Always the Second Choice (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 4: Apparent Parent

Autumn's P.O.V.

After work yesterday, Cleo decided to stay over at my apartment so we spent our Saturday lazing around and watching  Netflix all day until it was time for the party.

It was still a few hours before my brother’s engagement party.  Cleo and I were busy getting ready. 

I was using the curling iron to accentuate the natural waves  of my hair while Cleo was almost finished putting on her makeup. 

Once I was finished doing my hair, I slipped on my heels and deemed myself ready. I was wearing a simple mid-thigh, off the shoulder burgundy dress. 

With the both of us ready, we sat down in the living room to continue watching the new season of Lucifer on Netflix while we waited for our ride. I already texted Freya that Cleo will be joining us and she had no problems with it. 

After just a few minutes, the doorbell rang and Cleo and I stared briefly at each other. I had a panic look across my face while she only gave me an evil smirk. 

Cleo stood up to get the door while I tried to relax and put on a straight face.

I walked towards them and I could already see them talking like they were old friends. Cleo must have introduced herself already. 

“Hey Kitten. Ready to go?” Freya said with a breathtaking smile. Her smile wasn’t the only thing breathtaking about her. She was looking absolutely divine in her sexy blue cocktail dress. 

Her long legs were almost blinding to look at. I discreetly ran my hand through my mouth to check if I was visibly drooling. 

I took a second to catch my breath and gave her a small smile and nodded. Cleo already walked ahead of us while Freya waited for me to lock my door.

I felt my spine tingle when she placed her hand on the small of my back. Gently guiding me, as we walked outside of my apartment.

When we were at the parking lot, Freya unlocked her car and we all jumped in. Cleo was in the backseat while I was in the passenger seat. I glanced at Cleo and saw her already busy tapping on her phone.

A few minutes of slightly awkward silence, Freya turned on the radio and picked a random station.

A cover of Sam Smith’s song, “Leave your Lover” started blasting from the speakers. I loved the song so I started softly humming and singing along with the music.  

“Pack up and leave everything                                                                                                                                Don't you see what I can bring                                                                                                                                Can't keep this beating heart at bay                                                                                                                            Set my midnight sorrow free                                                                                                                                            I will give you all of me                                                                                                                       

Just leave your lover, leave her for me                                                                                                                          Leave your lover, leave her for me

We sit in bars and raise our drinks to growing old                                                                                                  Oh, I'm in love with you and you will never know                                                                                                    But if I can't have you I'll walk this life alone                                                                                                          Spare you the rising storms and let the rivers flow                                                                

You'll never know the endless nights, the rhyming of the rain                                                                               Or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call her name”

I was looking out the window whilst I was singing when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me. I looked to my side and saw Freya looking at me with a knowing smile.

My heart raced a bit. The lyrics of the song kind of hit close to home. I hope she doesn’t think that I’m singing the song for her. 

I just genuinely like the song because it’s so relatable to me. But unlike the song, I would never ask the person I love to leave the one they love for me. I can never be that selfish. 

“You have a really lovely voice, Kitten. Forget about being a scientist, you should have been a singer.” She said with a sly smile.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Thanks, but I don’t think I’m at that level yet. I prefer to have my concerts alone in my bathroom.” I said while still chuckling.

After driving for a couple of hours, we finally arrived at the marina. Like any other stereotypical rich people party, it was being held on a yacht. 

How original...

I thought as I rolled my eyes. 

The car ride was fun. Freya and I joked around and I couldn’t stop laughing until my tummy was aching. Cleo jumped in our conversation occasionally, especially when they were both ganging up and teasing me.

Cleo kept sharing some of my embarrassing stories to Freya and I couldn’t help but glare at her to make her stop talking. But my attempts at threatening her didn’t do anything and she just poke her tongue out to me like a child.

I was finally feeling comfortable around Freya. I could feel the awkwardness between us slowly dissolving. 

She might have rejected me a couple years ago and I kind of avoided her since then, but now that we met each other again, I do want to have a decent relationship with her. Not because I want another chance to be with her but because I want to be friends with her. 

Hmm…

But more than friends is fine with me too…

I gave myself a mental slap to stop me from my delusions.

Ugh. I should really stop getting my hopes up. 

Friends.

That’s it. 

That’s all I want our relationship to be.

As I earnestly tried to convince myself, I felt someone’s arm on my shoulder. 

I looked at Cleo and gave her a “what” face. She moved her face close to me and whispered. 

“I can see why you are so obsessed with her. You didn't tell me that she was that hot.”

I scowled at her.

“Shut up. I don’t like her just because of her looks. Don’t you dare hit on her, Cleo. I’m warning you.”

“Woah. Acting like a jealous girlfriend, are we? Don’t worry. I’m just complimenting her. Besides, you know that she’s not my type. I’m more into submissive girls like you.” She said then gave me a wink to tease me.

