Chapter 123 - Fearless
The two girls entered the elevator and waved bye to the rest that were packing up and getting ready to go home. The lift door closed and April glanced at Aarna before asking, "Do you need a lift home?"
Aarna smiled and fixed her hair, "No I am okay thank you, Zane is supposed to pick me up today and we are supposed to go on a date tonight." Aarna then took out her phone, she turned it on and glanced at the screen before looking back at April and smiling.
April could read Aarna pretty well by now and over the weeks she had noticed that her original smile had started to fade over time. The genuine smile was gone and a stiff smile had started to show on her friend's face.
She didn't want to pry but as a friend, she asked tentatively, "Supposed to pick you up? And supposed to go on a date? So you're not sure?" The lift doors then opened and Aarna exited first she had her head down so April missed her facial expression.
As they walked towards the exit together Aarna answered April's question, "Well I haven't heard from him since this morning but Im sure he's just busy and I don't want to text him and become an inconvenience."
April nodded in agreement, she would feel the same and wouldnt message Dean during the working day as she knew how busy with work he was. He would rush through his day just to pick her up in the evening.
.On the way out of the building, April nodded to the receptionist that she had met earlier and then the two security guards at the door.
The sun blinded Aarna as she walked out of Walker Interiors she looked up and down the street. First, she noticed Dean leaning against his car waiting for April she then noticed a car just in front of it.
Aarna wasn't very good with car makes but Zane drove an expensive silver car seeing one just packed in front of Deans she smiled, her heart fluttered and she had butterflies in her stomach.
April saw Aarnas smile and she was relieved, she then looked at Dean who had stopped leaning against his car and started to walk towards her. She didn't miss the women leaving their offices and staring at him. He was flawless, tanned skin, dark hair and honey eyes. She could be jealous but she knew as long as he wasn't looking back at them she wouldn't be jealous. He was all hers.
The door opened to the silver car and April was surprised at who exited. With the look on Aarnas face, she had expected Zane to exit the car but instead, it was her grandpa.
April wasn't the only one to be confused, Dean furrowed his eyebrows and then rolled his eyes as he saw his grandpa exit the car. He did not exit the car to speak to his own grandson but when he saw April he had gone to greet her. Dean was now lost for words but he was happy she had such a strong place in his grandfather's heart.
April glanced at Aarna and didn't miss the disappointment on her face, it was heartbreaking to see. April held her friend's arm and saw the tears that were about to fall. April said, "Don't worry, maybe he's just a little late. I will wait here with you until he arrives."
Aarna didn't hold much hope on what April had said to her, "You go on home. I am not waiting for him. I won't do that again."
"Again?" April asked.
"I have waited for replies to my text messages, I have waited up late at night and when my phone buzzes my heart leaps with hope only for it to be an email or a text message from someone else," Aarna explained to April, a single tear fell and when April lifted her hand to dry it. Aarna took a step back and rubbed her face harshly.
She didn't want to cry, she didn't want to feel like this anymore. Living in limbo and being in this situationship was never what she had expected or wanted. But she had fallen for all his sweet words and the kindness he had shown her, having never experienced it before how could she let go of that?
April heard arguing and she turned her head to see Dean and grandpa exchanging a few words. Grandpa was upset and Dean was smiling back at him. She had noticed that Dean loved to tease his grandpa and grandpa never failed to take the bait and retort.
April looked back at her friend and offered some advice that she wished someone would have said to her when she knew James. Although Zane and James were completely different she had done the same and had waited around for James, wasting her love and affection.
She held on to Aarna and said hoping to give her comfort. "Never settle for just existing, you should never be with someone who leaves you waiting or wondering where you stand in your relationship. Have the courage to confront the issue with them or the courage to walk away. Be fearless, do what scares you the most, take a chance to make a change. Be bold and greet your fears with openness and honesty, but never let your fears stop you. You may end up with Zane or you walk away with your head up knowing you did all you could, loved with your full heart. I will be here for you no matter the outcome."
Aarna dried her cheeks as a few more tears fell from her eyes. She nodded at April agreeing with her completely, she couldn't go on like this. She looked up and saw Dean and his grandpa approach, she didn't want anyone to see her like this. She turned to April and said, "I'm going to go now."
"Are you sure, do you want a lift?" April asked her friend, she felt for her having experienced something similar before.