DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN WINX CLUB.
HAPPY VALENTINES' DAY!
To my Valentine for life: Happy Valentines' Day, Mom! I love you so much! Thank you for choosing me as your daughter :") I'll see you in like ten seconds :P So get ready to serve me some 'Mom's specials' xD Love you, mom :") Love you forever and forever :")
Next:
A PISSED OFF AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This is to address those 6 users who clearly can't respect someone and instead want to collectively bash me using obscene profanity. For God's sake! This is just a story! So please stop acting like I've split up Stella and Brandon in real life!
NOTE: Stella and Brandon are FICTIONAL characters. So I don't understand why I'm being blamed for this OMG. Okay and one more thing: THEY WILL GET BACK TOGETHER EVENTUALLY. All of my stories will have that. That's why it's called a Stella and Brandon story -_-
And second:
Thank you so much to those who've shown me nothing but support and love. 19+ reviews! Thank you! If you didn't understand what I was talking about in the above paragraph, then rest assure, it's not for you. Please do not be offended. I was definitely addressing only a certain few.
And somehow...I still take the profanity as a compliment because on the bright side...I like to think that my writing was at least well enough to invoke such uh...provocative actions? I guess? Yeah, let's go with that.
Okay! I've blabbed enough. Moving on!
...
One year later...
~ Princeton University - Residential Dorms - 4:00 PM ~
"Girls! Can you believe this?!" Bloom exclaimed as she flopped onto her bed and practically threw her bag aside. Stella and Tecna laughed as they too joined Bloom. "Finally! The nightmare also known as college is out for vacation!" the redhead sighed a little too dreamily. Stella laughed and shook her head before whipping out her phone.
"So, who's got plans?" Tecna asked.
Bloom gushed dreamily. "I've only got one. Sky is planning to take me out for our one year anniversary."
Tecna sighed. "I swear I'll either kill you or Sky if I hear any more about your stupid date plans! This was the eighteenth time this week, Bloom! We get it!"
Stella laughed. She smiled and surfed randomly in her phone while absent-mindedly paying attention to her friends' banter.
"Okay okay. Jeez," Bloom held up her arms in surrender. "What about you, Tec?"
Tecna shrugged. "I don't know. Probably head home."
The redhead shook her head. "You and Timmy aren't going to meet up?"
Tecna shifted uncomfortably. "We kind of prefer to talk over the phone," she admitted with a blush on her cheeks, nearly matching the vibrant color of her hair. "What about you, Stel?" she asked, effectively shifting the redhead's attention towards the blonde.
Stella shrugged. "I'll be here," she said simply with a low warning in her voice, silently pleading for both of them to either drop the subject or shift their attention somewhere else. Bloom and Tecna glanced at each other with a frown but did their friend's bidding. They changed the topic and began talking about the recently released movie, something that Stella lost complete interest in.
Stella stared monotonously into the phone. She randomly scrolled around, not really paying attention to anything. Her mind was once more in a haywire. She absolutely hated vacation. She grew to hate it the second she...
She sighed as she felt herself being pulled into the past.
She hoisted herself from the bed and grabbed a fresh set of clothes from her wardrobe. She moved to the bathroom to change. She emerged a few minutes later wearing black and cyan sports track suit. She grabbed her phone and a pair of earphones before turning to her friends.
"Girls, I'm going for a run," she waved with a light smile before bolting out the door. Bloom and Tecna once again glanced at each other and sighed sadly. This has been going on for a month now.
"Think we should talk to her?" Bloom asked.
Tecna nodded. "Yeah. We can't just leave her here. She's even spent her whole summer in here."
~ 4:30 PM ~
Stella jogged through the familiar roads of her campus. She ignored the chilling cold that nearly cut through her skin. Her eyes kept themselves trained to the road. Her breathing heaved slightly with each step that she took.
She looked around the quads of students around her. She bit her lip when she overheard many students being excited for Christmas. Too bad she couldn't share the same excitement.
Oh no. Not at all. She wasn't even close to at least remotely feel the ridiculous 'Christmas spirit'. She lost that. She lost that a long time. Her eyes glazed over just as they did countless times every time she thought why.
She took a deep breath.
She knew why.
It was because of him. Him. Someone whom she once thought would become her world is now her worst nightmare. The mere mention of his name was enough to give her nightmares. It hurt too much. And it's even harder now especially since their breakup kind of ruined the holidays for her.
