from the first, and only, party I went to with Brody. It was the one that someone had taken of us with our arms thrown across each other’s shoulders singing to the top of our lungs. The best part was the funny look on my face as I forgot some of the lyrics to the song.

I read below at a  few comments people had posted on it.

Olivia: Farrah’s face is priceless. I have to have this picture!

Grace: Haha Me too! :)

Sarah: Nothing is stopping you. ;)  

Brant: Isn’t that one of Brody’s girls?

Sarah: Her name is Farrah you idiot and she’s not one of, she is the only one. :P

Brant: He knows how to pick’em.

Sarah: Haha. Unlike you!

I‘d be lying if I said that the ‘one of’ comment didn’t sting a little, but I knew Brody wasn’t like that anymore. If I thought for one second that he was, I certainly wouldn’t be with him. If I wanted a guy like that I would have stayed with Blake. 

My eyes continue to scan down the list at the rest of the comments, but none hold any interest to me. They rest were mostly just people I didn’t even know talking about the party that night.

After I grow board of Sarah’s page I decide to head over to Grace’s to see what she had been up to. I hadn’t spoken to her since I had gotten back home so I thought about sending her a message to come over. That is until I saw something that caught my eye.

Grace is now friends with Hunter Green and 2 other people.

I almost laugh at the realization of his name. Hunter Green, really? His first and last name goes together perfectly. As much as I disliked him I did find it sort of cool.

Hunter Green. It’s not a bad color.

After the humor of it leaves me I start to grow concerned.

Wait, why would she be friends with him all of a sudden? They have never spent much time together. Not that I had with half the people I was friends with Facebook, but this was just a little bit odd.

I linger my curser over his name for a split second before clicking it to go to his page. I was determined to find out what was going on here.  I had waited long enough. It was now time to get some answers.

As I scroll down his page I see nothing out of the ordinary until I reach fifteen posts down on his page. Jeez this guy likes to share a lot of pictures.

Hunter had changed his relationship status to- In a relationship.

So he is dating someone, but whom? It was changed only a week ago.

In the back of my mind I had a slight suspicion of who it might be, but I didn’t want to make an assumption until I had more evince.  

 There is only one way to find out, my mind sang tauntingly to me.

Giving in without a fight I go back to Grace’s page and scan her news feed. No more than five posts down my suspicions were confirmed.

Grace had changed her relationship status to- In a relationship.

It was the exact same day Hunter changed his. Coincidence? I think not.

Oh Grace, what have you gotten into? And why didn’t you tell me?

Well that’s dumb. Of course I know why she didn’t tell me. It was because she thought I wouldn’t handle it well. She thought I’d be upset about her and Hunter since he was friends with Blake.

I was starting to feel a little bit sad that she actually hid something from me. We never hid things from each other. We were-are best friends. I must be a pretty bad one though if she thought I wouldn’t accept their relationship. Sure I’m not over the moon about it, but if she really likes him then I would do my best to get over whatever resentment I had for him.

I guess I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow, if she’ll own up to everything that is. After all, if she hasn’t posted who she’s in the relationship with she’s obviously still keeping it a secret. And for good reason I suppose.

After a few minutes of trying to process everything I decide to visit Brody’s page before I sign off for the night. Lord knows I wouldn’t get another chance to do it today. Mom already had plans for my evening.

From what I could tell Brody’s page hadn’t been touched in a week or more, at least not by him. There were a few posts made by Jake and Kyle sharing pictures and something about how he missed an awesome part Saturday night, but that was it. The last thing Brody had posted was humorous a grumpy cat meme.

Just as I thought…nothing.

Ugh this is so frustrating. Maybe I should just call him.

But what if he’s still having it out with his dad? That wouldn’t be good.

Giving up the debate I close my laptop and lean into the pillow, resting my head for the time being. It wouldn’t be long until Heather arrives and everything will be a bit more chaotic. I might as well make the most of the peace and quiet around here.

