2 Chapter 2

Catherine

I shifted in my seat from time to time as mom was driving home. I looked out the window as so many thoughts circled my head. 'Why is he back? Why all of a sudden? Why didn't we know about his coming back? Why was he following me around school? What did he want from me really?"

"What's wrong?" Asked mom noticing how uneasy I was. "I'm okay, nothing is wrong." I said to her not able to face her. "You seem a little uneasy." She stated, "had a rough day I guess." I said.

"Are you going to tell me about it?" She asked as she turned to me before turning back to the road. "I just.. fell.. in front of the whole school in the cafeteria. I-it was pretty... embarrassing." I lied. "Is that so? Okay, I'm really sorry. Why don't you take a nice cold shower to clear your mind." She said as she pulled up through the driveway at home.

"Sounds good. I'll get right to it." I said as I slid out of my seat with my book bag. Mom opened the front door as we both got in. I went straight to my room to take a shower.

I got down stairs dressed in grey sweatpants, a white spaghetti top and a cardigan and furry  slippers. The smell of food embraced me as I entered the kitchen. "Mmm, what's that smell?" I asked faking the extreme hunger, making mom chuckle. "I made lasagna and a beautiful salad. Why don't you set up and we can dig in." She said making me nod, "okay." I said as I started getting plates from the cupboard on to the dinner table.

"All done." I said as I sat down, "same here." Said mom through her chuckle as she set down the food and started serving it. "So, how was your shower?" She asked. "It was... refreshing." I said echoing mom's words earlier then we both laughed lightly.

"See, I told you." She said as she sat down making us both chuckle. Dinner with mom was the best thing for me. I always enjoyed mom's company. Most times when she's not too busy at work, we would spend the whole day texting, and when she's off, we sit around and gossip. We have movie nights on friday, on Saturday we go out and do whatever and we have icecream sundaes on Sunday night.

We bond over reality shows like keeping up with the Kardashians. It always ends up with mom claiming it's all fake and shit and me trying to defend them even though I feel the same way. We gossip a lot about her coworkers and our neighbours, but nothing hurtful at all.

We really love to entertain. So every chance we get, we invite friends, family or just our neighbours over for some sort of event. We travel a lot during the holidays. We always use it as an excuse to bond, make new memories and find new people to gossip about.

Sometimes I think she does all this to get me away from missing my dad since he left. She's just trying to make sure I'm not sad even though I haven't given her a reason to feel that way.

We ate in comfortable silence before she broke it. "Sheila called." She started, "did you know that Chad is back from boarding school?" She asked. I let out a sigh of irritation as I frowned and rolled my eyes.

"She thought of telling us that now?" I asked then mom frowned in confusion. "Chad's been here for like two weeks. Couldn't she tell you immediately after he came back?" I asked failing to hide my annoyance.

"You knew and you didn't tell me?" She asked as she stuffed her face. "Well, I didn't think it was important. Besides, I only found out yesterday after school." I explained then filled my mouth with lasagna.

"Is that the reason why you had a rough day?" She asked, "I don't really want to talk about it." I said as I grabbed both our plates and walked over to the sink to wash them.

"You have to talk to him sometime. He needs to know what he put you through." She said as she grabbed some water from the fridge. I scoffed, "and what's the guarantee the he doesn't know what he put me through? What's the guarantee that he didn't do it just to.... to make fun of me?" I paused as I felt a rush of strange emotions.

"Look, I don't want to talk about this. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going upstairs, I have homework to do." I said as I rushed upstairs feeling the need to be alone.

As I got upstairs, all the flood gates opened as tears started to stream down. "Why? Why the fuck did you leave me? Why did you leave me waiting out there for you like an idiot? Why did you fucking lie to me damn it?!" I screamed as I slammed my phone in the mirror next to me.

I heard mom banging on the door after a few minutes, demanding that I open it. I sat on my bed as tears kept streaming down. The last thing I saw was mom embracing me in a hug before I drifted to sleep.

I woke up at the unfamiliar beep of an alarm as the sun beamed in my eyes forcing them to shut quickly. I slowly opened them as I started to recognize the unfamiliar aqua marine sheets I  was under as mom walked into the room.

"Here are your clothes for today, your book bag and your laptop. I had to break down the door to make sure you were okay so I called in someone to come fix it, and I replaced your mirror." She said before taking something from her drawer. "Here, I replaced your phone as well. I didn't know which one you'll want so I just got you the latest iPhone version. You can start updating it now." She said as she smiled down at me.

"Are you okay?" She asked making me nod. "That's good to hear. Why don't you get ready and come downstairs for breakfast?" She asked and I nodded making her leave her room.

I quickly took a bath and got dressed in a long sleeved white crop top and a black sun dress that went down my mid thigh and I matched that with black short boots. I tied my hair in a bun, grabbed my book bag and headed downstairs.

I took a seat at the table as mom poured me some orange juice and handed me my plate of breakfast. "Thanks." I said making her smile as she sat down to have breakfast.

