The silence remained between us for a few but long minutes. None of us knew what to say, or what to do. I was fighting against my will, against my drunken thoughts that wouldn’t stop bugging me with their reckless stupidity.

“You’re drunk.” Brian said for the second time since I came outside.

What a surprise.

But before he lowered his eyes to his feet, I could see the disappointment crossing his iris; I just didn’t know the reason behind it. That made me slung my head down, too. “Brian… I…”

“What?” He prodded, his voice soft and so different from the first time he had talked to me.

I dared to take my eyes from the floor and looked up slowly, my gaze falling onto his chest for a moment, before I raised my head completely. He was closer than I thought and when our eyes finally met, my heart fluttered with the melting brown I found, “Please, forgive me.” He sighed slightly, moving away out of instinct, but I grabbed his hand afraid he would run from me. “Please…”

He tensed up as I leant against him. My head rested just above his chest, the heat soaking the air around me, suffocating me with such comfort. It didn’t last long, though. He placed his free hand on my shoulder and pushed me away gently, stepping back as he did so, “You can’t do this, Lara.” He told me in a whisper.

“But I miss you…”

“You’re only saying that because you’ve been drinking and you’re not thinking right.” He insisted, freeing himself from my grip, “Don’t do something you’ll regret tomorrow.”

He was partly right. I was drunk and probably more relaxed than I should be around him, if you know what I mean, but I did miss him. He might not believe it, but I did. These last days had made me realize how much I needed him, how important he was for me, even after all these years apart. And now that he was rejecting me, all those emotions were emerging to the surface.

“Brian, I’m sorry… I really am.” I tried, my voice pleading, needy.

He dug his hands into his pockets and nodded with his head, letting his eyes fix on the floor once again, “I know.” He glanced at me timidly, “I am, too.”

The way his face saddened, the hurt clouding the brown of his eyes brought a slight pain to my chest. I just wished in that moment that I could hug him. It was like I had someone else inside of me stretching their arms to reach for Brian. But to save more aching in both of our hearts, I turned on my heels, defeated, and went back to the living room.

The party was still on once I stepped inside but I no longer felt in the mood for it. Zacky had told me to sleep at his house this night, seen that no one would be sober enough to drive me to the hotel. I was okay with that earlier because I intended to have a good time. But right now I just wanted to go to bed and sleep.

I searched for my green-eyed friend. “Zacky!” I drawled tiredly as soon as I spotted him.

He interrupted his conversation with Audrey and chuckled, eyeing me up and down, “How many drinks did you have?”

“As many as Jimmy gave me.” I smiled innocently, “But I’m sleepy now. I want a comfy bed.”

“Really? But it’s not that late.”

I pulled out my best puppy dog eyes, “Pretty please?”

With another chuckle Zacky gave in and led me upstairs, away from everyone. He had already set the room I was staying in for me, so we just changed some quick words and then he left. The booze was slowly draining out of my blood and I began to sober up. Still a bit dizzy, I stripped to my pajamas and lit up the lamp on the bedside table.

I started recalling my previous talk with Brian and I felt stupid. “Ugh, why telling him I missed him?” I asked myself, shaking my head, as I gathered the needed things to go to the bathroom attached to my room. “You could’ve fucking said anything, Lara, and you chose to say that? What an idiot.” I padded into the bathroom and took a look at my reflection in the mirror. “You fucked up. Big time.” I sighed. “Better take the makeup from off my face. Perhaps my stupidity comes along with it.”

As I darted my gaze down to the bag on the counter top in search of my lotion, a joking voice surged from behind me. “You still talk to yourself?”

I jumped ten feet high and turned around abruptly, holding a hand to my chest, “Shit, Jimmy!”

“Some things never change, I see.” He snickered.

“What’s wrong with you? You can’t just walk in on someone like that.” I focused my attention back to my face, my heart still pumping wildly against my ribcage. When that goofball behind me kept staring with a wide grin on his lips, I raised an eyebrow, “What?”