I turn up the volume on the TV and get comfortable before diving into a world of crime for the next four hours.

Heather, Callum, Mom, Dad and I sit around the table eating our dinner while joining in light conversation. For the most part the room was quiet though and the only thing that could be heard in between conversations was the sound of clinking silverware against the pearly white plate’s mom had chosen for dinner.

It was…awkward to say the least.

I was honestly beginning to wonder when someone was going to mention the large elephant in the room also known as my sister’s pregnancy.

For the first time in my life I could truly see how unhappy my father was with Heather. I know he had always had high expectations from her and now this. I was just surprised he was keeping he had kept his cool this long. I didn’t miss the glares he had been sending Callum all night. I don’t see how anyone could.

Then there was my mom who kept a smile on her face through the whole dinner at after Heather’s news. She didn’t seem as surprised as the rest of us. In fact, it almost seemed like she knew already and was just playing along.

Callum clears his throat awkwardly in an attempt to break the silence in the room. “The dinner is delicious. Hats off to the chef.”

“That would be me.” Mom smiles. “I honestly didn’t even know if it would be edible. I haven’t cooked for years.”

Or ever.

“I hate it when the help I gone.” She adds.

I roll my eyes at her taking a sip of my drink. Is she serious? Debora has worked here for two years and she still calls her “the help.”

No wonder she isn’t very fond of my mom.

“Speaking of help.” Heather interrupts. “What Agency would you recommended for a Nanny?”

“Just go through the one your father and I went through. Remind me after dinner and I’ll get the number for you.”

As all three of them began discussing the baby I could tell my dad we growing impatient with them. He looked as if his anger would boil over any minute. Heather was really trying his temper right now. Was she really that oblivious as to what this was doing to him?

“We go to our first doctor’s appointment next week.”

“When will you find out the sex?” Mom asks.

“Not until I’m four months unfortunately.” She replies disappointedly.

“Well I think a baby is just wonderful, don’t you dear?” Mom smiles to dad then back at Heather.

I could notice her tensing while waiting for his reply. I had a feeling it would not be one she was hoping for. I honestly felt bad for them both.

“I think I’ve heard enough about this for one evening. I’m going out for some air.” He replies standing up from his chair.

“What? But Heather-”

“I said enough.” Dad interrupts mom heatedly. “You go on about how we aren’t keeping our eye on Farrah enough yet when your other daughter gets pregnant and run off so irresponsibly you after as if everything is fine. Well I won’t. If you ask me, Farrah is the least of our worries.”

I watch him in surprise at his outburst before he roughly pushes his chair aside and stomps angrily through the dining room. 

“Robert what on earth is wrong with you? I know this is exactly ideal, but-”

“Not ideal? She has brought ridicule to this family and you have done nothing but praise her for it. No, this is certainly not ideal. Now, if you’ll excuse me. ”

Before mom could get out another word dad had left the room slamming the door behind him. We were all left speechless. I can’t recall a time Dad had ever had and outburst like that, especially at my mom.  There usually always on the same page, but not this time.

“Don’t worry honey.” Mom says sympathetically to a watery eyes Heather. “He’ll come around. He’s just worried about how this will look to everyone else.”

Part of me felt bad for Heather, but then part of me also felt bad for my Dad. He was just hurt over her running away and anger was the only way her could express it.

I lay my napkin upon the table and quickly stand to my feet.  Mom doesn’t even notice my exit as I seed towards the door. She was too busy consoling Heather as usual.

 I pass through the kitchen and living room following after my dad until I come to the slightly open side door that led to the garage where dad kept his car.

I pulled it open enough to get through and entered the Garage. I look around the empty room for him until I see him sitting inside his BMW with his hands on the wheel still looking quite irritated.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do or say to him yet, all I knew was that he needed some comfort to. After all it was the least I could do after standing up for me to my mom.

“Dad?” I say pulling open the passenger side door and getting in next to him, the slightly warmer air of the car that shielded me from the cool of the outdoors as a welcomed change.

