by Zara Rivas
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A job was what kept Essa Lara Evans alive and kicking for the first week of the summer holidays. She had managed to land herself a job at the painting school nearby where she taught kids how to draw and paint. It had been an easy and fun occupation simply because the children were enthusiastic and eager to learn. The most rewarding thing about work wasn't the money; it was in Essa's mind an accomplishment to know she had survived another day.
Although painting and drawing had a large impact in her life, for the past few days Essa had painters-block. She couldn't find the inspiration or the imagination to draw of her own free will. She had blamed it on the lack of events in her life; however deep down she knew the sole reason was related to the one and only Creston Spencer.
She could still picture his car parked across the street from her home. It had occurred over a week ago but Essa couldn't seem to shake it off her mind. She hated to admit it, but after seeing Creston's car, it had left a speck of hope burning in her chest. He had left a small fire burning in her because she was certain that he had wanted to make amends.
What other reason could there have been? She couldn't think of a better motive as to why he'd abruptly appear back into her life.
Unconsciously scrubbing the paint pellets and staring at the paint splattered tiles, Essa's train of thoughts came crashing down at the familiar voice that called her name. Snapping out of her trance, she turned off the tap and shifted to face the elderly figure standing at the doorway.
Realising the elderly woman had been calling her a few times, Essa flushed a little. "Sorry, I was just a little too absorbed in my washing," she explained and found herself smiling in return when she saw the pleasant grin that overtook her boss's features.
"I didn't mean to interrupt dear but there's a woman outside looking for you,"
Nodding her head, Essa dried her hands on a nearby wash cloth before heading out to the waiting room. Half expecting a parent of one of her students to be standing there, Essa had to blink a few times when she saw the familiar face of Cassandra Wilkins.
"Hi," the blonde greeted awkwardly.
Involuntarily clenching her hands into fists, Essa broke out of her shock. She hadn't expected to see the blonde here at her workplace but now that she did, she couldn't seem to figure out a good enough reason for her presence.
Standing rigidly, Essa braced herself for whatever Cassandra was going to throw at her. "I can't seem to think of a reason for you to be here unless you want to humiliate me some more. Is one of my students your younger siblings? Is that why you're here? If you've got complaints you could have spoken to Mrs. Nelson who's the owner of this place," She offered in a strong and confident tone.
Stepping forward, Cassandra shook her head. She had expected Essa's reaction to her presence to be something like this; after all she hadn't been one of the nicest people to the ebony haired female. Tensing slightly, she stomped down the instinct to turn and run – there were numerous other people she could face and overcome right now than Essa. Huffing, she removed her hands from her belly so that Essa could see the bump she was carrying.
"I didn't come here for trouble," she breathed, wringing her hands together. "I know that I'm the last person you want to see right now but there is something you should know."
Studying the evident bump Cassandra was bearing, Essa found her throat going dry as her mind began reeling with hundreds of thoughts – each thought accompanied by a certain feeling. She felt weak; none of the emotions that were coursing through her made her feel any lighter. Falling into the seat beside Cassandra, she could only stare wide-eye, knowing her voice would fail her if she spoke.
Able to see the distress and utter bewilderment on Essa's face, Cassandra decided to relieve the girl of her questions. "The child isn't Creston's," she explained and waited patiently for the sentence to sink in.
As Essa recovered from her momentary bafflement, she wore an indecipherable expression on her face. "Why are you here?" She queried in a rather dubious tone.
"From the look of things you and Creston are still separated?" Cassandra found herself responding, ignoring Essa's enquiry – she would get to that soon.
Truth be told the blonde didn't want to be here but she felt that she owed Creston a whole lot more. She was never one to make peace offerings but after living with the guilt and all that Creston Spencer had done for her, she knew she had to at least try to make a few amends for her sake.
Sighing, Essa felt herself scowling. "Look, I don't know why you bothered to come and find me if all you're going to do is state the obvious. If that's the case then I'm done with this discussion," she breathed and stood up to leave.
"Essa, I lied to Creston about having his baby,"
Standing immobile, Essa felt her heart rate quicken.
The silence urged the blonde to continue. "That's why he left you." She whispered, "I know that there shouldn't be any excuses for what I did, but I thought that you of all people should know the truth." Cassandra explained willing herself not to cry because of the guilt that was surging through her. "And though I'm not sure why he hasn't called or visited you, I'm certain that it's because he doesn't know what to say or how to explain why he had done what he did. But I just want you to know that I'm truly sorry for everything,"
Essa didn't know what to say. For once in a long time a rush of hope trailed through her veins as she realised the true reason as to why Creston left her. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was angry that he had lied, furious that he took on the burden of Cassandra's fib on his own. But more importantly Essa finally understood why he did break up with her...
