Stay

Chapter 25

"Dakota." I hear a familiar voice call my name. I turn around so that my back is facing the mess in my office to see him standing before me. How is he not in jail? Like I want to press charges against him for playing Nathaniel's games. I have to look down at my feet because it's nearly impossible to look him in the eyes. All I see in him now is betrayal, and shame. 

"Please, just leave me alone. I'm going to pack my things once I get a place to stay." I claim. I'm still staring down at my feet, moving papers and pens out of the path of my foot. I can hear him walk closer to me but I stick out my hand, restraining him from coming any closer. I finally look up at him, and his eyes are filled with tears. I move my arm down next to my side where it rests.

"I'm sorry. I know you'll never forgive me." He pleads. I shake my head no, showing that I agree with him. He has a black eye that's swelling up. It may be fresh since he didn't have that earlier. I don't know who would do this to him, but he deserves it.

"You're right, I won't. What you did was pathetic. Did you know that Nathaniel killed her all along? Is that why you stalked me for long?" I ask him. My voice shook as I spoke. I'm trying to hold back the tears, but it's not working. I let the tears fall as I stand motionless in front of the man I once believed was into me.

“I knew. I just needed proof. I heard from everyone that you’re a good detective. That’s another reason why, but I never meant to hurt you Dakota. I’m sorry.” He still pleads. I wipe the tears away from my eyes and shake my head no. Why would he do something like that? Why would he lie to me to the point where I don’t even feel safe anymore? I’m tired being at the hospital and being attacked. I just want to be safe again and I want to be happy like I was when I was 16. I thought I was so in love, but I was wrong. I’ve been wrong for about five years now, and I will continue being wrong until the day I die.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it!” I scream at the top of my lungs. Sorry will never be good enough anymore. When has sorry ever made anything okay? When has sorry made someone want to stay?

“Then what do you want from me?!” He yells back at me. My cheeks are bright red and the anger just keeps building up inside of me. I need to relive it, but I can’t.

“You really want to know what I want. I want my son back and a husband who will cook for me and not lie to me and will tell me that everything will be okay!” I yell back at him. I see him flinch when I said the word son, but I ignore it. How can he be such a coward and a wimp? What did he really want from me?

I turn around and march to my desk and open up the bottom drawer. Both of the cases are in there with everything we need to press charges against Nathaniel. I pull them out of my desk and throw them down at Peyton’s feet. I cross my arms again and just watch him. He bends over and grabs them. He digs through them to see what is inside the files. He tucks them under his arm then walks away; not even a thank you. I deserve way more than thank you. I gave him everything he wanted, and all he does is walk away? I dart after him and grab him by his arm. He pushes me away, but I grab him again.

“What?!” he shouts in my face. Everyone is now looking at us, but I ignore them. Let them look. Let them all see who Peyton really is.

“You owe me my son. Find him now!” I yell then I run off. Statistics show that a child has only 24 hours to live, if he is found after that there’s a chance he could be dead. I can’t have thoughts about him not being okay. I want to hold Carson in my arms and tell him that I will never leave his side.

I keep running until I come across my old house. I break inside to find that the house is nearly empty except for the few of my things that I never grabbed. Carson’s bed is still in his old room, which I lay down on. Hundreds of thoughts keep racing through my mind, until I eventually fall asleep.

~*~

“Ma’am, you have to leave.” An officer is shaking me, forcing me to wake up to reality. I sit up from the bed and rub my eyes a bit before standing up. The officers are Harris and Jarron. I can’t believe they don’t recognize me. I wait for anyone to stay something, but nothing.

“What were you doing here?” Harris asks me. I shoot him a look before answering him.

“This is my sons bed.” I claim. He nods his head then helps me up from the bed and escorts me outside. We are standing next to his vehicle then he asks me, “Do you have anywhere to go?” I shake my head no. I’m still really tired and I don’t want to be awake. My dreams are better than reality.

“What’s your name?” He asks and he pulls out his notepad.

“Dakota.” I answer him. His eyes shot towards me and he pulls me into a tight hug.

“You look horrible. Your hair is not blonde rather than brown and your eyes are an odd color. What happened?” He asks me? I’m confused as to what he’s saying. I shrug my should and start to cry. I sure am emotional for a grown female.

“Here, you can come with me.” He opens the passenger side door for me and I get in. I close my eyes and lean my head on the cold door, falling asleep.