“Admit it… you thought it was Brian coming up here and that’s why I scared the shit out of you.”

“No, I didn’t!” I scoffed, but the blush on my cheeks told Jimmy otherwise. His smile grew bigger and bigger, and I ended up by chuckling.

Damn. What was I thinking? I couldn’t hide a single fucking thing from Jim. “Alright, I thought you were him.”

He crossed his arms to his chest, leaning against the doorframe, “He’s better, isn’t he?”

“What do you mean?” I asked nonchalantly, even though my entire body reacted with those simple words.

“With you. He’s more caring… less aggressive.”

I suppressed a smile, “I don’t know.”

“Of course you do.” He punched my arm, laughing, and I let the smile I was holding show. “I told you he just needed time. He can’t be mad for too long, especially with you.”

I turned around, having finished the removal of my makeup. “Oh Jim, Brian and I are dead…”

“How do you know?”

“It’s been eight years. We’ve already moved on.” I said, passing past Jimmy and into the bedroom.

“Have you? Have you really moved on?”

That question lingered in my mind for a long time, gnawing at my cells. When Jimmy left the room I felt like I’d been passed over by a big truck. Why did he fucking say that? Now I couldn’t focus on anything besides that. What if I still liked Brian? What if my feelings for him had been hidden deep in my heart and now they were emerging?

I threw myself onto the bed and sighed obnoxiously loudly. “Why? Just why?”

Fuck. The room was spinning. Or maybe it was just my head.

Grunting, I stood up. I should definitely call it a day. I moved the covers away and slid inside the bed, moaning in delight when my body molded into the mattress. I was glad no one was there or they’d have weird thoughts.

I turned the lights off and closed my eyes. My mind didn’t let me rest, though. Brian, Brian, Brian, and more Brian ! He wouldn’t leave me alone, and to make things even worse, I started feeling my stomach rolling and wincing.

“Shit…” I hissed. I shouldn’t have drunk so many shots, not when I wasn’t 18 anymore. Drinking until morning wasn’t part of my routine and my stomach was no longer used to such amount of alcohol. Now I was nauseous and couldn’t fall asleep.

When I was about to give up, I heard the door cracking a little. My breathing slowed down as I saw the room lightening up from the lights on the corridor.

Someone had opened the door.

I sat up quickly, scared, letting my eyes adjust to the figure standing there, and once I realized who it was, my heart skipped a few beats.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you up.”

Oh dear God. Now I felt like throwing up. What was Brian doing here?

“It-It’s okay, you d-didn’t.” I stuttered, turning the lamp on, “Why are you here?”

“Uh…”

I cocked my head to the side, surprised with his embarrassment. “Brian?”

“I…” He scratched the back of his neck, barely looking at me, ”I wanted to see if you were okay.”

“Oh. Why wouldn’t I?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “You came here too early and you weren’t exactly fine while ago.”
He was worried about me again. My lips curled up in a tiny smile, one I was trying to hide with all I had.

Yeah right. Like I could even fight it.

“I’m alright, just tired I guess…” And sick, but he didn’t need to know that.

“You sure?”

I nodded with my head, pulling my knees up to my chest along with the comfy, warm covers.

“Okay… I guess I’ll just go then.” He pointed at the door with his thumb but stayed still, his eyes fixed on me. It seemed that he wanted to say something, however, nothing came out.

“Brian?” I called again softly.

He blinked back to reality, “Yeah?”

Dropping my gaze from his, I started playing with the loose ends of my hair, “Are you still mad at me?”

I didn’t have the courage to look him in the eye, afraid of what I might see. But he took so long to reply that I was forced to lift my head, finding him in the same spot, with the same face. I hated that my dizzy state wouldn’t allow me to read him.

“I don’t know… I’m still trying to figure that out.” He said, to which I could only nod. “I need more time.”

“Can you hug me?” I burst.

His eyes widened, “What?”

My hand flew straight to my mouth. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I told him quickly. What was I thinking? I wasn’t. That was the problem. “Forget that, really…”

Brian chuckled inwardly. “I should go.”

