Kitten

Chapter Thirty One

Brandy

9 Years Ago

"You're always crying, Brandy. What is the matter with you?" My mother shouts at me. Tears streaming down my face, I had to cover my ears as I thought it would block her out.

I just shook my head unable to find the right words to speak.

She chuckles. "God. You can't even speak like a normal person." She snarks.

I had to force myself to choke out the words. "...I'm s-sorry."

"Really?" My mother questions with disbelief. "You're doing the stuttering crap again."

I wanted to tell her I tried my hardest not to stutter anymore. I knew how much she hated it when I did. So I worked on it not to make her mad. "I-I-" I cleared my throat. "-stop."

"How about you just stop talking entirely." Unrequitedly snaps at me.

I nodded.

She's my mom and I love her. I'll always love her, I wish I knew what it was about me that made her resent me so much. I can't say that there have never been any good moments with her, there has and I'll always cherish those moments, but there are more bad ones than good ones. One day she's happy to have a daughter and the next I'm an "ungrateful bitch" whom she hates so much.

At the end of it all, I'll always forgive her.

***

I couldn't eat. It's not like I didn't want to eat, but I didn't have the energy for it. My stomach growled loudly.

For whatever reason, I couldn't figure out why Denim suddenly started to ignore me and go on like I wasn't in the same room as him. It's driving me crazy the more I wait for him to return one of my many phone calls, that go straight to voicemail, or even say something to me if I'm in his office.

Frowning, I watched from the far end of the office foyer as Denim and Madison walked together through the foyer of the office. They seem to be on good terms as if they're not faking their relationship. "He's still mad at me, isn't he?" I turn around to Gage, patiently leaning against the wall, waiting for me. Holding my work bag, thrown over his shoulder, he walks over to me. "I said that I'm sorry. I-I don't know what else to do. What do I do? He won't even look at me."

"It's been over a week and he hasn't called you back," Gage mentions. "That's a pretty universal sign that your relationship is...over." I hear the slight frustration in his voice, probably growing tired of hearing about my problems with Denim.

I thought I was going to throw up. A break up...but that can't happen. I still love him.

I kept following Denim and Madison, with my eyes, until they disappeared together into a cleared-out elevator. I peer over my shoulder for a second, brushing my hair behind my ears. "...but I don't want that."

"Come here," Gage says gently placing his hand in mine. "You'll be fine. Okay? You don't need him." He tells me. Gage moves in a little closer. "He doesn't see what I see when I look at you. He doesn't care, but I do."

"We're friends and you know that," I say slightly turning my head to the side, avoiding the incoming kiss. I gulped taking a step back. "...I'm going to be late. I'll talk to you later." Taking my bag from his hand, I forced myself to walk to the elevators, dreading the return to my desk.