And it didn't help that Bloom and Tecna gushed occasionally over Sky and Timmy. Stella smiled as she thought of happy her friends are. She really was happy for them. Everytime her friends talked with Sky and Timmy, their faces would radiate with a surreal amount of happiness. Bloom and Sky had been an inseparable couple since gala night. Sky made frequent visits every now and then just to spend some dearly quality time with his girlfriend. Timmy didn't visit that often, but a single visit from him would send Tecna directly over the moon.
Seeing Sky and Timmy just kept reminding Stella of him. Her vision grew a little blurry as the image of a handsome brown-haired man conjured up in her head. Why...? she asked herself as an involuntary tear rolled down her cheek.
"You BITCH," he spat angrily. "So you'll go that far? Then how about this? At least my parents are still alive while yours are in a box six feet below the ground!" he yelled, his eyes flashing with a burning red.
Stella's eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. Her lips quivered as tears brewed in her eyes. Did he just...?
The brim of her eyes grew slightly wet. Stella took a deep breath as she relived the scene over and over again. It hurt. It hurt a lot.
Sweat glistened on her forehead just a little. She felt slightly warm from the body heat that she generated for herself. Finding an empty bench a few feet away, she hopped over there and slumped down on it. She breathed the fresh air, ignoring the way her skin prickled with cold.
Stella ran to her room and broke down crying. She sobbed heartbrokenly as she realized the underlying meaning of his words.
"I'm not coming to Princeton with you. Take care of yourself, Stella."
He rarely called her by her full name unless he's royally pissed off at her.
Her back collided with the door. Her body slowly slumped down onto the cold floor. Her shoulders trembled with sobs racking throughout her whole body. She shut her eyes and let out a few shuddering breaths. She was struggling not to lose it right then and there. She felt so void and deprived of life.
Again.
For the third time. The breakup with Jason, her parents' death, and now...this.
She didn't know if she could handle a triple dose of grief like this. She wept as she struggled not to give in to a breakdown. No...a breakdown would only result in more never-ending pain. She allowed the agony to consume her like a wild forest fire. Whatever color she allowed to seep into her heart was no longer present. Instead, her world turned black and white yet once again.
There were times when she ran to him to vent her pain and frustrations out. But if he was the one who pushed her away, then who was she supposed to run to? Her parents passed away. Crudely speaking, they're dead. And now, the man she had willfully given out her heart to...told her to...get lost.
"Then that's exactly what I'll do," Stella hissed to herself as tears streamed down her face. She frantically looked around the room. She suddenly felt claustrophobic and had the sudden urge to leave this room. She saw her packed suitcases. Since it's only been a few days since she's been here, she didn't even bother to unpack completely. Rushing over to her closet, she took out the few pairs resting on the hangers. Folding them neatly, she crushed them inside her suitcase. It didn't take her long to pack up everything.
She looked down at her dress and cried harder. Such a beautiful dress...it was meant to be worn for special occasions.
Stella took the dress off and wore something more suitable for a spontaneous run-away.
With shaking fingers, she took her phone. Her sobs only grew harder as her fingers frantically tapped around. She booked a cab. To her dismay, it was still five minutes away. Sniffling, she dragged her strollers to the living room. Thank God for luggage with wheels.
She went to the front door. Just as her fingers touched the lock, she found herself withdrawing automatically. Just once. She'll just see him once more. Just once.
Her shoes gently patted the floor as she neared his room. Her hands formed into a small, loose fist as she raised it up to knock on the door. She found herself unable to make even a small thump. Instead, her hand dropped to her side.
"B-Brandon...?" she said softly, silently pleading for him to stop her. She'll do anything if he opens his door. She'll forget everything he said even though it hurt like hell.
But...he didn't. He didn't open the door. She knew that he was still awake. But even so, he chose not to open this door.
She choked on a small sob and turned on her heel. She ran back to the living room, her muffled cries becoming louder each passing second. Her phone suddenly beeped and Stella saw through her blurry eyes that her cab was here.
She raised her hand to unlock the door. Just as the lock clicked, she turned her head around hoping he came out hopping out his bedroom.
...
Nothing.
Unable to bear it anymore, Stella harshly opened the door and ignored the sudden chill of cold air that swarmed through the front door. She took the strollers out and shut the door behind her. The cab driver took a good look at her and came out of the car. He glanced at her in sympathy as he took her bags. Stella thanked him silently.
"Please take me to the airport," she pleaded to which the driver nodded obediently.
Stella stiffened when she heard the front door being opened. She turned her head to the side before looking straight again.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" an angry voice barked from behind.
