Shelby
Chapter Fifteen
The Valley, Canada
“You look like you’ve just crawled out of your own grave,” Blake chimed from somewhere over my shoulder. I’d taken residence in the living room, curled into a ball on the sofa for the last forty-eight hours.
“Piss off,” I mumbled, not having the energy to argue further.
Which was a shame, because I could have gone for a bit of banter right about now.
“Seriously, have you even showered in the last two days? You’re disgusting.” He was smiling, but there was concern in his voice. I was the caretaker. It was the reason I couldn’t go with Corbin, right? Yet, Blake had been bringing me food and practically force feeding me, turning the television off when I did finally succumb to sleep or refilling my glass when I finished my water. I’d done the bare minimum because when Corb left, it felt as though he’d also somehow taken my will to live.
Blake was right. I was disgusting.
“Leave me alone,” I instead replied, pulling the blanket over my head not wanting to face the truth in his words. “Let me die in peace.”
“This is why I am never going to fall in love,” he said with mock judgement as he sat on the lounge adjacent to mine, a bottle of juice in his hand.
“Hmmm,” I hummed, focusing on the screen ahead to stop this conversation before it went any further.
“I saw your tattoo,” he said, and I didn’t have to look over to hear the smile he would no doubt be wearing. “Told Cole that we would need to get matching tattoos also to represent our friendship.” I continued to ignore him, knowing if I gave in, he would get exactly what he wanted.
“Of course he told me to piss off, but Corbin didn’t, did he? He agreed, only his isn’t hidden on his hip. His is right where everyone can see it,” he slurped his drink loudly before belching.
“You’re an animal,” I mumbled.
“Says the one who hasn’t changed her clothes in two days,” he fired back. “You’re just annoyed I saw your little love declaration.”
“Can you leave me alone?” I turned back towards Gilmore Girls, increasing the volume as if I could ignore this conversation, my sore heart and the rest of the world until I recovered.
IfI recovered.
“Shell, have you even seen yourself? You’ve got less sparkle than Mum did the last time we saw her.” My inhale was sharp, and my eyes shot to his, but he only grinned.
“Blake, you are sick. She was dead,” I whispered, noticing the cheese crumbs on my blanket from the packet of Cheezies I’d eaten for breakfast.
“Exactly and she still had more life in her than you do,” I scoffed at the sardonic humour he used as both shock value and because he couldn’t help himself. He was twisted. I turned back to the screen, watching as Rory and Logan had their sneaky kiss.
God, even this was painful.
“Seriously though,” Blake said, softening his tone, “are you okay?”
My eyes instantly filled with tears.
Why did being asked that, instantly bring forth a barrage of emotions.
“I’m fine,” I sniffed, wiping the traitorous tears with my blanket and then brushing the transferred cheese powder from my face.
“You know I’m an adult, right?”
“What?” I asked, looking at him with confusion.
“You - know - I’m - an - adult - right?” He enunciated, as if I was not only disgusting but somehow stupid.
“Of course, I know you’re an adult.”
“Just checking. Because it seems as though you think I’m your responsibility. And I’m not, Shelbs. I’m good.” I stared at him, wondering what gave him the impression I thought that. I’d never openly told him I felt obliged to be close in case he needed me. Never shared the promises I made to Mum or the fear which simmered deep in the recesses of my mind, that something would happen to him if I wasn't close by.
