Irish Oxytocin

Unraveling | 20

❁ Chapter 20 ❁

I couldn't breathe.

The oxygen was stripped out of my lungs, and I couldn't bare to catch my breath. My mind was completely full of a million different thoughts, and I couldn't even pinpoint one. What the fuck was that? Who the fuck was that?
It's starting to unravel. I can feel it. This is the beginning of the end. How long did I think I could keep this a secret for? Too many people know. It was only a matter of time before someone confronted me.
Oh god, why did I pick Eastvale? Why did I come here? Why can't I escape?

Why did I have to meet you, Cora? Why did you have to be here out of all places? God, I should of left you. I should've left the moment I recognized you. I could've just walked out of that class, and no one would've given me a second thought. No one would've missed me.
Is it too late to run? Would you hate me if I did? Because surely, I'd hate myself. I already do. I should have never gotten this close to you. You're going to be my downfall. I should've seen it sooner.

I'm so sorry. I can't bare to see you find out. I'll never be the man you need. How could you ever expect me to be? You already knew how I felt! You pushed this on me!

I tried to stay away from you. I did, I promise. It was you who was so god damn fucking persistent! Why didn't you just leave me the fuck alone?!

I was overwhelming myself, and I was frightened by my own actions. I haven't snapped like this in weeks.
Of course, I was going to protect Hailey and my brother. I knew that if I did, the truth would start to unravel. Everything about Ireland was about to come out, and I wasn't ready. I don't think I'll ever be ready.

The air was cold, and the street I was walking on was quiet. Dead quiet, except for her little voice echoing in my head louder than any of my other thoughts.

"Nolan!" She called out once.

"Nolan! Where are you!" She called out twice.

"Please." She called out one last time before I walked far enough away from Ethan's house.

I had been walking for about forty minutes. I left my car outside the party in a split of blinded rage as the conversation I had with the mystery kid played repetitively like a movie in my brain.

"I bet she doesn't even know, does she? That's fucking hilarious. You really didn't think you fucking deserve her, right?" He spat at me.
I laughed a bit. The kid has the audacity, that's for sure.

"Don't underestimate my love for that girl," I threatened again.

"Which one?" He joked.

The guys behind him were laughing too.

Then, I snapped.
I bit my lip, fighting back a million things I wanna say as my fist went flying into the kid's face. He tumbled back a bit, before getting a really good come-back punch in. I caught my breath quickly, knowing this was about to get ugly.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you," I laughed.
"I bet that's what you told big brother Ronan Gallagher when you caught him with your best friend, right Nol'? Or should I even say brother, considering he's the product of your father's affair," he "joked" one last time.

"How do you know so much about my life?" I asked, blocking another punch.
"I know about your past, homie. I know about Hailey O'Connell and Papa Lucas. Oh, and especially your company."

Then, I swung again. My fist collided with the kid's nose and blood rushed down his face.

"Say her name again! Say it! I fucking dare you!" I spat as I grabbed onto the boy's collar.