My dad sat emotionless next to me, staring at the lighted speedometer from the running car. I wasn’t exactly sure that he wanted company but I felt like I had to do something. What Heather did was hurting him and I felt the need to talk to him.

“What are you doing out here?” He asks softly.

His change in attitude came a bit of a surprise to me. His angry façade now appears to be gone.

“I wanted to make sure you were ok.” I admit.

He lets out a heavy sigh and drops his hands from the steering wheel. “I will be. I’m just really disappointed in your sister right now. I guess I’m not handling it very well am I?”

I shrug my shoulders not really sure he would want to hear what I had to say, but I felt like giving it a shot anyway. “You’re acting like very rational if you ask me. Any parent would be upset of a child they admired so much did something like what she did.”  

He nods only slightly, but doesn’t reply. He still seems to be in thought. That’s when I take my chance to continue.

“That being said, she’s still only human. We are entitled to make mistakes. Grant it, she doesn’t make them often and certainly not this magnitude, but she does.”

Slight recognition played across his face as he spoke. “I suppose your mother and I have held her up a little high over the years. We always expected her to be so perfect. I didn’t occur to us the she would do something such as this. I suppose it’s my own fault for expecting so much of her.”

He was right. He and Mom both had expected a lot of her, but I wouldn’t tell him that He was already suffering enough as it was. I didn’t need to add on to it. However if it were my mom sitting here and not my dad I just might let it slip. Maybe.

Jeez I’m an awful person.

But not as awful as she is.

“Well,” He sighs. “I guess I should apologize. Looks like the club will have to do without me tonight.”

“I guess so.” I half smile.

Well at least that’s settled.  Even though Heather and I had our differences, she was still my sister and she has covered for me more times than I can count. I guess you could say I owed her one. Besides, I’m sure she would do the same thing for me.

His hand reaches for the keys to switch the car off before something stops him. Instead he turns to me.

“You know, I don’t think we’ve talk one on one like this since you were five years old.” He states. “I wonder why that is.”

Before I could answer him he seemed to have already come up with a reason all by himself and holds up his hand in front of him to stop me from replying. “That’s my fault as well. Lately I’ve been a bit too busy for my girls. Work has seemed to take precedence over my life. I wouldn’t even know what was going on in your lives now if you asked.”

He didn’t seem happy about that fact. It almost seems as if it bothers him in some way.

“You have to work dad. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Well I’m not entirely oblivious.” He quickly adds with a smile playing on his mouth. “I do know you seem quite taken with a certain young man with the last name of Bauer.”

I feel a deep blush rising on my cheeks at his statement. “Oh.”

“That was the boy that joined us on our lake trip, was it not? Rick’s son.”

“You remember.” I reply in surprise.

“Of course I do.” He says with a hearty laugh. “I’ve never seen your mom so worked up. She was fit to kill.”

“She was, wasn’t she?” I giggle.

He nods controlling his laughter a little. “After she saw it wasn’t going to work trying to set you back up with the Coleman’s she was immediately started plotting. Then when Brody showed up her plans were brought to a halt.” The glee in his eyes was unmistakable. He was much happier about this than I ever dreamed. “I couldn’t have been more pleased he showed up. He put that Blake character in his place.”

“And you’re happy about that?” I flabbergast.

“Well let’s put it this way, I wasn’t not happy about it. I never did care too much for that boy.”

I almost burst out laughing at my dad’s confession. He couldn’t have been more indifferent from my mom than he was right now. She’d die if she heard him say that. Still had such high hopes for Blake and I much to dismay.

After laughing it off my dad slowly begins to compose himself and switches off the car. He pulls the keys from the switch and pushed them into his pocket before opening the door.

As I do the same I am quickly stopped my dad’s hand placed over mine. When I turn to look at him he honestly seemed happier than I had seen him in a long time.

“Thank you Farrah. You’re a good girl and I’m proud to call you my daughter. Whatever you do, don’t let your mother kill your spirit.”

