Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Rylie's POV

A bunch of emotions flooded me as I stood there, staring at the face of someone I'd come to love and hate all at once. A part of me wanted to run and bury my face in his chest, another part of me wanted to hit him so hard, another part wanted to get the hell out of there. I was conflicted, at crossroads.

Minutes passed and neither of us had said a word yet. I knew I should have walked away but I didn't, couldn't bring myself to do it, not yet at least. When he finally spoke, I feared my heart would burst. I'd missed him so much but I knew I had to hide my emotions. He wouldn't see me cry.

"Rylie," he started, my name like a breath of fresh air on his lips, "I didn't think I'd see you here."

"Why? Surprised I finally crawled out of the hole you dug for me?" I spat, my hands balled in fists.

"Rylie, I'm so-"

"Don't you dare, Blake! Don't you dare!" I yelled, narrowing my eyes at him.

"It doesn't have to be this way, Ry. I know I hurt you but it was for the best. It was for her," he pointed to Grandma Nellie's headstone. "I couldn't continue to lie to myself and to you. It wouldn't have been right. Please understand. I care about you, Ry. I really do-"

"Stop it, Blake! Just stop, okay!?" I exploded, cutting him off. "How dare you? How dare you use her as an excuse? You used me, Blake. I trusted you, I trusted you not to hurt me. You promised Blake. You promised me and I believed you but what did I get in return? Heartbreak!" my voice broke but I went on. "What did you expect Blake? That we would break up but go back to being friends? That's not how things works, Blake. You don't get to snap your fingers and have me at your will. This, us, it ended the day you decided to break up with me for something you caused! I'm just- I'm done!" I stepped away and walked around him.

"Rylie wait," he called, his hand on my shoulder. My head snapped to the back and I growled. "Get your hand off me and don't you dare touch me ever again! The only reason I haven't hit you yet is because of her," I nudged my head in the direction of Grandma Nellie's grave.

Without saying another word, he took his hand off my shoulder which felt strangely cold at the lack of contact but I shook the feeling off and plodded on. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I stomped away, my hands tucked in my jacket.

I'll show you, Blake Weston. And I'll make you pay.

***

The days turned into weeks and only grew colder. After my last encounter with Blake, I resolved to making sure I put him behind me by putting all my focus on the two events that mattered the most to me: Finals and the Talent Show.

Yup, I was going ahead with the competition. I'd thought of dropping out after the whole break-up with Blake but that would only mean that I was still affected by him and I was determined to prove I wasn't.

That was at least one thing I was grateful for. While the mere thought of what he did to me hurts, I'm at least grateful that I was able to overcome my years long stage fright, something that Asher had never been able to do. So I was thankful for that.

Weeks passed and finals came and just like that, they were over.

"I can't believe we're finally done. After all this while..." Olivia groaned with relief. I rolled my eyes at her dramatics but I agreed with her. Now that finals were out of the way, I could focus on better things, i.e. the talent show.

As Olivia and I walked over to our lockers, my eyes fell on him. He was casually leaning against the wall, a straight look on his face while a girl shamelessly flirted with him. Our eyes met and his cheeks took a shade of red to show his embarrassment. I looked away, determined to show that I wasn't affected.

After stuffing my things in my locker, I waited for Olivia when my phone beeped. I reached in my pocket and turned on the phone to see a message from Sky.

That's right. We hadn't seen each other since the whole thing with Jessie ended and Blake and I started dating for real. A lot had happened since then. A lot had changed.

Brushing away the thoughts that began to stream in, I opened Sky's message.

Sky: Hello, stranger. Long time no see. If that boyfriend of yours hasn't been keeping you too busy, perhaps you'd like to get coffee or something at Dalia's, the cafe we first met. As friends, of course. My treat ;)

I smiled sadly at the word ‘boyfriend’. I had a lot to catch him up on. I typed the message.

Rylie: Sure. See you there five-ish.

His reply came in almost immediately.

S: Will be there.

