Unconditionally

Chapter 0.13

  February 2018

|| Marabelle ||

"In the case of eleven year old Tara Jane Ashby, Mr Douglas, you are...the father."

"I knew it!" I screamed. "Your girls a hoe but she aint a lying one!"

"Mara," Mallory sighed as she walked into the living room. "Please tell me you don't plan to spend your whole morning watching tv."

"Would it be a problem if I did, Mallory French?" I asked with a teasingly raised eyebrow.

"Yesss!" She huffed as she plopped down next to me. "Damn girl, we needa find you a man. You're way too lonely."

"Scuse you," I scoffed. "I'm not lonely. I have friends. I don't need a man."

"Gosh, you can be such a nugget sometimes," She sighed.

"Nuggets are great. Everyone loves them," I shrugged.

"Marabelle," She deadpanned. "You're barley getting out anymore. The girls have been whining that they barely ever see you outside of the studio. Even Freddie and Scott are constantly complaining that you don't come out with us anymore."

"Because Delilah's with y'all. Not that I have a problem with her," I said. "I just have no desire to fifth wheel on y'all's double date."

"But you wouldn't be!" She said.

"Please explain to me how I wouldn't be fifth wheeling with two couples?" I asked sarcastically.
Mal gaped for words then closed her mouth again.

"Exactly."

"Something's going on with you and I don't understand why you haven't told me what it is because we tell each other everything," She said. "And don't you dare tell me you're still pre-occupied with the whole Evan and Pia thing because I know that's just a front."

Like the awful best friend I am, I haven't told Mal about my newly discovered feelings for Freddie. I'm just not ready to voice my thoughts yet.

"I'm just stressed okay? School's a pain in the butt," I lied.

"You're lying," She said with narrowed eyes. "But clearly you don't wanna talk about it yet so I won't push."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

"But you know that you can talk to me about anything, right?"

"Yeah, I know," I nodded.

"Good," She said and then kissed my forehead. "I'm going out with Scott for breakfast now. You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," I said. "Have fun."

"Thanks, nugget. I'll see you later okay?"

"Kay boo."

After Mal had left, I resumed watching my tv program and eating my cereal. My lectures only start this afternoon and I don't have to be in studio so I plan to spend the morning doing nothing.

Grabbing my phone, I read and ignored almost all of the messages that I had except the message from Bradley McBride. He's a guy in my graphics and art classes that I've gotten to know pretty well over the past three years. We've hooked up a couple of times and lowkey had a brief fling but things never went further than that.

Brad♋: Hey Mara. You down to join me for breakfast if you're not busy? Haven't seen you in a while and I miss you (: X

I contemplated it. Bradley wasn't a bad person and I enjoyed his company. What's the harm.

Me: Sure, sounds good. Let's met at Ihop xx

Brad♋: Great. See you in 30?

Me: Yep xx

Switching the TV off, I headed into the bathroom to quickly shower before getting dressed into a white v-neck shirt and a cute boho style maxi skirt. After completing my outfit as well as going through my hair and make-up routine, I left the apartment to go meet Bradley.

"I'm not sure how this is possible, but I swear you look even prettier than you were when I last saw you," Bradley said to me when I met up with him outside the famous pancake/waffle house.

"You saw me on Wednesday in class, you loser," I giggled as I hugged him.

"Yet here you are looking even more incredibly flawless," He winked and then pressed his lips to my cheek.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr McBride," I chuckled as we walked into the restaurant.

He only grinned boyishly at me before leading me over to a booth.

"So how have things been going?" Bradley asked me once we had ordered and everything.

"Ugh, okay," I shrugged. "I'll be better once the school year ends."

"And dance?" He asked. "I saw you and the girls dance at the benefit gala."

"You were there?" I questioned, not recalling seeing him.

"Hmm," He nodded. "My parents get invited every year and this time my brother and I were forced to tag along."

"I know that feeling," I chuckled. My dad regularly gets invited to benefit galas and if Evan and I are in close proximity then we'll usually get roped into going.

As Bradley and I made conversation, I found myself realising why I was drawn to Bradley in the first place. He's great company and easy to get along with and our conversation flowed effortlessly.

Damn girl, we needa find you a man. You're way too lonely.

Mallory's words from earlier came back to me as I watched Bradley laugh at something I said. Damn he has a flawless smile.

Honestly, I could picture myself with someone like Bradley. I mean, he's funny, smart, really good looking and someone I wouldn't mind spending my time with. And not to mention, he's unbelievable in bed.

"So um, I was thinking right," He said to me.

"About what?" I questioned.

