Our Deep End | ✔️

CHAPTER 53

Elle's POV

The chilliness of the nighttime air stings the back of my throat, as I try to catch my breath. I feel as though I've lost all control of my legs, which now storm towards my front door. The aching in my chest doesn't stop, and my thoughts wage war on my already fragile mind.

Christian and Micah.

Micah and Christian.

It doesn't make sense, but at the same time it makes perfect sense. Her feelings for him don't surprise me, but it shouldn't have taken this long for me to question whether he may have been reciprocating those feelings all this time. Even if he never realized it himself.

But maybe I'm just being dramatic?

My emotions run wild, wreaking havoc on every last ounce of rational thinking I have left. I can't even help, nor blame myself. The thought of Micah kissing Christian drives me absolutely fucking crazy. Every cell in my body burns with fury, while my heart carries a new kind of disappointment.

"Elle wait!" A voice calls out from a distance. I hear footsteps that get progressively louder as the source gets closer to me. I turn around, and see Christian coming towards me.

"I'm not leaving. Not until we finish talking." He speaks in a way that is more controlled, compared to his incessant pleads in the car but I can still feel his urgency.

I'm merely a few steps away from my front door, but the sound of his voice draws me in, despite everything inside of me telling me to run.

"I said I would call you tomorrow." I reply. I have the knot in my throat under control, but I can't promise that I will for long.

"We're not letting this last overnight. Whatever we have to work through, we're doing it right now."

"I don't think we sh-"

"No, Elle." He cuts me off sternly. "We're not going to sleep on bad terms. I'm not letting you walk away from me. That's a mistake I refuse to make again."

"Wish you were this set on talking earlier, instead of running away and lying to me." I spike a brow upwards. My combative mood has clearly not yet faded, but I know it's only a reaction to the nerves that flood my body.

Shock flashes in Christian's eyes for a moment, but he quickly brushes it off.

"So do I." He admits quietly, stepping forward. "But I can't change that. And I'm here right now, so please...let's talk."

"I don't have the energy for an argument right now, Christian."

It's true. I'm exhausted. Today was a lot. Between my overwhelming, unexpected Columbia acceptance, and Micah kissing all over my boyfriend, I am completely drained.

"I think you should just go." I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. Every time I feel the urge to let my guard down, I picture his lips on Micah's and my brain is suddenly no longer the tool I use to think. Instead, my rage takes its place.

There's a brief hesitation, before Christian nears even closer to me, placing his hands on my waist.

"I'm not here to argue. I'm here to make up." His voice is firm and demanding. "And I'm not leaving until we do."

Angry or not, I can't ignore the reaction my body has to his touch.

"Okay." I give in quietly. "We should probably go inside then."

He nods, and let's go of me, ushering me towards the front door.

Thankfully everyone in my house was off doing their own thing, and didn't see us awkwardly enter my bedroom.