I smiled as I turned off my phone and slipped in my pocket.

***

A few minutes to five, I was already dressed and ready to meet Sky. As I checked myself out in the mirror, my eyes fell on my open window and Blake's open one which was quite visible from where I was standing.

I could still vividly remember cussing at him for looking at me while I undressed, the day we first met. That window held a lot of memories for he and I, memories that right now only brought hurt and pain.

I reluctantly drew my eyes back to the mirror and eyed my reflection with a sigh. It's time I moved on anyway and what better way to do that than meeting up with a good friend, one I know a certain someone would appreciate me seeing.

Wait a sec, I'm not seeing Sky because of Blake. I'm seeing him because it's been a while since we hung out last. I've just got to remember that.

With that information stored in my mind, I did a little twirl and after confirming that I looked okay, I grabbed my purse, slung it over my shoulder and headed out the door.

I told my mom I was heading out and pecked her on the cheek and walked out the door. A few steps out the door and just like that, I was falling. I grabbed onto the nearest object which happened to be two strong arms for support just as two large but soft hands grabbed my waist to catch me.

My breath hitched as my eyes were drawn in by two bottomless pools of gray. My waist buzzed and tingled and my heart seemed to breath faster. His eyes swept over my face, eventually falling on my lips and I fought the urge to caress his face and those lips.

Almost immediately, I caught myself and jumped back as though I'd been burned. His eyes fell in a look of concern and sadness as he moved closer.

"Are you alright, Ry?" he asked tenderly. His voice undid and I struggled to keep my voice and face hard.

"Don't. Call. Me. Ry." I said through gritted teeth.

"Oh," his face fell and he looked to the ground.

"What are you doing here anyway?" I bluntly asked.

"My mom asked me to get something from your mom," he looked up again and his eyes slid over the length of my body but not in a way that made me feel disgusted. Instead, I felt strangely beauty just from the look in his eyes. "You look beautiful. Where are you off to?"

I faked offence even though his compliment touched me. "Oh! So you're saying I only look pretty when I'm going out and other times I'm shabby. Is that what you're saying?"

"No, no, no!" he cried out quickly. I fought the urge to giggle. "I'm just saying that-you look nice. You always look nice. Beautiful."

"Save the compliment, Blake. And I am going somewhere."

"Oh."

"I'm going to see Sky," I blurted out before I could stop myself. Almost instantly, Blake's eyes darkened and he pursed his lips tight to show his annoyance and disapproval. I don't know why I added that part but a part of me liked seeing Blake this way. Jealous.

"Does he know about us? Has he- has he tried to make a move yet?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

"Cool your horses, Blake. No, he doesn't know about our breakup. He still thinks we're dating and he hasn't made a move yet, even though I don't see how that's your problem."

He stepped closer. "If it's about you, that makes it my problem."

"Maybe. Maybe when we were together but now, I'm not your problem and you're not mine. And if Sky does make a move, I have every right to accept because it's my life. Got that?"

He took a long shaky breath and looked back at me with cool eyes. "Look Rylie, you don't have to pretend, okay? You don't like Sky. You know you don't because you obviously like me. Acting like you like Sky just to make me jealous is just silly. That you like me is still quite obvious so there's really no need for you to meet up with him and give him false hope, is there?"

I narrowed my eyes and gave him a long and hard glare, my hands balled in tight fists.

"Who are you to tell me who I like and who I don't? Just what kind of a dumb fuck are you anyway? You have got to be the most conceited selfish pea-brained idiot I have ever met! How I ever thought myself in love with you is beyond me!

Also even if I don't like Sky, trust me you are seriously the last person on my mind right now. I don't belong to you, asshole and you don't get to control me. We were once together but we broke up. Big deal! We're over and I am over you! So YOU can go fuck yourself!" I pushed him out of my path and walked over to my car.

I opened up the car and was about to get in when Blake called, "Have a nice time with Sky!"

"Sure. Whatever Blake," I sighed softly as I got into the car and drove off...