Meet Me in the Hallway (HS AU)

twenty three.

Um, not me fully sobbing because my book has over five thousand reads! I am so appreciative and so thankful!

Also, please read the note at the end regarding some of the themes addressed in this chapter ❤️

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Trigger Warning; descriptive violence.

My hand flew up to cover my mouth. Did I just say that? The gasps of shock that filled the restaurant were enough to confirm that I had spoken my mind. I looked down at him on his knee, face flushed red out of embarrassment or anger, I couldn't tell.

"I- I mean, no not right now. I'll marry you one day but I'm just not ready yet. We spoke about it yesterday, we're not on the same wavelength right now. Ask me again in six years?" I spoke quickly, hardly acknowledging the words as they passed through my lips until they reached the air between us, then I regretted every word.

I didn't want to marry him, ever. I wouldn't be with him in six years time. I was spitting lies out of my ass but the look he was giving me right now was one I was all too familiar with.

Pure Rage.

He stood from his kneeling position and adjusted his shirt. The box with the ring was slammed shut and placed on the table.

"We'll discuss this in a more private place." His words stung like venom and he began towards the entrance.

Everyone was watching us leave and if these people ever saw me again, they would remember me as the 'cruel bitch who rejected her boyfriend in public and broke his heart' instead of 'the victim who didn't want to continue the abusive cycle she was stuck in'.

I followed him to the car park.
I sat beside him the whole drive home.
I remained silent when we got stuck in traffic leaving the city.
I didn't dare speak.

I just sat there and watched him grip the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, felt the car beneath us accelerate well beyond the speed limit and weave recklessly in and out of traffic. Usually, the street sign on the end of our street would calm me down, but tonight I could have passed out instantly. He looked so angry still, I just knew we would fight tonight.

But he remained silent. Not a word was spoken as we pulled in the driveway or made our way up the front path towards the door. The door clicked shut behind me and the eerie silence was almost deafening. I knew saying no would have made him upset and embarrassed even, but surely we could talk about it like mature adults instead of him giving me the silent treatment.

"Will, can we talk please?" My boots were discarded by the door alongside my shoes from work.

"You humiliated me tonight, in front of all those people. We were only having a discussion about our future last night! I thought we were on the same page and you just happened to flip your future plans overnight?" His voice was oddly calm, only raising slightly a few times but otherwise remaining neutral.

"I never changed my plans, Will. When I said that we had very different goals, that didn't mean 'hey, let's get married and make one of us sacrifice our dreams so the other can live out theirs'. I meant we should reevaluate how serious this relationship is. I want you to do so many amazing things and I want to do some amazing things myself, but our lines don't cross at all for them."

A pressure was lifted off my chest after spilling my thoughts. I had officially just told him I thought we should break up. It was out there, no taking it back now.
His hands were placed angrily on his hips as he paced back and forth in front of me. Air entered his lungs in sharp pants and I watched his chest expand with every breath. Then he started laughing.