Loved You First (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 15: Stay

Blake Steven as Ian Connor !
(agh cutie)

Paris' POV.

I opened my eyes with a start. I didn't sleep much despite the drinks I had and my tired eyes. I quietly snuck out of bed to avoid waking up Shane and went to the bathroom to fix myself. I looked at my phone to see it was half past seven.

I opened the door to Ian and I's room only to find it empty. I was once again filled with dread. I shouldn't have agreed to sleep in the other room.

I found them in the dining hall of the hotel, eating breakfast. When I got there, all conversations stopped. "How'd it go?" Margot asked.

"He's fine now. Still sleeping." I answered looking apologetically at Ian but he didn't seem to want to catch my gaze. He just kept on eating his food as if I wasn't there.

Of course, Paris. What do you expect him to do? Cartwheel every time he sees you? I just kept on standing there, looking at him until he got up to go back to the buffet table.

"You know you owe me for sleeping in my room." Jade remarked, drinking her water.

"And him too." She pointed at Ian. "He stayed up all night only to find you were already asleep in the other room."

I gulped as the color drained from my face. The guilt was aching at the pit of my stomach. I didn't waste any time in coming to the buffet table where he went.

I took in a breath when I neared him. Go, Paris. Apologize.

"Hi." I stated dumbly.

I almost knocked my head on the table at my stupidness. Hi? Hi?! That was all you could say?

He looked at me blankly for a second then turned back to putting food on his plate.

Ouch. Seen-zoned.

"How did you sleep?" I asked carefully.

His head snapped up immediately and he smiled bitterly. "Oh it was splendid. I slept for.." He then looked at his watch. "2 and a half hour. Thanks for asking."

His tone, despite being sarcastic, is hella scary.

"Uhm. Are you mad?" I asked, biting my lip.

He went back to the table and placed his plate at the center. "I'm not hungry anymore. You guys dig in."

"Are you sure? You just ate one plate." Margot asked. He usually eats three at a buffet.

"Yeah. I lost my appetite." He said, glancing at me.

"Thanks man." Charlie just smiled, sensing the tension between us two.

Ian stiffly nodded and headed outside the dining hall. Jade gave me an encouraging smile and I followed after him.

God, he walks fast.

Those long legs did him good.

We reached the hotel's garden and he was still four meters away from me. "Ian." I called.

How long have we been walking? Why is my short legs giving up already?

He just kept on walking. How big is this garden really? "Wait Ian." I called again.

This is a really big garden but there's no time for sight-seeing because this boy is having an imaginary race with an imaginary horse. And with a girl like me, he seems to be winning.

Aww. But I wanted to sit on one of those benches and just look at pretty flowers.

I shook my head at the thought. I have a mission here.

He abruptly stopped and I almost tripped on thin air. "Can you stop following me?" He said, face blank.

"I'm sorry." I said, not bearing to make eye contact but I made sure he was still in front of me.

He scoffed. "For what? Making me wait til 5 in the morning before I actually realize you were already sound asleep with Shane? Don't worry, I don't care."

Oh.

His words hit me like a slap. He doesn't care. Why did I even think he ever did? What did I think? That I was special or something?

"Well, I'm still sorry for letting you stay up like that. It's just that Shane -" I was supposed to say but I was cut off.

"Right. Shane." He laughed bitterly.

"What was that supposed to mean? You knew what happened! He ended it with the girl. He was devastated. He asked me to stay. What was I supposed to do?" I almost shouted. What was he talking about? It was just a stupid night that went wrong and he's blaming Shane?

"Sure. He asked you to stay." Ian looked right into my eyes, quoting my words. "He needed you in his time of need. But guess what, Paris. Who was there when you needed someone the most? Who comforted you when you cried? Who really stayed when you asked him to?"

He took a step closer to me, his voice and stare so serious I couldn't move. "News flash, princess. He wasn't there."

I took a step backward as if his words was a punch. And it was. It was a big punch to my gut.

I took in a sharp breath, tears forming in my eyes. An emotion sparked in his eyes but before I could even tell what it was, he turned his back and started to walk away.

I couldn't move from my place as I watch his retreating figure. The realization hit me.

He was right.

Shane wasn't there when I needed someone.

But Ian was.

---------------------------------------------

A/N:

Hello you guysss

thanks for the 200+ reads on this book and the 9.8 K reads on the other

im doing a collaboration with a friend in another user hopelesshoran, check it out!! :)

don't be afraid to leave a comment and vote :)

××K××