And With A Twist Of Fate...

Chapter 15

Stella knew it wasn't exactly the most mature thing to do, but she couldn't just stay and listen to everyone rave about her and her eating choices. She'd gone through hell once, what made them think she'd want to go again? Besides, Aiden was giving her enough hell as it is. Who did he think he was, coming in and insulting her like that? If she hadn't been so worked up and partially wounded from the last time he'd shunned her, she would have given him a piece of her mind.

What was happening to them? First enemies, then friends, and now in a relationship that was falling apart right at their feet. It was insane, they should have just stayed friends. NO! They should have just stayed enemies. She could hate him. Hate his smile, hate his face, hate his goddamn noble personality without feeling she was doing something wrong. Now whenever she was even upset with him she cursed herself for thinking of him in a light that is not shining bright.

Cursing under her breath she pushed her way into the nearest shop as possible. The daylight always seemed brighter in town and she needed to escape it's severity. Unfortunately she didn't see the figure on the other side of the fuzzy glass door and walking into the shop, she walked right into a boy. The door seemed to hit the boy hard, but closing her eyes at impact, she wasn't sure how hard. The door seemed to recoil and swing back into her face and this time her nose got the gist of just how hard she'd swung it open.

"Ow!"

She backed out of the store holding her nose and cursing under her breath.

She wasn't aware of herself backing up and she definitely should have felt the curb at the bottom of her feet but she didn't. The pain steering in her nose was much too strong. Thankfully the car she was about to back into honked loudly. She jumped forward back onto the sidewalk but was still a little off balance. There was a hand under her elbow to steady her. She didn't know why she expected it to be Aiden or even her brother. They didn't know where she was, or she'd at least like to think that was true.

Looking up she saw it was a tall brown haired boy who was keeping her steady. He had one hand under her elbow and the other holding his head gingerly. When he noticed she was looking at him he looked down at her and smiled.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Me!?" Stella was surprised he even asked that, let alone saved her from falling when he obviously was the boy she rammed the door into. "Are you okay?? I mean I don't know how I hit you, that door just--"

"Jumped out of nowhere?" He asked his eyebrows raised in accusation.

Stella bit her lip and smiled embarrassed. "Yeah, something like that."

He chuckled softly and it reminded her of Aiden. He hasn't laughed at her in a little while. They were really falling apart. She made a face and immediately her nose started to throb. A groan escaped her and she loosened her grip on her nose.

"That must hurt. Would you like some ice?" The boy asked he let go of her elbow and pointed to the cafe in front of them. "They could spare a few ice cubes, and I think I could use some too."

Stella nodded and followed him into the cafe. It was reasonably darker, the walls were painted the same brown as the wood tables and there was a huge black chalkboard behind the register counter that showed the menu. There were empty mugs lined on shelves on either side of the chalk board. They were all different colors and sizes, it was really interesting and different. Stella immediately took to it. Sitting at the huge bar counter just to be served coffee and muffins seemed oddly more fun than sitting at a regular old cafe table.

"Do you know this place?" The brown haired boy asked after requesting two bags of ice. Turns out everyone here saw their little episode and had no problem helping with their injuries.