Unscripted

Chapter 20: And I Didn't Like The Ending

Hailee's POV

"You lied to me."

Her words ring out in my ears. She's sitting just five feet away from me, but her voice sounds like it's coming from a tunnel a thousand miles away. I keep hearing those four words echoing in my mind over and over again.

I'm stunned and unsurprised at the same time. However, I truly don't know what to say. She's right, I did lie. And then I lied again. And again.

If I could go back in time and change that one night and the subsequent course of events I would, but that isn't how reality works. The time stone isn't real and no amount of guilt can change the past.

When my downcast eyes flicker back up to meet hers, she's already looking at me. Her expression is one of anger. Anger like I've yet to see from her. But worse than that, under the anger is hurt. I can see the splinters and cracks of her heart shining through her eyes. Knowing I'm responsible for that breaks me too.

She hasn't said another word, she just sits waiting patiently for the next move. It's my fault that this has all spiraled out of control like this, and I'm the one who got myself in this position. All I can really do at this point is own my shit.

"You're right. I did lie." I say quietly. My own voice sounds foreign to me right now. This is a conversation I never in a million years wanted to have, for any reason.

I watch as her jaw clenches. She's either holding back absolute rage or trying not to cry. I figure it's probably both, although I'm not exactly sure which one is worse.

Who am I kidding? The hurt is definitely worse. I'd bleed myself dry for this woman, and yet here I am as the source of her pain. What does that even say about me?

I watch as she nods her head subtly. She still says nothing, though. It's clear she's waiting on me to continue on my own, but how do you tell someone something you know will hurt them?

"You deserve the truth. You've always deserved the truth, I just never wanted to hurt you so I took the cowards route. So before I tell you what happened, just please know that you are my everything. And hurting you was and is something I never want to do." I begin. Before I can continue though, she cuts me off with a question of her own.

"Who was it, Hailee?"

Fuck.

I knew I was going to have to come clean and tell her, but I was seriously hoping to have the opportunity to paint the picture first.

She's putting me on the spot and she knows it. I'm in no position to keep lying and she knows that too. While I've been busying myself playing checkers, she plays chess.

Remaining resolute but gaining impatience, she prompts me again. "Who the fuck was it? Who were you with?" All traces of my normally sweet and caring girlfriend are gone, rightfully hidden by the anger she's wearing like a suit of armor to protect herself from me.

The moment of truth is here. The curtains are closing and the gig is up. I know that everything is going to come crashing down with the single name that I'm about to utter.

"Niall." I say, just above a whisper. I'd give anything in the world to get that name off my lips. Just saying it feels like poison coursing through my veins.

To her credit and my surprise, she remains composed. Except for the slight squint of her eyes and tightening of her jaw and crossing of her arms, she keeps steady. In truth, it's horrifying. Perfect composure and the ability to remain calm are a special breed of rage.

I'm watching her intently when she speaks up. This time, there's disgust evident in her voice. "This is the part where you explain yourself." She prompts.