This is Home | | | What is Home SEQUEL

Chapter Two

I sighed as I sat down on the couch in my living room as the words appeared on my phone. I had spent the fifteen-minute ride home listening to Reece spew off rude and hateful things to me. It was all my fault. That's what I got out of all the hateful shit he decided to throw at me. I ruined their perfect lives.

I didn't respond to the message on my phone. I ignored it. Not even opening it to read it past my lock screen. What was the point? Nothing I ever say clicked in people's heads. No one listened to me. I was everyone's punching bag or welcome mat ready to take the abuse until the end of time.

I sat reading my book waiting for the arrival of my unwanted friend. I didn't know what was headed my way but I knew none of it could be good. Pierce was the one who created this tornado but somehow it was still my fault. It was more my fault than Pierce's because he came first and nothing happened when it was just him.

There wasn't even a knock at the door before it flung open shutting loudly behind me. I slowly placed my bookmark into my book before I set my book on the coffee table in the center of the living room. When I turned around, I was faced with a boy whose beautiful face had been darkened by a bruise. He looked like he did when I saw him for the first time and that killed me inside.

I stood up and walked over to the boy who I honestly didn't even want to face until we got back to school in the new year. I reached up and ran my thumb along the cut of dried blood on his cheek. He winced at my touch but it didn't stop me.

"You didn't deserve this."

"Yes, I did. I cheated on his sister with you. I deserved all of it." I glanced down at his chest, knowing that what felt like his permanent bruise had been targeted as well. "I chose to share the story, to come clean and these are the consequences of fucking up. When you came back, I should have just given up on Ally and did what my heart wanted. I did what my heart wanted anyways but fucked up other people's lives in the process."

"Pierce."

"Charlee I can't go through this playing both sides anymore. I came clean and I need to make things right. I love Ally, I do, but you are the one I am always going to choose. You are my light. I cannot have a life without you. If I pick Ally, I can't have you. Without you life isn't worth living."

"You lived months without me Pierce. Not knowing if you'd ever see me again. You moved on and lived life without me before. Don't say that life isn't worth living without me because you did it and did it happily."

"I'm picking you Charlee. Why are you fighting me on this?"

"Because I didn't want the world to know our story. Our business. What happened in our past is ours. You took it and shared a story that involved me with everyone without my permission. You could have done this without embellishment and I would have jumped into your arms freely. But I've been bitched out by too many people for us. First, Grayson, then Reece. I'm the one stirring up the trouble, not you. It's my fault, not yours. So, I need a break from everyone. I don't want to see you right now."

Pierce's eyes shifted right before me. I felt all the life leave his body as he stood before me. Every bit of joy I had ever brought him was ripped out by my words. He looked at me like he didn't know the girl who was standing before him.

He backed away from me slowly waiting for me to reverse my words. Waiting for anything to stop him from leaving. Nothing came. I didn't take back my feelings. I didn't comfort him or beg him to stay. I let him walk out that door broken and bruised. I let my forever slip away in pieces when I was usually the one to pick him up and put him together.