I shrugged her arm off of me and scoffed, “I am not acting like a jealous girlfriend and excuse me, I don’t consider myself submissive, I’m passive. There’s a difference.”  

Freya was only a couple of feet away from us so we had to try and quarrel quietly. Cleo didn’t say anything anymore and just gave me a smirk.

We were walking on the dock towards my brother’s yacht, which was given to him by my parents when he graduated. He wittily named it “Yada Yachta”.  

When we finally got on board the boat, there were already a lot of people socializing. I scan my surroundings for my brother and find him with our parents on the upper deck. 

I made my way towards them with Freya and Cleo following behind me. 

Introducing Dr. Robert Blaine and Dr. Lydia Orla-Blaine, my very successful and influential parents. Even before they were married they were considered to be one of the best in their field. Not surprising since they both came from a long lineage of brilliant physicians. 

Once they were married, they were unstoppable and they continue to contribute to the world of medicine and health care.

“Ah, sweetie. At last, we see you again. How many centuries has it been?” My father said while squeezing me to death with a hug.

I tried to get out of the hug to breath, “Dad, you’re exaggerating. We saw each other last Christmas.” 

When my father finally released me, I gave him and my mother a kiss on the cheek.

“That was forever ago. I miss my little girl. You should go home more often. We missed you so much.” My father said while pouting and putting his arm around my mother’s waist.

As always, my mother has a displeased look on her face while looking at me. My mom doesn’t really approve of my life choices. She wanted me to follow their footsteps and to work as a medical doctor in our hospitals and to help my brother manage our business but I was really passionate about research work so I deviated from their expectations for me. 

My father supported me a hundred percent but my mother was greatly disappointed with my decision. She’s always lecturing me that I could contribute more to the world if I was a physician and that I am wasting my brilliant mind.

As she explained in the past, she wasn’t saying that research was not important, because it is.  It’s just that my mother has an old school way of thinking and she wanted me to follow the tradition.

I finished high school early then I immediately got my bachelor’s degree and proceeded to get a Ph.D. in microbiology so technically I am a doctor just not the kind of doctor that my mother wants me to be.

Plus, it also didn’t help when I told them that I was a lesbian. Both my parents were shocked at first but dad said that as long as I was happy, he was fine with it. My mom didn’t say anything about it but I did feel her disappointment once again. 

Despite my mother’s cold treatment, I still loved her. She was a loving mother to me before that whole issue and someday, I know that she’ll be able to understand my choices.

“Mother, nice to see you. How have you been?” I said while giving her a small smile.

“I’m fine, Sweetie. I could feel even better if you’re finally willing to reconsider your career and come home to us.”

“Mom, we’ve talked about this a zillion times. I’m perfectly happy with my choice.” I said, trying not to show my irritation.

My dad whispered something to my mom that thankfully made her quiet and dropped the subject.

My father glanced behind me and finally noticed that I had other people with me. 

I briefly introduced Cleo as my friend and colleague from the lab. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. They already seem to know a bit about Cleo, it wasn’t surprising since Cleo also came from a well known family. 

After being introduced, Cleo excused herself to the bathroom. I know better than to believe her excuse. I knew that she was bored and just wanted to get away to gallivant and to look for beautiful women that she could play with.

When my parents saw Freya, they gave her a warm smile.

“Freya, it’s nice to see you again. Look at you, all grown up.” My father said while also giving her a hug.

“Robert, Lydia, The two of you haven’t aged. You still look as young as ever.” She said while giving my mother a kiss on the cheek.

Freya was close with my parents since she was always at our house and my parents treat her as one of their own daughters. Freya didn’t really have a healthy environment at home, her mother was a “slutty gold digger” as she puts it and her father was always busy working. 

My mother looked at her fondly, “Oh Freya, sweetie, it’s always a pleasure seeing you. I’ve heard you’ve been doing extremely well in managing your family’s business after inheriting it from your late father. I hope you’re not working yourself too hard.”

“Thank you but you don’t need to worry, I can handle it and I do take vacations from time to time.”

 “Oh. I wanted to give your mother an invitation for the party but I didn’t know where to reach her.”

“Don’t mind that woman. As usual, she’s out of the country travelling with her new boy toy.” She said with obvious hatred for the woman who gave birth to her.

“I see…” My mother replied.

My mother was about to speak again when my brother suddenly appeared. Hunter gave me a hug and lifted me off the ground briefly. 

“Hey Sis, good to see that you’re alive.” He said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, Yeah. I missed you too, brother. Now, I didn’t come here to see you. Where’s your fiancé? Introduce her to me. I want to know more about my future sister-in- law.”

"She'll be here shortly. She's just greeting some of her friends."  

| Jan.15.21 |

Song: Sam Smith- Leave your Lover Official Acoustic Cover (Female Version by Siren Jean)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p8JsT2DVp4