Shifting, her green-blue eyes studied the now empty waiting room; she hadn't noticed Cassandra had left. She had been too absorbed with her own thoughts and emotions that she didn't even see or hear the blonde exit the room. Though she knew that the truth Cassandra had revealed would never make them anything close to being friends, Essa had to admit that the blonde's confession had in a sense set her free.
Seated in the vacant room, uncertainty crept over Essa as she sat in silence. There was nothing more that she wanted right now than to pick up the phone and call Creston. And yet another part was afraid that he really had gotten over her. The words he had said during their breakup were still fresh in her mind, and every time she relived that memory, those words still had the same effect on her.
"There doesn't have to be a reason. But if you want one then try this: I'm breaking up with you cause I'm a guy with specific needs which you can't fulfil,"
As the words rang loud and clear in her head, the hollowness in her chest was what deterred her from picking up the phone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Loud music filled the large pretty conservatory as soon-to-be college students poured in and out of the room in glamorous gowns and tuxedos. People were dancing, some were busy drinking and others absorbed in conversations of all sorts. This formal was going to be the final event before the students of Ocean High were all going to go their separate ways.
Sophia Teague smiled at the camera with Rowell Parker standing beside her, an arm draped around her waist. The brunette was surprised that she was even at the formal. The original plan was to spend the night with her two best friends Trisha and Essa – they had intended on getting up to various mischief of their own. However, their plans came crashing down when Rowell Parker had asked her to go to the formal. Soph had at first declined his offer, but when Trish and Essa found out he had asked her, they had pushed her to the formal instead.
So now here she was, a little self conscious but enjoying herself immensely. Trisha had decided to join her too, and she had brought her brother along as her 'partner' because the other boys at Ocean High weren't 'good enough'. Essa on the other hand...
Though Soph and Trish had tried so hard to get her to come along, their close friend had refused. Essa had made up some
lame excuse about having to pack her belongings otherwise her mother would ruin it with the re-decorating.
"Is this really boring you?" Rowell queried and smiled instinctively when he spotted Sophia's bewildered face.
"No no," she replied and pulled a face whilst staring out into the distance. "I'm just scared that you'll make me do that."
Turning his gaze to where Sophia's brown eyes were locked at, he spotted the dance floor and a whole crowd of people busy dancing and bopping to the tune. Grinning handsomely, he didn't fail to see the look of mock-horror etched on her features. Grabbing her arm, he led her to the swirling bodies and pulled her close.
"I'll be nice," he stated.
"I don't think I'll be too nice with your feet and toes," she voiced and he chuckled.
In his eyes, Rowell Parker thought Sophia was a great character. At first he never thought much of her – after all she was his tutor and a little too smart for him. But as time lapsed, he started falling for her subtle wit and humour. It was always boys code not to date a friend's ex, however Rowell had thought it would have been fine because Kieran didn't appear to care too much about her.
So when he did leave a few hints about being interested in Sophia, Kieran Wolenski had snapped at him. Rowell didn't remember what he had said, but he remembered comparing Sophia to a lot of the bimbos that swarmed at Ocean High. One of the boys on the team had stated her figure wasn't hot like Cassandra's, but Rowell had defended Sophia by saying she possessed decent curves that was more attractive than anyone else. And that was when it happened... Kieran had punched him right in the eye and they had become enemies ever since.
Now dancing quietly but comfortably to the music, Rowell stared at Sophia's face fondly. Though he knew it was a bad time to have started a relationship – since college was due soon and they would more than likely go separate ways – he didn't regret his actions.
"You haven't trampled on my feet yet so you're doing a decent job," he smiled and was taken aback by the way her kind brown eyes glanced shyly into his.
"It's a miracle," she burst, and they both laughed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The tall masculine figure of Creston Montgomery Spencer trudged past many faces as his grey eyes roamed across the sea of bodies, trying hard to find the one person he wanted to talk to. He had expected her to be here tonight – no, he had counted on her being present for tonight's events – but he should have guessed that Essa Evans was never one for these social occasions.
Feeling a hand grab his shoulder, Creston shifted around to face Chris.
"She's not here tonight," the blonde male informed. "I tried to convince her, but she was quite determined not to come and from the look of things, if you don't approach her soon, she might be gone for the entire summer."
Feeling his throat go dry, Creston felt the urgency to talk to Essa. "Where is she?" he asked and started running for the door when Chris had said 'home'.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A door was what stood between Creston from finding Essa and confronting her. He stood at the front porch of her two-story house, fighting an internal battle as he contemplated on whether to it was right to make contact with her now. Lifting his hand, he rested his left index finger on the doorbell, hesitating to push it. After everything he'd done to her, he was still convinced that she deserved better – but he knew that if he walked out of her life without ever providing an explanation, he would never be able to live with himself.
