Fall Girl

Kev

Margot has changed a lot since I told her the truth. She is not acting the way she always does. Laughing with her friends, going out for lunch and dinner with office friends or Aurora. She has been avoiding me as well. I have never seen her this quiet since I came back to Glisten. Every time I see her, she is lost in her thoughts.

I couldn't help but wonder what had caused Margot to change this much. Had I told her the truth to be the reason for her changed demeanor? or maybe she wasn't ready to face reality? but she was the one who was forcing me to tell her the reason. Or maybe she is taking time to process what I told her.

I tried many times to go to her and talk, but she pushed me away. It felt like she had put up a thick wall around her, blocking me to reach her in terms of emotions or casual conversation. I tried to bring it up by asking her nicely if she was okay and if she wanted to talk about what had been on her mind. But Margot's answer was guarded; she chose her words carefully, as if she were walking on eggshells.

In one of my attempts to talk to her, Margot abruptly changed the subject of our conversation instead of responding to my question. One time she pretended to get late somewhere and leave me in the middle of the conversation.

I wanted to rush after her and stop her, but I didn't do anything like that. Instead, that day I leaned back and promised myself to stop approaching her. Also, since then, I started thinking maybe there was something bitter happened between her and Ian and I ripped the bandage. But the way both are talking, it seems normal to me. 

I repeat our beach house conversation thousand times in my mind but still unable to figure out what could be the reason of her changed behavior. Maybe she also has some secrets that she is not ready to share regarding her relationship with Ian.

I have been living in a lot of "Maybe" since we came back from South Shore. 

The Morning at the Beach House

Since Margot got into the bathroom there were no sound of running water or changing clothes or stirring anything I heard. My curiosity grew stronger, and I knocked at the door and asked. "Margot is everything okay?"

There was no response, so I stick my ear to the door and knocked again. I heard her clearing the throat. "Yeah, what happened?"

I asked once again. "Is everything okay in there?"

A faint voice coming from her. "Yes, but why are you asking?"

I didn't know what to tell so I lied. "Actually, we are getting late so hurry up."

Finally, I started hearing running water. "Yeah, just give me 5 minutes."

"Don't worry," I paused "Take ten."

When she didn't respond I turned around and sit back in a lounge. I started waiting for her. After a few minutes Margot appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing my clothes that she had managed to wear make them of her size by making a lot of knots and folding. 

I couldn't control my laugh, and she stared me. "If you laugh again, I swear I am gonna rip your every single cloth and then you have to go out naked."

I put a finger on my lips and shook my head. I headed to the shower and when I come out Margot was nowhere to be found. I called her but no response. With a sense of unease creeping over me, I ventured outside, calling out her name once more.

Finally, a faint response reached my ears, drawing my attention to an old garage at a distance from the main house. Confusion flickered across me as I approached Margot, who were standing amidst the dimly lit garage.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned; my voice tinged with concern.

Margot met my gaze with a mischievous grin and handed me a photo. I laughed. "You look hideous in this photo."

Margot nodded in agreement. "That's why I hid it here. When Dad took this picture of me and Blake, I lost my balance, exactly at the click."

She then proceeded to take a photo of the old frame, presumably to send it to Blake. However, a nagging doubt crept into my mind, and I couldn't help but voice my concerns.

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, my tone cautious.

Margot looked at me quizzically. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged, trying to convey the weight of my apprehension. "When Blake asks about the photo and the beach house, what will you tell her?"

Margot's expression shifted, her lips forming a silent 'O' as she reconsidered her decision. For a moment, my heart sank, fearing that she wasn't ready to talk to Blake about us.