A tear rolled down her cheek as she refused to turn around. Instead, she only reached for the door when she felt a hand clasp around her wrist. She flinched and shook it loose with such a force and bitterness that Brandon automatically let go with shock. "I'm leaving. Don't worry. I'll never bother you ever again," she managed to squeak.
She, without another second delay, opened the door and hopped inside of the cab. She ushered the cab driver to get a move on. Her eyes narrowed in pain when she saw a tear roll down Brandon's cheek through the mirror in the front.
"Goodbye, Brandon," she whispered to her tearfully as she looked out the window, never to glance back again.
Stella sat on the bench reminiscing that night. A lot has changed and happened since then. She didn't cry anymore but that doesn't meant that it didn't hurt. Oh it hurt.
A part of her still craved for his presence. Not the part she was proud of having, but still. She sighed.
Her eyes no longer held the same twinkle. They no longer shined with the same happiness. And she blamed him. She blamed him for every tear she shed since that day. She blamed him for the countless sleepless nights she had spent crying over him.
That night, she took the next available flight to New Jersey and flew here immediately. She went to the house that Brandon and she rented out here. She emptied the house of her belongings and immediately stormed over to Princeton's residence halls in the middle of night. She had to call Bloom and Tecna during that time. They both freaked out when they found out that she was at college when they literally saw her a few hours ago dancing the night away. But they somehow managed to convince the warden to let her stay in their dorm.
And to Stella's relief, they both stormed to the dorm the very next day including Musa and Layla in tow. Stella felt bad for making them drive all the way here, but she was nonetheless grateful for it. With her friends around her, she realized how dependent she became. Her parents' death had been enough to shatter her spirit and now this.
She never went back to the house again. She collected all of her things and paid extra to move in with Bloom and Tecna. And at the beginning of her second year at Princeton, she enrolled as a full-time residential student. She never even roamed through that street by accident. She shut out anyone related to him. It didn't clearly help since Bloom broke the news that she and Sky were a thing now.
Oh well. Who said life was easy?
A few blonde strands escaped from Stella's high ponytail and clung to her face due to the wintry breeze. But for once, she didn't seem to mind. The second heartbreak of her life, yet somehow the more significant one, changed her. She didn't know if it was for the better or worse. The initial pain faded away and in its place, a sense of longing and bitter anger subsumed soon.
Her eyes flashed with fire. She'll never forgive him for the things that he said to her. She only hoped that she could keep that promise. Because very soon...
She knew that someday, she will see him again.
It's not a matter of if...
It's just a matter of when.
...
Meanwhile...
~ Seattle, Washington - Local Time - 1:00 PM ~
"Dr. Shields, please do reconsider our-"
A deep, rich voice immediately cut off the voice. "I've made my decision. The deal is off. Your prototypes violated one of the clauses for our requirements, Mr. Williams." Brandon Shields's eyes flashed with determination as he eyed the man sitting before him in a disdained fashion.
Mr. Blake Williams, CEO of Blake Industries (a little ego-centric, don't you think?), is a middle-aged man who considers himself as a heavy competitor to Shields Corporations. "Defects are quite common in any line of business. I'm sure you can understand that."
The dark-eyed brunette resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the pompous, arrogant old man. "Ninety defective products out of hundred is hardly anything but common. The deal is off," he repeated. "I'm sure you know the way out," Brandon slandered the man fuming in front of him.
Blake Williams stood up sharply while clutching his suitcase tightly. "You chose to insult one of the most prominent businesses in this industry. Is that your final answer?"
Brandon smirked as he didn't even bother to get up. "You chose to insult yourself by guessing that I'll ever promote falsely manufactured products. And thus, yes, this is and will be my final answer." He nodded towards the exit and Mr. Williams got the hint to instantly storm out the door without verbal instructions.
Brandon sighed and threw back his head. He leaned his back towards the lenient revolving chair, one of the many pleasantries of being a CEO. He shut his eyes for a few moments before opening them once again. He pressed the intercom button.
"Yes, Dr. Shields?" a female voice answered through the phone.
"Forward all of my calls for today. And reschedule any meetings or appointments," he ordered into the phone.
"Yes, sir," his secretary nodded in obedience.
He released his finger from the button and relaxed once more. He took off his suit jacket and hung it over the arm rest. His crisp white dress shirt plastered to his frame, revealing his drool-worthy muscular arms and broad chest. He stared up at the ceiling blankly. His eyes and expressions were devoid of any emotion. His dark browns pupils, which were once colored with life, now appeared dead and vacant.
And he knew the reason why.
He knew.
