Chapter Forty Three

Caden's POV

Day nine: Do not cheat.

Background hit: Think About Us by Little Mix.

Quote: She's the perfect version of imperfection.

I searched all over the place for her. She was nowhere. She just disappeared and I was pretty sure she hated me. With the anger back there, she'd kill me if she had the chance.

I searched everywhere inside the large hall. The kitchen, backstage, the crowd, the dancing floor and even the bedrooms. She was nowhere.

"Caden, i'm sorry," Mackenzie apologized as I returned outside.

I shrugged and hopped into my car, starting it and driving home immediately.

When I got home, everywhere was quiet. I ran up to her room and pushed the knob but it was locked and I could hear little sobs from inside.

"Mercedes!" I called out but she didn't reply.

"Mercedes, please can you open the door? For God's sake!" I tried again.

"Mercedes!" I yelled, banging the door.

"Mercedes, I know you're in there, so please open the door - Mercedes!"

Still, there was no reply. I continued the banging for over an hour and finally gave up when there was no signs of changing her mind.

I lumbered to my room and flopped my back on the bed, staring at the ceiling in sadness.

I didn't know what happened back there. Mackenzie broke the news of her sister's death, I tried helping her and next thing I knew, our tongues were playing tag. And then Mercedes came around....

She probably thought I was the worst person on  earth and I was just playing with her. I needed to fix my mess.

I stood up from the bed and got the clothes off, changing into my white sweats and black turtle neck. I turned off the lights and pounced on the bed, waiting for sleep to finally arrive and take me away, but not after spending hours, thinking of her.

And how much hurt I caused. It was not about her body anymore. Scratch that. It was about this girl I found and I had total interest in.

For the first time in my life, I was bringing heart into the game. And I was not backing down without a war.

°°°°°°°°°°°°

My alarm clock rang loudly and I lazily turned it off, stretching and kicking until I found myself on the floor with a loud thud and my nose inhaling the scent of feet. The cold floor stung my skin and I immediately stood up, landing on the bed again.

Retreat...

I headed for the shower and took my clothes off, engaging myself in a nice hot shower that cooled down the tension in my head.

After that, I slipped into a pair of black jeans and a grey hoodie. I put on my black trainers and applied the cologne, perfecting my look in the mirror before slipping my phone into my pocket and coming out of my room.

She walked out too. Her perfect figure fitted to a pink body hug knee high gown and black flats. Her hair stood beautifully in a ponytail and her makeup as always, sold out the look.

We both stared for some minutes, her eyes viciously piercing into mine and sending daggers.

"Mer -" I called out but she immediately turned and walked down the stairs, ignoring me.

It was definitely going to be a long day.

°°°°°°°°°°°

"Ladies and gentlemen, day nine. Do not cheat," the usual Lady announced.

Come on! That was just bad timing!

She turned at me and shook her head slowly, her lips curled and her nose scrunched.

"I didn't mean to," I whispered, leaning over, closer to her.

It was quiet. She didn't reply. She didn't even do anything but blink every now and then, listening to the lady.

"Mean to what?" I finally heard her ask and she turned her face to me.

"To kiss her," I continued.

"Its not my problem Caden," she replied simply and returned her gaze to the stage.

"Mercedes, come on. Let's talk about it," I pleaded.

"We're already talking, Caden. And besides, there's absolutely nothing to talk about. You should really get some lessons from this topic," she replied with graceful simplicity and a slight smile curved on her lips.

"I know I hurt you last night, and, I am so sorry. Mercedes, I - "

"Caden, there's nothing you did last night you haven't done before. It's no big deal now. And, don't even this about the kiss. Our kiss. It was a mistake, anyways," she shrugged.

"A mistake?" I asked in disbelief.

"A - Big - Mistake!" she pronounced slowly.

"Right," I nodded and we both stared at the stage but I couldn't hear a thing. All I could hear was her voice echoing in my mind.

A big mistake.

Was that really all it was to her? I cornered her with my eyes and she focused at the stage with full attention, averting her eyes to her phone every now and then.

I picked up my phone from my pocket and texted Mackenzie.

Caden

She wouldn't forgive me.

Mackenzie

Give her some time. She's really hurt right             now. And, don't make things worse.

Caden

Could things get any worse?

Mackenzie

🙁🙁😓😕

Caden

Anyway, the trip to the Bahamas would be in a few days.

Mackenzie

Yeah, I know. Can't wait.

Caden

Me neither.

I returned the phone to my pocket and turned to her again. She still didn't say anything, or move, or even avert her attention to me. Nothing..

Mercedes!!

°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Banks, please prepare my shower. I am so tired!" she yelled as she slumped on the couch and removed her flats by continuously wriggling them till they fell off her feet.

"The flight will be next tomorrow. The one to the Bahamas," I voiced as I sat on the opposite couch.

"I know," she shrugged.

"Can we talk?" I asked.

"Aren't we already?" she opened her eyes and looked at me.

"I know, but - "

"Aren't we both tired, Caden? I am if you aren't and I could really use a long shower if you don't mind," she rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs.

Why was she so difficult?

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Day ten: Live happily.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've come to the last day of this retreat. Its been a wonderful journey and we are at the last. Day ten, live happily," the usual Lady said.

"Let's talk this over, shall we?" I begged, dying of guilt. She made me guilty. I had never begged for attention that much in my entire life.

I craved her words so much. Just a simple "I forgive you" would do.

"Caden, let's just forget it already. I've moved on. You should too," she advised and for the first time in the longest time, waved  me a sincere smile.

"Okay," I smiled back, contented with her reply. I had craved those words for the longest hours. I missed annoying her and getting her brows all knitted up and her lips curled.

"So, pumpkin, missed me?" I started once more.

"So, you just want to annoy me? I should've known better than to let that burden off your chest," she sighed.

"Seriously? So you intentionally did that?"I yelled in anger.

"Well, yeah. You are really annoying," She sighed.

"Well, pumpkin, I forgave you already," I smiled.

"Can't remember when I asked for that," She sighed. "Scratch that! I never even asked for that."

"But I still did,"

"Whatever." She smiled and returned her gaze to the stage.

Slowly, I placed my hand on hers. I enjoyed the feel of her warm fingers below my cold ones.

But then, she slowly got it away, without wiping the smile off her face.

I guessed not all wounds leave without a scar.

Author's Note.

Thank you all so much for reading this chapter. It means a lot to me.

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Thank you all so much once again and let's move over to the next chapter..

PaulyQueen...