In The Darkest Hour

Part Two - Chapter Six: Dev and Isla, Isla and Dev

“Is everything okay Dev?” Isla asked looking at her boyfriend, he had been quiet the past few days since she had been to see Gerard; she worried that she had upset him by spending so much time with the footballer.

Isla already knew that her parents were far from happy about her sending any time with Gerard, they would never understand what their daughter saw in the footballer; they would always blame him for what had happened to Isla.

“We need to talk,” Dev murmured smiling at Isla, he knew that this was the only way and he was sure that he could do this without Isla’s parents interrupting; they were making his stay unbearable and he couldn’t wait for this trip to be over so that he wouldn’t have to deal with them.

Isla nodded her head, she could see that this was important and she hoped that everything was okay; she didn’t want to lose Dev after he had helped her so much to recover from what had happened.

“Of course,” Isla agreed moving to sit down next to her boyfriend, she could hear how quiet her parents had gone in the kitchen and it made her worry.

Isla had noticed that Tracy and Theodore had been hinting at the fact that Dev could propose to her, she wasn’t ready for that step and they hadn’t been dating that long to even consider getting married before they even lived together.

Dev smiled at Isla, he only wanted her to be happy and he knew that Tracy and Theodore wouldn’t consider that if they continued on with their plans; he wanted to talk to Isla in private without her parents listening in.

“Not here… let’s go out to dinner,” Dev said eager to make sure that Isla was happy, he didn’t want her getting hurt just so everyone else could have what they wanted.

Isla nodded her head, she stared at Dev wondering what was going on since she had a feeling that this wasn’t just going to be some normal talk.

***

“What’s this about Dev?” Isla asked sitting across from her boyfriend, they were in a nice and quiet café far from her parents’ home and she was nervous; she could only worry what he was about to say to her.

Dev sighed setting down his drink, he had no idea how he was going to do this but it had to be done; he wasn’t going to let Isla be pushed around by her parents in an attempt to make them happy.

“You know your parents don’t like Gerard,” Dev started watching Isla, he had heard everything about what had happened and while he knew the footballer had been wrong in doing what he had; he didn’t blame him when it wasn’t all his fault.

Gerard had never known the truth and the hospital had done a wonderful job in making Isla look guilty, it was only now that everyone knew the truth that Isla had the chance to breathe.

“They tried to convince me to marry you,” Dev revealed a little disgusted at Tracy and Theodore, they didn’t seem to care for Isla’s happiness only in what they believed would make their daughter happy.

Dev had no idea how Isla had turned out so wonderful and he knew that he couldn’t just be quiet about the fact that her parents weren’t going to be peaceful about her growing friendship with Gerard.

“What?” Isla spluttered horrified at what Dev had just told her, she knew that they didn’t want her seeing Gerard but she had never thought that they’d do something like that.

Isla wondered what had gotten into them and wondered if they were going to try and force her to do something again; she sighed hating that they had tried to make Dev marry her.

Dev offered her a small smile, he knew that he was doing the right thing by having this talk with her away from them; she deserved to be happy no matter what.

“I know that you aren’t ready for that Isla,” Dev mused shaking his head, he had a feeling that Tracy would do anything to get her own way even at the expense of Isla’s own happiness. Isla wasn’t just his girlfriend but his best friend,

Dev knew that he would do anything to make her happy and he knew that there was only one way to do that; he would have to let her go.

“I also know that your heart doesn’t belong to me,” Dev murmured watching Isla, he had known for a while that there was another that had claimed her heart and it was time that he let her go.

Isla stared at Dev, she had no idea what to say to him about what he was telling her; she opened her mouth to deny it only for Dev to smile at her and shake his head.

“It’s okay Isla… I’ve known since I meet you that you loved another,” Dev said calmly, he was happy for her and knew that they had done this for long enough; it was always going to be Gerard for Isla and he wanted her to take a chance while they were in Barcelona.

Isla was silent, she didn’t know what to say to Dev but she knew that he was right; she wished that she could tell Gerard go because Dev deserved so much better than her.

“I want you to be happy Isla,” Dev murmured reaching across the table to take Isla’s hand, he wasn’t going to let her parents push her into doing something that she didn’t want to do.

Dev was her friend and that was what came first for him, he knew that it was something that would hurt and that didn’t matter to him if Isla was happy.

Isla sat silently, she didn’t know what to say or do and there was no doubt what was happening right now between her and Dev; her heart broke a little knowing that it was all coming to an end.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Isla whimpered blinking back tears, she wouldn’t have made it this far without him and now they were breaking up; she swallowed wishing that she hadn’t hurt him.

Dev shook his head, he had done a lot of thinking since his first talk with Tracy and he knew what he wanted; he couldn’t leave Isla with her parents since he knew what would happen if he did.

“I’m your best friend, I’m not going anywhere,” Dev promised not wanting to lose Isla as a friend, he wanted her to be happy and she never would be if she didn’t take a chance; he had seen her suffer for long enough and it ended now.

Isla smiled weakly, she was glad that she wasn’t going to completely lose Dev and she hoped that he would find someone better for him; he deserved to be happy and she wanted that for him.

“Take a chance Isla… You want Gerard, then have him,” Dev said not wanting Isla to waste any more time, he knew that Gerard would be worth and he would understand that she needed time but they needed to do this.

Isla opened her mouth before she stopped, she had no idea what to say and she couldn’t see herself staying in Barcelona; Sydney was her home now and she didn’t want to put Gerard through that for nothing.

“Listen to me, Gerard will understand and he will make you so much happier than I can,” Dev argued knowing what Isla wanted to say, he wasn’t going to let her fears stop her and he would do anything to see her happy.

Dev could only imagine the trouble that her parents would cause when they found out the two of them had broken up; he wasn’t going to let Isla go through that alone.

Isla was silent before she nodded her head, she smiled at Dev knowing that she was so lucky to have him and she hoped that he did find someone to love.