CHAPTER 43
Pending Questions and Ceaseless Misery

"Can I have your number?" The guy asked me as I buttoned up my shirt.

"No," I replied.

"Why not? Didn't you have fun?" He asked, pulling up his pants.

"No," I replied, rolling my eyes.

"But-" I interrupted him by crashing my lips against his before pulling away and giving him a sickeningly sweet smile.

"Don't ever talk to me again, Landon" I said.

"It's Logan," He corrected.

"I said never to talk to me again." I reminded before hopping off the teacher's table and walking out of the class.

I walked out to the almost empty hallway and I realized that most students must've headed to the cafeteria for lunch. I was about to go there too until I spotted two familiar faces next to Terra's locker.

I could hear the sounds of their laughs getting louder as I approached closer to them.

"Right, so I've never done this before." Blake chuckled nervously and my ear perked up in curiosity.

He slowly grabbed her hands in his and placed a kiss on them before looking into her eyes with a smile.

"Terra, would you like to be my girlfriend?" He asked and my heart dropped to my stomach just as a bright smile appeared on Terra's face.

All the pain that I tried to keep on the low came rushing back and I could feel the tears fighting it's way out, but I held it back.

She was about to say something before her eyes met my cold glare and her smile immediately dropped.

Blake turned around, following her gaze to look at me, making his mouth slightly part open.

"W-We'll talk later." Terra said quickly and he turned to look at her as she walked past him to the cafeteria.

"Sorry for ruining the moment." I said and he looked back at me.

"It's alright. You didn't do anything." He said, tiredly leaning against the lockers and closing his eyes.

"I'm just going to leave." I said before pursing my lips in a thin line.

"Wait," He said before opening his eyes and pushing himself away from the locker to walk towards me.

"I haven't properly talked to you in days." He said.

"Now isn't a great time, is it?" I asked.

"Well, you don't give me much of your time anymore. So, I guess I'll have to adjust with the bad ones." He said.

"You won't be having much time once you get a girlfriend." I said, letting out a humorless laugh.

"She walked away." He said with a sad sigh.

"I'm sure she was going to say yes, but I guess I ruined it for you... again." I said, lowering my gaze to the floor.

"Lynne, it's not your fault, okay?" He asked before cupping my face in his hands and placing a kiss on each of my cheeks before kissing my forehead.

"I miss you." He whispered.

"You clearly haven't been missing me much." I scoffed.

"Lynne, you're my best friend. She's not replacing you." He said.

"No, she's just taking a place above mine." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Lynne, you've been above everyone else since we were ten, Lynne. It's not going to be that easy to top you." He said, giving me a smile before slowly caressing my face.

"Addelyn?" A voice called and I stepped away from Blake before turned to the source of the voice and I internally groaned, seeing the guy I hooked up with earlier stand there.

"What?" I asked in a bored tone, walking towards him.

"I just thought that you might need this," he said, handing over a small chit of paper with his number scribbled on it.

"Thank you, Lachlan." I said.

"It's Loga-" He words came to a halt as I rolled the paper up in a tiny ball and aimed it at the nearest garbage can, making a perfect shot before turning to Lachlan with a wicked grin.

"Bitch," he mumbled before he turned around and walked away.

"What did he want?" I heard Blake asked and I walked back to him.

"He had a doubt in chemistry." I said to which he nodded.

"Let's go to the cafeteria." he said as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against him before we walked into the cafeteria.

"What took you guys so long? Lunch is almost over!" Hazel exclaimed as we reached our table.

"We had things to do." Blake replied casually, making everyone shoot us curious glances as we both sat down.

"Rule number one of having a girlfriend: do not hook up with other girls." Jack told Blake.

"I don't have a girlfriend and we were not hooking up." Blake argued, rolling his eyes.

"The hickey on her neck says otherwise." Asher snickered and I quickly covered my neck with my hair.

"What hickey?" Blake asked as he moved my hair to the side to get a better view of my neck before a deep scowl appeared on his face.

"That guy didn't come to you for chemistry doubts, did he?" He asked, clenching his jaws.

"No, he didn't." I shrugged casually, making him turn away from me to the food in front of him with a glare.