“You should.” I agreed, my face flushed from the inappropriate question escaping through my lips.

Walking back to the door, Brian tilted his head in my direction for a moment, that sweet smile that I missed so much crossing his thin lips, “I miss you, too…” He said just before the door was shut.

Wait. What?

He missed me? If my heart was already touched by the fact that he was concerned about me, now it was completely melted. I buried myself underneath the covers and smiled widely, the hopes of having Brian back increasing just that tiny bit.

---

“Mom? Mom, plea- mom, just calm the fuck down!”

“Watch your tongue, Lara!” She scolded, her tone severe, “I’m not one of your high school friends.”

I fought the urge to snort but she was starting to get on my nerves, “I’m sorry.” I mumbled, “But you were freaking out.”

“You don’t come see me for almost one month! Of course I’m freaking out.”

And that was the conversation I’d been trying to avoid since the day I travelled across the states to come to California. This was the moment that I’d tell my mother that I hadn’t been working on a role and, instead, I was visiting our hometown.

“I have something to tell you.” I said, keeping my voice as calm as I possibly could.

“I hope it has something to do with your absence.”

Sitting down on Zacky’s couch, I rubbed my tight with my hand, biting nervously on my lip, “Ugh.. Well… Remember when I said I was in New Jersey because of a job they offered me?”

“Yes, that’s the reason I don’t see you for a month.” When I didn’t answer straightaway, she spoke again, “Right?” Her words held hesitance as if she was sensing that there was more to it than I was telling her.

“The thing is,” I started, suddenly feeling scared with my mom’s reaction, “I’m not in New Jersey and I’m not working.”

“You’re not? So where are you? Honey, I’m not getting your point.” My mom sounded truly confused and it was killing me to do this to her. I shouldn’t have lied in the first place, but if I had told her the truth I’m sure she would’ve kept me from coming to California. I couldn’t risk that.

“Please, don’t get mad.”

“Lara!” My mom pried, desperate.

“I’m in Huntington Beach.” I blurt out. My eyes shut tightly while I waited for my mother to say something, anything. At this point I had already imagined all the possible scenarios that could develop with my recent confession, and none of them ended well.

“You’re… you’re in California? In Huntington Beach?” The way her voice cracked, her words stumbling over a sob, made my stomach drop.

What have I done?

“Mom…”

“No, no.. you’re lying! You can’t- you can’t be there!” My mom cried, “How- Why would you do that?”

I bent forward, resting my elbows on my knees, and ran a hand through my face. How was I supposed to explain this to her?

“I had to. I… I needed to see them.”

“You promised you’d never come back! You promised that we would forget the past and move on!”

“I can’t move on, mom!” I said, my own voice raising a little bit as I got up from the couch, “I’ve tried but I just can’t!”

“And do you think that going back to that place is gonna help?”

“I don’t know!” I replied in all honesty, “But this is the only plan I came up with.” A moment of silence followed, our breathing slowing and steading. “I’m sorry, mom, I am. But you’ve got to understand. I’ve left so much behind, so many words unspoken, so many questions unanswered. It was eating me inside. I couldn’t live like this.”

It wasn’t until I heard my mother crying that I knew my speech had really gotten into her.“Oh baby…” She sniffled. “Why did you never tell me?”

“Because I knew you were suffering too much already. You didn’t need one more thing to worry about.” I told her softly, careful with my speech.

“I would’ve understood!”

“Would you really?” I queried, “Now you can, but not in the beginning.”

“But why now, Lara? Eight years have gone by. It’s not two or three we’re talking about but eight.” She went on, clearly distraught with what she thought it had been a decision of last minute. However, it hadn’t been. I spent months and months working over that crazy idea, pondering over the pros and cons countless times until I made the final call.

“I felt like I couldn’t go on with my life living like this anymore; with this guilt, with these memories consuming me every day.” I explained, pacing back and forth through the living room, “I needed to face the past and make up for what I did.”

