Chapter 6

Chapter 6

My feet were killing me from all this walking. The stores in this town were massive and not to mention expensive. Everywhere we went they bought heaps of things. While I sat back and laughed at all the crazy things they were buying. I mean, how are they going to get all this crap back home? And it was a lot of crap. The joys of having money, I guess.

We were at our last store stop for the day and of course it was a jewelry store. Everything was real, nothing was cheap, and all I could do was look. Although my Grammy did give me some money, it wasn't enough to buy much of anything. Hell, one necklace cost about all she sent me with. I'd be dumb to waste it on just one trivial thing. My stomach couldn't wait to go sit and eat. Skipping out on breakfast was a stupid idea.

Walking around, the girls were pointing out and trying everything. Not going to lie, the things they were picking out were stunning. However, nothing screamed out to me. Not that I could get it anyway, but it would be nice to try something on.

"Look at this, A, now this is something I've been looking for!" Bradyn said excitedly. It was a gold chain necklace with a few diamonds going around it.

I chuckled leaning against the glass frame. "It is beautiful, but do you really need it?" I asked. This was expensive and what if she loses it?

She looked at me like I was crazy for saying that. "Of course, I need it! Are you nuts?" She joked with me.

"Once she gets her hands on something there's no use talking her out of it." Twila said, shaking her head. She was joking as well.

We all laughed as Bradyn pretended to be offended. This day was nice getting to hang out with them and get to know them better. It's the most fun I've had in a while. All year to be exact. I just know if Kira got to come here, she would love them. Even though we didn't have the money, she was also a big spender just like them.

Walking away, I started scanning around the store some more admiring the jewelry all around me. It was some in cases, some on the walls, and my eyes had a tough time concentrating on just one thing. Where to even begin? How do you even decide what you want with so many options? It was impossible. But the more I walked around the sooner I spotted exactly what I wanted, and it was beautiful. Even with admiring this fine piece of jewelry, my mood was brought down a little bit when I heard the name that's been haunting me.

"Cyrus!" The girls screamed, sounding excited to see him. I groaned never taking my eyes off the object I desperately wanted.

"Hey, ladies, how's the shopping going?" He asked, greeting them with that same pearly white smile.

Twila held up her bags up, the million that she had. "What do you think?" She said laughing afterwards.

They all continued to chat it up while I took the bracelet that was catching my eye big time. It wasn't anything serious. A nice silver bracelet with a beautiful teardrop-shaped diamond in the middle. When I held it in my hand it felt heavy, but I loved it so much. Unfortunately for me it was almost thirteen hundred dollars. Something I didn't have on my person, nor would I even spend that much on a bracelet. It was ridiculous how much it was, but dammit I really wanted it so badly.

Putting it around my wrist, I admired its beauty some more before being interrupted by a certain someone. God, he was always going out of his way to talk to me. When was he going to realize that I didn't care to talk to him? Was I grateful for the help and the encouragement? Yes, but that didn't mean I wanted his attention. However, that never stopped him from talking to me whatever chance he got. Sometimes it was annoying, other times I enjoyed the company. Anything to piss Jenna off, right?

Standing beside me, he had his hands in his pockets dressed down today. Wearing a white tee shirt with blue jeans to match. His sneakers looked expensive to compliment the expensive looking watch. The look was surprising, but I still didn't want to talk to him. Getting close just wasn't a clever idea.

"What are you looking at over here?" He leaned down a little to my level.

I stepped to the side unclamping the bracelet, putting it back. "Why are you here? More importantly, how did you find us?" I was not excited to see him. "I thought you had an important meeting?"

He followed behind me never missing a beat. "Ah, so you remember. Anyway, I didn't mean to intrude." He said, still tailing me.

"So why did you?" I kept asking questions avoiding eye contact with him.

"Maybe because I wanted to see you again."

I stopped in my tracks when I heard him say that. What was that even supposed to mean? Can't he see that I didn't want anything to do with him? Being nice and cordial didn't mean that we could get all chummy. If he wanted a companion Jenna was right for him. She wanted him more than I did. She practically begged for time with him. And I, I wanted nothing to do with him. This screamed a recipe for disaster.

Ignoring his words, I walked back over to the girls as they were checking out. Of course, Cyrus followed me over there as well, still not catching the hint. It was mind boggling to me how he was so oblivious to my actions. He just didn't care. This was still a competition. He was supposed to make connections with all of us in some way. Though it seemed like he had this weird connection to me. A one-sided connection that's for sure.

"Where are you guys going next?" He asked ever so kindly.

I crossed my arms rolling my eyes. "Lunch." I murmured.

