Healing Her Heart {Trilogy}

Chapter 5

Fiona felt like she could be herself around Garrett. He made her laugh, which she thought she wouldn't be able to do so soon after her break up. She felt comfortable around Garrett, and he seemed to be comfortable around Fiona.

Fiona didn't understand what it was that was making her like him. She had just had her heart broken and now she was already talking to another guy like it was no big deal. She didn't care if it's randomly okay to talk to guys, because she know it is, but she had not thought she would be able to even so much as look at another guy for a while.

I suppose it's just because Garrett is different.. Fiona thought as she walks down the sidewalk. Her shoelaces tittered along the cement walkway, as Fiona hadn't bothered to tie her shoe. Maybe I just need a friend..yes that must be it.

Something was telling Fiona, in the back of her head, that this was more than she suspected it to be. She, of course, attempts to push it down in deep desire that it will go away. There is nothing else besides a spark of possible friendship between her and Garrett.

Are you sure? Whispered her thoughts. Yes, I am, Fiona responded to the voice with a rising feeling of pure colored irritation. What could possibly be going through her mind, besides the sick feeling of doubt? Doubt..no..Fiona shouldn't be feeling this, she has no reason for it! Why would she feel doubt in nothing more than what she sees as a blooming friendship?

But her mind did not respond to Fiona, only causing her frustration to increase dramatically. The girl pursed her lips, making them sting in slight protest from the cold weather. Her hands stuffed in her pockets, clutching the inner cloth of inside the coat as though they were small creatures trying to do what they could to stay warm.

The chill of the wind hit her cheeks sharply and swiftly, taking Fiona by surprise and slapping her from her thinking. She stopped dead in mid walk, the titter of her shoelaces dying as she did. Fiona looked around, finally back in reality. She realized, with her ever going frustration rising like a flood, that she was going the wrong way.

Fiona let a small, quiet curse escape from her lips under her breath as she whirled around on her heel and began stomping back in the direction from which she came. Her shoelaces whipped cement more violently as she stormed down the way.

Fiona's thoughts remained silent even though she demanded to know why she was having them. She knew that there was a slim chance she was losing her mind by trying to talk to her own head like it was another being altogether, but she didn't care. She wanted to know, quite seriously, why she was so confused.

Her mind instead went to Martie. A small part of her was telling her to call him right now. The urge was slowly growing in the pit of her stomach, and her hand twitched from inside it's warm pocket. Her phone seemed to burn through her jean pockets, threatening to heat her skin until she pulled it out. But she fought to resist these urges, despite raging desire to call him.

Fiona quickens her pace, wanting to get home. The cold nipped mercilessly at her exposed cheeks, most likely turning them a pinkish color.

"Fiona!" Fiona stopped dead in her tracks, turning her gaze to the source of the voice that called her name.

"Huh?" She grunted, fully facing them now. She saw the familiar face of Martie's younger sister, Azalea. She bit down on her lip slightly, resisting the urge to turn away from her. She scolded herself for wanting to leave, as it wasn't Azalea's fault Martie broke up with her.

"Hey, Fiona," Azalea breathed as she caught up, brushing her wild wavy hair from her sweaty face. 

"Hey," Fiona replied, offering a weak smile towards the girl. Azalea was two years younger than Fiona was, but Fiona always saw her like a little sister and often felt comfortable around her. She looked like Martie, almost, besides the hair and eyes. They had the same shaped face and eyes, but her hair was black and her eyes were gray while Martie had dirty blonde hair and green eyes.

"I heard about the break up," she told Fiona, looking at her feet. "I'm really sorry, Fiona..He really loved you, you know."

Fiona felt a pang of sadness well up in her chest as she looked at Azalea, trying to force down the tears that were begging to fill her eyes. "Yeah. I do know, Azalea..I do."

Azalea nodded silently, then said, "He asked about you on the phone the other night also..Wanted to know how you were."

"He asked about me?" Fiona felt, with a mix of dread, a tiny bit of hope awaken inside of the pit of her stomach. She should know better than to get her hopes up, but she couldn't help it. She was happy. Martie asked about her!

"Yes," Azalea responded, nodding her head again, "he did. I think he misses you, because he sounded sort of sad over the phone."

"Do your parents know we broke up?" Fiona inquired cautiously, her hands beginning to sweat slightly inside their nests.

"They do," Azalea replied, glancing at Fiona with concern in her gray eyes. "Martie told them before he went over to your house to..you know.." She trails off, watching Fiona for reaction.

"Oh," Fiona responds, her voice oddly higher. She cleared her throat, then stated in a normal tone of voice, "Well alright then. I should get home now, though, Azalea. Thanks for talking to me."

Azalea opened her mouth, as if to say something else, but simply gives her a nod and waves. Then she turned and walked down the sidewalk, humming.

Fiona turned the other way and kept her eyes on the sidewalk as she continued forward. So..Martie had asked about her.

She went home happy that day.