“You did nothing wrong, sweetie.” My mother comforted me, and although I appreciated the way she was taking the news, I knew she wasn’t right.

“I did. I left all of my friends behind without any explanation. I left Brian.” My voice shook with emotion at the mention of his name, the tears sneaking behind my eyes.

I heard my mom sighing and it took all I had not to start crying. “I wish things had been different.”

“I wish, too.” I whispered, wiping at the corner of my eyes with the back of my hand.

“How long are you staying there?”

I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding and shrugged, “The time my heart needs until it’s healed.”

My mom and I kept talking for a while. I told her everything that happened since I arrived, and to my surprise, she was very understanding. I was so relieved that I finally lifted this weight up from my shoulders that I’m sure I was ten pounds lighter.

“How did it go?” Audrey asked moments later as she descended the stairs.

I smiled at her, “Better than I expected.”

“See? I told you.” She walked over to me, a big smile spread all over her face.

“Thanks for insisting with me.”

She shrugged her shoulders, “Sometimes we just need a little push to do what we gotta do.”

I nodded, smiling, “That’s a true story.”

“You know,” Audrey started, “we should do something to celebrate!”

I laughed at her enthusiasm but couldn’t understand why this was such a strong motive for a celebration, so I asked, “Why?”

“Sit with me.” She told me, pulling me down with her as she plopped onto the couch, “You came here with basically no hopes, right?”

I nodded with my head, my interest increasing.

“And then Zacky surprised you with his cute and nice being.” I had to smile at that. “And the guys are also starting to let you in more, and then we have Brian…”

My stomach did a back flip when I heard his name and a soft groan escaped from my lips, making Audrey giggle.

“Didn’t know it was that serious.”

“It’s not!” I said quickly but her giggles turned into a full fit of laughter.

“Right, of course not.” She drawled dryly, a smug grin tugging onto the corners of her mouth.

Grabbing a pillow from between us, I smacked it against her, “Shut up!”

She laughed harder and threw her revenge at me the same way, and that was the very beginning of a pillow fight that ended with a messy living room and our bodies lied down on the floor.

“You’re the worse!” I chuckled weakly, worn out by the fight.

“Yeah but you know I’m right. You still love Brian.” I stayed silent at that because, honestly, I didn’t know the answer. Feeling her eyes on me, I glanced at Audrey and found her smiling softly. “You should try again.”

“Try what again?” I asked, faking innocence. She gave me a knowing look and I grunted. “No, please, don’t start with those things. I can’t love him, Audrey.”

She sat up straight, “Why not?”

Sighing, I ran my hands over my face, “Because… It’s not gonna happen again. Whatever we had is over. It ended from the moment I left California.”

“True love doesn’t end. No matter how many years go by, it’ll always be in your hearts.”

“That’s cute but not true.”

“Lara…” Her name came out with a sigh and Audrey didn’t even try to hide her disappointment. “Just consider that option.”

I sat up, holding my weight on my right hand, “It doesn’t depend on me.”

Suddenly Audrey’s eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together, “Does that mean you want Brian after all?”

“Oh god…”

“You do!” She shouted, hugging me tightly and almost knocking us down again. I laughed despite myself and could only shake my head at my new friend. “Now we definitely need to celebrate!” Jumping up, Audrey helped me up to my feet and rushed me toward the front door, “We’re going to the movies later at night, so get yourself even prettier and I’ll call you when I have all the details.”

And just like that I was out of the door, staring wide eyed at Zacky’s house. What had just happened?

---

“You’re going to the movies, uh? With Mr. Brian.” Jane teased, and I just rolled my eyes.

“Oh shut it! Everyone’s going.”

“Still… Look at you now. You’re achieving what you wanted. You’re gaining their trust back and Brian is talking to you again.” She said matter-of-factly, “You can’t quite complain.”

“I know, I know.” I grinned, crouching next to the bed and opening my bag. I still hadn’t decided what I was wearing for the night. “Hey, do you think I should… like… dress up? I mean… I don’t want to exaggerate, but I wanted to look nice-”

“You trying to impress Brian?” Jane cut me off, her voice fading out in a giggle.