Breathing in to calm his nerves, he almost laughed at himself for being such a dork. Being the soccer captain, he had provided many speeches before crowds. But now that he had to have a one-on-one talk with Essa, he felt nervous as hell. Knowing that he'd continue to stand here at the Evans' doorstep until he mustered the courage to face her, he forced himself to push the button – hearing the loud echo of the doorbell on the other side of the door.
Waiting patiently, footsteps could be heard as the locks to the doors opened. There standing before him wasn't the girl he had wanted to see, however the woman smiled warmly at him as if she knew why he was here. Opening the door wide, Creston stepped into the house.
"She's in her room," Ava said and watched with bright eyes as the handsome male nodded curtly before ascending the stairs.
Essa groaned at the amount of clothes she had to pack away. She knew that she had brought this on herself, but she purposely chose not to go to the formal tonight because she didn't want to see Creston with another girl hanging off his arm. It had been painful not to call him, and it was complete torture to keep wondering whether if he really had liked her for her.
With each passing hour and eventually each passing day, it had ate at her soul a little more as she continued to wonder if Spencer had really cared for her.
She knew she should have confronted him and gotten the events out of the way, but a part of her was so scared to know that he really had meant those things he said. Stacking a pile of shirts into a suitcase, she sighed. If renovating the entire house would cause her so much pain at having to pack her things and move them, she never would have encouraged her mother to do so. Almost all the rooms were empty in the house.
Zipping up another bag, Essa set it aside and heard footsteps. Releasing an exaggerated groan, she didn't turn to face the door.
"I'll be done in a minute Erica, then we can start on your pile." Essa called over her shoulder, making her way back to her wardrobe for more T-shirts.
Creston had missed her voice. He had missed the way she glared at him whenever he said something stupid. He also missed the way she'd get so defensive at the mere endearment of 'sweetheart'. Clearing his throat, he watched as she slowly turned to face him, her long wavy black hair flowing behind.
Essa held her breath at the sight of Creston Spencer standing before her. She blinked, and then blinked again to ensure that she was not seeing a mirage. He was clad in a pair of black dress pants, a white shirt, a black tie and a black silk-looking vest that made him appear so suave. His hair was tousled; his eyes were dim and cool but always that familiar blue-grey shade which she had missed so much.
Her packing was forgotten as she stared at him in a trance. He was so handsome; nothing about him seemed to have changed – not even the dimple in his cheek which she loved so much. Watching as he closed the distance between them, Essa backed away a little, scared that if she did jump up and hug him that it would all just be a dream.
"Why didn't you come to the formal?"
Shaking her head, Essa broke away from his gaze. "It's not my kinda thing," she replied, her senses returning to her. "W-what are you doing here?" She stammered.
Silence engulfed them as Creston considered his next words. "To tell you I'm sorry,"
Essa's heart clenched as she unconsciously held her breath.
"I never meant one word of what I said when we broke up Ess," he explained, "It was all a lie and I'm sorry for being a jerk. I..." He drifted, not sure if he should reveal Cassandra's pregnancy. The blonde may have lied to him, but the fact that she was having a child wasn't his secret to tell. "I had my reasons," he said lamely.
Able to see her expression alter to one of pure doubt, Creston felt himself grabbing her arm. "Please Essa, I thought I was going to be a father,"
"I know..." she whispered and all he could do was stare at her. "She approached me the other day and told me everything. I just thought that you didn't come around because I really didn't mean anything to you anymore."
Utterly astounded by her statement, Creston shook his head. How on earth could she think that?
Knowing that words wouldn't suffice to the emotions that boiled under his skin, Creston did the only that that he could think of. Lifting her chin with his hand, he tilted her head and lowered his lips on hers.
The moment their lips made contact was when Creston completely lost himself. He felt Essa's hands wind around his neck, her body pressing itse
lf closer to him as his free hand rested onto the small of her back. Breaking the kiss, his placed butterfly kisses across her jaw, leading down to her neck. The instant the silky texture of her skin touched his lips was when she moaned aloud. The sound she made vibrated in her throat, tickling him.
Feeling him smile against her skin, Essa held him at arm's length, studying the expression on his face. Her eyes bored into his and the small gesture he made to move a strand of her hair behind her ears brought tears to her eyes. She didn't understand why the waterworks started, but seeing the emotion held in his eyes, not to mention all the negative thoughts she had been holding for the past few days... It had all been too much for her.
"Essa," he breathed and used his thumb to wipe away the tears that were sliding down her cheek.