Listen to Out of Love by Alessia Cara.

I parked the car in front of the hospital and looked at my face in the mirror before coming out. I walked to the receptionist in the lobby wearing a smile.

"Hi," I said in a quiet voice.

"Hello, how can I help you today?" The Nurse asked with a soft smile that showed off her one-sided dimple. Her long braids were pushed up into a ponytail and her blue eyeshadow went with her sky-blue scrubs.

"I'm here to see Mrs. Julia Sanchester."

"When was she brought here?"

"This morning."
She typed loudly on the keyboard with her long fingers, her nails were painted blue with tiny white daisy flowers for extra details.

"And who are you to her?" She asked with a scrutinizing stare but kept her smile.

"A family friend."

"4th floor, room 25."

"Okay, thanks," I said.

"Here."
She gave me a visitor's card.

I went straight to the elevator filled with two nurses and a small kid. I searched for room 25 when I got to the 4th floor, it was down the hallway at the left. I adjusted the thin straps of my red floral dress and took a deep breath. I knocked on the door and gripped the cold metal door handle. I opened the door and every head turned in my direction.

"Hi, everyone."
I said with a small wave, faking my best smile. I walked in and shut the door behind me.

Nana came to hug me, Nora smiled at me from where she sat reading a J-14 gossip magazine. Tristan was sitting next to his mom's bed, holding her hand like if he let go she would disappear. He turned to look at me and stood up from his seat.

"Hey, Morris told me you left the house very early. Everything okay?" Tristan asked walking to where I stood, he reached to hug me but I walked away pretending not to notice. I shot him a glare and took the seat next to Nora.

I could feel Tristan's eyes on me but I didn't look his way. I turned to look at Mrs. Sanchester, she was still asleep. 

"How is she?"
I asked Nana who kept a brown blanket around herself like it was freezing inside the room.

"She is better, the Doctor said she will be discharged tomorrow, don't worry it was nothing serious," Nana said with a warm smile.

I brought out my phone and texted Belvina to send me Grey's number. She sent me a confused emoji but sent the number. I told her I would explain everything later after she demanded an explanation.

"Everything okay, honey?" Nana asked drawing my attention away from my phone.

"Huh?" I mumbled a little bit confused at her question.

She gestured toward Tristan who was sitting next to where his mom laid. I looked away not sure of what to say.

"You should take him out for a little air, I'm sure he'd listen to you," Nana said giving my hand a warm squeeze.

"Everything is okay, Nana," I said smiling at her.

"I have spent 82 years on this earth to sense when something is not right." She said.

 I didn't say anything afterward, I texted Grey apologizing for what happened last night. I waited for a reply but got none.

We stayed till Mrs. Sanchester woke up. We spoke to her for an hour before a nurse came and informed us to leave, so she could rest.

"You guys head home, I will drop mom off tomorrow before I leave for work."
Tristan said to Nana and Nora after we stepped out of the room.

"Goodnight, Chloe."
Nora waved with a small smile.

"Take good care of yourself and the baby."
Nana hugged me and gave me a kiss, she did the same to Tristan before leaving.

I sat down on the nearest seat and ran my palms down my thigh to my knees.
My limbs felt numb and my back ached from today's event. I leaned back on the seat and allowed my shoulders to relax.

Tristan took the seat next to me, I felt his eyes on me. I turned my face away and watched a Nurse play with a small boy that looked three, what a cute sight.

My stomach growled reminding me I hadn't eaten the whole day. I hugged it with one arm hoping it would block the unpleasant sound.

Tristan stood up and came to stand in front of me, I looked anywhere else but at him.

"There's a restaurant close by, let's go and get something to eat." His voice was calm.

"I'm fine."
I muttered, not looking at him.

"Please," he asked and tried to touch me but I snapped.

"If you touch me, I'm going to scream."
He dropped his hand.

He looked around before resting his eyes on me, I eyed him warily and looked away, my stubborn stomach growled again.

"Excuse me."
I heard him say to a young nurse that was passing by.

"Yes?"
She smiled sweetly at him, her brown hair was roughly packed and her red scrubs looked too big on her.

"My girlfriend here has not eaten anything the whole day and she's being stubborn, I'm worried about her health and that of the baby."

Her eyes first moved to my stomach then my face, I rolled my eyes and looked down the hallway.

"It's very wrong to starve yourself while you're pregnant. I suggest you go with your boyfriend and get something to eat, we have a place you can get food here, I could take you there."
They both waited for me to say something.

"She is very stubborn, maybe you should get a Doctor to convince her."

"Or maybe you could get a Doctor to check if there is really a baby in here."
I said daringly and pointed at my stomach. 

He asked the nurse to leave and sat back on his seat. We sat in silence for a while neither of us saying anything.

"I'm sorry," he said facing me. I didn't say anything but instead stare at the white wall in front of me. Apologies won't heal the pain and anger inside of me, he went too far last night and I wasn't sure if I could forgive him.

"I should have done better, I lost control and my actions were rash. I'm sorry for everything I said," he said in a quiet tone that carried regret.

"I understand if you're finding it hard to forgive me but don't starve yourself," he added and waited for me to say something but I remained mute.

"You can go home, I will stay." He said after some seconds.

I stood up and left not saying a word. I drove to Belvina's place and parked on the street a few distance from her house. I picked up my phone and called her. She answered the call on the second ring.

"I'm outside your house, the blue car on the street," I said, leaning back on the seat.

"What? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, meet me outside and bring me something to eat cause I'm starving," I said and groaned.

"Okay," she said and ended the call.

