*Edited*

CHAPTER 25
First Days and Bad Impressions

I still remember my first day of school like it was just yesterday. Of course, like normal people, I don't remember much of when I was ten. But that day will forever be etched in my head.

It was the day my life began, and it was the day I met the boy who ended up stealing my heart.

I can never forget the fear I felt inside me as Kristine's car came to a halt in front of the huge building surrounded by little kids of different ages, running around in a playground.

Asher being his bubbly self excitedly opened the door and jumped out of the car. On the contrary to his behavior, I curled up against the door and hugged my bag against my chest.

"Addy," Kristine called out to me softly, but all I did was shrink down more.

"Addy, you don't have to be scared," she assured.

"What if they don't like me?" I asked in low voice.

"They'll love you, Addy. You're the most amazing little girl that I know."

"No, I'm not. My nanny said that I'm a bad girl. That's why my mother and father don't visit me," I whispered, and Kristine gave me a sympathetic look.

"That's not true, Addy. Your parents are busy with work. Besides, you have us, and we love you because you're a good girl."

"I'm a good girl?" I asked, a small smile making its way to my face.

"Yes, you are. And do you know what good girls do? They go to school."

"I don't want to go," I whispered, shaking my head frantically.

Kristine sighed, getting out of her car and walked towards my door. Asher quickly ran to his mother's side, watching her open the door.

"Come on, Addy. Don't be shy." She softly grabbed my arms and helped me out of the car. Taking my bag from my hands, she place it around my shoulder. 

"Asher is going to be with you at all times. You don't have to worry about anything," she said as she took my tiny hand and placed in Asher's.

Kristine placed a kiss on both of our cheeks, and Asher grinned at me before pulling me towards the entrance of the school.

I slowly turned around to look at Kristine and felt sweat burn my body as I saw her car back away from the school.

"Why did she leave?" I asked Asher.

"Because she does not go to school," he replied.

"Won't she come back for us?" I asked. My eyes slowly started to water at the thought of her leaving me forever.

"She will come when the teacher lets us go home," Asher replied with a grin.

He pulled me towards the playground filled with students. Most kids of age ten would've jumped with joy at the sight, but all that made me want to do was run and hide in my room

Back then, I didn't meet many people and crowds scared the fuck out of me. The closest I came to human contact were the heartless maids, teachers who homeschooled me and Asher's family who I met during the weekends.

"Asher!" I heard a voice call. My head snapped to most gorgeous little boy sitting on a bench, shaking his legs in excitement.

As Asher pulled me towards him, I had no idea that he would be the love of my life. But still, there was something about his alluring eyes and that bright smile on his face which made me feel drawn to him.

"You can sit with Blake," Asher said, pointing to the empty space on the bench.

I shyly sat as far away from Blake as possible, feeling the strong gaze he held on my face. Right now, my heart jumps with joy when he looks at me like that . But that day, I wanted to cover my face in my hands, but I didn't.

"Why does your hair look like that?" he asked, lifting his hand to feel my soft blonde hair that Kristine tied up in a bun that morning.

"Don't touch her hair!" Asher scolded before swatting Blake's hands away from me.

"But it looks like granny's hair from Looney Tunes." Blake reasoned and I gave him a confused look since I had never watched cartoons before Blake introduced me to them later on.

The day he showed me how the granny looked—let's say that he had bruises for the next two weeks.

"Don't be rude!" Asher exclaimed. "My mom will get very angry if she cries."

"Sorry," Blake mumbled.

"Asher!" Another boy shouted as he ran towards us.

"Come play on the see-saw with me," the boy said as he started pulling Asher's arm.

"Jack, stop pulling my hand!" Asher shouted.

"But you have to come. Blake said that he won't play with me because I stink."

"You do," Blake said.

"It's my mom's perfume mixed with my dad's cologne." Jack huffed, "My dad said that I have to smell nice if I want girls to like me."

"You don't smell nice." Blake said.

Jack frowned at him before his gaze turned to me. "Hello, Lady." He greeted as he tried to wiggle his eyebrows at me. Tried being the keyword.

Jack was a classic playboy even at the age of ten. No one would've guessed that he would be the first one among us to settle down in a proper relationship.

"Do I smell nice?" he asked, stuffing his chest to my face, making me scrunch my nose in disgust.

"You smell disgusting!" Blake shouted as he pushed Jack away from me.

Jack glared at him before turning to Asher. "Let's go play!"

"But I can't leave her," Asher replied, gesturing to me.

"I'll stay with her," Blake offered, and Asher nodded before leaving me with him.

