The Heartbreak

Chapter 17

That Saturday Delia was being more annoying than usual. Well, she wasn’t really that bad, but she had me used to her good behavior. She was a very pleasant person to be around, especially considering the mood I had been in during the last few days, since Jo had asked Ethan out.

I wasn’t worried about what it could happen between, but about how hurtful Ethan could be. He had changed since the time we were all friends and liked to hang out in the park playing soccer. He was no longer my friend, and it seemed Jack had also ended their friendship. It made me wonder if it was wise to abandon him now, when he had finally exposed his secrets

“I’m bored,” Delia pouted as she dragged her feet into my room. “Can we go out?”

“I’m busy,” I mumbled from my bed. She glared at me. It was perfectly clear for her that I wasn’t busy, because I was lying in bed doing nothing but listening to music and staring at the ceiling; I wasn’t in the mood to play videogames or anything, not even to work on my projects for art class.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yeah. I kind of am.”

We narrowed our eyes at each other and just waited to see who would give up first. It was generally me. She did a fantastic job at guilt-tripping me into things. Dee never asked for much, so I obliged whenever she wanted to do something.

Fortunately for me and my weak willpower, the doorbell rang and Delia dashed out of the room. I shouted that she shouldn’t let people in, and ask who it was before opening. She was smarted than me, so I had little to worry about. Even so, I tried to listen to her, but heard nothing. I assumed she had looked through the window and decided not to open, or that perhaps whoever had been had left before she could have opened the door. But a few minutes later, when I had gotten tired of being in bed and needed to go to the bathroom, I heard giggling sounds coming from downstairs.

I skipped my trip to the bathroom and quietly followed the noise. The first thing I saw was my little sister stuffing her face with a cupcake; the purple buttercream reached the bridge of her nose, which made Jo laugh. Yes, Jo was there and as usually, she had come with gifts.

“I like the grape flavor!” Dee babbled excitedly around the food. It was disgusting but also hilarious.

“Delia,” I said and she looked at me with wide eyes and a half-purple face. I snorted a laugh.

She swallowed the big chunk of cupcake and said, “It was Joey. She is not a stranger.”

“No, she’s not,” I agreed. “But it would’ve been nice to know there were cupcakes. It’s nice to share.”

“Don’t worry,” Jo said before grabbing a Tupperware near her and opening the lid. “I’m trying a new recipe that I’ve been working on for a while. These are tiramisu cupcakes with decaf espresso, because my mother seems to believe it’s not healthy for us to drink so much caffeine.”

“Wouldn’t they taste the same?” I asked, but of course she gave me that look. It was ridiculous of me to tell her that, because she knew her coffee. “Sorry,” I muttered and stuffed my face with a cupcake.

Jo had not only brought cupcakes, but she had also entertained Dee enough so she had forgotten all about being bored. They had really missed each other, and I didn’t knew why or when that bond had formed. I just felt I was to blame for keeping them away.

“So you said you have homework you need me to help you with?” Jo said to Delia and she nodded emphatically.

“Yes! Will you help me?”

“Sure. Just gather your things and wait for me in the living room. I’ll be right there.”

Dee looked at her. And then at me. She frowned suspiciously, before saying, “You’re not boyfriend and girlfriend anymore, so why would you want to be alone?”