Deceiving Destiny

Chapter 20: Oh and His Broken Heart

Chapter 20: Oh and His Broken Heart

Erica gave me a sweet smile and extended her hand for me to shake. I couldn't help but recoil at the simple gesture, my mind conjuring images of those fingers touching Blake intimately. I could feel Blake's eyes at the side of my head and blushing furiously at how I'm not yet shaking hands with his Erica, I too extended my hand.

"Maddie." I simply stated, using Blake's nickname for me.

She simply nodded and focused her attention to someone at my back, her smile widening even more. "Cassandra! It's been ages since I last you, how are you?"

I didn't know it was possible to have my self-esteem handed to me on a single platter, battered and shredded. First it was Blake then now Cassandra, I wonder if she also met Joshua- of course she has, she'd clearly been in their home, the one thing I thought no one else could steal from me- my safe haven. As it turns out, Blake had the free time to come home before and brought his gorgeous friend with him to introduce to his parents. He said he's been meaning to visit me before but maybe that isn't true, he clearly chose not to utter a snigle word to me all those times. I wonder if Tyler went with him and if he did, why did it take him this long to visit his good for nothing sister

Cassandra halted for an answer, so unlike her since she talks like a radio announcer on a noon time radio series, and I know that she was thinking about how I'm taking all of these- always considerate about me, something I never thought I'll ever get from an adult figure.

"I'm fine Erica. How about you?" She finally answered, her eyes looking at the back of my head. I didn't want her to feel obligated to make me feel more welcomed than I deserved and so I faced her and gave her a small smile, ignoring the slight lapse Blake and my eyes met.

"Spectacular. Paris is fabulous. Mom was bugging me to bring you along the next time we go there, you know she's crazy about you. You'll come right?"

"I'll try, you know how tedious my work gets." Cassandra vaguely replied, a smile gracing her lips. Erica squealed in happiness and hugged her, to which I averted my eyes awkwardly. I hated how I feel, how I want to scream at Erica and tell her that she's in no place to be here- that she'll never replace me, but as I looked at them and felt like the fourth wheel that I am, I wasn't quite sure about my place in this home anymore.

"Come on, Madielyn and I baked cookies. I'm sure you're hungry."

Erica happily agreed and they treaded towards the kitchen, their chattering figures tugged at my heart. I must have stared too long because Blake felt the need to fake a cough, the realization that we're alone at their front porch now hitting me in the face.

"Aren't you going inside?" He asked, his hands tucked at the pocket of his jeans a little too casually for my liking.

"Maybe I should get going, I don't want to overdo my stay."

"Never. You're always welcome here Maddie, you know that."

"Just like Erica?" I couldn't help but to ask and quietly cursed myself when I realized how that just sounded. "Nevermind, forget I ever asked that."

Blake doesn't look amused like I know he'll be, his pitch black eyes staring at me intently. "So this was what it was about, you're trying to outdo her. Am I right?"

There're so many things I wanted to ask him, like how he never came back early but I stopped myself- this was no time for that. I looked at the floor in embarassment and responded a little too quickly at his accusation. "No. I'm just asking."

He observed me for just a moment, his stare making the dormant butterflies in my stomach fluttered once again before shrugging and walking towards where his mother and Erica had gone through.