Taken a while, yes, but here is chapter 9. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 9
When Oliver got home an hour later, he literally jumped two feet in the air when he saw me lounging on his couch, stuffing low-fat cheese puffs in to my mouth as I stared at the screen playing Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.
"Good Lord, you scared me."
I popped in another cheese puff, and said nonchalantly, "Yeah, I know."
"Mimi," Oliver began serenely, "what the hell are doing?"
I looked up at him. "It depends on how you look at it. To me, it seems as though I am on Oliver Hazard-Perry's couch eating cheese puffs. How does it look to you?"
He sighed in frustration. "I mean what the hell are you doing here, in my house, when you could be with the person you love? He came back, Mimi. That has to mean something. Why would he come back if he didn't care?"
My heart aches as I remember my conversation with Jack in the hospital.
Mimi… I'm so glad you're- Jack began to say before I cut him off.
Don't you dare say okay. What are you doing here? I was trying not to sound hopeful -was it because of me?
Jack answered quickly- too quickly, Schuyler wanted to say goodbye to Oliver.
You're lying.
His voice sounded annoyed in my mind as he said, No, I'm not. I came back for her, and only her.
Ow. But he never does anything for me, does he? All his kindness, generosity, care; he gives it all to Schuyler and Gabrielle. For me, what does he have? Hate, anger, and violence. What has he done to make me happy- like she is? Why can't I be as happy with him as she is- soft kisses in the moonlight, dancing under the stars? Something totally cheesy and yet romantic. It's always the little things like eating cake in the middle of the night together that make the difference. Instead, I'm over there being slammed into the wall, literally.
"Get out," I said through clenched teeth.
I reply sullenly, "Because of her. He didn't want to come back, but she insisted on saying goodbye to you- nothing to do with me."
Oliver's lip slightly parted in surprise, and- as if on cue- the door bell rang. The door didn't have to be opened for me to know that Schuyler Van Alen stood on the porch. He left to answer, and I returned my eyes to the screen, watching as Miss Pettigrew is met at the train station by her admirer. Then he takes her away from her poor conditions, so they could be happy together unlike how he was with the snotty, selfish woman he had been involved with before.
I suppose one could say that we each play a role. I was the snotty, rich, selfish woman that had manipulated him and had been secretly been having an affair behind his back. In other words, the bad guy. Schuyler would be Miss Pettigrew, of course. The good guy, the one who had never been as fortunate and had somehow found love in a wealthy gentleman. And, as if you hadn't figured this out already, the admirer is Jack. Still, something about it didn't click. I hadn't had the affair behind Jack's back; he had had it behind mine. And Schuyler actually fit the part pretty well, but it never said in the movie how she had hurt somebody in the process of falling for him. And Jack wasn't a calm, nice gentleman. Well, he could be, but definitely not all the time. I'm a direct witness to that. But… for them he is. He is caring and loving and sweet for them. He's like a sugar cube they can suck on. One day, though, it will run out of sweetness. For now, it dissolves on their tongues, and they bask in the pleasure of it. But me? I'm like sticking an entire lemon in your mouth.
Oliver goes to answer the door, and I sit on the couch in wait. I couldn't help but eavesdrop on their conversation. After all, if one has enhanced senses, why not use them? My ears picked up on Schuyler's soft voice, opposite of what is was in the hospital.
"Hi, Ollie."
"Hey," his voice was distant.
"Th-thanks for what you did in the hospital."
"No problem."
After a few moments, Schuyler said quickly, "Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I've been toying with your head. I'm sorry that I chose Jack over you when you've been nothing but good to me. And I'm sorry that I left without a goodbye. You deserve so much better than me, Oliver, and you won't ever know how much I wish that I could be what you deserve."
He was silent, obviously contemplating her words. Slowly, he said, "I'm not in the mood for modest speeches. Just, will you take my advice now, as a friend?"
"Of course."
"You need to tell Mimi you're sorry. I know that probably the last thing you want to do, and that she's not exactly worthy of your apology. Still… I've learned a lot about her lately, and she has a lot more to her than what most would think. And what you said in the hospital…"
"I feel so terrible about it, Ollie. I never thought that she would break so easily. She's so… strong."
Oliver replied, "You're right; she is. Still, she's very fragile right now. But why would you say those things?"
"I guess I was sick of her pushing others down. It was harsh though, and I am sorry, but I doubt she'll want to talk to me."
You're right. I don't.
I knew that Oliver would return soon with Schuyler by his side, and I stood, opening the window. Before hopping out, I wondered where I was going to go. It's not like I truly have a home, but I guess I'll try there.
Twenty minutes later, my fingers were pressing over the keys of my keyboard. Headphones covered my ears as I listen to the chords being played. As I repeat different chords, I begin to make up lyrics in my mind.