“What? No!”

“That is so adorable!”

“I’m not trying to impress anyone.” I scoffed, but Jane was surely enjoying this conversation, seen that she wouldn’t stop giggling.

“You’re kidding yourself. But, honey, you can dress whatever you want, because if Brian’s eyes are working well, you can rest assured he knows what a hot piece of ass you are.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Yeah right, J.”

“I’m not joking. You are beautiful. And seriously now, don’t stress. You’re thinking too much.”

“I am, right?” I sighed, “Dammit, I knew it.”

Jane chuckled once again at the anxiety pouring out of every fiber of my being. Eventually, I found exactly what I wanted to wear, but didn’t find the strength in me to cease the wrecking nerves attacking my body.

It was almost 8 pm when I heard the horn of a car outside my hotel window. I peeked through the curtains and held my breath as I saw Brian on the driver’s side. I was aware of the goofy smile Jimmy had on the next seat but decided to ignore it. because I knew too damn well what he was thinking in his crazy, genius mind.

I grabbed my cellphone, wallet, and the key room, and sprinted out. I felt my legs weak and the butterflies filling up my belly as soon as I got in the car. I greeted everyone – Matt, Katherine, Jimmy, and Brian - and buckled my seatbelt.

“Ready, shorty?” Brian asked and my throat constricted to stop the whine from coming out at the nickname he gave me.

“Yeah, sir.” I replied in my best normal voice possible.

Jimmy turned on his seat, hugging it, and beamed at me, his blue eyes glistening with mirth. “Excited?”

“I guess so.”

From the corner of my eye I saw Brian taking a glance at me from the rearview mirror, a warm smile adorning his lips.

“Zacky texted me now and said they’re already in the car.” Matt announced, before sliding his phone back into his pocket and reclaiming Katherine’s hand back to his. They were adorable.

“Where are we headed?” I queried, curious.

“Surprise.” Brian winked when he quickly looked at me over his shoulder.

Sweet lord.

As soon as the car turned into a specific street, I bounced on the seat and leant forward to see if my eyes weren’t playing a trick on me. “Are you guys serious?!”

“Brian’s idea!” Jimmy denounced.

Awn.

I smiled at him, even though he wasn’t watching me. This was my favorite restaurant we were talking about, and he still remembered of it. I just couldn’t wrap my head about why Brian was doing all of this for me but right now it wasn’t important. We hopped off the car once it was parked and made our way inside. Brian stayed a little behind to lock the doors and I took that chance to thank him. He simply flashed me a smile.

We started eating not long after we were given a table.

“How’s your turkey?”

“Gweit!” I answered with my mouth still full of food.

Brian chuckled from beside me and I nudged his side to scold him from making fun of me. “Hey!” He complained, “Mind your own space.”

I stuck my tongue out at him and he did the same, elbowing me at the same time, making me miss the piece of turkey I was about to grab. I turned to him and stabbed his hand with my fork, applying enough pressure to make him scream but not enough to hurt him for real.

“Ow!” He shouted, rubbing the sore spot, but failing when it came to hide his grin.

I giggled, “Next time don’t mess with me,” and continued eating.

Brian buried his finger into the sauce on his plate and drew a line on my cheek. “Payback!” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Brian!” I was going to clean my face with a napkin when he stole mine, laughing. “Give it back!”

“Nope.” He said, dragging out the P .

“Brian Haner!” I tried to steal his own napkin but he swatted my hand away. I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re mean.”

“Ohh, Lara is giving him the look.” Jimmy said happily, resting his chin on his fists as he stared at us like he was watching a movie. I felt Brian’s brown eyes on me no sooner did those words left Jimmy’s lips.

“She is!” Matt agreed.

“No, she’s not.” Brian muttered, but it was obvious the doubt in his voice. “You’re not, right?”

My shoulders jolted in a shy shrug.

