Deceiving Destiny

Chapter 14: Ice Gripped Olaf's Heart

Chapter 14: Ice Gripped Olaf's Heart

The days passed by in a blur, I fell back to my usual routine: waking up earlier than usual, Nate picking me up at home, Nate walking me to my classes, Nate kissing me goodbye before sitting to eat lunch with his friends, holing myself in the library, waiting for Nate's football practice to end, Nate bringing me back home. It's as if the past two and half weeks hadn't happened, I was once again alone in my house.

Ever since the fight I had with Tyler, he barely acknowledges my presence and would usually disappear whenever I'd be in the same space as him. I would wake up with him gone, a plate of chocolate waffle the only reminder that he was there. In school, he rarely greets me but I noticed his keen eye following my every move, like he was watching me- and for that I was grateful.

He and Blake would usually meet at the house but none of them would spare longer than an hour to stay, they'd always dressed and went out for the night. I keep on telling myself that I don't care where they were going, that I finally had peace but as the screeching of their tires rang in the backdrop, loneliness would grip me- I am forsaken.

Blake was a different matter altogether, in the small amount of time he once again wound his presence into my life, he became a fixture in it- my very own rock. Losing him was like once again losing that part of me that dared wish to change her life, I went back to negative zero.

Blake would scowl whenever we crossed paths, he would avert his eyes whenever his eyes meet mine but on that millisecond- I saw the ghost of the nightmare that has been haunting me every night, his tortured onyx eyes.

"Ready?" Nate's palm pressed mine, his warmth thankfully calming my rampant nerves.

Gulping a lungeful of air, I whispered, "Just a second." He gave me an understanding smile but his eyes told a different story, he was pitying me. "Let's go."

Suppressing the trembling of my fingers, I hold on to Nate's arm for dear life and braced myself on what's to come.

Myriads of paintings occupied the four corners of the room we're in, men and women dressed elegantly mingling at each other. A couple of smartly dressed waiters and waitresses refilling their cups. A small smile painted on my lips as I watched how successful mom's art exhibition had been, I might harbor a little hatred towards her but I still wished her all the luck she deserved.

"Your mom's pretty famous." Nate teased. "This is too high end for me. I'm glad I dressed over the top." He winked.

I pressed his arm to show him my appreciation and careened my neck to catch a glimpse of my mom's refined stature but she was nowhere in sight. I sighed in relief since I don't know if I was ready to face her just yet. This might probably be the first time I came in one of her exhibitions out of my own volition and the one wherein I'm clear-headed enough to not cause a scene.

Sensing my discomfort, Nate dragged me to look at the paintings.

We stopped by the canvas of a lone woman sitting at a worn out bench, her eyes looking forlorn in the distance. The image of her tugged something at my heart and tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. I'm feeling emotional these past few days and I hated myself for that.

"It's beautiful." I whispered absent-mindedly. Nate looked at me questioningly but remained silent, he instead offered me a small smile. He was never an artsy person and although he hated going to events like this, I was glad that he opted to do the opposite- I had no one to go with.

We continued roaming around the area for the remainder of the time when a bone crushing hug suddenly enveloped me, I was almost sure that my eyes went out of their sockets. I stood still, afraid to do anything else; her familiar perfume wafted through my nose and it felt like I was once again back to my room. I was panicking inside.

"Oh honey, look at you. You're so beautiful." Amanda Wisconsin-Grey hold me at arm's length, drinking my appearance. She was still beautiful even in her mid-40s, so beautiful in fact that I never doubted her charisma when it comes to guys half of her age- what with the dashing man standing at her side. "I'm so glad you made it, I thought you're never going to show up. I missed you honey." She made a move of hugging me once again but I not so discreetly side-stepped her advance. Pain flashed in her eyes but she quickly masked it, she instead turned to my boyfriend.

"You must be the lucky man who stole my daugther's heart." Amanda patted Nate at the shoulder and to his credit, Nate bowed in answer. "Just as dashing as your father, Reed."

"You know my father madame?"

"Of course." My mother winked at him mischievously and I instinctively looked at the young man who I presume my mother's currently dating. He was looking at me intensely, a chill ran down my spine. "That father of yours was one stubborn man, he almost got his ass jailed once."

"J-jailed?" Nate exclaimed aghastly. He was probably in shock, his father always acted nothing less than refined.

Amanda laughed, her tinkling laughter filling the air. I took this time to observe her and felt a sudden swirl of anger filled me when I saw nothing but perfection engraved in her being. If she was any less than the woman she'd once been when we were still a family, I might think about reaching out to her but seeing as she was clearly the opposite, I was disgusted at her. My father barely left his office and here she was, acting like she had no care in the world.

She noticed me looking at her, "Are you alright honey?"

"Don't act like you care." Her eyes widened in surprise, acting like she was the victim here. Nate pressed at my side in warning, he was disappointed and angry at my childish behavior- I could even taste it in the air.

"I-I

"Save it. I don't want to hear any more lies coming from your filthy-

"Madielyn," My brother's voice caught me off guard, he was looking at me reproachfully. He came out of nowhere and I don't know what surprised me the most- that mother sent him an invitation or that he dressed up elegantly and attended our mother's art exhibition. "Enough. There's an appropriate place for this talk."

My heart was too busy beating frantically to focus on what Tyler was saying, my eyes looking for a certain pair of pitch black eyes. His unreadable eyes sought mine and I felt all the energy left me when I saw a beautiful blonde clinging on his arm, they looked picture perfect together. I was uncertain why I looked for him, probably wanting someone to be at my side but like them, he was on the other side of the boat.

"Apologize." My eyes snapped at Tyler's raging grey ones and refused to back down.

"It's alright Tyler. I-I understand." I turned my glare to my mother who looked like she was fighting back tears. I had this urge to laugh in her face but chose not to, I do not want to attract more attention. I felt betrayed by my brother once again, does he not know that the reason why our family was so messed up was because of the same woman he was defending right now?

"I'll say it again Madielyn. Apologize. Stop being such a baby."

His words hurt me but I'm slowly becoming numb to the pain, it was turning into a dull ache. "No. If she hadn't whore herself then maybe-

Amanda's slap filled the air, I, like the rest of the guests were shocked. My cheeks burned and I have never felt so humiliated in my life. "You're just like your father." She stated sadly. "I hope you're satisfied now. I won't be bothering you anymore Madielyn. If you want me out of your life, I'll do just that. Have a nice day."

With that said, she walked away from me, once again breaking that piece of my heart it take me years to rebuild.

Silence filled the room and as I looked at the faces of those who said they love me, none of them bothered to care if I was alright- they were looking at me straight faced.

I fled the area, not caring how cowardly and weak I looked, dialing the number of the only person I knew would stick me through thick and thin.

Click. "Dad..."