"I'm really enjoying the awkwardness here." Jack grinned, earning a smack on his head from Kate.

"Anyways, what are your plans for the camping trip?" Hazel asked, leaning across the table.

"I'm not going," I said.

"Why not?" She asked.

"Because it's a shitty place filled with sweaty people and insects." I reasoned.

"But it'll be fun!" She argued and I shook my head in disagreement.

"Please," she said, giving me a pout.

"We'll see." I said and she grinned.

The bell rung and multiple groans filled the entire cafeteria.

"This is why you don't come to lunch late." Hazel said, seeing my unfinished food.

"I wasn't hungry anyways." I shrugged.

"Okay, let's go to class then." Kate said and I was about to get up when I felt a hand on mine.

I turned to Blake as he moved closer to me, making my breath hitch.

"I can still see the hickey." He said and he moved my hair over my neck to cover it up.

"It's fine now." He said before placing a kiss on my forehead and giving me a smile.

"Bye," I said softly, getting up from my seat and walking out with Hazel and Kate, still feeling his eyes trained on me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"She walked away!" I complained, "Do you know how disappointed he looked? How could she give up on an opportunity to be with someone like him? I mean, I get it; I can be very intimidating. But if I were in her place, I would've have said yes, no matter what. But she's a major bit– Asher are you listening?!"

Asher looked up from his phone with an eye roll before placing his phone on his bed and sitting up straight.

"Addy, maybe it's a good thing that she didn't say yes. Isn't that what you wanted?" He asked and I pouted before walking towards his bed and sitting down.

"No, I don't want her to break his heart." I said as I walked over to sit on his bed.

Asher's family invited me over for dinner tonight since it was his parents' twentieth wedding anniversary. They didn't have any big celebrations. It was just them and me. After dinner, Asher and I went up to his room as his parents got ready for the romantic getaway.

"You know how you guys used to joke about him being my boyfriend," I asked and he hummed in response, "Even though I pretended to find it annoying, I used to love hearing that."

"I knew that," He smirked.

"No, you didn't."

"I totally did. I know you very well, Addy." He said, making me roll my eyes.

I sighed and fell to his bed on my back as I stared at the ceiling.

"I've had a lot of fantasies about him and I being a couple; going on dates, watching boring romantic movies, sharing milkshakes..." I trailed off, "It kind of sucks that he wants it all with someone else."

"Addy, don't go there. Don't think of things that'll upset you." He said and I nodded before sitting up.

"Kids!" I heard Kristine call from the living room.

"Let's go downstairs," Asher said and we both got up from the bed before going to the living room where Asher's parents stood with their bags.

"We're going to leave now. Take care and stay out of the kitchen." She said, giving Asher a pointed look and he cheekily grinned at her.

"Bye," She said and placed a kiss on both our cheeks before leaving the house.

"Why can't you go to the kitchen?" I asked as we walked back upstairs.

"The last time I went to get some food, the fridge fell down. I swear I had nothing to do with it." He said innocently.

"Where you touching it in any manner." I asked.

"I was just trying to open the door. Apparently, it was locked." He said and I gave him eye-roll before walking into his room.

"How is he doing?" I asked as I climbed on Asher's bed.

"Who?" He asked.

"Blake. How is he doing after the bitch just walked away?" I asked.

"You still haven't let go of that?" He asked.

"Asher, just tell me." I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"I don't think he's doing so well. He got into a fight with this guy named Logan for absolutely no reason during practice today." He said.

"I'm going to go take a shower." Asher said.

"And I'm going to sleep." I said, pulling the covers over me and closing my eyes.

I was just about to fall asleep when I heard a shrill female scream fill up the room. I hastily opened my eyes before averting my gaze to Asher's bedroom door where Hazel stood, holding her tiny dress to cover her naked body.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I asked.

"What the fuck are you doing here?!" She asked back.

"What the fuck are you doing here naked?!" I asked her and she lowered her gaze in shame.

"I-I wanted to surprise Asher. He said that his parents were going out." She mumbled.

"I'll give you five second to put your clothes on." I said before shutting my eyes close and I heard some shuffles in the room.