“You’re fucked, Bro.” Zacky laughed.

“Oh come on!” He was studying my face, that much I could tell, and when I heard him sighing I knew I had won. “Go ahead. Take the napkin.” A white paper appeared in front of me and I tilted my head to the side, seeing the concern swirling in his eyes.

I smiled sheepishly.

“Not fair. That was a low move.” Brian grumbled.

My smile grew even wider, but I did the mistake of looking in Audrey’s. She held the guiltiest face ever, her hand covering her mouth so her laughter couldn’t be heard. I glared at her, mouthing STOP . She didn’t, of course.

Dinner finished, we were running late for our movie session. These guys could never be ready at time. Talks after talks they would always forget about everything else. Luckily, we were able to make it in time. We had to run for our lives, but those are only details, right?

“This is our line.” Katherine told us, the tickets safely in her hands. She and Matt were the first ones to take a seat, followed by Brian and then I. Jimmy all but pushed me after Brian so I would seat next to him. I rolled my eyes but didn’t have much of a choice than to sit between the two.

The movie was going smoothly and it was kind of funny if I was honest with myself, that is, until a big, ugly shark came into view. My eyes literally popped out of my face and my heart sped up faster than I thought possible.

“OH MY GOD!” I screamed, covering my face with my hands and leaning against the closest person I found, which happened to be Brian. “Please, make it go away!” I cried, my entire body curled up in a ball, the fear running through my veins, as the image of the shark kept dancing in my head, “Please, please, please! Brian, please!” I begged, my voice shaky and so full of dread. I was horrified, completely in panic.

“What’s going on there?” Jimmy asked, and just by the way his voice came out I knew he was smiling like a fool.

Brian’s laughter reached my ears but I paid no attention to it. “It’s only a shark.” He said, still laughing, but I shook my head and sank further against his side.

“It’s a shark ! You know they scare the shit out of me!” I countered, hoping he would make it disappear.

He rubbed my back soothingly, “It’s okay now, Lara.”

“Brian protects you.” Jimmy stated and I cursed mentally at how I easily threw myself into Brian’s arms without thinking about the consequences.

“No, it’s not. It’s still there, isn’t it?” I asked, too frightened to look up from Brian’s shoulder.

He chuckled and I felt his strong arm wrap even tighter around my shoulders, “It’s not there. You can look now.”

“N-no, no, no!” I stuttered. “I can’t.”

He shook me a little, encouraging me to take my hands from off my face, but since I didn’t make an effort to move, his fingers circled around my wrists and he removed each one of my hands.

“See? It’s safe now.”

I tried to even my breathing and once I realized he was telling the truth, I let myself relax a little. Not completely because I knew the comfort I was feeling was being provided by Brian’s arm still around me, but at least there were no more deadly creatures on the screen. “Jesus fucking Christ!”

I glanced up when Brian started chuckling again, and that smile… Oh that smile.

Lara, get your shit together. I thought.

“I need to get out of here.”

Brian frowned, his arm slipping from me as I got up and walked away.

“Where are you going?” I heard them asking, but I didn’t answer, focusing on my feet instead so I wouldn’t trip on anyone.

Sitting on the floor just outside the door with a bag of popcorns in hands was my exciting activity for the next minutes. I refused to go back there and risk seeing yet another shark. I still shivered every once in a while remembering those taunting images.

I knew people thought I’d gone crazy when they walked past me but I didn’t care.

“Are you okay?”

My head shot up at that familiar voice, and even though I wanted to stop the smile from climbing to my lips, I couldn’t. I let out a weak chuckle and shook my head, “Not really.”

Brian lowered to my level, squatting beside me, “You know the sharks can’t eat you from the screen, right?”

I stared at him mockingly and his cheekbones rose as he grinned. “Come on, you won’t be sitting here the whole night eating popcorns all by yourself. At least share them with someone.”

“You’re right I won’t, because the movie will have to end sometime soon.” I smiled, stuffing my mouth with a handful of those sweet popcorns.