You fooled with my feelings
You messed with my head
You pushed me on the ground
And tried to help me up instead
You twist around everything
All your lines are blurry
I can never be sure of you
When all you say is lies
I believed that we could be together
I believed that this was our forever
I trusted in you
Like I wish you trusted in me
I was honest with you
Like you couldn't be honest with me
There was so-
Suddenly, it was like I couldn't breathe. As if there was no air. But the strange thing was I could feel the oxygen in my lungs. I wasn't choking. This was all mental. Yet, the pain was so real. I cringed as agony fills every part of my body.
Then, it leaves as quickly as it had come. I lie panting, now noticing that I was on the floor, wondering why that had just happened.
The bond.
Picking up the headphones that had fallen from my ears, I turned off my keyboard and wandered into my room. My, what a long time it has been since I've stepped in here. I don't know how long I was out, but it seems like forever. I looked at the white sheets on the bed, the black and white pictures on my wall, the elegant mirror, and finally the fancy bulletin board.
There was Bliss and I in one photo. There was my family. There was one that Oliver and I took before the masquerade started, and we were both staring solemnly at the camera, masks covering our faces. Then, there was multiple pictures of Jack and I. Both of us were gleaming like bright stars. If only we could still shine. Maybe he can, but he poured water on my fire, and it burned out.
Taking small, slow steps toward the board, I feel tears begin to fill my eyes, but I make no move to stop them. Why even try if I've cried so much already? I've lost everything. I've lost my dignity, my will to live, and my love- Abaddon. I've lost him forever this time. And I didn't know how to survive an eternity without my partner. I guess I just enjoy the first 15 to 16 years of my life as a regular teenager, receive back my memories, and fall asleep until it replays itself. It's a sad life to watch, but it's still a life, one the Almighty has planned.
But, then again, if I snatch life away from others, why do I of all people deserve to have a long one? The Angel of Death isn't associated with Life, and it never will be. She stands alone. Never giving, never really receiving. Just always taking. Taking, taking, taking. Not a part of the whole. Not a part of the rest. Not a part of anything. Always separate. Always different. Always alone.
(Oliver's POV)
"I'm begging you… forgive me." Schuyler stared up at me with large, pleading eyes. Once, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. Once, my love would have overpowered my senses. I still love her, that much is obvious, but was I willing to dump it off like it was nothing? The pain I had felt the day I found out. The betrayal I felt when she ran away with him. The hurt I had felt when she chose him, that two-timing jerk, over me, her best friend. Was I just supposed to forget it and let her hurt me one more time when she runs back to him after receiving my forgiveness?
Who has always been there for her? Was it Jack? I don't think so. Who comforted her in the hospital? Jack? Guess again. Who gave up his blood so she could be healthy? The son of Charles Force? Wrong. It was me. It was always me, and yet she chose him.
What is it about him that makes him so damn irresistible? His good looks? His charm? His seductiveness? I haven't the slightest clue. All I know is that he has found himself a new toy, and it happens to be my best friend. And it felt so wrong.
Why couldn't she see that I'm the one who understands her? I've been here all along so why can't she see that she belongs with me? We were two halves of the same whole, two pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly. I am right for her, and yet she hadn't seen it.
I didn't know if I could forgive her for all that. For leaving me. For seeing right through me like I'm invisible. For betraying my trust.
I heard a boy say to a girl: love fades. Mine has. It was so cruel. She had burst into tears and ran out the restaurant. I suppose it was rude to eavesdrop, but when I saw her a few weeks later, she was with another boy. It was at the same restaurant, and I was snooping again when I heard her tell him about her ex-boyfriend and what he said. Her new lover replied: he's right. But what he doesn't know is that love grows. And mine has.
Was Schuyler's love for me finally growing…? Is my love for her fading since I'm not sure if I can forgive her?
I searched through my mind for the answers. As for the first question, I don't know. But the second- no. It isn't fading. I sort of want it to, though.
To show that I wasn't as flexible as I once was, I said, "Why should I?"
She looked up at me with wide eyes, and she replied, "I don't have a reason. I don't deserve your forgiveness, Oliver, but I need it. I don't want things to end the way they did. I miss you, Ollie. I miss our movie nights and science classes and laughing in the rain. I want it all, but you know that I can't resist…"
That's what you have to say to me? You can't resist him? And yet you ask for my forgiveness when I bet all you're thinking about is him.
I said harshly, "I know, trust me, I know. But if he is that damn irresistible, then why do you ask me to forgive you? Why? Are you trying to hurt me even more? Well, I've had enough. So… just leave me alone, okay?"
I turned away from her, and I heard her footsteps direct away from me, towards the door. A choking sensation fills my lungs, and I feel like a bucket of crap. I didn't know if that was the right thing to say, but I'm sick of him. Jack this, and Jack that. What about me? What about us, all that we used to have? A single smile and a soft kiss from Jack Force, and it's down the drain.
What do you think? Please tell me about the sequel thing too.