The Third Wheel

"What's the issue doctor?" Dean proceeded to ask while Reya accompanied her to check in with Nora and see how she was faring. Sierra overheard the doctor asking Dean about his relationship with my sister and he went further to tell him that he's a family friend. Dean had been a constant reminder in her life that not all men were garbage. He was her fire for the rainy nights, her sanity and her safe haven these past few years. She wouldn't know what to would do without him. They had been friends for the longest of time even before Reya came into the picture.

She had gotten so attached to him over the years to the point of falling for him but when she confessed her feelings to him, he rejected her because apparently, he was in love with Reya. He told her that he didn't feel the same way she did and that he had only acknowledged her as a sister and nothing else.

His response left her shattered and broken for weeks. And to make it worse, she had to deal with the pain of watching her best friends date each other making her the third wheel. She tried to act mature most times about it but it only caused her pain and jealousy when she saw them together all the time. It was a constant reminder that she was never able to get him and that she had lost him forever. It might sound petty to anyone but she was still human and she couldn't stop herself from feeling these emotions.

He did try to maintain their friendship but somehow, she still wasn't over him and she couldn't do anything irrational because it'll ruin her friendship with Reya so she had to pretend that she felt nothing for him. It was hard but what could she do? Dean had also promised to keep her confession to himself because he also didn't want a situation where the two most important women in his life would be burning bridges because of him.

Dean finished his conversation with the doctor and after checking In on Sierra, they decided to head back home. The minute they arrived, Sierra ran up to her bedroom and broke down in uncontrollable tears. Her heart felt heavy and she couldn't bring herself to accept what was happening. The more she thought about everything the doctor had said, the more the tears kept falling. It felt as if someone had driven a dagger straight into her chest. Not knowing what to do, she curled herself up Into a ball. She remained in that fetal position and sobbed for a while.

"Sierra?" She heard the familiar voice of Reya calling out to her but she didn't budge. "Come and have lunch, I made your favorite."

Her nostrils picked up the aroma of the meal. Reya had always been an excellent cook but today, she just wasn't in the mood to eat. Her whole life had gone downhill in a matter of seconds and no matter how much she tried to fix them, it just kept on falling apart. Nothing was working out anymore.

"Just let me be Reya." She replied with a sniff, still not facing her. "I just want to be left alone. I'm not hungry "

"Sierra, you'll get sick and the last thing you'd want to do is get sick. You're supposed to be strong for Nora no matter what. Do you think she'd be happy if she gets to find out that you haven't eaten and starving yourself because of her?"

The mention of Nora's name broke her down all over again. She pushed herself up and shook her head negatively. "I don't want her to be upset with me. I hate the fact that she's in that hospital and the last thing I want to do is have her worrying about me."

"Then try to eat something." Reya placed the tray in front of her and went on to pour her a glass of water as she watched her eat slowly.

"Where's Dean?" She asked searching with her eyes to see if she might get a glimpse of him somehow. He was always around Reya all the time. Not that she was jealous about it though. She was his girlfriend after all.

"He left to finish up some work at the casino but I told him we'd both meet him up for dinner later." Reya broke down the news to her.

"Dinner?" She arched a brow at her. "I never said anything about—"

"I know." Reya interrupted. "I just don't want you cooped up inside this house feeling miserable and dejected. Nora wouldn't like it either. We'd just visit a diner and have a quick meal. It'll give you a chance to clear your head and think properly."

"And also, Dean and I thought it'd be best to contribute for Nora's surgery. We decided to chip in what we have in order to help you out."

She sniffed, her ears not believing what she had just heard "You guys really don't have to—"

"I know but we insist." Reya blurted adamantly. "I just want you to know that we're here for you Sierra and that you can count on us to help." She chimed. "It might not be enough but at least we'd get started with this one while we scout for more money. I know that it's not easy but I can't stand you carrying all the burden alone. It's exhausting."

Pushing the tray away, she embraced Reya in a tight hug. "Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"I think I do and I'm glad that we could help." She hugged her back before pulling away. "Now, no sulking. Eat up and have some rest okay? I'll get you some snacks from the fridge."

Sierra nodded her head vehemently. Basking in the fact that not everything went wrong in her life at least. Her father might've messed up her life but it was good to know that she had friends she could count on. Nora would be fine, she'd make sure it happens one way or another.