Pulling Pieces (girlxgirl) Book 1 Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 9

Amy agreed to go shopping with me. I need some new undergarments and maybe a few shirts and blouses. I think I'd also need a few outfits for the frequent clubbing. If ever I'd see Blake again, I want to look presentable and ready. Ready for what?

Anyways, Amy also agreed that I'll be behind the wheels today. It has been so long since the last time I've driven a car. I already feel the power of controlling a bigger machine. Amy, as I have noticed seem to be occupied with her own thoughts on our way to the nearest mall. The drive is very silent and it feels as if I'm getting deaf because of the silence. It seems to kill me for I am being bombarded with different thoughts already with nobody else but yeah, you already know who.

I nudge her on the side as I am parking the car in front of the mall. It's humid outside but still you can feel the cold.

She looks at me a bit weary. I wonder if I'm making her anxious that I didn't go to my classes and work today.

"You okay?" I asked forcing a little smile to lighten the mood.

"Yeah. I am. I am just a little worried. I am even wondering how come in the middle of the school week you are suddenly here", she says with a serious tone.

Serious Amy is no good and not cool. I don't want to elaborate on every move I make. I am no longer a child and it will be another wrecking event if I'm going to recount all the story about Blake and my current heartbreak. I'm not ready for a lot of things and coming out to my aunt is one of them. Sooner or later I would have to tell her about everything but I guess now's not the right time.

"You don't believe when I say I am just not in the mood to go, and you also don't believe that I miss hanging out with you", I try to sound hurt. I don't want her to feel bad for not believing me but it's the right thing to do for now.

She seems to catch up on me and says, "Don't give me that of a reason. I know you too well and we both know you are a crappy liar. I'll give you the whole day alright. But by the end of the day, if you don't tell me what it is, Lana, you better pack your bags and go. I don't want a liar of a housemate especially a liar of a niece. You are not taught to lie in the first place.

I am caught off guard and panic stricken. I did not expect her to be THAT serious. How am I going to clean this mess? Ugh!

"Okay." I gulp. Then come out if I may.

"Shall we start shopping?", she suddenly beams. This is more than awful now.

I follow her into one lingerie shop. As she browses on the bras talking to a saleslady, I make my way into the corsets and lacey panties.

I soo wanted to have a corset for so long but I can't find the right one for me. Most of the corsets now are clipped unlike the old fashioned style which is tied. I notice a violet corset which really looks good. I reach for it and as I do I hear a voice behind me.

"It will really look good on you, I swear." No. Not here.

I gulp and tried to whisper, "Not here. I'm with my aunt. I don't ever want to explain myself."

I don't look at her but my whole being is shaking. This is the place I least expect her to show up all of a sudden. I am feeling like my face is heating up and this is embarrassing to blush just because I hear her voice and I feel her very presence beside me.

"Oh. Can't you tell her that I am a friend of yours?" She asks as she tries to toy with my hair which is covering my face.

I gasp. But I compose myself as I look at her irritatingly. Then I go back browsing the hangers of corsets as if nothing happened and I don't know her.

"Oh. She's mad." Then she goes browsing in the same rack of corsets that I am in and browses in front of me.

Whenever I see Blake, my head's a mess. My emotions all tangled up and my, I can almost forget about breathing.

I am furious but am so happy to see her. I am angry but I am nervous at the same time.

She smiles as if she knows I am looking at her but still continues to look through the selection.

Then my aunt is suddenly beside me. I just wanted to faint.

"So what's the name of your new friend?" She says looking at Blake who seems to look at her and smiles sweetly. An asshole of course.

"What friend?" I deny?

"Isn't she your friend?" Amy says still looking at Blake who goes back to flipping the hangers I'm sure pretending to be busy selecting.

Grace under pressure at this instance is not working for me. I look at Blake who looks at me and smiles sweetly. I look at her like I'm more than ready to kill her.

"So?" Amy asks waiting.

"No."

"No? She's not your friend?" Amy asks confusingly.

"No." I don't know how to elaborate on that no.

"No?" She asks again this time to Blake. Blake just shrugs and walks towards Amy.

What now?

"My name is Blake Sinclair. I am currently a nutritionist. I also suggest that we should be friends cause I am good for your health. I also suggest that you allow this beautiful lady to be my friend as well. She looks so pale and I know I'll be healthy for her." She says as she indirectly asks for Amy's permission to be my friend. She also winks at her after her not-so-obvious flirtatious speech.

I need a couch or else I will just collapse any second.

Amy then replies with a little blush on her cheeks, yeah right whatever, "Amy Bridge, Lana's aunt from her mother's side. I don't see any harm in adding you to my friends list but I'm not sure with Lana. She seems to have something against you."

"I hope I am not vanishing right now for it seems like you both don't see me having to talk about me like I'm not here." I interrupt. Every second is getting worse when it comes to Blake. Arggghh!

"Anyways, I'm not feeling so fine today, I still haven't got some sleep." Amy then speaks like I didn't just reprimanded them. "Now, Blake, can you be my good friend and accompany Lana in shopping? That is if you are not busy yourself and have no future plans for the afternoon?" She smiles sweetly. Ugh. Does she really have this effect on everybody?

"Absolutely Amy. I am very free today. I can even bring her home if you want me to." Blake says enthusiastically.