"My name is Blake." He stretched his hand towards me. I stared at it in confusion before looking up at his face. When he didn't get a response, he grabbed my hands and shook it.

"My dad taught me that you need to give a good handshake if you want to be respected."

"My father didn't teach me." I stared at my hands on my lap.

"That's okay. I taught you." He grinned.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Addelyn," I replied in an almost inaudible.

"Addenil?" He asked.

"—lyn," I repeated the last part of my name.

"Hi, Lynne." He smiled.

"Addelyn," I repeated my name.

"No, I like Lynne," he said.

"But that's not my name."

"Asher's sister is my new best friend, and I can call my best friend whatever I want."

"I'm not Asher's sister," I said.

"Oh," Blake said, disappointed. "Then why am I sitting with you?"

"I don't know," I replied quietly as I lowered my head.

"Okay, bye." He said as he grabbed his bag and stood up from the bench.

My eyes filled up with tears at the thought of being left alone in this huge place. All the fear that had vanished before, came rushing back as I watched him take a few steps away from me.

He turned around and stared at me for a while before sighing and walking back towards me.

"Fine. I'll sit with you." He hung his bag on the bench before sitting down next to me—this time, even closer.

"Aren't you leaving?" I asked.

"No, you looked sad."

"I'm not sad."

"Don't lie to me. You still sound sad," he said.

I lowered my head and kept my eyes trained on the ground.

I quickly looked up when I felt ️him pull my hair. I turned to him with a glare just as my hair flowed down my back, open from my bun.

"You're pretty," Blake said as he held up my scrunchy in his hand.

"I know." I told him and he gave me a weird look.

"What?" I asked.

"You're supposed to say thank you."

"Why?"

"You should say thank you when some says something nice. My mom says that it's good manners."

"My mother didn't say anything."

"Anyways, you're pretty. Now you don't look like Granny from Looney Tunes." He smiled before putting the scrunchy in his pocket.

A loud shrill sound pierced my ears, and I screamed, snuggling up to Blake.

"That's the bell," Blake explained. "It very annoying."

He stood up from his seat and held his hand out. Taking it, I stood up, and he gave me a soft smile, making me ease into his company.

But all that comfort disappeared as he pulled me into a swarm of students. Panic filled within me as we squeezed in between all the kids. I held onto Blake's hand tightly as he pulled me with him.

Somewhere in between, I felt his hand slip away from mine. More people filled up in front of me and I couldn't see Blake anymore.

"Blake!" I called out but no one heard my voice over the loud crowd.

"Blake!" I called again, feeling wetness pooling in my eyes

"Asher!" I called, hoping he would hear me.

But no one did.

Soon, all the students cleared, and I was left alone in the hallway. I looked around at the huge hallway with blurring vision, wondering which direction I should take. Hopeless, I walked towards the wall and slipped down to the floor, hugging my legs and resting my head on my knees.

I'm going to be stuck here forever, I thought as more tears streamed down my face.

"Lynne!"

I quickly looked up and there he stood with a bright smile on his face.

"I found you!" he exclaimed, kneeling down. I looked up as his arms circled around my body and rested my head on his shoulder. 

"Don't cry. Asher's mom will get angry if you cry," Blake said, patting on my back. as he softly wiped the tears off my face.

"I don't like being alone," I whispered.

"You're not alone." Blake smiled, "You have me."

I pulled away from him, and looked at his face with hope in my eyes. He softly wiped of the tears before standing up and holding his arm out to me. Accepting his hand, I stood up too.

"Let's go to class. We need to get there before the teacher comes or she'll punish us," he said, pulling me along with him.

Blake led me into a room and I looked at all the students seated in the room. Maybe it was because I was a new student, or because I came in late, or maybe because my face was stained with tears—the whole class stopped their movement to stare at me.

Blake smiled at me and started walking, pulling me in with him. Every single student in the class kept staring at me, each of their gaze making me want to sink into the ground.

I tried not to look at any of them but I made the mistake of making eye contact with one girl sitting in the middle of the class. After that, all I could think of was her eyes following me. I could feel her head turning to look at me as I walked and that built up a restless irritation inside me.

I walked, feeling her eyes, and as I Blake led me to the back of the class, I kept nearing her and once I was next to her table, her gaze affected me more than ever.

"Stop staring at me!" I shouted out loud, making the entire class go quiet in astonishment. Even as a kid, I could clearly understand the fear developing on her face and instead of feeling guilty, I felt powerful.

"You're mean!" she cried before curling her lips up in a pout which made a sinister smile appeared on my face.

