Friction [Book 2]

-a secret-

The next day, I woke up and went straight into Declan's old nursery where I found Bodhi. He was awake, looked like he had been for quite a while too. His eyes were bright and he was babbling things to himself whilst squirming around on top of a thin mattress sheet.

Lifting him out, I carried him downstairs and into the kitchen. Being careful to not make too much noise as though to wake the other members of the household, I placed Bodhi on the floor and watched him crawl around on the floor whilst I prepared him some food for breakfast.

Whilst I was mashing some banana and adding a tiny amount of honey, the kitchen door opened and I freaked out as it missed Bodhi's head by an inch.

"Gabe! You almost knocked him out!" I whisper-shouted, lifting Bodhi up and making sure he was okay, despite nothing touching him. It was a mom thing.

"Sorry, I-".

"Here."

I have Bodhi to Gabe who took him and sat down at the table whilst I finished making his breakfast. Once it was done, Gabe fed him whilst I then made enough pancakes for everyone else in the house.

It wasn't long before the echoing sizzling sound passed through the house and everyone else soon trickled downstairs and into the kitchen. Bronx and Declan reached their brink of creativity when they asked me to make a pancake shaped like a guitar. I managed to do it, nevertheless, and apparently it tasted really good too.

I let Bronx take Bodhi to play with him and Declan in Declan's bedroom whilst the rest of us ate at the kitchen table. It didn't take much time for the conversation to turn to last nights catastrophe.

"So, I don't want to seem like I'm forcing anything on you, but...what are you going to do?" Patrick said, taking another bite of his regular shaped pancakes.

I sighed, sipping my coffee.

"I don't know. I don't even want to see him but I don't want to stop Bronx from being with him, and I feel bad because I'm not his real parent. Should I take him to Ashlee's?"

"Hey, Bronx loves you, okay? Don't forget that." Patrick smiled at me, "But I think that you should keep him with you. This doesn't concern Ashlee and quite frankly she doesn't really need to know."

"I guess. I just don't want him to be un-happy if he wants to see his dad that's all..."

"I get it. He hasn't asked for his dad yet though, so I think he's alright." Gabrielle commented.

"Last night, when I was putting him to bed, Bronx asked if Pete and I were going to break up. He sounded really upset and he's probably so scared because he recognised that something was happening that probably happened in a similar fashion when his parents split up last time. I don't want him to get upset and scared about us breaking up...he doesn't deserve that, he's just a kid."

I began to feel anxious and I stopped eating. Pushing my plate away, I tried to listen to everyone's responses but my mind felt like it was talking to itself so loudly that I couldn't hear anything. I awkwardly tried to finish my drink as they carried on talking and I did in a smooth fashion.

"Guys, sh." Gabe silenced Gabrielle and Patrick, turning to look at me, "Ell are you okay?"

"I'm going for a walk, can you watch the boys please?" I stated, aiming the question at Gabrielle and Patrick since I was hoping Gabe would offer to come with me.

"I'll come with you, if you like?"

I internally sighed happily, knowing he could read me like a book.

"Okay, let's go."

•

•

•

•

"Do you love him?"

Gabe and I were sat on a park bench by a lake. It was quite warm outside and there were kids with ice creams, playing soccer and baseball with their parents. It was nice. Apart from I wasn't having such a great time.

"Do I, or did I?"

"Both."

"Did I? Yes. Do I?"

I paused. Looking around, all that I saw were couples being happy together. They all reminded me of myself and Pete. I felt bad because on days like this, we should be out with the boys or in the pool, not this. Not this at all.

"Yes. I love him. I loved him so much before all this that even the fact he did this to me still doesn't cancel out all my love for him. I mean, I hate his guts, but I love him."

We sat in silence for a while after I said that. I think that Gabe was just as concerned for Pete and I's relationship as he was me as a person. He was Pete's best friend and I knew how angry he was but he wanted to see him happy, nevertheless. I wanted to see him happy too. I wanted nothing less for Pete, nothing. But I wanted to see him happy with me. I loved him too much to see him with another woman, even if he was happy with her. It's how I knew that I would never move on. At least I didn't think I would.

"Gabe, uh, can you keep a secret?" I said, twisting my ring on my finger.

"Of course. You can tell me anything I-"

"Ellianah?"

I turned my head at the sound of my name being called. I recognised the voice immediately. It was one I hadn't heard in a while, and at that moment, I wasn't sure if I was glad to hear it again or not.

"Ryan!"

My instincts acted up and I rose to my feet, quickly throwing my arms around him. His grasp was strong and I buried my head into his shoulder, closing my eyes tightly. I heard Gabe taking a phone call in the background and I felt less awkward knowing that he was occupied at that moment.

"I missed you."

[an;;

RYAN IS BACK RYAN IS BACK I GOT SO EXCITED WRITING THIS BC RYAN IS BACK AND ALL YOU GUYS THAT SHIPPED ELL AND RYAN AND PROBS FREAKING OUT RN BC I KNOW I AM AND I'M THE ONE WRITING IT HOW SAD

anyway, I bet you're all wondering what the secret is right???? have fun guessing lmao

as for the sad ending I proposed in the last chapter, I decided that I couldn't write that bc it's TOO sad and I'd like die if I wrote it so that ain't happening k

ily all xoxo

comment/vote

-fxckflint]