Chapter 28: Apologies in Action
“…I don’t like that he belittled me jussst now,” Cynthia says softly. “He doesssn’t do that. So, I’m not sure why he would today.”
Her assertion that I wouldn’t belittle her makes me happy and stabs me in the chest. She sees me kindly, if not a bit annoying. But I’ve never talked down about her like that before.
“What he did wasn’t right. I’m sure you’re a great actor.”
“…Thank you.”
2
“I think, perhaps, he’s just gotten jealous and lashed out. He used to always do that when we were younger, too, lil brat.”
It frustrates me that I can hear the smile in Mikey’s voice. Crossing my arms, I grumble under my breath.
“Jealous? Why?”
“Well, maybe it has something to do with me. He’s a chatterbox, so I know he’s starting to feel some kind of way when he goes quiet. Still, he could do better.”
“Hmmh…don’t know what he’s jealousss about.”
“Maybe because I’m having such a good conversation with you?” Mikey presents,
definitely teasing me.
I feel tempted to kick the wall slightly as a way of telling him to quit it, but…
“I don’t sss–see why that’d make him jealous.”
“Well, you’re his girlfriend. You must be really important to him.”
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#Chapter 28 Apologies in Action
“Hah.”
She doesn’t say anything to deny it, but that short laugh might as well have been a full sentence doing exactly that. It makes me feel even more shitty than I already did. but 1 brought it on myself.
Didn’t she notice how worried I was after her run–in with a car? I think she realized was trying to cheer her up. I’ve shown her I care a lot, so, the fact she’d deny it like that….
Maybe I’ve not been doing it the right way or something. Like, in my efforts to not send mixed signals, maybe the lines crossed anyway somewhere. I don’t know.
All I know is that I’m feeling like shit.
“Hey, c’mon. He’s got youngest kid syndrome. Tell you what. If he apologizes immediately once he gets back, let’s chalk it up to him being jealous over something. Okay?”
“…If you sssay so.”
…Alright. Good. There’s at least a way to somewhat fix this.
I decide to go into the bathroom so I can think of the best way to apologize.
When I do get back, the food’s been delivered, and they’ve started eating. I stay standing,
not sitting down yet.
“…I said a shitty thing just now. I’m very sorry, Cynthia.”
She cuts into her powered sugar–topped pancakes, mixing them with maple syrup and
bacon before eating it. Cynthia chews slowly, then finally looks at me.
“…Okay.”
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#Chapter 29 Apologies in Action
“I am seriously, so sorry. If you’re not an actor, then I’m not a hockey captain.”
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She stares at me for a moment before sighing and nodding her head toward my empty seat
in the booth. Permission to sit, then.
“Aww, look at my little bro, growing up right in front of me,” Mikey teases, putting a slice of his smoked ham on my plate. A reward and peace offering.
“Shush,” I grumble. “…Sorry for acting out.”
And then I stuff the smoked ham slice in my mouth.
It’s really juicy…delicious.
I never got the chance to ask Mikey what he’s doing in town, but it’s too late for me to try to hold him up. It’s dark out by the time we leave the diner and part ways, my brother saying he’ll catch me later.
After the apology, Cynthia slowly opened back up to me. Eventually, she told me to stop apologizing after we got in the car.
I still feel bad about what I did, though. Yeah, I was jealous, but that was no reason to take it out on her. Just cause she and my brother hit it off.
Would I have reacted that way with any other girl meeting him?
…Maybe, if I liked her. And I do like Cynthia a lot. Although she doesn’t seem to know it,
she’s really fun to tease and just talk with, too.
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#Chapter 28 Apologies in Action
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She’s also not afraid to call me out when I do something wrong, nor does she seem to drool over me either. Though she needs support, it’s understandable with everything she’s gone through. I may not know all the details, but seeing and hearing what Oliver said to her, I knew it was more than I’d probably ever know.
Still, she’s grown so much stronger with just the bit of support I give her. Even now, she gives me that small smile as she talks about the main character from the movie we watched. Her eyes seem brighter nowadays, and the smell of lilac petals has been getting stronger over time.
It’s like she’s the flower itself, blooming after however long she’s been getting beaten down.
I’m so caught up on her scent that it’s almost startlingly off–putting when I open my door to let her out of hers and I smell something foul.
It’s like blood, but if you left it out for a few days. Like trash, but crusted in the sun. Like a river without good filtration, murky and unsuitable for swimming.
The woods near her house haven’t smelt like this before… So, someone must’ve brought
that scent.
And the source of it was still around.
Acting normal, I smile as I open Cynthia’s door for her. Then, I hold out my hand.
“Keys, mademoiselle.”
“Okay…but how do you get it here?”
“Eh, I get some help, don’t worry ‘bout it. But of course, I’m not trusting anyone else with
your car.”
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