At Youthful Threads

Skyler

"Scarlet, what's my schedule for today?" She stood in front of my desk while my eyes were on the computer.

"Madam, you are free for the day. Your meeting scheduled for today is postponed to Thursday." That's a relief. I was in no mood to attend the meeting today.

"Ok, that will be enough Scarlet. You can take the day off." I say to her and she nods her head."Ok, mam."

I look at her glaring."You know you can call me Skyler." I can't remember how many times I had to remind her that she is my best friend too other than being my assistant."I am sorry."

Scarlet leaves and I was confused. She left without saying anything. She comes back again and sits in the chair in front of me with her legs crossed."You know your assistant Scarlet was telling me that you are really not in the mood but you gave her the day off."

"I see that." I glare at her to keep her legs off the table.

She explained."What? My shift is over. I am your best friend now and not your assistant." She is my best friend but she cannot sit like this. She growls as I didn't stop glaring and she finally take her legs off the table."That's more like it.."

"What are we doing today?" I am going to work till midnight or I will go home and sleep. I am not doing anything. Especially today.
"Nothing special. I have work to do."

"We are going to hit the pizza place today." She declared seeing my frown. Did she not hear me? I have work to do."Not today, Scarlet."

I tried to refuse but she was adamant. I place a pile of files in front of her."I have to take a look at all these files by tonight."

"Fine, I will wait. Meanwhile, I will call out the names I selected for you." Not again. Ever since she started dating. She has been pushing me to find someone and when I was not taking any efforts. She took it to be her responsibility to find me a boyfriend. "I am telling you already. I am not interested."

I ignored them as she starts her daily thing. I start typing on the computer and my ignoring didn't affect her."Ethan, A lawyer by profession, tall dark, and handsome."

"You will not listen to me." I glared and she moved her gaze back to her phone."Matt, An artist.Sounds great. Take a look at his paintings once."

"Scarlet..."

"Shane Smith." I almost jumped off my chair listening to his name. I was surprised at how I still craved for him and still missed him like an idiot. I close my laptop.

I tried hard to distract myself from today. I tried everything to forget him. I tried to keep everything aside that reminded me of him but there is always something which is left out."I am sorry, Skyler. It's been a year. You need to move on and forget him."

I wish I could forget the person who taught me what love is. I wish he didn't leave. I wish things were like they used to be. Especially this day when we were supposed to be married and lived our happily ever after but seems like he was not in my ever after. "It's okay, Scarlet. You don't have to apologize. If I hate someone on this planet it is Shane Smith."

Yes, you heard it right. A year ago I was deeply in love with Shane. I couldn't have imagined my life without him but never in my life I am gonna forget what he did. Even if I lost my memory I won't forget the pain he caused me. Scarlet kept apologizing for bringing his name.
"Oh my God, Scarlet. I said it's alright."

"I think my help is needed." Noah was leaning against the door with a smirk on his face. As soon as I saw Noah. I was relieved. I stood up from my chair and hugged him. "You are a savior."

"What can I say? I can't praise myself."He always lights up my mood. I laugh at his statement. He takes a seat beside Scarlet and I stand leaning against the desk.
He says."We are going out tonight."

"Fine."

Scarlet groans rolling her eyes at me. "I was trying to convince you for so long yet you agree at once when Noah says."

"Well. Can you say no to Noah?"
It may be or maybe not because of Noah. I wanted to distract myself and maybe dinner at a pizza place with my friends is all I need. I hate you, Shane, for what you did and I hate that I still can't seem to forget you and for that, I can never forgive you...

Meanwhile

Shane

"Ty, can you bring me the files of our last meeting which was this morning?" I ask him as I was typing the notes of our meeting that was held in the morning.

I was expecting him to keep the file on the table and leave but he takes a seat in front of me and looks at me worriedly. After a momentary pause, he speaks."Shane, you haven't been home for a week. Tell me when was the last time you had a shower? Tell me the last time you didn't sleep here at the office chamber? Tell me the last time you met mom? Shane please, we are worried for you. You rarely go home. You decline every event and party. You are drunk every other night. Talk to me, Shane. You know I am here for you always."

I wish I could Ty. I wish I could talk to someone. I so badly want to. I felt things would change and I would get used to it. The fact that she is not with me but it's been a year and nothing changed. It is as it was."I am sorry. I will come to visit mom today. I realized I was so distracted. Work is my priority. I am the CEO now. Everyone is expecting so much from me. That's what I am doing Ty. Giving my best for the Blitz."

He raises his tone at me. He was correct. I haven't been myself for the past year. "Stop lying straight to my face. I don't understand anything."

I can't talk to anyone about it. So I pushed everyone away. I brushed it off when it was brought up."There is nothing to understand. Just do as I say, Ty."

"Fine, you can't dodge me always."
He angrily leaves the room. I hate pushing them away but I knew better. I tried controlling myself thinking about it and I knew I would break down if I am being asked.

"There you are. It's been weeks since I last met you, Shane." I stand up from my chair as I go hug Dad. He wasn't wrong. I was meeting him after a month. No, I wasn't out of town neither was he. I was avoiding them. It's only because they will ask me what's happening with me and I won't be able to answer as much as I want to.
"I was busy at work, Dad."

He said sarcastically."Seems like I have to book an appointment to meet my son."

"You know that's not true Dad. Have a seat." We sat on the couch and Dad was all silent. He takes a look at me. It was like he was trying to read me. Dad, please don't make this harder than it already is."Shane..."

So before he could say anything I cut him off."Dad, no. Ty just gave me his speech now. Not you too."

"We are worried, Shane. Tell me Shane what wrong happened that I lost my happy friend. Everything changed in a split second. One second."

"Dad, I don't want to hear about it."
I move my gaze from him knowing I couldn't lie to him looking in his eyes but he knew better."I am your Dad, Shane. You are lying and I know that."

I wish I could tell you how hurt I am. I wish I could share my pain with you. I wish you gave me a long tight hug and give me advice and everything will be back in place but I can't. I am afraid it's too late to mend things now that even if I wanted to solve everything I cannot."As the CEO of the company. I must keep everything in order."

"Not like this. You distanced yourself from us. I am not liking this. You are suffering and you don't realize we are suffering too." That was my coping mechanism of trying to forget everything in which I failed miserably.
"I know what I am doing. I am fine."

"Shane..." Dad held my hand and it took everything to not break down. I can't let him suspect more than he already is. I tried hard to control my tears."I am fine. I will come to you the first thing if anything."

"Fine, I want you to take care of yourself. Now, what are your plans for your birthday?" Amidst everything, I forgot it was my birthday tomorrow and our anniversary. I just want to be alone but I can't do this to Dad, Mom, Ty, and Taylor. It's unfair to them. "I will come tomorrow morning and then we can have a family lunch. I will have dinner with Emily." They don't know anything and I don't have any plans with her but they don't have to know that.

"We will be waiting. I will tell mom to bake your favorite chocolate cake." Dad smiled at me and I smiled back. Then there was a knock on the door. It was Emily.
"I am sorry to disturb you too but I brought lunch for Shane." Great...So great.The last person I want to see.

"I was leaving. You can have lunch with your husband now. See you tomorrow Shane." On paper, husband to be correct. I roll my eyes and bid Dad goodbye though I wish he didn't leave for lunch. A dreadful and extremely long lunch.

You may hate me Sky for what I did but I had to do it for you...

(Who is Noah? What happened to Skyler and Shane? What changed? Keep reading to find out.)

...Thank you for reading...