Chapter Twenty: Give Her A Ride

I silently packed some of my clothes inside a duffel bag and hid it under a pile of clothes on my wardrobe floor.

I haven't told Kate about what I am planning to do nor have I thought of it clearly. Its been three days since Calum and I talked.

Mr. Hemmings would call every now and then but I would miss it everytime.

Its 12 in the afternoon and Nana came inside my room as soon as I just shut my closet's door, telling me that someone was here to come see me.

I kept chanting inside my head that, that was close and I can't imagine what will happen if Nana knew that Im going to runaway.

As I walk the empty hallway, I thought that Calum was here to talk to me, that he was the one Nana was talking about that came to see me but I was wrong.

It was Adelaide.

"M-miss Adelaide, what brings you here?" I exclaimed, off guard by her presence but pretended that I was delighted.

"Hey, Tatum! Sorry if I visited unannounced, it's just that its a lovely afternoon and I wanted to know if you're free for today. I wanted to bake cupcakes. I'm sorry if I'm imposing too much."

"Don't worry, its okay. I guess I could come and bake with you." I answered.

Her face lit up and smiled.

I'm very uncomfortable right now. Her presence just intimidates me a lot. The fact that she's so beautiful and she's Mr. Hemmings' wife is enough reason for me to choke myself to death.

"Great! We should head down the grocery store first before going back to my house." She smiled. This woman is full of energy, I don't even know if I can cope up with her. I guess I could since she's not that older than I am.

"Let me just grab my coat." I excused myself before running up the stairs back in my room to grab my phone and purse..also a coat even if I don't need one. It would be weird and awkward if I go back down with no coat in hand since getting one was the reason I said to excuse myself.

I know I'm grounded but I guess disobeying my mother for baking cupcakes wouldn't hurt. I'm hungry anyway and I'm so over the food being cooked here in this house.

When I got down and Adelaide was by the door fidling with her phone. I told Nana my goodbye and after a few minutes I was sat on Adelaide's car buckling my seatbelt as she drove off to the grocery store.

"How's school going, Tate?" She asked and I cringed at the nickname she called me. Hearing her say Tate felt so awkward and out of place.

"I'm sorry but please call me Tatum." I blurted as I shifted on my seat, "And school is good. I'll be graduating on Wednesday."

"My apologies." She nodded, "So where do you plan on going to college?"

"Anywhere. As long as its far from here." I sighed.

She didn't answer.

Once she parked in front the nearest lot beside the small grocery store we both stepped out of the car.

"What do you plan on studying?" She asked as she opens the grocery doors for me.

"Fine arts." I don't even know where our conversation is going since I don't even know what will happen to me once I runaway.

"So, you're an artist?" She was being nosy about my life but I can't be rude to her. I guess she's just trying to be friendly, which was weird because we just go to the same church.

"Who sleeps with your husband." My subconscious mocked.

"He never laid a finger on her. He never touched her so shut up!" I retorted.

"I guess." I bit my lip as I trail behind her pushing a grocery cart as I watch her put butter, eggs, flour and more baking shit.

The grocery was packed today and I don't even know why.

We waited for thirty minutes for our turn in the cashier.

"What are we going to bake, Miss Adelaide?" I asked breaking the awkward ice as we place the paper bags inside her car's trunk.

"Red velvet cupcakes. I've been craving for them." She smiled before settling herself inside the driver's side seat.

I got scared when she said the word craving. What if she's pregnant? Or something? Fuck that can't be! I must be really out of my mind, I should stop over thinking things. I get cravings too eventhough I'm not pregnant. Calm down, Tatum. You're acting crazy again.

"Were here!" She exclaimed excitedly as she shut off the car's engine and stepping out.

I opened the car door and made my way to help her with the paper bags from the grocery.

She opened the house's front door and we made our way to the kitchen. Placing the bags on the polished counter.

"Where do we start?" She chuckled.

I made my way to the sink and sanitized my hands by washing it.

"Oh right!" She smiled, washing her hands after I did.

She opened up the cup boards and held a tray full of baking tools.

I took this huge metal mixing bowl and some plastic spatula.

I've done baking a few times before, in cooking class at school.

I mixed some flour, sugar, butter, little salt and eggs and baking powder into the bowl with the use of the electric mixer.

I yelped once I adjusted the mixer on four making a huge mess of the batter.

Adelaide laughed at me of course as she try her best to mix the cream cheese icing.

I added a few drops of red food coloring and some vanilla extract and mixed the batter again a few times before placing scoops of it on the cupcake tray.

Once I filled the cupcake tray with the batter I settled them in the oven and wait for them to be baked in 30 minutes, making sure that I set the timer and the temperature right before I settled myself on the bar stool.

Adelaide settled the icing in the bowl and washed her hands before sitting on the bar stool next to me.

"So tell me about yourself, Tatum?" She smiled.

"Myself?"

"Yeah, I want to get to know you. I don't have anyone else I could talk to here at Rosewood." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, there's nothing interesting you really need to know about me." I chuckled.

