Hate at First Sight

Chapter 41

Alice's P.O.V

I rush out the door, tugging my case along with me, my carry bag slung over my shoulder. The tears run freely down my face and I give up my attempts at restraining them. I shut the door behind me and practically run to the bus station.

I have to sit and wait for the bus so I go and buy a couple of magazines and a bag of Tayto crisps because I'm in Ireland and all. I flick through the magazine, not really reading any of it. The sound of the bus pulling into the station makes me feel nauseous. This is really it. I'm leaving.

I shove my bags in the luggage compartment and fall into the first free seat on the bus. I pull my headphones on and block out the world for a while.
We arrive at the airport and there's some more waiting around.
I sit alone until I am finally allowed to board the plane.
I brace myself for a long flight. As the plane takes off I know that it's really over. I stare out my window already missing the life I'd had here in Ireland.

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I open my eyes just in time to see the plane begin to land. As I get off the plane I hear a familiar voice. Aunt Amy flings her arms around me and holds me close to her.
"We've missed you so so much little Ali"
I cling to her needing something stable in my life again.

"I'll get your bags!" She exclaims rushing off to get my case.
Jake throws his arms around me and ruffles my hair.
"You look different!" He grins at me.
"I missed you."
I bury my head in his chest and the tears begin to fall again.
"Jake the last few days were horrible!"

Jake seems surprised by my tears. I was never one for showing them how I really felt.
He strokes my hair and holds me close.
"Hey. Hey. Shhh it's okay."
I cry for what seems like an eternity, leaving a big patch of mascara on his shirt but he doesn't seem to care.
"You can tell me all about it when we get home."

I doze off in the car in the way home and I feel strong arms carry me inside. I open my eyes to my old room and try to muster a smile.
"So what's up?" Jake sits beside me.
"It's a long story."
I tell him everything from when I arrived to when I left. Jake listens patiently as I talk, giggling at some memories, whimpering at others while he nods or sighs.

"It's gonna be okay!" Jake tells me, smiling.
"You can go hang out with all of your old friends, maybe have some of them over later and whatever and you'll forget all about what happened!"
He grins at me standing up.
"Meanwhile we go back to teasing each other and nobody ever needs to know I was nice to you. We have a reputation to maintain!"
I giggle.
"We wouldn't want anyone knowing that you're actually nice, Jake!"
He laughs, leaving the room. I clutch my stomach as the nausea begins to reappear and I'm alone again.