C5 Chapter 4. Dare

4. Dare

Astrid's POV:

For a brief period, I was taken aback by his statements. I thought I was hearing things, but then I noticed him standing there with an expectant expression on his face.

I blinked at him a few times, begging him to clarify that it was true and that I wasn't hallucinating.

"What are you saying, Edward?" I inquired.

"Would you please tell me, Astrid, that you love me as well?" Instead of responding to my query, he asked it again, but this time in hushed tones, as if he was worried someone would hear him.

"Are you sure?" I inquired.

"Positive," he said.

I took advantage of the situation and decided to communicate my sentiments to him.

"Yes, Edward, I love you as well," I said, amazed that I had actually said the words.

I nodded, but curiously, my heart was not at ease. I told myself that this is what I've done my entire life, and when I finally uttered the words to him in front of me, and he's the one approaching me now, I felt like something was wrong.

I brushed away my worries and did the only thing that made reasonable to me. I walked over to him and hugged him.

Edward was taken aback by my gesture, but he quickly returned it.

I let out a sigh of relief as I noticed his gang approaching us, followed by Charlotte, who had a sick grin on her face.

I didn't understand what had just happened; shouldn't she have been the one who became enraged and acted recklessly, but instead she was strolling calmly towards us?

"Wow, Ed, I didn't expect you to finish the Dare. You really compelled her to confess, didn't you?" Shane, Edward's best friend, inquired.

Then it occurred to me. I wanted to deny that I wanted someone to tell me that what I was thinking was wrong. I turned to Edward and asked him to interpret their terms.

"Astrid, please allow me to explain this first," he said as he approached me, but I pulled away and moved further away.

"Tell me, Edward, did you utter the words merely because you dared to speak them?" I inquired.

"But there's more to it, Astrid. Please bear with me "He begged.

There was nothing else he could say. I began to stroll back into the kitchen.

"Do you require anything further from me, sir?" I inquired. "Well, except for believing your Bull shit again," I added.

"Astrid, please don't be a spoiler. We were simply having a good time when Charlotte dared Edward, and he only played his role ".. Shane stood up for him.

Everything was, of course, a comedy to them. They wouldn't know what happened to my heart and the moment I felt all the happiness had landed on my feet, I understood it was nothing more than a silly dare for him.

My heart was broken, and I wanted some alone time to process everything that had just gone in there and sucked in some corner for a while.

"Okay, I guess you had a good time. I have some work for you now, Edward "I turned it in and went inside.

If I stay here any longer, I'll wind up making a fool of myself again, so it's best if I leave.

"Hey, Astrid, you look sleepy," Smith observed. He, like me, works as a waiter at this restaurant and is the closest thing I have to a friend.

"Oh, nothing, I'm just feeling a little feverish today," I lied to him.

"Do you want me to talk to the manager about leaving you early?" he inquired.

" I think that's a wonderful idea." I agreed with a nod.

"All right, I'll go ask on your behalf," he said as he nodded and set his, tried aside and began heading out.

The tears I'd been holding back for a long time began to obscure my vision once more. I had to convince myself that I could cry later, but I needed to get out of here right now.

These walls feel suffocating to me, and I'm afraid my thoughts will kill me if I stay here any longer.

"All done, you can go home and rest for a while," Smith said.

I thanked him and began to walk away. Edward approached me as I was ready to exit the gate and took my hand in his.

I wrenched my hand free of his grasp and turned to face him.

"What now, Edward, you have some other things to do?" I inquired about him.

"Please accept my apologies, Astrid. I didn't expect things to get this complex. I realise it's my fault, but I meant what I said ", he took my hand in his and began to say.

"Don't play with my heart again, Edward," I cautioned.

I couldn't deny that hope was beginning to rise within me once more.

"No, Astrid, I adore you as a friend, as I mentioned earlier. I didn't have the opportunity to do so. I assumed you were referring to the same thing "In front of me, he reasoned.

"That's ridiculous, Edward. I'm at a loss for words with you. I believe I require some alone time "I said this as I began to go out of the gate.

My walls crumbled as soon as I walked into the house, and I burst into tears.

I wondered why this usually happened to me. I deserve to be happy. It demotivates me in every way, and I don't understand how people around me can make so many assumptions about me and there's nothing I can do to prove them wrong.

"Astrid, have you returned home?" My mother called.

"Yes, Mom, I'm coming," I said as I began to walk away.

She had a mountain of dishes stacked up for me to clean.

"Please assist me with this. Sky will be arriving shortly. He may be famished as soon as he arrives." My mother asked me.

Yes, Sky is always there for her, and other times it's Lance because he lives alone and rarely sees us, and when he does, Mom makes sure to treat him well.

"Oh sure," I replied, and began cleaning the dishes.

"Sky is being marketed today, as you are aware. I knew my son was always bright, and he was the one who would help us become better "Mom exclaimed, pleased with Sky's accomplishment.

"That's OK," I replied calmly, returning to my job.

"Yes, your father is proud of him as well. Let's get this over with as soon as possible. He might be fatigued when he gets home ".. She rubbed my back and exited the room.

It's pointless to even ask her why she treats me this way. This is something I'm growing used to.

I reminded myself once more that this will all be over once I found my mate.

I don't mind if it's Edward or someone else. I just want to find him, get out of this hellhole, and lessen the weight on my parents' shoulders.

"Four more days," I reassured myself, returning to my job.

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Comments please, and sorry for the late updates. I have got a severe cavity and it hurts like hell. My days are being spent at the dentist's place and another time my exam is coming up on 16th and I have to prepare.

Please bear with this.

I love you all <3

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