♥ I Never Thought I'd Love You ♥

~Chapter 58: They Fit Perfectly

~Chapter 58: They Fit Perfectly

            The two girls left the bathroom just as I managed to put the heels away. I looked at Maura. “Thank you,” I replied.

            “My dear,” Maura started, “how can you let them bully you like that?”

            I sighed. “I’m use to it.”

            “Oh, sweetie.” Maura wrapped me in her arms as I hugged her back. “I’m so sorry.”

            Suddenly, I felt like Maura was like a second mother to me. I had lost my mother, and it gave me a special connection to Maura. “It’s alright.”

            “It’s not, Cordelia, it’s not. You keep telling yourself that what they do is alright, but it’s not.” She pulled away and wiped my tears in a motherly way. “You need to stand up for yourself.”

            “I’m scared I will hurt them.”

            “Standing up for yourself is different from hurting somebody. Standing up for yourself is defense. But when you insult them back, that’s offense. You need to realise your worth and give yourself a reason, not to fight back, but to protect yourself.”

            “I understand.”

            Maura smiled. “Good, dear. Now let’s get you cleaned up.”

            I did my makeup all over again, looking even better than I did before. Afterwards, I handed Maura the bag containing the heels. “For you, Maura. My second mother.”

            Maura took the bag and gasped. “The heels I’ve always loved!” She put her hand on her chest and hugged me. “Thank you, darling.”

            I smiled and hugged back. This woman was truly something else.

~~~~

            I walk back downstairs, spotting Niall. He didn’t look at me; he was too busy talking to his relatives. I made my way over to the biggest table where Janelle was waiting and Maura went to go talk to other people. “What took you so long?!” Janelle asked.

            “Calm down, buttface,” I said, laughing.

            Janelle laughed too. “As long as you’re alright now.” She paused. “Stinkbrain.”

            My laughter faded as I watched Niall make his way over to us. It was a bit awkward. “Hi.”

            “Hi,” I responded. Janelle flashed a look at me and walked away from us. Great, Janelle. Just leave. I turned back to Niall and stared at him. We stood in silence for a while until I cleared my throat. I took a deep breath. “Look, Niall…”

            “I’m sorry, Cordelia.”

            “What?” I asked.

            “I’m sorry. I was wrong for shouting at you.” Niall looked at me, his eyes stern. Something flashed through them, and it was clear to me that he didn’t feel like he had done anything wrong. He was just saying sorry because he felt like he was being forced to.

            I bit my lip, studying his face. There was nothing I could say back. I could also apologise, but what would we say afterward? I took his hand loosely in mine, like the first time we held hands, and replied, “Let’s not have that ruin this gathering.”

            Niall closed his eyes and nodded.

            We made our way over to Maura’s table. She stood up as we came over. “There you two are! Come on, it’s time to go meet some people!” We left all our stuff at the table and went to go meet Niall’s aunts, uncles, and cousins. We didn’t hold hands.

~~~~

            After dinner, it was time to go downstairs for singing and dancing. As Niall and Janelle and everyone else went downstairs, Maura and I stayed behind. We waited until everyone had gone downstairs and walked to the staircase. “I’m putting these on,” Maura said, taking the heels I bought her out of the bag.

            I smiled as she slipped them on. They fit perfectly. We stepped down slowly until everyone could see us. We waved and I put my hand on Maura’s back.

            Suddenly, Maura lurched forward and tripped head-first, tumbling down the stairs, and landed in a heap at the bottom. Her eyes were closed. I gasped and ran to the bottom. “Maura!”