Chapter 28
Mira's POV
I stayed in my room, sniffing and sobbing quietly. Right now I feel so stupid for what I did back there, but I didn't have a choice, or did I? I heard a knock on my door and quickly cleaned up my face.
“Who's there?” I called hoarsely.
“Open up, it's me.” My mom replied. I sluggishly stood up from the bed and went to open it. True, it was her, and she had a tray of food in her hands.
“So... Aren't you going to let me in?” She asked, smiling.
“Sorry. Please come in.” I trotted back to the Ed and laid head first, burying my face in the sheets. I felt a hand stroking my hair, and I knew it was mom.
“You've been all to yourself ever since you got back from school. Is it anything you want to talk about?” My mom asked.
“I'd rather not talk about it,” I muttered, hiccupping in the process.
She fell silent for a while and what she said next stunned me.
“It has something to do with Darren, doesn't it?” She asked, still stroking my hair. I stared at her.
“How did you know?” I asked. She smiled and sat on the bed, putting her face on her knees.
“Come on, I've seen it ever since he came to pick you up for that outing. You were head over heels for him. Which reminds me, you came home feeling bad too. What's the problem, did he do something bad?”
I sighed. “He didn't do anything, mom... I was the one who messed up.”
“And what did you do?” She asked me.
“I really like him, and I think he likes me too, but it didn't quite work out... You know.”
“You didn't think you were going to get it easy, did you?” I glanced at her.
“Maybe not as easy, but not immediately!” I huffed.
“Come on Mira....” she said stroking my hair again. “You like him, he likes you... What's stopping you from going further?”
“His parents as already found someone else for him.” I blurted out.
“And the person they found... Does he like her?” I looked at my mom again. What's she trying to get at?
“No...” I muttered.
“See? He doesn't like her. He likes you! What did you tell him?”
“That we couldn't work out?”
“Mira!”
“Mom!” I said back. We sighed, and she chuckled.
“You're too young to be worrying yourself like this. You should learn to let yourself go. If you like him and he likes you, which I think he does, nothing should stop you. Who knows, maybe your sticking with him might change his parents' mind.”
“You're kinda right, though. But I don't think there's anything I can do anymore.” I muttered despondently.
“There's something you can do.” She said and gave me my phone. “Right now, you can call him up and say you made a mistake, and you want him to get back together.”
“I can't call him, I'll have to see him,” I said.
“Then do it.” Holding me by the cheeks she added, “you are braver than you think Mira, you just have to stop being scared.”
I smiled, my eyes getting to Misty. She smiled back.
“So, go get him.” She added. Patting me softly, she stood up and made to leave the room.
“Mom, wait....” I called. She stopped and turned. I went over and hugged her. “Thanks a lot, mom, for everything,” I whispered.
“Anything for you. Just do what you have to do.” She added and left the room.
I smiled as I went back to the bed. Sighing softly I brought out my phone. Should I call him, or should I see him? I don’t know.
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Darren's POV
“Well, I hope you're happy now,” I said sternly at Celine. I had gone to see her the moment I left for school.
“Can you at least Calm down! I don't even know what you're talking about!”
“Don't play that game with me. Of course, you know what I'm talking about!”
“Is this about Mira?” She asked perfunctorily, raising her brows and folding her arms.
“Well, yes. Yes, it is.”
“Well good. She is supposed to leave, anyway. I don't even know what you like in that girl.”
“She is ten times better than you or anybody else combined.”
“That doesn't matter. You'll still be mine, anyway.” She spat.
“And how can you guarantee that?”
“Because our parents are involved. And we've been together ever since we were little.” She stopped and walked closer to me. “Have you forgotten all that we shared... Before you suddenly left?” I leaned closer and gritted my teeth.
“We didn't share anything, Celine. You forced yourself on me. And that almost got me into trouble with my parents.” That must've hit a nerve because she suddenly went limp. Backing away, I scoffed one last time before slamming the door behind me.
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Celine's POV
I still stood there even though Darren had left a long time ago, trying to process everything Darren. ' we didn't share anything Celine, you forced yourself on me.', repeated in my head for a long time. So all of those moments... Meant nothing to Darren? I could I be so stupid??
I sobered up and took in a deep breath. At least something good came out of all of this. Mira has given up, which means there's still a chance to prove Darren wrong. I smiled to myself as I brought out my phone to call up Mira. She answered at the first ring.
“Hello, who is this?” She asked and I giggled.
“Hi, Mira... I heard the news. Congratulations honey.”
“Celine?? How the hell did you get my number??”
“Let's just say I have my ways... Did you really give up on Darren?”
“I suppose you must be feeling like a queen right now, isn't it?”
“Frankly yes. I didn't know it'll be so easy. Guess you now know who's boss.” I said and heard her scoff.
