The Perfect Storm 2

Chapter 176

"Are you sure you don't want me to drop you off?" Jacob asks and I nod.

"I'm sure."I smile.

"Okay," Jacob says with a smile of his own. I can tell that it's genuine and for some reason, it makes me happy to see him that way; smiling as he did before. 

His genuine eyes shine into mine and I almost feel like we're dating again, except this time, I don't like the feeling. 

I give Jacob a small and awkward wave; something that I do without thinking and hurry into Stephanie's car that's parked right outside.

"Okay, you have to tell me everything. Jacob? I mean he's hot but—"

"No, it's not like that," I tell her as she passes the gas pedal slowly and drives out of the driveway.

"So you're still with Miles?" Stephanie asks, her eyes curious as they stare into mine, the brown is a warm color and it almost helps me think.

"We are," I say and I can't help but allow my cheeks to get warmer.

"But isn't he in New York?" Stephanie raises a brow.

"We're doing long distance." I let her know and she nods.

"Long-distance? Miles is not the kind of guy who can do long distance." Stephanie giggles but then she looks at my worried face.

"Oh, I . . . I didn't mean it like that, I—"

"What did you mean?" I question her as I let all of the doubts in me finally fly around after being put to rest for so long.

"I just mean, Miles . . . he cheated on his last girlfriend and he's hurt you, all I want is for you to be careful, being so far away from each other and leaving a guy like Miles alone for that long . . . I just—"

"Stephanie, it's fine. I'm fine; we're fine." I reassure her even though I can't reassure myself after this conversation.

"You sure?" Stephanie's eyes glimmer into mine.

"I'm sure." I smile as my heart slowly beats at the thought of Miles and I not lasting through all of this because the school year is starting and we can't travel to one another every day like we used to. 

I take a deep breath and calm myself down as much as I can while I stare at the dark and empty road ahead. 

I know that Miles would never cheat and that we can make it through this, I know we can and I know we will. It's not something I've ever wanted us to have to face but now everything is different, everything has changed and I can only hope that we can make it through all of it.

Miles's POV

I continue coughing as I exit eh plane finally, the blood has stopped dripping out of my mouth but not out of my nose. The napkin in my hand is full of blood spots as I press it to my nose and take a look at the blood, hoping it's not there anymore but every time I take a look it only seems to be getting worse. 

I caught once more and then again and again until I start to feel it in my ribs and weirdly in my stomach somehow. I qucikly rush through the airport security before I'm fully out. 

I glance behind me only to see those red lips following me, I know this woman can't be my fucking mom, I know she can't. She's nothing like me. I caught violently and receive stares from random strangers walking past me who oddly glance at the woman behind me too. I grab my keys as soon as I leave the airport, unlock my damn Lamborghini and speed the fuck out of this shit.

I MANAGE TO SOMEHOW NAVIGATE to my apartment in New York even with my fucked up coughing. 

As soon as I enter the apartment I lock the door shut; as shut as I can and slide my back against the door, letting myself sit down on the cold floor completely as I watch the large windows in front of me. 

The apartment is much better than I expected when I first arrived here and I'm glad it Is because this is the place I want to live in with Madison, at least for a little while. 

I cover my mouth with my hand only to fill it with blood cought. The bitch must have fucking pioned me or some shit and I wouldn't be fucking surprised. She's clearly a fucking psychopath and I want to stay as far away from random fucking strangers with red lips as I can. 

I cough louder with every second passing until I completely stop at a hash knock at my door. The knocks only intensify and the door feels as if it's moving with a bang toward my back with every blow.

"What the fuck." I whisper to myself, trying not to let my lungs cough out any more noise as I rise to my black vans and look carefully through the hole in the door. I haven't seen this fucker since high school and now he's knocking on my damn door. His green eyes peer back at me and I know he's fully aware that I'm staring right at him.

"Open up, Ryder!" I hear the shouting through the door but I remain quiet. I step a few steps back, quietly and even though my lungs want to kill me, I'm ready to kill the asshole behind that door. Madison doesn't know the full story and she doesn't know that it's about to get a lot darker. But the worst part of it all is that she's going to be caught in the middle of it all, all over again.