After the disbelief of his words wear off of me I shake my head. “Don’t worry dad. I won’t.”

“Good. The house would be much too boring.” He grins.

I laugh at him and through my arms around his neck and mumbling an ‘I love you’ to him before getting out of the vehicle.

I was honestly feeling quite happy with myself at the moment. A crisis had been diverted and a family saved. 

Ok, so maybe that was saying a bit much, but I do feel like I helped my dad some. Hopefully it was exactly what he needed to patch things up between him and Heather. It would just seem so strange if they were angry with each other. The universe would be out of line creating all kinds of chaos.

I slowly climb the stairs to my room anxious to return to my phone. Hopefully with a little luck Brody will have called me and everything will be right with the world again. One could hope right? I mean it has been six whole hours since I had seen him last.

I was starting to have withdrawals as lame as it sounds.

Jeez. I am one love struck teenager….and I like it.

Once I reach my room, my cell is the first thing I go for.

Oh please have called me.

To my delight that is exactly what he did, but I wasn’t able to answer. Fortunately though, he did send a text right after.

I miss you babe. Leave your window open tonight. I’m coming over.

                                                                                                       -Brody

Oh my goodness he’s coming over. He’s coming over! My insides were screaming with excitement. My bad boy was coming over and I couldn’t wait. I had missed him too much and it would take everything in my power not to jump him as soon as he got here.

Plus I couldn’t wait to tell him all about my day and hear about his. Hopefully he and his dad worked things out and we’re all gonna live happily ever after. That’s what I was hoping for anyway.

I mean it happened to Cinderella so why couldn’t it happen for me? Occasionally reality does give us happy endings. I just hope I get one too. After all nothing is impossible for us.

I smile as I eagerly type out a reply to his message.

Great, I can’t wait. I’ll be wanting.

Oh crap! Waiting, not wanting. Now I just sound like an overly horny teen. Stupid auto correct! That’s what I get for typing to fast I guess.

Should I correct it?

Eh. I think I’ll leave it. It’s more fun that way.

Now with Brody, my parent’s and Heather taken care of, I just need figure out what’s going on about Grace. I’ll leave that for tomorrow though. Out of sight,  out of mind.   

Tonight I don’t want to think about anything else other than my bad boy.

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Author Note; Please Read!

Hey guys! I’m alive. I’m sorry if I worried any of you, but no harm ahs come to me. Hope you liked the chapter and are looking forward to the next one. I’m starting to get all emotional thinking about it. It will probably be the very last one. I can’t believe it. I’m gonna miss you guys so much when it’s over. Don’t worry though. I’ll probably do an epilogue. And I have a surprise for you as well.

How many of you would like to read Olivia and Thomas’s story? I’m not exactly sure how I’m gonna do it yet, whether it will take place after this one, or during. I might kind of intertwine the stories a bit if I do it during with this one. What do you think? You’ll also get to see a little more of the characters you love. Just remember it will be their story. Any idea for a name?

In other news, you’re going to love me! I have come to the decision to publish this story. It took a lot of debating but I decided to do it. It will obviously take a little while to edit and re-read everything but I’m gonna do it. I’ll be sure to let you guys know more about it as soon as I know more. I’ll add an info chapter to the book with everything you need to know about purchasing it and any specials I have going on with it. So to make sure you receive this information you need to follow me on Wattpad or Facebook or keep this book in your library till it has all been announced.

Comments! You know I love receiving them, but please refrain from any rude remarks regarding my late updating. If you are going to do that than please don’t comment at all.  I’m very sorry for keeping you waiting, but I do have a life that sometime interferes with my Wattpad time. I can’t do anything about it but accept it. Other than that I’d love to hear what you think!

Gosh I’ve missed you guys.

Please, please, please…..Comment, vote and follow!!!!!

 -XOXO Brittany

Dedicated to Danielle Johnson @lolyoudontknowme for the amazing banner to the side. >>>