Brian held his hand out for me and stood up on his feet, “Let’s go.” He said, making me look at him, confused. “Come on, let’s go.” He insisted.

“Brian, I’m not going back ther-”

“We’re not going back there.” He cut me off, and once more, I just stared at him like an idiot, chewing slowly. He laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me up even when I protested and whined. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“What? You do realize it’s past midnight, right?”

“Uh yeah.” He raised an eyebrow, “Is there a problem?”

“No.” I replied softly, “I just don’t understand.”

“What do you not understand?”

What about the fact that we’re holding hands?

“I don’t understand this.” I stated instead, feeling like it was about time for us to lay the cards on the table, “Why are you being so nice to me, Brian? You paid me dinner at my favorite restaurant, which is not cheap at all; you picked on me the entire time like good old days; you smiled and laughed with me while we were watching the movie; and we fucking sat next to each other!” I was breathing hard by the time I finished that sentence, so I gave myself a few seconds to recover a little before I went on, “And now this? You’re here… just because you wanted to check on me to see if I was okay.” Brian stood still, sad eyes locked with mine, lips pressed into a fine line. “Why?” I asked softly, “What has changed?”

When he got my point he sighed, dropping my hand in the process to run it through his hair, leaving it all messy, “Look…” He started, “I wanted to spend some time with you alone, okay? That’s the fucking bottom line.”

Oh crap.

“I was scared about it but Jimmy…” He hesitated, his jaw now relaxing and allowing him to smile a little at me, “Jimmy made me realize that life’s too short to waste such rare opportunities. And you’re back, Lara.” He said, his eyes shining from what seemed to be tears. “I know I was upset and angry, but the truth is that you’re back and I couldn’t be fucking happier with that.”

I felt like my heart was about to give in and my lungs to run out of air. I couldn’t breathe; I couldn’t speak, as a lump settled in my throat. Everything in me stuck; my brain, my muscles, my voice. I was completely stunned.

“I know that’s not what I’ve been showing lately but I am happy.” He added lowly, stepping closer to me and taking back the hold on my shaky hands, “And I’m tired of being an asshole.”

I swallowed the stupid lump and tried to say something, but the only thing that came out was a sob. A sob that brought so many tears behind it, filling my eyes in less than a second and turning me into a complete mess. I broke into tears and start laughing all at the same time. I didn’t know what to feel, how to act after hearing such thing from Brian, from the person I cared the most in the entire world.

He, too, laughed and pulled me in for a tight hug. I held onto him for dear life, not believing he was finally forgiving me. It was too good to be true.

“Oh Brian, you d-don’t know how just happy y-you made me now.” I chuckled, uncontrollable tears staining my cheeks.

“Yes, I do.” He moved away a little to look down at me, his hands resting on my upper arms.

“You fucker, don’t let me go.” I said, pulling onto his hoodie, wanting to hug him again. He squeezed me harder this time and lifted my feet up from the floor, spinning me in the air. I squealed at the move, earning a chuckle in return.

When he finally put me down, me still trapped between his arms, he placed a sloppy kiss to my hair, “And if you even think to leave me again, I’ll fucking lock you in my house, you hear me?”

I had to laugh at that. “Okay.”

“It’s not just okay, Lara.” He said, forcing my green eyes to meet his dark ones, “You have to promise me.”

Damn, he was really serious.

“Brian, I don’t know what you mean by me leaving you, but you do know my life is in New York now, right?”

His face got pale and the light in his eyes vanished like thin air, his arms slumping to his side, “You’re kidding. Tell me this is a real bad joke.”

“It’s not. Brian-”

“Are you fucking serious right now, Lara?” He yelled, his hands raising desperately, the center of his forehead creased with utter confusion. “I’m giving you a fucking chance and in the next minute you tell me you’re leaving? What’s wrong with you?”

Oh shit. Not what I had planned.

Notes

So Brian has finally accepted the fact that Lara is back. Hmm.. will things be as simple?
Hope you like this one ;)
Thanks for reading.