"I'm done!" She said and I opened my eyes to see her walking towards the bed with a sheepish look on her face. She took the pillow beside me before getting on the bed and hugging the pillow.

"Do you do this regularly?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, this was the first time... and the last." She said and I chuckled

"What was all the screaming about?" I heard Asher ask as he sneaked his head out of the bathroom.

"Hazel wanted to surpri– Ouch!" I squealed as she pinched my arm.

"I was surprised by a spider." She said before letting out a nervous chuckle.

"There are no spiders here, Hazel." Asher said and I held back a laugh.

"I-I was mentally preparing for the camp. There would be spiders there." She said and Asher gave her weird look before shrugging and locking the bathroom again.

"You and Cole would make a great team. Your lies would rule the world one day." I joked.

"Ha ha, very funny." She said sarcastically, making me laugh.

"Speaking of the camp, have you decided yet?" She asked enthusiastically.

"I don't know." I said.

"Oh, come on, Addy! Everyone's going to the camp and you don't want to be left here alone, do you?" She asked, "With everything that's going on with Blake, you really need a break, Addy. Sitting alone at home isn't going to do you any good."

"Okay, I guess I'll go." I said and she gave me a huge grin before hugging the life out of me.

She released me from the hug when an annoying ringtone blasted into our ears.

"Asher! Your phone's ringing." I shouted.

"Who is it?" He shouted back from the shower.

I leaned across to the bedside table and took his phone before looking at the caller ID.

"It's Blake!" I informed.

"Take it!" He said and I pressed the answer button before keeping the phone against my ear.

"Dude! She called me up and she said yes! Could you believe it? I have a girlfriend! A real one; not some fake rumors." He said excitedly before I could even get a word out.

"Congratulations," I said, feeling my heart clench inside my chest.

"Asher?" He asked with a confused tone.

"Do I really sound like Asher?" I asked.

"Lynne?"

"Bingo," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh... I didn't really mean the rumor thing to be something bad. I didn't mind being rumored to be your boyf–"

"Blake, it's alright." I said, interrupting his ramble.

"I see you're really happy." I said.

"I guess I am." He replied and I could feel the smile in his voice.

"Anyways, it's getting late. We'll talk later." I told him and we said our goodbyes before hanging up.

I saw Asher walked out of the bathroom just as I placed the phone back on the bedside table.

"What did he want?" Asher asked.

"He wanted to tell you that Terra agreed to be his girlfriend." I said.

"Addy, are you okay?" Hazel asked, slowly caressing my back.

"Yes, I'm happy as long as he is." I said, giving her a smile.

"Are you sure? You can tell us." Asher said, sitting down on the bed.

"Really, I am. I guess I wasn't the one for him, and I've just learnt to live with that." I said and they both nodded.

"Hazel, are you staying over?" Asher asked and she bobbed her head excitedly, making me chuckle.

"I'll go sleep in the guestroom." I said.

"Are you sure?" Asher asked.

"Yes, I really don't want to be stuck in a room with you two." I said before getting off the bed.

"Be safe. I'm not ready to take on godmother duties yet." I said, giving them a wink and Hazel blushed as Asher chuckled.

I walked out of the room and into the guest room before locking the door behind me.

I leaned against the door and shut my eyes close, feeling a huge drop of tear slip down my face. I felt my legs weaken and my back slid against the door as I fell to the floor, hugging my knees.

I want him to be happy, I kept telling myself but I didn't know why it had to hurt me so much to keep him smiling.

No matter how much I prepared myself for this, it still hurt way more than I ever imagined it to.

I tried my best to keep my feelings aside and be happy for him, but I can't. I just can't seem to be happy for him and a girl who won't love him half as much as I do.

I had so much more than what she had, yet she had me wishing that I was her just so that I would be the one he wants. The one who knew me the best wanted someone he barely knew over me and that made me feel so worthless.

I had never felt more alone in my life, and it was just going to get worse. 

Author's Note

And the moment you've all been waiting for: Blake and Terra are finally a couple! Doesn't that just sound amazing!

I'm just gonna shut up before you kill me now. 

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 any comments, 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