"How long until your phone is ready?" She asked, "oh, it's at 96% done right now." I said as I begun to dig in making her nod. "So you have a half day tomorrow, want to do something?" She asked making me shake my head, "I have a class and I have to meet up with Abigail and Rachel." I said making her nod.

"Want to have icecream tonight maybe?" She asked making me laugh lightly, "sure." I said taking one last sip of my juice before cleaning up after myself.

"All done." Said the man who fixed the door. "Thanks so much for coming in. Here's your payment." Said mom and the man took the money before saying goodbye and leaving.

"Come on, I'll drop you off before you get late." She said and I nodded before leaving with her.

I was getting my books from my Locker getting ready for my third period when I was approached by Rachel.

"Hi Catherine?" She greeted, "hi Rachel. How's Abigail, is she doing okay?" I asked, "yes, she's alright. So are we on for tomorrow?" She asked making me nod, "of course, I guess I'll come by yours then." I said as I closed my locker door.

"Yeah, about that, I was thinking we meet up somewhere else. Maybe we can meet up at the browns cafe or all stars dinner. You see, my parents are home during that time and they might make you uncomfortable." She said.

"Um.. okay, sounds good. We'll go for the dinner." I said making her nod. "So, what's up with you and Chad? He can't seem to get his eyes off you. Everyone's wondering why he's following you around." She said, "nothing's going on between us. He's just weird I guess." I said not wanting to say much.

"A hot weirdo, huh?" She said with a mischievous smile. "Whatever." I said through a chuckle while rolling my eyes. She suddenly looked behind me then back at me again. "Well, good luck." She said making me frown in confusion, "why is that?" I asked, "I guess you'll find out." She said before smiling and walking away.

I was standing in confusion when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned my head only to see Chad smiling down at me. "What the hell?" I  spat rather than asked before turning my head to walk away. I was blocked by his arm before he came in front of me.

"What do you want?" I asked, "why do you keep running from me?" He asked as well. "Well isn't it obvious that I don't want to talk to you?" I said through a chuckle making him chuckle too. "Just a second, please?" He asked with his smile that makes me want to agree with everything he says.

"I am busy right now and if you don't mind, I have a class to attend." I said making him laugh lightly. "Ha-ha, I wonder what's so funny?" I beamed make everyone turn their heads to us.

"Well, you and I share the class so I hope you don't mind if we walk together. " he said making me frown in annoyance. "Whatever. " I said after a few moments as I walked away.

"Hey! Wait for me." He yelled after me running to catch my pace. We got into the class room as everyone was chatting with their friends. I quickly sat down at my favourite seat, in front of the class and close to the window.

As he sat next to me. His lips parted as he was about to say something when the teacher walked in and started the lesson. "Take out your books and turn to page 65." Said the teacher.

"So how have you been?" Asked Chad making me roll my eyes in annoyance as I ignored his question. "How's your mom?" He asked again making me ignore him again as I scribbled down some notes.

I was relieved because he gave up on asking me questions, but I soon became angry as he started poking me with a pencil. "Stop it!" I yelled making the teacher call me out. "Miss Mercedes, would you like to do the honours of teaching today's lesson!" He said making me frown in anger and regret. "I'm sorry sir, it won't happen again. "I apologised. "Take your seat." Said the teacher sternly.

I glared at Chad beside me as he mouthed 'sorry ', making me roll my eyes in anger.

The bell rang ending the school day. I walked out of school and sat on a bench near the parking lot as I was typing on my phone. All of a sudden, I felt someone at my feet. I put my phone away when I saw chad touching my feet.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, "apologising for almost getting you into detention." He said making me roll my eyes as he sat next to me.

"That's the third time you've apologised today, just stop it. I said it's okay." I said.

"I got that. I just wanted to make sure. " he said making me chuckle lightly. "What do you want?" I asked after a few moments of silence as I starred into nothingness.

"Have you made it a hobby to ask me that?" He asked, "haven't you learnt to answer people's questions?" I asked making him scoff, "you're one to talk." He said to himself, "excuse me?" I asked in annoyance, "I just miss you." He plainly said.

"What do you want from me chad?" I asked again, "I just told you." He said in a duh tone. "Is that really why you're here?" I asked him impassively as I continued to stare into nothingness. "Well, why do you think I'm here?" He asked.

"You can't fix a broken mirror, Chad." I said finally looking into his deep brown eyes as they burnt into mine. "Who said anything about fixing it?" He asked. "I was thinking I should throw it away and get a new one. I know my reflection will always be the same. " he said making me look away again.

"We can't forget the past. " I said as I felt tears start to fill my eyes. "But we can't keep living in it either. " he stated making me stand up. "I'm sorry Chad, I can't do this right now. That's my mom's car, I better get going. " I quickly said not wanting to spend another second with him.

I ran to mom's car as he kept calling after me to go back. I got inside making mom start the car without asking any questions.

As we got home, I repeated last night except without throwing a fit or eating dinner with mom. I just  couldn't deal with all of that right now.

