Second Chance

Ten: A Request

Ten: A Request

“Uh, Ciara?”

“Lemme guess, he found out?”

“Uh, yes, but you should have known that.”

“Yeah, I did.” She wasn’t that optimistic to the point of being unrealistic. She then voiced her concern, “His reaction?” Ciara chewed her bottom lip nervously, a bad habit of hers that she never seemed to get rid of.

Bessie sighed. “Have you heard the latest version?”

“Latest version?”

“Yes, latest version,” Bessie said. “Ugh, I don’t want to be the one telling you this. You didn’t think that after being passed between so many people, it’s still going to be the same, did you? Plus, Mona was never the one to spread accurate rumors.”

Ciara groaned softly. “Just spit it out, Bessie.”

“Well, I’ll paraphrase it. You’re an ungrateful spoilt kid who’s cheating on Jared since you guys are already an item.”

“That’s better than I expected. Still, I want Taylor’s reaction.”

“Actually, that’s a nicer version of what’s going around. Taylor, well, it seems like he doesn’t care.”

A part of her felt disappointed while another part of her left out a relieved breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Hold on, why would she feel disappointed again?

“That’s -”

“Before you relax, Ciara, we both know how Taylor’s like. Just, for the time being, make sure he doesn’t meet Jared.”

“Of course, I’m not that stupid.”

“I mean it, Ciara. Don’t even mention him, ever, in front of Taylor.”

“Okay, okay, I won’t.”

“Good, I gotta go, Ciara. Talk to you later.”

“Sure, bye.”

“Bye!”

Ciara snapped her phone shut and tossed it onto her bed. It beeped a second later. Thinking it was Bessie calling again, she picked it without even checking the caller ID. A big mistake.

“Ciara?”

She bolted upright, her heartbeat suddenly racing. “Yeah, Taylor?”

“Can we meet up?”

“I…erm…this…uh…”

Her mind raced. She knew she shouldn’t say yes, but a small part of her was curious as well as wanted to meet up with Taylor. The rational side of her brain urged her to say no and turn him away. He was her best friend’s brother for God’s sake! She’d always seen him as nothing more than an irritating friend. Flashes of conversation with Bessie in the coffee shop surfaced her mind. Was it possible that he thought of her as more than a friend? That was –

“Please?”

Ciara’s jaw unhinged. Taylor never begged anyone. He just wasn’t that type of a person. His voice, normally so strong and haughty, actually sounded anxious, something Ciara wouldn’t thought Taylor was capable of feeling. She swallowed loudly and only managed to whisper her next word.

“Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Ciara was racing down the road, her hair whipping around her face. Her eyes scanned around the park. There were families and couples. A boy in his teens was walking a golden retriever with his headphones in his ears. She couldn’t spot a certain brunette. She tightened her grip on her cell phone. She slowly walked towards the small pond where a few ducks swam around with ducklings trailing after them. A small smile tugged on her lips. She remembered feeding ducks with Jared after she saw Jared getting bullied for the first time.