I had to get out of the flat, I just had to, and the only place that I felt I could go right now was to Mason’s, I knew that Zacky wanted to talk to me, he’d tried to multiple times over the past three days since we slept together, but I just kept walking away or shutting him out. I’d let him do that, I’d lead him on ad made him think that there could maybe be a chance at us, but there wasn’t, there couldn’t ever be an us . I knew that, and I think he was starting to realise it too, I folded up some more T-Shirts and put them into my duffle bag.

I called Mason about an hour ago and he said it was okay for me to come stay with him for a while, so I was packing some stuff for about a week. I threw my bag of toiletries in and zipped it up and pulled my hoodie on over my head.

“Riley you’re not… going?”

“I’m going to live with Mason for a while”

“But you…” He stopped himself and frowned, biting his lip. “Don’t go”

“Zacky I need some time to think, to clear my head, and I can’t do that here”

“And you think that going to stay with him will help?”

“I’ll be away from you, so yeah it will” I saw him wince.

“Riley I’m sorry, I never should have let it go that far”

“I’m sorry too Zacky, I lead you on and made you think that there was some hope of us ever being together, and there won’t ever be, Zacky I’m with Mason, I want to make it work with him, and I can’t do that if you’re always hanging around me and hoping that there is some future for us, Zacky all we can ever be is friends”

“Riley please just stay here we can talk about it”

“You make it sound like we’re breaking up” I gave a short laugh “Zacky I’m going and you can’t keep me here, I’ll be back, I don’t know when but I’ll come back when I’ve got my head sorted”

“Riley…”

I shook my head and zipped up my bag and pulled it over my shoulder, Zacky followed me out into the hallway, I grabbed my car keys and my purse, shoving them in my hoody pockets. He stood in front of the front door as I tried to leave.

“Zacky let me out”

“No, Riley please can we just talk about it; I don’t want you to go”

“Yeah well you don’t own me Zacky, and truthfully, I don’t want to be here with you right now, I can’t handle the tension in this house and I can’t… I just… Zacky just let me go, I promise I’ll come back” I stood up on my tip toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek, he sniffed and moved aside from the door. I pulled it open and almost stepped outside but Zacky grabbed my arm.

“Riley please…” His green eyes were shiny and he looked scared.

“Zacky I promise I’m coming back, I just… need some time and space to think, I’ll be back before you know it”

“Just… call me?”

“I will” I hugged him and he buried his face in my neck, I felt his shoulders shake and the shoulder of my shirt was getting damp. I hugged him tighter and then tried to take a step back but he kept ahold of me.

I stood there for another moment before trying again, he still wouldn’t let me go.

“Zacky you need to let me go”

“I-I can’t, how do I know if you’re coming back?”

“I’m coming back… I have to, all my shit is here… and you’re here”

“Please just… just be safe” He said kissing my forehead and wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand. He sniffed and nodded.

“I will, I’ll call you later” I said picking up my bag again. “Promise” He nodded and I turned on my heel and left before I could change my mind. I practically ran down the stairs, my lip bleeding by the time I got to my car because I’d been biting it so hard. I threw my bag in the back seat and got into the front, starting the engine and driving to mason’s house.

When I got there I pulled my bag out of the trunk and went up in the elevator to his apartment, I rang the bell and waited for him to answer. After a moment he opened the door, wiping his hands on a rag.

“Hey babe” He grinned at me, I looked him over, he was wearing ripped jeans and a white wife beater showing off his toned arms.

“Hi” I said kissing his lips.

“Sorry I was working on some decks for Paddy so I’m kinda greasy” He said letting me in and kicking the door shut.

“It’s okay, it’s kinda of hot seeing you all sweaty like a grease monkey” I grinned and dropped my bag to the floor by the door.

“Oh so you like grease monkey’s?” He grinned down at me, pulling me against his chest.

“Maybe not grease monkey’s but I like you” I smiled but got this weird feeling in my stomach, guilt maybe?

“Well I need to take a shower and wash this off” He said

“You want me to join you?”

“Y’know I wouldn’t mind” He said taking my hand and leading me through his flat to where I
guessed the bathroom was.

The process was slow, he pressed me up against the wall of the bathroom, kicking the door shut and locking it behind him.

“Didn’t want to be disturbed” He said against my lips.

“We’re gonna be disturbed?”

“I hope not, but if Paddy comes by to get his decks, he should know that we’re busy”

“Okay” He pulled his shirt off over his head and started working on his belt. I pulled my shirt off and kicked my shoes off, wriggling out of my jeans and unclasping my bra. He pushed his lips back on mine and turning the shower on.

We climbed in, although we didn’t do a lot of actual bathing, the shower ended with me on my knees and Mason pressed against the wall.

By the time we got out I was very ready to sleep, today had been stressful and with the showering activities I was tired.

“Do you want a drink babe?”

“I’m okay, I just wanna go to bed”

“Okay, well you can have my bed, and I can take the couch if you don’t wanna share” He said towelling his hair dry.

“No it’s okay, I wouldn’t mind having someone to cuddle up with” He smiled at me

“Okay, I’m just gonna go get a cup of coffee and then I’ll come join you”

“Okay” I nodded and he left, I pulled out some pyjama shorts and a tank top and pulled them
on, I pulled my wet hair up into a ponytail, as I was doing so a pair of arms wrapped themselves around my waist.

“I like the shorts” He said.

“So do I Zacky go—me too”

“Wanna go to bed?”

“Yeah”

Notes

Title credit: Last train home - LostProphets