Like what the hell, Chad. You left me alone back then and now you want me back? Is this another lie? Another trick? I won't let you infiltrate my heart again. Never.

Confusing?

I'll explain.

So Chad and I were childhood friends, our moms were coworkers. That was way before dad left. He, my cousin and I were the best of friends. My cousin had to move away after sometime with auntie and uncle, leaving me with no one but Chad.

Chad became my best friend in the whole wide world, we did absolutely everything together and spent all our time together. He was like a brother to me and a son to my mother.

When we were in middle school, he became pretty popular, and I was well known and feared because I was always with him. Most people couldn't believe that we were just friends. As a matter of fact, unless they were talking to me, every one knew me as 'Chad's girl' which I found very disgusting and uncomfortable at the time.

One day, Chad and I were arguing about him allowing everyone to call me his girl and I made the most stupid mistake of my life. Chad told me that me being his girl wasn't such an impossibility to which I denied. We kept going on about the issue until we decided to make a bet. He told me he could make me fall in love with him before high school for a thousand bucks and if he failed,  he was to give me a thousand bucks and kneel at my feet.

I was so comfortable with that bet because I was so confident that it was impossible to fall in love with him. After that day, he began to act differently towards me and made me feel certain strange emotions.

Before I knew it, I had fallen so hard for chad, he won the bet. I couldn't find it in me to tell him how I felt so I pretended. He kept going on with the bet thinking he was losing until one day when he came up to me and told me that he had fallen for me instead.

I fell for what he told me and I confessed my feelings. After hearing me out, we started dating. We were a very happy couple because I knew exactly what he liked and he knew exactly what i liked.

We went on for only two months before he started becoming distant. For some unknown reason, he would rather spend time with his friends than his girlfriend. It didn't take long before he started cheating and making stupid excuses for standing me up.

I couldn't take it any longer, I had to put my foot down with him. We took a break for a few weeks before he apologised and promised me he would be my date to the school dance.

We went on happily since he apologised. He even bought me the dress for the dance.

When the day came, I got all dolled up, I  wore the dress he chose for me, I was so excited that I didn't even eat that day.

Mom dropped me off at the dance and I went in to look for Chad. I had searched everywhere hoping to find him but to no avail. I had concluded that he just wasn't there then, so I waited.

The dance began at 8:00p.m and was to end at 10:00p.m.  I waited from eight to nine and he didn't show. I waited again from nine to ten and he still didn't show. People took pictures of me and posted them online, they made fun of me and not to mention all the stares from the other guys who just wanted to get at me.

Everyone was gone by 10:15, I stayed and waited. A few minutes later the principal came by and found me, he was my mom's very good friend and we were all pretty close.

"Catherine? What in the world are you still doing here? Didn't your mom come to pick you up?" He asked, "no, and I don't want her to. I want to stay and wait here for Chad. " I said seriously.

"So Chad didn't show up, huh? Sweety, I don't think he's going to come. He knows that the dance is over already. " he said, "so you admit that he was aware that I was here waiting for him like an idiot." I said avoiding eye contact as a tear escaped my eye.

"I guess so. Maybe he got caught up with something at home. Don't jump to conclusions just yet, okay. " he said making me scoff, "Is that why he didn't text or call telling me he won't make it? Or maybe that's why he didn't reply to my texts and kept terminating my calls, huh? Is that it?" I said failing to keep my rage in check.

"Tell me uncle Ted. "  I said as tears started streaming from my eyes. "I'll give your mom a call and tell her you'll be spending the night at my place." He said as I got comfortable in his office.

I had stayed awake until morning as my mom came in and yelled at me. I told her I wouldn't leave until I saw Chad. She couldn't win against me so she went to Chad's house to get him to come see me.

After a while she came back with Chad and they left us alone to talk. "What's all this nonsense Catherine? You're going to start high school soon and you're still acting like a child? Grow up!" He yelled "what about you, was what you did to me last night mature at all? Haven't you put me through enough Chad?" I yelled.

"Where were you and why weren't you answering my calls?" I asked sternly making him laugh "you don't want to know." He said making me angrier, "I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know, Chad. " I said making him chuckle.

"You want to know where I was? Well i was at a party and we had alcohol, i got wasted and i took a few girls back home with me. And why is that? Because the truth dear, is that there has been absolutely nothing between you and I. I did what I did because I had a bet to win and nothing more and news flash, I won it all. To you I might mean everything, but to me you're no more than just a friend!" He yelled and the sting in his words made me wish I never asked.

I couldn't contain my anger. After what he had said to me, my hand just moved on it's own and gave him a hot and tight slap. "Take that back." He said to me after I hit him, "make me." I said making him grab my hand tightly and roughly close to his chest until we were only a few inches away from each other.

"Grow up and maybe we can try this again sometime. " he said sternly before pushing me to the ground and storming off.

I never saw him again since that day. He's mom decided to punish him by taking him to a boarding school. My mom took me to a different school in order for me to heal, I did till he found his way back into my life. And now he wants to make my life a living hell. But I won't let him fool me like he did back then. Never ever, chad.