My mind drifted to last night, it was like one moment everything was perfect and the next minute was total chaos. I snapped out of my thoughts when someone tapped on my window, I unlocked the door for Vina who was wrapped in a fluffy hoodie and short shorts.

"Here you go, I will just have to tell my mom the remaining tacos mysteriously disappeared," she said as she gave me the plastic pan.

"Thank you," I said with a smile. 

"Aren't you gonna give me a hug first?" Vina frowned as I opened the pan.

"Sorry, I'm just so hungry," I said and leaned closer to hug her.

"Is everything okay?" she asked me after I pulled away.

"Yes," I replied bringing out the burrito.

"You just drove to my house at 11 pm asking for food, how is that okay?" she asked. I didn't say anything but ate the food.

"Is it Tristan? What did that Hijo de puta do?" she looked furious.

"I'm fine, I just wanted to see you," I said with a smile.

"Mentirosa, come here," she said and pulled me in a hug.

"Whatever it is, I'm ready to fight for you and I'm always here to listen," she whispered.

"Thank you," I said.

We talked about school and celebrities as I ate the burrito and tacos. I forgot about my problems just spending time with her, we lost track of time as we spoke and laughed in the car. I almost broke into tears as we said goodbye to each other.

It was almost 2 am as I pulled into the driveway in front of Tristan's house. I sighed before getting out of the car. 

I walked into the house with a distressed look. Morris had already set the table with different food and was waiting for me.

"Welcome, Ms. Simpson." he greeted.

"Hi, Morris," I said and headed for the stairs.

"Mr. Sanchester told me you have not eaten since morning, I made you enough food to eat," he said halting my movement.

"I have eaten, I'm sorry you had to go through the stress." I gave him an apologetic smile and walked to my room.

I undressed and went for a shower, I stayed under the water with different thoughts running through my head. I stared at the water that went down the drain. Was I supposed to get used to this? I wondered what my life would have been like if I never followed my sister to that wedding.

Miserable as always.

I brushed my wet hair back and washed my body as my hands started to look like prunes. I walked out of the shower cubicle when I was done. I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I brushed my teeth, I was starting to hate it. My blue eyes didn't look bright anymore and it was hard to recognize the person staring at me.

I looked away and brushed quickly, I dried my body and left the bathroom. I paused when I saw Tristan in my room. He stood next to the door like a bodyguard.

"Morris told me you refused to eat, I brought you something to eat," he said and gestured to the bedside table.

"I have eaten," I said and walked to the closet.

"Can we please talk?" he asked.

"There is nothing to talk about!" I snapped.

"I know I messed up and no matter what I say to you right now, it's not going to ease the pain I caused you." He whispered.

"In case you need a reminder, we had a deal and if you're not going to respect my request then I will leave, for real this time."

"I'm trying,  I really am Cassie but a minute away from you is torture. Everything I said that night was..."

"Don't," I cut in with a hard look.

"I don't wanna talk about it, just leave," I added.

"Okay, but if you need anything please don't hesitate to reach out to Morris," he mumbled and turned to leave.

 I dressed up for bed and went to sleep.

∆

I skipped breakfast and stayed in bed the next day after my classes. Morris brought lunch to my room and tried to talk to me.

Tristan knew how to stay invisible, I hadn't seen any sign of him in the house for the past three days. The house felt empty and the silence was becoming deafening that I had to force Morris to watch tv with me. 

I checked my phone every day, waiting for a reply from Grey. I went for a walk in the garden after I was done eating breakfast all by myself again. It was Saturday, I knew Tristan was home but I had not seen him. I spent hours on facetime with Belvina as she talked about the flowers in the garden, calling out the names and what they stood for. I wasn't surprised, she told me her mom was a florist before they moved here. I went back inside the house as the scorching heat from the sun made my skin hot.

I grabbed my laptop and did a job search and randomly looked up an affordable apartment. I might have dozed off because it was dark outside when I woke up.

I left my room to get something to eat, there was a nice scent in the air mixed with a mouthwatering smell that made my stomach churn. I paused at the dining when I saw the white scented candles and red wine on the dining table.

"Hey," I heard Tristan's voice. He walked to the dining table with a set of dinner plates. I looked around for Morris but I didn't see him. I couldn't deny that a part of me was happy to hear his voice which suddenly sounded foreign to my ears.

"Wait, please," he said when I turned to leave.

"Please sit," he said pulling out the seat for me. I hesitated for a while battling with the thoughts in my head. I sat down and watched him as he took the seat in front of me. The dining room lights were off, only the candles lit up the room.

Tristan gave me a small smile from across the table, he bit his lips as if he was nervous about something. I fought hard not to admire the way the lights from the candle made his beauty unreal.

"Where is Morris?" I asked in a cold tone.

"I told him to spend the night with his family," he said, leaning closer and resting both hands on the table. His tousled blonde hair was begging to be touch, my eyes lingered at the stray hair that fell to his forehead, this was not the time to look sexy Tristan. I moved my eyes back to his eyes that held different emotions.

He reached for a wine glass, he opened the wine and poured me some. I eyed him suspiciously as I took the wine and put the glass down.

"What's all this about?" I asked.

"I know you want me to keep my distance and I have been doing a lot of thinking. I want us to start over, which includes being patient with each other. I promise I will tell you everything you need to know," He said.

"I don't get it, what is so important about this Nadia?"
I screamed throwing my hands in the air. The smile disappeared from his face, I waited for him to say something but he didn't.

"Why is her name tattooed on your skin? Is she somehow connected to whatever you have going on?" I inquired but he was still quiet.

"Why won't you let me in?"
I asked leaning closer to the table.

"She doesn't exist! She is not real!"
He yelled.