Cinderella Contract

5

I leaned against the door of my room. How stupid, I thought.

"Avery, are you okay?" Jacob knocked on my door.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I said through the door.

"Are you gonna let me in?" He knocks on the door again.

I push myself up and open the door. Jacob immediately bursts in. "Why did you run off like that?" He said. He had his hands on my shoulders, holding me in place.

"It's complicated." I sighed.

"I have time." He replied. He looked me straight in the eyes. His were filled with worry, while mine were filled with the ghosts of past memories.

"Fine." I said. Jacob let me go as I locked the door. "But don't tell the other guys. Especially Blake." I sat down on the edge of my bed and Jacob sat next to me.

"I won't. I promise." He said, holding out his pinky finger. "I pinky promise."

I rolled my eyes but still interlocked our pinkies.

"A long time ago-"

"This sounds like a fairytale." Jacob commented.

"- Blake and a girl were best friends. They would do everything together. And one day, Blake worked up the nerve to ask out his crush. She, of course, said yes and they ended up dating for five years. Then, the girl had to move away. Blake was very sad and begged her to stay with him. She, of course, couldn't stay. Blake got angry at her for leaving, and him for letting her go and broke up with her. She was very heartbroken. He was her first and only love. And her heart still hasn't fixed itself." I choked out the last bit.

Jacob looked at me with tears in the corners of his eyes.

"Awww. That's so sad." He said.

"But remember, no telling the others." I said. He nodded vigilantly.

"Thank you, Jacob." I said. I folded my hands together and laid them gently in my lap.

"For what?" He asked me.

"For listening to me." I smiled at him. "Well anyways, we should get going. We've held up the dinner long enough." I said, standing to my feet.

He took my arm in his and lead me out the door. And down the hallway. Then down the great staircase. And finally, to the kitchen.

His hand tightened around mine as we entered. All eyes were on me and Jacob.

I lowered my head.

"Sorry for making you wait." I looked back up with a smile on my face.

"No problem." Brett said. I nodded and took my seat across from Blake.

He picked at his food and avoided me altogether.

Jacob sat beside me and on the other side of me was Brett.

"Well lets dig in, shall we?" Brett stood up and clasped his hands together.

Everyone stared talking all at once.

Parents mingled together, the guys sticking to their own parents. I scanned the table for a pair of familiar faces.

But they weren't there.

"You're wondering where they are, aren't you?" His voice is so quiet that I barely hear it. But I do.

His gaze catches mine and he doesn't turn away. His ice blue eyes capture mine and he doesn't allow me to turn away.

"Yeah." I nod. His eyes follow my every movement.

His eyes flash with emotion for a split second. Hurt... loneliness..? But as fast as it came, it disappeared.

"My parents are dead." He states. He says it like he's practiced it a million times and is tired of saying it over and over again.

"Oh." I remember his parents. His dad was an alcoholic and abusive, while his mom was submissive and gentle. His dad killed his mom when Blake was very young.

"I'm sorry." He says abruptly.

"What?" I ask.

"I... I'm sorry. For breaking up with you. All those years ago." He stands up, pushing his chair back and quickly flees the room, without waiting for my response.

But I don't have one. All I have is a shocked expression and a blank mind.

Chapter: DONE! It's been so long! I really miss writing this story! We finally hit 100 reads!!! Isn't that awesome!?!

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See ya through the screen,
- Stari

(Btw, a new chapter or 2 coming out very soon!)