Bound To Fall

I'm Glad We Did This

Sterling

Dinner had gone better than I expected. Isabelle had relaxed a little after the conversation in the car, but I could tell she was still tense. Of course I expected that to be the case.

I'd have to be insane to expect us to be able to go back to normal as if nothing happened. While I would prefer it that way, I need to work for her all over again. I need to prove to her that I'm worth giving her heart to all over again.

"Well, is there anything else planned?" Isabelle asked as she slightly leaned back in her chair.

"I was thinking of going down the street and getting some ice cream." I informed her the last half of my plan for the night. "Would you be okay with that?"

"Of course." She nodded.

We got up from the table and I grabbed her hand, leading the way out of the restaurant. We walked side by side, the silence setting in between us again. I hate that it keeps happening but the only way to end it is to push past it.

"Do you remember the one time in the orphanage when you sent me off to go do something because I was ready to go after someone for being mean to you?" I asked, trying to bring back some memories.

"Which time?" She chuckled. "No offense, but you've always been a hothead. The best way to keep you in check is to send you off to do another task to help you forget why you were upset."

"Yeah." I agreed with her. I'm no fool, I know exactly how my temper can be. "You've always been good about keeping me in check."

"Remember the one time Mrs. Strahm scored us a trip to the zoo?" Isabelle questioned, bring back even more memories

"I do." I can't help the small smile that twitched onto my lips. "I know you like watching the penguins so much that Mrs. Strahm made Emily stay behind to give you five extra minutes."

"And you wouldn't leave my side then." Isabelle added.

I glanced over at her as I continued leading the way to the ice cream shop. "And you kept telling me how cute it was to see two of them swimming everywhere together, you even compared them to how we spent our time together and called me your penguin."

Her cheeks immediately went pink with embarrassment. "In my defense, I was like four years old."

"Still was cute then, still cute now." I responded, noticing that she was a little less embarrassed.

We reached the ice cream shop and headed inside. We both got a scoop and sat down at a nearby table. We continued reminiscing about the days we spent in the orphanage. We really had been inseparable then now that I realize it.

Once we finished with the ice cream, I led the way out of the shop and back to the Lamborghini. I opened the door for her and let her get inside before getting into the driver's seat and starting it up.

I drove back to her apartment, still making little conversation here and there. It was significantly dying down now, either she's getting tired or she's getting nervous for when we part ways.

Arriving at her building, we got out of the car and I walked her inside. I didn't want to have her go in alone, it seemed like the gentleman thing to go with her. She wasn't expecting it but she didn't end up protesting it.

We got to her door and she turned to face me. "I had a really good time tonight Sterling, I'm glad we did this."

"Me too." Though we had some moments where we still felt the need to be careful, it was like we had a taste of what it was like to be us before all the drama.

We both stood there, silently and looked into each other's eyes. I could feel the want for her beginning to surface. It's been there all night but I had been suppressing it so that I wouldn't get carried away, but now it was hard to fight off.

I began to lean in, letting my body take the lead as I placed a soft kiss on her cheek. I forced myself to pull back before I got too carried away. I know damn well if I stayed close to her my lips would attempt to meet her's and now is not the time, we're supposed to be going slower.

"Sterling." Her beautiful gray orbs looked into my icy blue eyes. I could see the desire and want within them, but like me she was fighting it back. "I better get inside."

"Okay." I nodded as I agreed with her. "I'll see you soon."

"I'm sure you will." She responded before opening the apartment door. "Goodbye Sterling."

"Goodbye Isabelle." I gave her a small nod before she closed the door, leaving me in the hallway on my own.

Turning away, I headed out of the building and headed to the car. I made my way back to the apartment building and went right up to my penthouse. I still feel guilt and sadness when I come inside of here, the silence is a reminder that I'm here alone.

Isabelle should be here with me still. What I would give to still come home to her every night again. I had gotten used to sleeping cuddled up with her and I've had to get used to her absence.

The only thing that keeps me sane during all of this is the fact she's given me a chance again. I don't deserve it, she probably should have told me to fuck off and still left... but she didn't.

Part of her heart still lies with me and that's enough to give me hope. It's the only thing that I can hang onto right now. It's what's giving me motivation to go through the tough work of rebuilding our relationship.

If it were anyone else I would have given up and moved on. No one else has been worth it to have my attention. No one else has my heart in their hands like she does.

But Isablle isn't just anyone else, she's special to me.

So I'll be patient and respect her wishes, no matter how hard it is to hold back. If it means she comes back to me completely then it'll all be worth it.

**Author's Note**

Hey everyone! Sorry updates weren't so great last week. Between my birthday and graduations for family members, it was extremely busy. Anyway, I'm still working to get a schedule set but it's going to be a minute before I have this figured out. There is one thing that I've decided to do a little differently. I feel like one of the biggest things holding me back is switching points of views every chapter. I feel like sometimes I'm repeating myself or we're getting chapters that are more just fillers, so going foreward I plan to just write in the point of view of who the scene will be better coming from between Sterling and Isabelle. We'll still get the two points of view but it won't be switching every other chapter. I feel this way I can get rid of the one thing that's been holding me up on this one and I feel like it'll improve the story even more.

Thanks for all your support! Hope you're all doing well!