"I wanna take you out on a date," He told me.

"Oh, a date?"

"Yeah," He grinned. "You know, take you out for dinner, charm your socks off, end the night with some mind blowing  sex under the stars. That sorta thing."

"Excuse you, Bradley McBride!" I laughed.

"I was kidding about that last part," He chuckled. "But seriously, I do wanna take you out, Marabelle."

"Well I think it would be great to go out with you too," I said with a small smile.

"Oh great," He breathed out with a dazzling smile.

I couldn't help but smile. Perhaps me accepting Brad's date offer is one step closer to getting over the feelings I have for Freddie.

***

Hours later after my classes and lectures I found myself back at home. Mal still isn't back from being out with Scott (they spent time together again after their classes) so I found myself heating up some organic ready-made butternut soup for dinner.

After preparing my dinner, I headed to my room because I wanted to watch a movie in bed.

Throughout the playing of Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, I found myself texting Bradley a lot. I'm quite excited for our date. He's a great guy and this really could become something.

Just as I was about to click on a new message from Bradley, I heard the front door open and then angry footsteps stomp down the hall and then a room door slam closed.

The fuck is happening?

"Mallory, please don't be like this," I heard Scott saying outside Mal's bedroom door as I stepped into the hallway to see what's going on. "Please open the door and talk to me, princess."

"What the hell happened?" I asked Scott.

"She's pissed," He said, exhaling a breath and running his hands through his hair.

"Mal, sweetie, please open the door for me," I said while knocking on the door. "Can you go wait in the lounge? I'll talk to her real quick."

"Please try get through to her," He pleaded before walking to the living room.

"Mal, its just me and you now. Open the door please," I said.

A few moments later the door opened revealing a tear-streaked Mallory.

"Oh, sweetie, what happened?" I asked as I pulled her into a hug.

"God, it was awful," She sobbed.

"Tell me what happened," I said as I walked into the room and then sat us down on the bed.

"We went out for dinner and then we ran into his ex," She told me glumly.

I stared at my best friend. "Now tell me why you're really upset."

"She was just so...mean. She kept say all this stuff about how she and Scott were gonna last forever but then he played her and that he'd probably do the same to me," She sighed. "And then she kept going on about how she and Scott hooked up all the time even after they broke up and that he and I won't last long because he always goes back to her..."

"Mallory, are you crazy?!" I scoffed. "Scott would never cheat on you!"

"I know that," She hiccuped. "But damn, Mara, you should have seen her! She's flawless. She literally looks like she stepped right off a runway and I'm just...me."

I gawked at her. "Have you taken a good look in the mirror lately?! You're fucking gorgeous, Mallory. But besides that, Scott didn't just choose you for your looks! You have the best personality and you're an amazing person and this bitch clearly doesn't compare to you."

"You didn't see her, Mara," She muttered. "But that seriously got me thinking. What if Scott does...go back to her..."

"That'll never happen," Scott's voice cut in. "Because I don't love her anymore. I love you, Mallory, and I plan to keep it that way."

Both Mal and I looked at Scott with wide eyes.

"You...love me?" She said quietly.

"More than anything," He breathed out.

Sensing that this was my cue to leave, I squeezed Mal's arm encouragingly before stepping out of the room but only into the hallway so I could still hear the conversation.

"Mal, I've been in love with you since, I'm pretty sure our first date," He told her. "There's no way in hell that I'd ever go back to Hannah. Not when I have you."

"Since our first date?" Mal asked, sounding lowkey shocked.

"Yeah," He said. "When you put that waiter in his place for flirting with you, you were just so savage and sarcastic and I knew that I'd want someone like you in my life. And then I started to get to know you and I thought to myself, shit, my mom would be so proud of me if I brought someone like you home. And even after all the time that's gone by, you still make me fall in love with you every single day."

I couldn't help but aw at Scott's little speech. That was beyond cute.

"I love you too, Scott," Mal said.

"Do you trust me, Mallory?" He asked her.

"I trust you," She replied.

"Then know that I won't break your heart. I'd never leave or play you," He told her.

I didn't hear Mal's reply but at that point I knew that I had to give the two some privacy. Going back into my room, I flopped down onto my bed with a smile. I'm so glad that they've finally said those three words to each other. Its been a long time coming.

With Mal and Scott's new declaration to each other, it sorta got me thinking about Freddie and Delilah. Those two are head-over-heels for each other and it probably won't be long before they pop the ILY as well.

I need to get over these stupid feelings that I have for Freddie and the best way to do that is by giving Bradley the chance to win my heart without any unfair competition named Freddie Rivers.