This caused a frown to form on his face. Was he finally getting the hint that I didn't want to talk to him? Did it take me being an asshole for him to see this wasn't going to go anywhere? I thought I was being an asshole quite well. I'm guessing it wasn't good enough until now. Was it a little overboard? Yes, but who cares? We come from two different atmospheres. If we tried connecting it would just end in heartbreak. Mainly for me. I couldn't have what I wanted, but he could. We were too different.

Cyrus looked down nodding his head like he just realized something. "Ok, I won't intrude any longer. Please, ladies, enjoy your lunch." He said goodbye to us walking away a man walking out behind him.

Watching him go, I felt this sting in my heart that I was a little too harsh. Pushing him away was for the better, but I also liked having him nearby. I'm not sure how to feel about the guy because I don't know him. All I know is poor and rich don't mix. Once we get down to it, he'll go with someone who has money. Then I'll be left in the dust to wallow. There was no way we were going to make something out of this, and it was nothing.

Not thinking about it anymore, the girls got their things as we got into the car to have our lunch. Something my stomach was delighted for. We went to this little sandwich shop which also served soups and salads of many kinds. It was cute, and I couldn't wait to devour what it was that I'll get. The girls seemed excited too as they'd all been here before. Lucky them!

We got a table enjoying our meals chatting about the day we just had. It was nice seeing more of Sunbury since it was my first time here. It was only the south end, so I'm sure there was more to see up North. I'm glad Bradyn and Twila allowed me to partake in a day like this with them. Even when I didn't buy much, I had fun getting to know them and laughing a little. My perception of them has changed since first glance. The moment I met Twila she was nice to me so no worries there. Bradyn was also nice right off the bat, but we were from different social classes. Yet here I was spending time with them all day long. Who would've guessed?

As we started stuffing our faces, Twila mentioned an interesting topic that I was not expecting. It almost made me spit my food out, that's how unexpected it was.

"Cyrus seems to have taken a strange liking to you." She said slurping her cheddar broccoli soup.

My eyebrows furrowed at the nonsense that just came out of her mouth. "What? We barely even said two words to each other." I was very confused where this was all coming from.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "Are you kidding me? I saw the way he was following you around the jewelry store." She reminded me.

"Yeah, and before he left earlier, you were the only one he addressed when saying bye." Bradyn added her two cents.

It looked like he was taking a liking to me but I'm sure it was only because he felt bad after that first dinner. Where I was completely humiliated, and he was the only to come after me. That doesn't mean he's taking a liking to me. The competition barely even started, and they were already producing wild assumptions. I've made it perfectly clear to him, especially today, that I wanted nothing to do with him. The competition meant little to me. I wasn't out seeking his love or friendship. I was here to experience a different life that was never in my grasp. Of course, they wouldn't know that after hearing how poor I was. They thought I wanted to win as much as they did.

Ignoring her comments, I took a bite out of sandwich not entertaining their crazy ideas. Even if that were the case, there was no way I was winning this thing. I'm sure he wasn't allowed to make the final decision and that would end up coming from his parents. What's the point of trying when I know I wouldn't get picked? I'm sure they've already cast me out as an option since last night. I was worth nothing and coming into their family would devalue their worth. Honestly, I was just lucky to be here.

I scoffed. "Please, compared to everyone else here I'm positive that I'm the last person he's thinking about choosing." I wasn't optimistic, but it was true.

They looked at each other then back at me not buying anything I was saying. It went in one ear and out the other with these two. Whatever they believed they were going to stick with it no matter how much I protested.

"You know, that would be the case because of the confidence you seem to lack." Bradyn pointed out.

Ouch.

"However, you shouldn't compare yourself to us. Not everyone leads the same life. At least that's what my dad told me." She said preaching to me.

Twila agreed of course. "Personally, I think you're great no matter the money. But other people can't just think that. You have to, too Autumn."

I heard what they were saying, and I appreciated it a lot. That didn't change my opinion on the outcome of this situation though. They were going to go with someone who had the same kind of excellence as they did, and I didn't fit into that category. The girls may not judge based on money which is great. If I did let myself get close to Cyrus or learn anything about him, his parents would slice it before it even began. There was no point in my eyes in even trying to win this thing. He was just some guy from a rich family that needed someone else rich to compliment him. None of this seemed meaningful or even logical for that matter. I want to love to love not to love to make someone else look good. It wasn't the way.

We stopped the conversation by finishing our lunches and talking about other things. We were on our way back to the house afterwards with my mind wondering about what was said. I had no confidence in myself whatsoever and I relied on others to have it for me. That wasn't going to get me far in life and I'm already twenty-two. It didn't matter how many people complimented me, if I didn't feel it what was the purpose? Was I always going to stay this way trapped in my own head? Or was I going to blossom to become the best version of myself?