✧*̥˚ITS ALWAYS YOU! *̥˚✧ J.M 2

068

CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
i'm sorry, sweetheart.

ARIA WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE of her surroundings as she was being dragged around the massive boat by the larger boy, she'd hoped to run into one of the wondering Pogues but they were completely MIA.

Rafe fumbled with a small key as he unlocked a door, he stepped in, the girl trailing behind him.

The room was empty, she slowly entered, glancing around at the tiny place, she heard the door lock behind her, she turned to glance at the boy.

He slipped the keys into his pocket, "Go sit down."

She didn't argue with him as she sat, bringing her knees up to her chest, he sat down across from her, scratching at the back of his head awkwardly.

"Rafe?" Her voice was barely above a whisper as she flicked her tired eyes up to his.

"Hm." He hummed, playing with a deck of cards laid out on the table top,

She swallowed before speaking, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I did something that made you hate me this much. Is it bad that I don't hate you?"

He hesitated before answering, her sudden words taking him back, "I would say so. I almost killed you for fuck sakes, Ari."

"I know. I just don't think I could hate you. It's to complex. And plus, hate is a strong word." Aria shrugged, placing her chin at her knees as she continued to glanced at him.

"You should hate me. I'd hate me if I were you."

Her expression faltered, "But I don't. Do you ever feel like we were a mistake?"

"My biggest mistake wasn't falling for you. It was thinking that you'd fallen for me too." Rafe formed his lips into a flat line, "Was I that replaceable?"

"It was different with him, Rafe. It was a rush I never felt before. I'll never get over how hypnotizing that feeling is." Aria admitted, shrugging lightly as she bit her bottom lip.

Rafe puffed out a breathe, "That's how I felt when I first realized I was in love with you. Can you still feel me loving you?"

"Sometimes. Most times it doesn't feel like it. You've almost taken my life. You're not supposed to hurt people you love." She smiled gently, her eyes beginning to water.

"I know that. And I'm sorry." He gulped, "You just left me so easily it makes me wonder if I ever meant anything at all."

Aria played with the edges of the loose threads on her dark colored jeans, she sighed, "You meant everything to me. I went to war with myself, for you. Everything I put myself through was for you. I destroyed myself for you. Meeting you will never be my regret, accepting the ways you'd hurt me is what I'll always regret."

"I never meant to hurt you. I think I'll miss you forever. It crushes me to see you happy with someone else." Rafe confessed, punching his brows together as his forehead creased, "You seem just fine without me."

"I've learned to accept a life without you. You need to learn how to accept a life without me. It's way easier then waiting for me to come back. I'm never going too." She tilted her head to the side, darting her tongue out to damped her dried lips.

Rafe shook his head, "I'll learn to let go of you one day."

"You will. It's gonna be a breathe of fresh air for you. God, someone is going to adore you one day. And you deserve to be loved because you're a person." Aria smiled, the two laughing lightly.

His expression hardened quickly when he heard a knock at the door, he flicked his eyes to the confused girl, "I'm sorry for this."

She furrowed her brows as she watched him stand, fumbling with the set of keys, he unlocked the door, speaking lowly to the person outside of the door before he slipped out.

Belle walked in, she covered her mouth as she saw her beloved daughter, she slowly walked over to the girl, "Oh, Aria."

The next person to walk into the room had her head spinning, her lips parting and the tears that were stuck in her eyes fell freely as she shook her head in disbelief.

Victor stood there in a black button up, his hair slicked back, his wedding band glistening in the light as he looked at his daughter in awe, "Hi, Chérie."

She cringed at her childhood nickname, the sound of it rolling off his tongue like venom, "This can't be real."

"I can explain everything. Please." Victor pleaded, slowly approaching his child in her state of shock.

"Stop!" She yelled out, he came to a halt, "Don't come any closer to me."

He put his hands up in defense as he backed up, "I'm sorry. I just really missed you. It's been extremely hard for your mother and I."

"It's been hard for you? I thought my father was dead! I should've known. How could you ever do something like this? You're a terrible person." She cried out, shaking her head.

"I couldn't go to jail. Ward and I planned the entire escape. We planted scuba gear in the Druthers. We timed it perfectly." The man chuckled as he flashed back, "Almost didn't make it."

Aria slouched into the seat, looking up at her father with glossy eyes, "You're a terrible person. Both of you. Is he here? Where's Sarah?"

"She's safe." Victor promised, folding his hands behind his back before darting his eyes down to the folded up maps on the table, "This is where we're going. Right off   Guatemala."

She slid the papers back towards him, "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You don't have a choice. You're here now. You're a minor, Aria. You live under my rules. Sarah's gonna be there. It's all gonna work out just fine." Victor smiled up at her, "I'm gonna go find Ward. I'll be back in a few."

She watched him walk out of the doors before glancing up at her mother, she held her hand over her stomach, "I feel like I'm gonna be sick."

"I had a feeling. I have some medication in my purse. I've always had this with me every since you were young." Her mother continued to babble, the girl slowly sliding out of the seat as she glanced at the doorway.

And then, she made a run for it.

authors note <3

most of the quotes from the beginning were
found on pinterest by the way!!

also happy new years babies!