Except for the fact that I am sleeping with your husband or...the fact that I may be in love with him.

Wait! In love?

"Oh sure, cmon tell me things about you, we still have loads of minutes before those cupcakes bake themselves." She giggled,

"Well, what do you want to know about me, Miss Adelaide?"

"Please, just call me Adelaide. How many times do I have to remind you that?"

I nodded.

"Well then, tell me why you want to study fine arts or the reason you want to study far away from Rosewood."

"Well, to be honest, I love art. I just like understanding the painter's feelings when I look at his masterpiece."

"Do you paint?"

I nodded, "Since I was eight. My mother doesn't approve but I don't care about her opinion."

"I see. Is she the reason why you want to leave?"

"Pretty much. But, I'm also against some things and that's not the only reason why I want to leave."

"What's the other reason?" She tilted her head to the side in curiosity.

"I'm engaged to be married."

"To whom?"

"A guy from a wealthy family who I don't even know."

"You haven't seen him yet?" She gasped.

"No, I did actually. A few times already. His in fact a great guy." I explained.

"If you think he is great then why don't you guys give it a try?"

I shook my head, "No. I don't think it's going to work. He is in love with someone else, long before he met me. Besides, were just better off friends."

"That same thing happened to me, you know? Arranged marriage." She scoffed, "I thought it only happened in movies but I guess I thought wrong when it happened to me."

I pretended to be oblivious like, I didn't even know the story between her and Luke.

"You were in an arranged marriage?" I asked in pretend disbelief.

"Yup. It sucked." She laughed.

"Why so? You and your husband looked like you get along just fine every time I see the both of you in church."

"Not really. We just act like we do in public but in reality we don't even look at each other or talk. You know how people gossip around us, its like gossiping is their lifeline, like, if they don't gossip they'll die." She laughed like saying these things to me doesn't even bother her.

"Do you love him?" I suddenly blurt out. I didn't even know why I asked her that. "I uh-sorry I didn't mean to be r-rude for asking you that."

"No, it's totally fine." She smiled reassuringly, "Maybe I do. Ive fallen for him a few years ago. Our first year of marriage was tough, we fight about everything. We weren't really fond of each other. I guess I've fallen for him when we go out and act like a real couple in public. He could make me feel something I've never felt but I guess for him its just all for show. I never expected anything from him tho and I doubt that he knows what I feel about him. As the years go by we kind of got used to each other and we seldom fight, we don't even talk anymore or see each other. I guess that's when my feelings for him faded but I know that they're still in my heart. Maybe someday he could see what I feel and I'd finally get the happy ending I've always wanted."

It felt like my world stop once I heard every single word she just said.

I'm jealous, I hate to admit it but, I am.

She loves him, and he doesn't see it. No wonder she kept herself beside him all these years. If I was her, I could've sworn I filed a divorce before all the shit went down. She's loving him unconditionally, and he doesn't have any idea.

"Tatum, are you okay? Did you hear what I just said?" She asked waving her hand in front of me.

"Uh what?" I asked looking at her.

"I said the oven's timer already rang. The cupcakes are finished." She laughed.

"Oh right." I stood up from the bar stool and made my way towards the oven, grabbed the mittens on top of the counter before opening the oven door.

The cupcakes smelled good and it was perfect, Adelaide's smile was priceless and I can't help but feel sorry for her. My conscience kept on making me feel guilty, every time I look at her, I see Luke and I kissing and it felt so weird. I feel so disgusted with myself.

After a few more minutes Adelaide perfectly filled the top of the cupcakes with the icing she made. It looked wonderful as she sprinkled some red sprinkles on top and shaved chocolate.

"Do you want tea or coffee to compliment this?" She asked, the use smile plastered on her face.

"Coffee would be nice." I answered,

She nodded and made herself a cup as well.

We sat by her garden, where we ate lunch once. On the table across each other, each with a plate of cupcake in front of us and coffee mugs.

We were in the middle of conversing about what is the best pastry we have tried when suddenly the glass sliding door opened.

"Addy, I placed the paperworks on top of your bed. Read them as soon as you can." Mr. Hemmings came barging in holding a folder and reading the back of it, obviously not acknowledging my presence as he walk.

"Sure, I will." Adelaide exclaimed.

"Yeah and I think you should get on it right away-oh Miss Beck, I didn't know you were here." He exclaimed giving me a confused look.

"Don't worry. I won't be a bother, I'm on my way home anyway." I stood up flatenning my clothes.

"Do you really have to go now?" Adelaide stood up as well and I nodded.

"Thanks for the cupcakes and for the lovely day." I smiled at her before leaving.

"Let me give you a ride. I'm just about to leave as well. I just left some paper works for Addy." Luke chimed in.

Addy..every time he says her nickname my blood boils in jealousy.

Jealousy.

"No its okay, I can manage." I answered right away.

"He's right. Luke, go ahead and give her a ride." Adelaide insisted.

I knew then that I couldn't protest.