“Don't get your knickers in a twist, Celine. I can still change my mind.”
“I know that's not possible. Besides, Darren doesn't take back girls who deliberately let him up.”
“Really? How can you be so sure?” She asked. I chuckled.
“Why don't we wait and see?”
“Sure. I can do just that.”
“I'll talk to you later.”
I hung up and smirked. This time I'm going to make sure Mira never gets Darren. Never.
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Darren's POV
“You have to understand me. I don't see myself dating Celine.”
“And why don't you?” My dad retorted. “You've been friends for a long while, she's perfect for you.”
“Well, she's changed. And I don't like the new her.” I muttered.
“You're just saying this so you can play around like you always do. Why can't you be serious for once!”
“I am serious! You're not seeing that.”
“Then date Celine.”
“Well, I can't......” My dad scoffed and looked away, facing his work
“Why can't you let me choose who I want?” I asked, despair underlying my voice. My dad glared at me, iciness spilling out.
“Celine or no one else.” He glowered. I gasped. “And we will not have this conversation ever again! Leave my room.”
I stared at my dad in disbelief. Wow... Just wow. I nodded and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
Out of fits of anger, I kicked the table in the hallway, causing the vase on it to fall and break to pieces. I squatted in the rubble, my face in my hands.
“Brother Darren.....is everything okay?” Tina's tiny voice called. I glanced at her, the tears filling up my eyes and threatening to spill. She was holding her teddy bear.
“Yeah, I'm fine. Excuse me.” I said and stood up, taking up my car keys and driving out of the house.
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Author's POV
Tina watched as Darren drove out of the house. She has never seen him so angry and butter before. She thought of going to her dad's study but decided against it. That's where he was coming from, anyway. Taking little steps, she walked into her brother's room. She searched, looking for something.
"Found it!” She exclaimed and smiled. It was Darren's phone, but it was locked. Luckily, she knew the password. She opened it and called the only person she guessed could be able to calm Darren down.
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Mira's POV
I was furious after that call from Celine. She seemed so confident, and that annoyed me. Just as I was thinking of what I would do, my phone rang again. I frowned as I thought it would be Celine again but stopped in my tracks when I realized who the caller was. Darren.
“Hello Darren, how are you?” I hurriedly asked.
“This isn't Darren, it's Tina.”
I removed the phone from my ears and put it back. Tina? What was she doing with Darren's phone?
“Hey, Tina! How are you? “I asked sweetly.
“I'm fine..... But Darren isn't.”
“Why... What happened?”
“Can you go talk to him? He might need some company.”
“Okay... But I don't know where he might be.”
“My brother only goes to one place when he isn't feeling so good. It's the highest point in the whole of New Orleans. You know that place, right?
“Yeah... Sure. I'll be right there.”
“Okay, thanks. Bye.”
“Bye.”
I hung up and hurriedly went for a change of clothes. Rushing down the stairs, my mom called out.
“And where do you think you're going, young lady?” I stopped and smiled.
“To go get Darren.” She smiled back.
“Fighting.”
“Fighting.” I chuckled as I rushed over to the garage, where one of the drivers attended to me.
“To Peyton hills,” I said to the driver.
"Yes, miss.”
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It was already dusk by the time I arrived at Peyton hills. The stars were beginning to come out and you could see the beauty of the city in the night lights below, not to forget the cold air that was already blowing. I scrambled up the steps to the highest point and met Darren sitting on the chairs that were placed there, staring ahead. I walked over and sat beside him. We stayed there for a while, not talking to each other.
“I thought you didn't want to see me. Why are you here?” He asked, not glancing at me. I took a deep breath and replied.
“I may have changed my mind. Besides, Tina called and said you'll be here.”
“I wondered about that too.”
“She said something about you being in a bad mood,” I added.
“Yeah, that's right....” He muttered. I sighed and glanced at Darren.
“I'm sorry for what I said earlier today. I wasn't thinking.”
“What happened? Did a genie or fairy whisper into your ears?”
“Something like that....” I trailed off and glanced at him, but he was already staring. My breathing hitched.
“I thought you've given up... On me.” I heard him say.
“Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. The heart wouldn't let me.” I admitted as I played with my fingers.
“So that means we're starting over again?” He asked.
“I guess so.”
“No promises?” I stared at him and smiled.
“No promises,” I answered.
For the first time since I got here, he smiled. I smiled back.
“Come over here...” He muttered huskily. I went over and he pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. From depths of despair to heights of joy in an instant. Was this real?? I smiled as I hugged him back, breathing him in.
“So... What do we do now?” He muttered, his face buried in my neck. It was ticklish and I couldn't help but giggle. I pulled back and stared at him.
“We go and show 'em,” I stated. I watch him smirk.
“I like the sound that...” He muttered before pulling me into a kiss. Best day ever...