Let Yourself Fall // sequel to My Ethan Karpathy

Chapter 104.

PAISLEYS POV:

I turn around to see Jai and Chris standing behind me, in wetsuits with surfboards under their arms. Their hair is wet and messy. I can't say anything, and they are both staring daggers into me.

"Well, well, well, guess who we found?" Jai almost taunts, sort of making me scared.

"Guys I-" I start, but don't know where to go from there.

"You what, Paisley? You just left. We were worried sick about you for ages! We spent hours running around the streets, searching for you. You didn't tell anyone. You let Ethan come home alone after that incident. He was so upset, and finding out that you were really gone made it ten times worse. What were you thinking?" Jai lectures.

"I just.. Needed time." I hesitate, unable to meet his gaze.

"Paisley, you know that running away won't solve your problems." He continues.

"Jai, stop. Paisley, you should've talked to someone if something's up. We are all here for you. We were worried sick about you, Ethan was in tears every night for the first two weeks. He didn't know what had happened to you, he kept thinking the worst." Chris says with a softer tone, and it comforts me.

"I know." is all I say, sighing and sitting down on the sand. The boys do the same.

"Where are you staying?" Chris asks. I point down the beach over my shoulder.

"In the big white one with my cousins." I say quietly.

"Chris, can you go back out for a second? I need to talk to Paisley privately." Jai says.

"Okay," Chris shrugs, standing up and picking up his board. He runs back down to the water. "But be nice."

"Where have you been?" Jai asks.

"I already told you." I half lie.

"No you haven't." he shoots back.

I say nothing.

"Where else did you stay, Paisley?" He says angrily.

"Right here." I persist, not wanting to admit it.

"That's bullshit, and you know it."

"Okay, fine. I stayed at Brai's."

"Thank you," he says, relaxing again. "I don't think you realise how hard you made it for Ethan."

"Yeah, well, he made it hard for me, too." I say, becoming slightly annoyed.

"You left us all, Paisley. How do you think I felt when I saw your window open?"

"I didn't want to." I reply, looking at the ground.

"Do you know how much stuff went down while your gone?" He says angrily.

"No."

"We needed you."

"And I needed time to myself." I shoot back.

"Did you know Chris and Grace broke up? Nope." he says, trying to prove a point. Wait, hang on?

"What..?" I ask, not really believing it.

"Yeah! They did! But I guess you were too busy to care about that!" he accuses.

"I just needed a break from Ethan." I tell him, not knowing how to explain.

"Do you still love him? Do you still want him? Is he not good enough for you?" He starts questioning, an angry expression on his face.

"Of course I do, I just-" I start but get cut off.

"You don't just anything! He has given you absolutely everything, and you left him at a hard time. He only got angry because you cheated on him with Brai! He was jealous, Paisley! You can't hold that against him forever." he defends Ethan. His sudden outbursts shock me. I haven't seen the guy in a few weeks, and this what I get?

"I'm trying to-" I start, but he cuts me off. 

"Stop just trying, Paisley! This is something only you need to fix, and soon, because your whole world is slowly falling apart." he says. That one hurt.

"I was going to say; I'm trying to find a way to go back to him. I know what I've done wrong, please don't rub it in." I say. His face softens a lot.

"Paisley, I'm sorry. I'm so stressed, I-" he tries, but this time it's my turn to cut him off.

"Leave me alone, Jai." I snap, Grabbing my things and standing up.

Jai kicks up a lot of sand in the scramble to get up with his board. He runs after me and puts one arm on my shoulder, turning me around.

"Paisley, please listen to me.  You look ready, and you look like you need Ethan again. I am- or was, your best friend. I know you. I'm going to help you and Ethan get back together." he announces.

"How?"

"I'm not sure yet." he replies honestly.

"Thank you."

"So, are we still besties?" He asks, doing a fake girly impression and holding out his pinky.

"Ugh, yes." I laugh, holding my pinky up to his.

"Come here." he laughs with me, dropping his board and pulling me in for a hug. 

"Group hug!" I hear someone shout behind me as I feel a wet object on my back.

It takes me a little while to realise that it's Chris and he's just been in the water. I check the time awkwardly and realise I have to be back.

"Guys, I have to go." I mumble into the hug.

"We'll walk you home." Chris announces.

"Oh.. Do you guys reckon you could do something for me?"  I ask.

"What is it?" Jai asks.

"I may or may not have a cousin that's a fan of you two.." I trail off, hoping thy get the message.

"Let's get our meet and greet faces on!" Chris says sassily, clicking the air.

I feel a little better.