"No." I say with conviction that they both look at me like I am scolding them. "I am not a toddler who needs company in shopping. I can also ride a bus going home. I still have my legs to walk with. I have my arms to hold shopping bags and I think I have enough money in my pocket to bring me home. I don't need a chaperon if my aunt doesn't want to go with me. I can obviously go alone." I say in one long breathing.

I was expecting my aunt to disagree or maybe Blake to make a speech. We are already making a scene.

"Well. Then I think it's time to take my leave. I'll leave you both to whatever plans you have in mind. You are both adults and I'm sure you can both manage." She looks at us then at me, "I suggest you go home to your dorm tonight. You still have classes tomorrow. We'll see by weekend, maybe we'll both have our time together then. Okay?" She asks us as she looks at Blake and I down. Then like a primadonna, she heads outside into the parking lot.

Now I'm left with no choice but to face Blake. I'm still not ready so I stomp back to the racks of bras leaving Blake at loss for words.

I was waiting for her to interrupt me and insist to bring me home or accompany me shopping or maybe take me to dinner but nothing. Nobody is interrupting me now. I am getting pissed for expecting. I don't want to look behind me and get caught. I don't even want her to think I care.

While I'm trying to look busy in choosing a b*a, I then heard giggling. I turn around and see Blake talking to a sales lady. They look like they are really having fun flirting with each other. I'm really sorry for the girl but it's just how Blake is as far as I've known her. She's easy to fall for. Like I'm now admitting that I already fell for her. A girl can be confused you know? It irritated me how close they were like they've known each other for a long time. Blake is even playing with a few of the girl's curls.

I don't want to explode but I really wanted to pull the girl's hair and tell her she has no right. Like I do have??

I find myself walking to them with a hanger of the b*a I just picked.

"Honey, I think I already want this one? Don't you think it fits me?" I say as I lay my free hand on Blake's shoulder. Don't I just look like any other girl this way?

It catches her attention and like two lovers caught in an inappropriate manner, they suddenly stand upright and pretend like they're faces were not five inches away from each other five seconds ago.

I smile at the saleslady as I hand over my b*a of choice so she can bring it to the cashier. That should show her place. I link my arm to Blake's as we follow the girl to the counter. Blake looks at me confusingly. I just smile up at her. Once we leave the store, I won't be this friendly again. She better take this to her advantage, if I were her.

I can still feel Blake's eyes on me as I reach for my purse. She beats me by the second by reaching out for her card on her breast pocket.

"My treat, Hon." She winks at me. I feel my rib cage hurt because my heart is beating so fast and so hard that it wants to break its cage. I saw the cashier wince for a sec but she caught herself and made a straight face.

I just smile sweetly at her. Well, life sucks, I know.

Blake then escorts me out of the boutique. I cling possessively until we are out of sight from the boutique. I release her from my grip and face her then. "You may now go wherever you plan to. I can take care of myself now."

"WHAT?!", She asks in disbelief.

"I'm sure you heard me. I still have a lot to buy and I don't want to bore you to death. I don't know how to entertain or to sweet talk. Maybe you can go back to that saleslady and tell her I was just a friend." I say as I turn around heading back to the mall.

She hurries to my side and grabs me by the arm.

"What did I do to you?" She demands.

"Nothing. I just don't want to be your friend right now." I say with the same tone.

"Oh you don't want to be my girlfriend and now you don't even want to be my friend. How amusing! I must have done something really bad for you to treat me this way!" She shouts at me. Oh! She can shout in the parking lot, under this steady heat.

"I already told you I'm not yet ready." I surrendered as I face her. Are we going to do this all over again?

"What? You still need to be ready before considering me even as a friend? Am I that worst of a person that you still have to think about it?" She shouts back for about 10 feet away from me.

I wanted to run to her and show her that she is not a bad person and that everybody she meets automatically falls in love with her. I wanted to run away from her cause I know in the end I'll just end up hurting. I cannot bear to have her divided attention. I cannot allow her to be that friendly with everybody. I want her for myself. I am not ready to accept her into my life if I won't have her completely.

After all the things I wanted to do, all I was able to is stand and look at her, I'm begging her to understand everything for me. Words will fail me I'm sure.

She looks helpless as she looks at me. Nobody wants to make the first step. She puts her hands on her face out of frustration. When her hand falls to her sides again, she's already walking towards me. Once she's in front of me she holds my chin. I feel vulnerable just by her touch. She lifts my face and forces me to look at her.

"I'm not forcing you to be in a relationship with me like the relationship boys and girls do. I know you are new to this. I'm now asking you to be my friend. Is that really hard?" She whispers sincerely.

I look at her eyes and see them darken, could it be the lighting? Doesn't she already have a lot of friends already that she still asks me to be one?

"I don't want to be your friend." I say, gulping back unshed tears.

She releases my chin and nods to herself. I can't bear to look at her walk away with a broken heart. If only she knows I'm also breaking apart.

I muster up the courage to shout her name. I don't want her to walk away like this.

"Blake!"

She turns around with defeat on her face. I will have to remember that face until we meet again.

"Maybe next time, I'd be ready." I still shout and force a smile which in turn somehow brightens her face. She gives me a side smile, not completely reaching her eyes, then walks away. She raises her set of keys, telling me goodbye again.