Till It Last (Shattered#2)

Chapter#27

| Ian Morgan |

The bell chimed catching my attention, a man with deep set eyes walked in the cozy restaurant, tipping his hat slightly at the waiter who immediately scrambled to arrange a table for him.

The man was quite unique , he was older than me but it seemed  like he wanted to portray himself  way  older than he actually was. The hat, the thin moustache, the turtle neck sweater. . definitely needed some reality check.

Smirking , I glanced at my black coffee , it was piping hot, the scent calming me down. Some scent makes you feel at home.

Scrolling on my cellphone, I took a sip of it, it did slightly burn the tip of my tongue but I liked it.

I was the kind of person who could concentrate and the leave the whole world behind. Like the article I was reading about the renewal of Bugatti Veyron had my complete attention and the people surrounding me, the laughter and forks clashing against the plates melted away.

It's funny how easy it was for me to switch off. I could do it in the middle of a crowd.

My wrist was stinging quite a bit , it was trying to get my brain to look at it but I refused to acknowledge the pain. The stinging sensation was going up and down my arm. .I would say, I was proud of myself today.

I didn't. . . cut.

It was a prick today.

A prick of the needle.

Slowly and gradually I was getting hold of myself and wrenching myself free from the demons I had been fighting for so long. .

Maybe all this time , the demon was me.

And Hailey, my sweet Hailey. .she had been kind enough not to poke around it or prod me on this. Nor did I talk about it. Though I did feel her eyes trying to look at my wrists or arms or any exposed skin.

She almost sighed in relief seeing my skin unscathed. We were bonding on the matter silently. I didn't need to say much.

She knew everything.

All she did is take a look and—

A set of hands cold hands covered my eyes from behind and a breathless sentence was whispered in my ear.

"Guess who?"

My ear tickled and I couldn't help but smile and land back on earth.

I covered her hands with mine.

"The lady of my heart."

She snickered ,"True that, lover boy."

Before she could take her hands off of my eyes, my hands wrapped around her wrists and I pulled her in.

So it looked like she was hugging me from behind.

"If I'm the lover boy, what are you?"

Her chin on my shoulder , her cheek squished against mine , she grinned. And my world tilted into a frame of . . everything happy. Everything good. . easy.

Some people made life easy.

And for me, Hailey was the one.

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She had taken off her jacket and the white t-shirt she had on , the wide smile she had on made her look like a. .

"You look like a chipmunk. On high." I said watching the smile morph into a smirk.

"All praise goes to you." She did that bow thingy with her hands. "You make me high."

I coughed. "Cringe alert."

Her eyes slitted in accusation.

Of course , I surrendered.

It wasn't much of a date but a meet up. I wanted to see her and . .just see her. I missed her in the weekend because she was busy. I didn't want to make out . . .I wanted to see her in front of me. Talking absolute crap and being there.

One weekend of her absence and it made me realize what she meant for me. I loved her, I was addicted to her.

Chelissa said unstable people gravitate towards stable people.

With us bickering back and forth like fools and friends , the bell chimed , and the both of us glanced at the entrance out of reflex.

For her , the guy entering in was just like any other stranger.

For me, the smile on my face slipped off watching him talk animatedly with another guy. He was the same age as him, both of them dressed up casually.

I didn't fail to notice the huge smile on his face as if . .

As if he got the whole freaking world.

"Ian? What is it?"

Her worried voice made me look at her, she had a frown on her face.

Quick as lightning, I fixed my face.

"Nothing, I thought he looked like someone I know."

She nodded, believing my lie.

××××××××××××

Getting back home , i ripped through the house , I had to get to him. It wasn't the first time! I had seen this on and off but kept my mouth shut knowing well everyone had the right to privacy but seeing him live a double edged life? That killed me.

I didn't bother to knock.

Just barged in.

Breathless with pent up aggression.

The second he saw me, he straightened up into a sitting position , his face had the deer in headlights look while his hands clutched the latest issue of cosmopolitan. .

I smirked. "You were about to chuck it away, weren't you?"

He swallowed, putting away the glossy magazine and then standing up, he ran a hand through his hair and then he tried to act smart with me.

Like he did with mother.

"It's not mine. I got it for my girlfriend."

I chuckled darkly."Which one? The one who don't exist?"

Liam turned beet red.

"I have a girlfriend." He said pointedly, eyes turning steely.

"No ,you don't! It's about time you accept it! I have seen you frolicking around the fucking city! Hell! Chelissa has seen you too! And now my girlfriend too! Why? Why can't you accept the god damn fact , Liam?" My voice turned low now seeing my brother get vulnerable because I hit the right nerve.

"Mother. She will never allow it." He whispered softly.

I rolled my eyes.

"Damn her!! Hit her with the truth. You can't let anyone in the world , not even your mother, control your happiness! Your dreams! If the whole world turns it's back on you, I'll be here for you! I'll be standing by your side!"

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A/N

Sorry for the late update.

Life you know, it catches up sometimes : )