Picking Up The Pieces

ch.19

September

Chelsea took a sip of her coffee—a caramel frappe, just what she needed. Two shots of espresso in the already rich brew from the diner were enough to nudge her out of her muddled state. Phoebe sat across from her, one elbow on the table while she flipped through the menu. She was wearing one of Chelsea's t-shirts and a pair of jeans she'd picked up at the department store near the hotel.

It's been two months since Chelsea has seen Theo. The two haven't really talked with each other since that evening on the Fourth and it had killed both of them for some time now. For Chelsea, she hasn't gotten a good night sleep and often has nightmares of Theo. But for Theo, he takes the consideration of drinking his problems away and ignores everyone else without reaching out to Chelsea.

The tension between the two is right there, it's real. They both do have hard feelings with one another, feelings that lead up to love. But, loving someone from afar without being around them is hard; and that is what Chelsea and Theo had to learn every day.

On the other hand, Phoebe is having a blast in her relationship with Oliver. The two finally made it official and have been hanging out with each other daily. Chelsea is really happy that her best friend is in a relationship but she can not deny she miss seeing her; it's like one minute she's there and the next she is gone.

But that didn't change anything, as long as Phoebe was happy Chelsea was too and that mattered to her.

''--Sorry Chels, but I gotta go with him, I promised. Plus, my mom needs some help with the house and you should go,'' Phoebe said to Chelsea as the two were eating their breakfast meals. Phoebe had convinced Chelsea to be at her house so she could help out a banquet that Janet was hosting.

Chelsea felt the hesitation running through her mind. She knew being there meant there was a possibility that she could run into Theo at any giving moment. That's the last thing that she wanted; Chelsea supposed.

''Ugh,'' Chelsea grunts.

''You're doing me a favor,'' Phoebe responded, making a tune with those words. ''Pretty please, with a cherry on top?''

''Okay, fine. Only because I care about you.''

Phoebe laughed. ''Yes, and you love me very much.''

♡

A rush of emotion rose inside Chelsea's chest. Dammit. She felt like an i***t. 

''No!'' Theo shouts, I'm not going to spend this day doing something that I don't want. Especially around her,'' he said, emphasizing the word her, which meant Chelsea. Not only it has been two months, but, that didn't mean Theo was okay to be around Chelsea. It was bringing back the memories that they shared. He was still mad at her.

''I didn't want to be here anyway, I was doing Phoebe a favor,'' Chelsea clapped back.

''A favor,'' He stifles a laugh ''Yeah, right.''

''ENOUGH!'' Janet yells which made Theo and Chelsea jump at the same time. It was the first time, in a long time, that Janet yelled at them. Theo bit on his bottom lip nervously as Janet crossed her arms while taking a deep breath.

Janet may be the ''regular cool mom'' but at times she does put her foot down if it's necessary. At times like this, she is willing to put her foot down.

''You two are going to help me set up this banquet, no f*****g excuses. Not a word out of your mouth do I make myself clear?'' She asked and the two nod their heads, confirming what Janet asked. They were both shocked by Janet's reaction when she cussed. They knew she was fed up with the nagging; it brought their attention to put their pride aside for once and be young adults for once.

As Janet leaves, Chelsea was left with Theo and the two were stuck with each other for hours.

When the time flew, everything was set up at the house. From the table to the kitchen and living room, the house was fully neat with decorations around. The banquet was a thing that Janet had put together from work, it was an all-women thing, like her own little book club in a way. 

Chelsea stared blindly out the window, completely forgetting she'd attempted to start some kind of a conversation with him. The morning had been hard enough, but she'd had things to do, like preparing her round-trip to Paris. Chelsea was able to study abroad and got approved by her counselor. With her good grades, and the completed tasks at school she could study for the upcoming spring semester.

Everyone knows this, except for Theo.

She walked over and stood next to him by the kitchen counter from where he was sitting. The long black stool chair swirled around and he looked at Chelsea, unpleased that she was there with him.

Confused, I glanced over my shoulder. "What are you doing?" He finally speaks.

''I want us to talk,'' Chelsea responds, hopping on the stool chair and facing her body to him. Theo sighed, running his hands through his curls, and lightly shook his head.

Chelsea gulped in air and stared back at him, scrambling to gain purchase in her mind.  She felt off balance and caught in a riptide of emotions She'd staved off for months.

Theo stared back at her, his gaze direct and unflinching. A mess inside, he fell back on what got them through their mini breakup before—anger.

There's nothing to talk about," he said in a cold tone. He arched a brow and leaned back in his seat, never once looking away. Chelsea couldn't have felt more of a mess if she tried.

''Theo--''

''-- You should go, Chelsea,'' he quickly interrupts her without explaining anything. Chelsea mumbled okay under her breath and got off the stool. She left Theo to himself as he took a sip of water.

He couldn't get his eyes off of Chelsea once she left out the door. Theo had realized that pushing Chelsea away wasn't going to fix any problems unless they talked it out. But knowing how Theo is, he couldn't let his grudge grow he was hurt and deeply upset.

He wants nothing more but to be with her but his pride was getting out of the way, and that wasn't helping Theo at all.