Chapter 3

"That was it, Fab. Blake never listened to me. He wouldn’t pick up my calls or reply to my messages. I was devastated. I honestly thought I was going to die because I loved him so much.

A few days later, I was in the lecture hall when my phone suddenly buzzed. I checked it message from Blake. I was so happy. I opened it, and to my surprise...!

‘Hey Carmen, I can’t even look at you anymore not after the other day. I’m sorry, but I can’t continue whatever it is we had.’

‘I’m done. Don’t bother replying or calling again, because I won’t listen to anything you have to say. Let’s just act like we never met. Bye, Carmen.’

Tears rolled down my cheeks before I even realized I was crying. I wiped my face in one swift motion and rushed to the restroom. And to my surprise, I saw Nora.

‘Hey friend,’ Nora greeted, smiling wickedly.

‘You shameless bitch!’ I spat, unable to control myself anymore.

‘Don’t you dare call me your friend because I’m not,’ I snapped.

‘Nora, you’re unbelievable. How could you drug me just so someone could take advantage of me on my birthday? How could you?!’

‘I curse the day I ever called you my friend.’

‘Oh spare me,’ she scoffed. ‘All I ever wanted was Blake but he never looked at me the way he looks at you. How do you expect me to feel, Carmen?’

I was already crying.

‘Oh, poor Carmen,’ she mocked, cupping my chin. ‘Sorry if I hurt your feelings or that your prince charming dumped you.’ She smirked and walked out, leaving me standing there in the restroom.

I rinsed my face and went straight home. I tried calling Jason Blake’s best friend but the call wouldn’t go through. I eventually stopped trying. It took me a while to heal from all that pain. And now, just when I’m finally okay, he shows up again.

‘I’m so sorry all those horrible things happened to you, Carmen,’ Fab said, leaning forward and pulling me into a hug. ‘But everything is going to be okay. And the fact that he’s back now shouldn’t bother you. It’s all in the past, right?’

‘Let’s get going. We’ve been here for an hour,’ I said, getting up.

‘Yeah,’ Fab nodded.

We both left the restaurant and headed to the parking lot where Fab’s car was parked.

Boom!

Blake was standing right in front of us, sending shivers down my spine.

‘Hey, Peach,’ Blake greeted with a big smile. ‘It’s been a while.’

‘Umm… umm…’ I stammered, unsure how to react.

‘Hey, Blake.’ That’s all I managed to say.

He turned to Fab. ‘Hey there,’ he said, extending his well-manicured hand for a shake.

‘Hey, I’m Fab,’ she replied with a smile.

‘Fab as in Fabiola?’ he asked.

‘Yeah,’ she nodded.

‘Wow, nice name you’ve got,’ he said.

‘I’m Blake,’ he added, sweetly.

Then he turned back to me. ‘You look really beautiful. I mean, you’ve always been beautiful,’ he said, running a hand through his hair.

‘Oh please,’ I said, waving my hand to signal him to stop.

‘So, what are you doing here?’ I asked.

‘Ah… I was meeting a client here,’ he replied.

‘You?’ he asked.

‘Fab and I just came to grab breakfast,’ I said.

‘Do you live around here?’

‘Umm… actually, no. I live at 5th Estate… at the back.’ Wait....what? I just gave him my address. I facepalmed internally.

‘Nice,’ he said. ‘I’d love to see you again sometime.’

‘I doubt that,’ I replied honestly.

‘Why?’ he asked. ‘I know we didn’t end things well. I’m really sorry, Carmen. I should’ve trusted you.’

‘But you didn’t,’ I said, glaring at him. ‘So I see no reason to meet you again.’

I started walking toward Fab’s car, but Blake stepped in front of me.

‘Please, Carmen,’ he said, eyes pleading. ‘Can I have your number, please?’

‘No, you can’t,’ I replied, already tired of the conversation.

‘Please, Carmen.’

Fab was already giving me death glares.

‘Alright, fine.’ I gave him my card.

‘Thanks, Carmen. I’d love to see you soon.’

‘No, you won’t,’ I muttered. He can’t just stroll back into my life like nothing happened.

‘You’re still stubborn, you know,’ he said, smiling.

‘Whatever.’ I waved. ‘Bye, Blake.’

‘Bye…’ he waved back.

‘What was with the death glare earlier?’ I asked Fab as we got in the car.

‘Well, I was telling you to just give him the damn number,’ she laughed.

‘Seriously, Fab? After everything I told you?’

‘Maybe he just wants to apologize after all that. You never know.’

‘Oh, spare me that BS.’

‘You never can tell, you know,’ she teased.

‘Never say never,’ she smirked.

‘Whatever, babe,’ I said, giving her a look.

‘Remind me again why you’re my best friend?’

We both laughed and hopped into the car. Fab dropped me off at my apartment and left.

I dashed into the living room and went straight to my room. I changed into a blue floral gown and lay on my bed, still thinking about everything that had happened. I couldn’t believe Blake was there.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I unlocked it. Unknown number.

‘Hey, Peach,’ the message read.

Just hearing “Peach,” I knew it was Blake.

‘Uhmm… who is this?’ I asked, pretending not to know.

‘C’mon, Carmen,’ he chuckled. ‘Did you get home safe?’

‘Yeah,’ I replied.

‘Carmen, do you mind having lunch with me tomorrow?’ he asked.

‘I’m sorry, I can’t,’ I lied.

‘I saw that coming,’ he said. ‘But Carmen, please. I really want to apologize. I regret everything.’

‘Alright, fine,’ I said, just to end the conversation.

‘Thanks, Peach,’ he said sweetly.

‘Oh, please. Don’t call me that.’

‘That’s your name and I’m calling you that.’

‘You pick the location,’ he said.

‘Umm… anywhere’s fine by me.’

‘Highlands Bar & Grill?’ he offered.

‘Sure. See you tomorrow,’ I said, and hung up.

I texted Fab about the lunch. She replied almost instantly, like she’d been waiting for it.

‘Oh, that sounds great!’ she said.

‘Uhmm… I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll be comfortable around him,’ I texted.

‘Come on, babe. It’s just lunch you’re not spending the whole day with him,’ she teased.

‘I’ve got work to do. Bye, girlfriend. For now.’

‘Alright then.’