"Lynne!" I turned to look at Blake who shook his head in disapproval, and my smile dropped at the thought of upsetting him.

Everyone looked away from me and focused their attention elsewhere as I continued following Blake till the back of the class where we took the second last pair of seats in front of Jack and Asher.

Blake took out a book and a pencil, and I did the same, copying him.

A boy sitting in front of us turned around and eyed me for a second before turning to Blake.

"Who's that?" the boy whispered to Blake, thinking that I wouldn't have heard.

"She's my new best friend," Blake introduced, giving me a bright grin.

The boy looked at me again before turning to Blake.

"She's scary," he whispered, again, thinking that I wouldn't hear.

"She's not scary," Blake said.

"Lynne, this is my friend Cole." Blake introduced.

I lifted my hand and gave him a small wave.

"H-Hi, L-Lynne," Cole stuttered.

"No!" Blake exclaimed, "You can't call her Lynne."

"W-Why not?" Cole asked.

"Only I call her Lynne. Her name is Addenil."

"Addelyn," I corrected.

"Her name is Addelyn," Blake repeated.

"O-Okay, Addelyn," Cole said.

"Blake," I called, "don't you have any friends like me?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You're all boys. I'm a girl. Don't you have any friends like me?"

"I don't. But Cole has a girlfriend," Blake said, and Cole blushed a few shades of red.

"Can I see her?" I asked.

"N-No, she is in another school," Cole said.

"Oh," I said in disappointment. That day, I was upset that she was't in my school because I lost my chance at making a female friend. But today, I just wish that she would go back to whatever hell hole she came from.

Cole awkwardly smiled before turning his blushing face away from us and I turned to Blake.

"Why did you tell him that I was your new best friend?" I asked.

"Because you are." He grinned.

"Why are you friends with me?" I asked in a whisper.

"Why not?"

"My nanny says that I'm annoying. So, no one likes me."

"Your nanny is rude. My nanny would never say that because I will complain to my mom and my mom will shout at her."

"My mother does not like me either," I whispered softly.

"Oh," he said with a frown, "Then ask your dad to shout at her."

"He does not like me too," I said sadly.

"I like you. I'll shout at her for you." He smiled and I did something which pretty weird for me back then. I smiled back.

Smiling was not something I did very often as a kid because I had no one to smile to. But since that day, Blake always gave me a reason to be happy.

I started looking forwards to school just to see him, and back then I had no idea why he made me so excited. I never realized that I loved him, all along.

"Good Morning." I heard a voice say, snapping from my thoughts. I looked up to my bedroom door where Blake stood with a glass of water and packet of Advil.

He walked towards my bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked, holding the water and Advil to me.

"My head hurts like a bitch." I groaned and he chuckled.

"You shouldn't have drunk so much," he said as I popped the pill in my mouth before taking a gulp of the water. He took the glass from me and placed it on my nightstand before climbing in bed with me.

"Is that my scrunchy?" He asked, looking at my old scrunchy in my hand.

"It's my scrunchy, Blake. Since when is it yours?"

"You gave it to me."

"No, you pulled it out of my hair."

"I did you a favor." He said, "Otherwise you would've spent your entire first day looking like a granny."

"I did not look like a granny."

"Yes, you did." He said, "And on top of the bun, your hair was almost white back then."

"No, it wasn't."

"Yes, it was. It really darkened since then." He said, taking a bit of my hair in his hand and I slapped it away.

"Anyways, how did you get it? It was in my house." He said.

"Your mom found it with your things and she got worried that you were bringing girls home. So, she showed it to me and asked me if you were seeing anybody. I told her that it was mine and explained the story behind." I said and he laughed.

I smiled and placed my head on top of his shoulder.

"Remember the time you shouted at Hazel on your first day?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Did you see the way she was staring at me? She scared me." I reasoned.

"More like you scared her and the whole class."

"I did apologize to her."

"And how long did that take?" He asked. "It took you one month to just look at her. And another month to finally talk to her and apologize."

"That doesn't matter." I said, rolling my eyes and he chuckled.

"Blake", I called after a few minutes of silence, "Why are you friends with me?"

"You still have that stupid question?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Why, Blake?"

"Why not?" He asked, sitting up straight.

"Most people hate me, I do bad things and I'm keeping you away from Terra."

He sighed before pulling me onto his lap.

"Most people don't know you the way I do." He said as he cupped my face in his hands.

"And if you know that what you're doing is bad, then correct it and try to do the right thing." He said, "And about Terra, don't worry about it."

