A Soldier's Life

Chapter 27 - Protective Best Friend

Scarlett's POV:

It had been a little under two weeks since the awful night with Y/n. I had thrown myself into work to try and forget, even for a moment, all the horrible things that I had said. But I would still end up laying there at night, replaying everything I had said. The look on her face forever engraved in my memory.

After the photos, of the almost kiss, were published, there was a lot of attention on me from the press. We decided to go for the ignore it and hope it goes away approach, rather than address it directly. I rarely addressed rumours in my personal life, and considering there technically wasn't anything to reveal here, it was the best option.

I hadn't heard from Y/n since she messaged a short thank you for the press statement we released. Which was the least I could do after everything that happened. After that, I took Robert's advice and gave her space. I didn't want to bombard her to the point she blocked me and decided she didn't want to speak with me again.

But over the last couple of days, I just needed to speak with her. I missed her voice and spending time with her. I had tried to call her and text her a few times, but she didn't respond. What was most worrying this time, was that she wasn't even reading the messages and all my calls were going straight to voicemail.

Out of worry I decided to go and visit her. I didn't care if she shut the door in my face, I just needed to know that she was ok. If I had the opportunity to speak with her, then that was a bonus. I found was stood tentatively at her door. I could feel my heart trying to burst out of my chest.

Slowly I raised my hand to the door and knocked three times. No answer. I knocked again still nothing. I sigh to myself feeling slightly deflated that she's not in. As I'm leaving her apartment block, I decide to have one last ditch attempt and go to the café and ask Sophie if she's ok. If I'm quick, I can get there before closing.

When I get to the café, it's empty other than Sophie who's cleaning up the tables. I make my way over to the door and open it. I have no idea how she is going to react to seeing me. I know how close Y/n and Sophie are and I expect she's going to be protective. I just hope she'll at least confirm that Y/n is ok.

When I walk through the door, the bell goes off. "Sorry, I'm just closing up." She says as she turns around, stopping her actions when she realises it's me. "Hi." I say with a closed mouth smile. "Hi Scarlett." She says with a cold tone. I shift on my feet staring at my hands. This is extremely awkward.

"I just wanted to ask how Y/n is. She's not even read the messages I've sent and I'm worried." I say softly, still unable to fully meet her gaze. Her scoff pulls my attention to her face and I can see the frustration painted across it. "Why did you do it?" Is all she says, totally ignoring my question on Y/n. Shaking my head I try and think of the best way to articulate my reasons.

"I don't know." I mumble. "I guess I was scared. I got lost in fear of the consequences of any pictures getting out and not how much I was hurting Y/n. There are no excuses for what I said. It was horrible and so far from the truth, I don't even know why the words came out of my mouth." I explained, feeling ashamed. Sophie rubbed her head with a frown on her face, a sigh escaping her lips.

"When Y/n first admitted to me that she liked you, she was consumed with her insecurities and it prevented her from asking you out. She was constantly worried that she wouldn't be enough. She kept calling herself 'just a soldier'. But the more time she spent with you, I saw how she became comfortable around you and how she allowed you to be part of Ava's life. Something she's normally very cautious of. After all the shit that Y/n has been through, all of the things that have created deep seeded insecurities, imagine someone that you care about, using them as the very reasons they can't be around you."