His heart throbbed with torment and misery as he struggled for the umpteenth time to not think about her.
He shut his eyes and let out a deep shuddering breath. He can't...he just can't keep doing this over and over again. Any lone moment he wasn't occupied with...always forced him to think about her again. What is she doing now? What is she wearing? Is she eating right? How much did she change?
Instead of spending some quality time with her, he's stupidly hoping against hope for just a chance to see her again.
"B-Brandon?" her soft voice trembled with an anxiety as she stood outside his room. Little did she know that he had been standing right in front of the door itself the whole time. His fingers simply held the knob, but didn't dare turn it.
And he paid for that mistake clearly. No, no, it was no mistake. It's almost a sin. An act of transgression that deprived him of the woman he loved and treasured well above his life. If things had gone according to plan, then their first Christmas together would've consisted of him professing his undying love for her.
After leaving her in the hall like that, he never realized how much those words broke him.
It wasn't her fault that they're split up now.
No way.
If anything, it was all his fault. And only his.
She hadn't done anything wrong. She only spoke the truth. However, she hadn't known any backstory between him and his father. She doesn't even have the slightest clue as to why they're in frenemies zone now. But he did. He knew and understood the impact of his irrational choice of cutting open her wounds. He clearly disrespected her late parents, whom he also saw as his own parents. He disrespected them by injuring their daughter in the worst way possible.
He remembered her broken voice. How tumultous it had sounded while she called his name like that.
His sweet ray of sunshine had given him a second chance again. A chance he clearly didn't deserve. He was almost scared to open the door because he didn't want to accept that it was him who scarred her. He didn't want to see her hurt-filled eyes. So he stayed put and didn't allow his itching hand to open the stupid door.
And that cost him.
He paid the price dearly because after that, he drowned into an oblivion of depression that he never got out of.
A tear slid down his cheek as he watched the blonde leave hastility in the cab she booked for herself.
He shut his eyes as tears threatened to swirl once more.
Saying her name was too painful. It is all the more painful because the breakup between them literally killed him. He dissolved himself into his career, hoping that it would get his mind off of her. It nearly worked. He became successful. He became Dr. Brandon Shields. He became a renowned businessman who not only scored high profits but also played tactfully in one of the most avarice-filled industries.
But what use is that? What is the use of having fancy awards graze your shelves when your heart is too numb to savor the sweet success?
He considered himself blessed to receive updates about Stella's welfare through Sky. But it instantly sent a jolting pang through his heart when Sky informed him that Stella silently pleaded him to leave her alone for a while.
A part of him was happy for that information but the majority of him broke down. He's happy because she missed him too. And he broke down because she's suffering because of him. Something he detested.
One whole year...
A day hasn't gone by where he didn't think of her. She was the source of his heartbreak, but he didn't regret loving her. He didn't regret loving her even though it hurt so much.
There were so many times that he wished to hop on a plane and go see her. But he always backed out at the last second. He knew for sure that she wouldn't forgive him any time soon. What he said to her was unforgivable even to him. And that was why he chose not to meet her once more.
He's also afraid. There is very well a chance that she might've moved on from him. There is no way he'll ever prepared to see that. So he stopped asking Sky for those nosy updates.
But the worst part of this is that...he felt as if he died twice when his phone pinged one day. His eyes literally popped out when he saw a rather large sum being deposited into his bank account along with a text telling him to take back the properties he wrote on her name. It stung him tremendously to know how she calculated their relationship on a few dollar bills. It hurt. It hurt a lot. Was their relationship based on...money?!
A tear slid down his cheek as he remembered his every moment with her. Every pulsing instant of time with her hasn't been forgotten. Please come back to me, baby. Please, please, please..! He prayed with nothing but desperation in his tone. His body shook with vulnerability. His shoulders tremored as he found himself breaking down into oblivion again.
Tears cascaded down his cheeks freely. He was never the type to be upset for long, let alone cry. But...a heartbreak upon heartbreak was just too much too bear. It was...too much to handle. Too much to carry for one person.
He cried as sobs racked his large body.
He prayed to God every single day for just one opportunity to see her again.
A chance.
Because a chance is all he needed.
To set things right.
...
OKAY. I DESERVE AN OSCAR FOR MY EFFORTS. Jk. But seriously though. This is my SECOND time writing the whole chapter and I'll tell you why.
I accidentally deleted the entire content of the word document which was supposed to be chapter 21. I nearly had a meltdown because I was like ten seconds away from uploading. So I wrote down the ENTIRE chapter again. You guys better thank me for this -.-
PLEASE REVIEW!