"Do you wish to talk to her?" I asked and he simply lowered his head.

I took in a deep breath. "I'm probably going to regret this later on," I said, "But I want you to talk to her. Tell her that all this was my fault and not yours."

"I don't want to do anything that will upset you, Lynne. I just want to keep you happy."

"I don't want to be happy if you're not."

"I am happy." He said, "You are my happiness, Lynne."

"You say that now but I don't want you to see me as a burden one day."

"You're not a bur–"

"Blake, please." I said, "I'm trying to correct my mistake and do the right thing. Just what you wanted me to do." I said and he smiled at me.

"And next time onwards, I won't force you into anything you don't want to do and I'll try to put some boundaries."

"There are no boundaries, Lynne." He said.

"There's always a boundary, Blake. And lately, I've been stepping out of a lot of them."

"Who cares about boundaries?" He asked, "We've already crossed a lot of friendship boundaries." He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"I ordered a cup of hot chocolate for you. Your maid probably has it ready by now." He informed. "I'll go get it for you." He said.

I smiled and got off his lap before he stood up from my bed.

"Oh, by the way. You may have to call Jack and give him an apology." He said, making me frown in confusion.

"Why? Oh my god! Did I hit on him?" I asked and Blake chuckled.

"No, you told him that Kate's pregnant."

"Oh, that's not so bad." I said, "I'll call him."

He nodded before walking out of the room.

I took out my phone to call Jack and frowned when I saw a missed call from Cole. Out of curiosity, I dialed his number.

"Hello", he greeted.

"Why'd you call me?" I asked straightforward.

"I told you that I would call you last night. I guess you don't remember." He said.

"I don't remember anything from last night." I groaned, "Did I do something embarrassing?"

"Well, you told Jack that he was going to be a dad." He said.

"I already heard about that one."

"And you started crying about Blake not loving you because you're a bad person."

"I cried?" I asked, scrunching up my face, "That too in front of you?"

"Not in front of me. You had your face stuck on my shirt." He said, "I still have your make up stains to prove that."

I groaned, "I can't believe I cried in front of you." I said and he laughed.

"Don't worry. We all do stupid thing when we're drunk." He said, "The last time I got drunk– never mind." He said, quickly stopping himself and I rolled my eyes already knowing why.

"Let me guess. The last time you got drunk was when you made out with me?"

"Umm....y-yeah."

"And you're still so awkward about it", I said, doing a mental facepalm. "Imagine how awkward it would've been if we actually had sex then." I laughed.

"Oh god! Don't put that imagine in my head." He said.

"I bet it's a hot image." I smirked, teasing him, "You and me, naked under the covers, doing things to each other th–"

"No! Stop! Stop! Stop!" He exclaimed, "Don't you have any filter? Oh my god, that's so weird!" He said and I laughed at his embarrassment.

"You really cute, Cole." I laughed.

"Shut up", he mumbled.

"Oh come on, Cole. Not everyone gets a compliment from me."

"That was more of a mockery than compliment, Addy." He said and I chuckled.

"Very true." I smirked.

"Anyways, I got to go." He said.

"Bye, Cole." I smiled before hanging up.

I lifted my head up and saw Blake standing frozen by my door with a cup in his hand.

"Blake?" I called, snapping him out of his trance.

"I-I have to go home." He said coldly as he placed the hot chocolate on my side table.

"Already?" I asked in disappointment, "Aren't you staying for breakfast?"

"My mom would be worried. I need to go." He said blankly before picking up his shirt and pulling it on.

"Okay, bye." I said, giving him a small smile.

He gave me a small smile but it didn't reach eyes and then he walked out of my room. 

Author's Note

So, the correct answer is: FLASHBACK CHAPTER!

I was actually planning to upload this towards the end of the book. But then I thought that maybe you would understand Addelyn's behavior better if you knew about her past.

I know a lot of you are waiting eagerly to hear Addelyn confess, me too. But it's going to be hard for her to actually do that. People with broken childhood actually find it hard to maintain a healthy relationship in the future too.

Addelyn has a huge fear of rejection. And she does not really feel like she deserves to be loved. Being neglected by many people in her childhood makes her feel like there's something wrong with her. And on top of that, she does have a few behavioral issues and that does make pretty hard to love for most people.  

So, if you liked what you read, vote.

If you want to keep reading, add this to your library so you'll know when I update.

If you have absolutely anything to say, good or bad, feel free to comment and let me know.

And if you made it till the end, thank you for reading and I love you so much!

Okay, have fun, enjoy life.

Signed,
Me