Persephone- Completed

Twenty Seven.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Mia smiled in the sun as we rode the open top bus around London. We did this every year. It had become a nice little tradition as we got closer to her going home and I'd be alone to wander by myself for another 3 weeks before I get sipped off back home. 

Don't get me wrong it was nice being here with my parents but I really, really missed Em. And I was only half way through the trip. We were barely speaking because of the time differences. We only had 3 or 4 hours of space where we could talk really. I'd facetime him every night when I couldn't sleep and it would be his late night. He'd tell me about his day and eventually I'd fall asleep, silent tears falling in the pitch black that he'd never see. 

I didn't think it could physically hurt to miss someone. But it did. So much. 

The first thing my parents said when they picked us up from the airport was that I looked happy and healthy. Better than I had when I'd visited for Christmas. I'd had to tell them about everything Will did and it turned heated. They were screaming at me and Mia for about 2 hours when we got home. How could we not tell them? Why did I stay? Did I not have any respect for myself? I felt horrible. I'd ended up just walking out. Leaving Mia with them. I walked for hours, just crying. 

When Mia eventually found me, I was miles away. We had to get the tube back. She said that they wanted me to come to live with them there now. That they didn't like the thought of me being back home near him knowing now everything he did. She'd tried telling them I was okay, that Em was different. That he was good and safe. 

They didn't believe her. They think he's a stupid decision too. 

Either way they were selling the house and the beach house. So I'd either have to move in with them in the UK or find my own place for school. And they were still tempted to make me fund it all too. That's how badly they wanted me here with them. 

"Poppy?" I looked back at her and smiled. "Phased out again." 

"Sorry." I sat back into the seat and brought my feet up onto the chair beside me, sitting sideways. 

"Are you okay?" 

"No." 

"What's wrong?" 

"I'm going to have to move here Mia. I can't work a way around it." I pulled my sunglasses onto my head and wiped the tears away. "Fucking everything was perfect. With school finishing, I got into a good college, I graduated, not heard a single thing from Will since the changing room 4 months ago. And yet they're still dragging me back here." She sighed and sat beside me, lifting my feet so she could sit under them. "And it sucks the most because I really love Em. Just being away from him these past few weeks is breaking me. It hurts more not being with him than anything Will ever did to me. And they won't even meet him so they can see it." She moved my hair back from my face. 

"Take a deep breathe for me Pops. Your going to have a panic attack." She lifted my head up so I could get some more air. "In and out slowly. And listen to me okay?" I nodded, closing my eyes tight to stop the tears. 

"I know you're so scared right now about everything the next few months are going to hold for you and for you two and us. But I really need you to put it to the back of your brain. Whatever happens, we will make it work. If you move back here then I'll fucking come with you and we will find some hot British guys to replace ours. Don't tell Blake I said that." I chuckled at her. 

"It will be okay. Whatever is fated to happen, will happen, and we will make it through it and we will make it work. I won't let it not work. You've been through enough shit for it to not." I let my shoulders drop as my phone started ringing. I looked at it and sent it to voicemail. I really didn't feel like speaking to them right now. 

"Answer them Poppy. They're only worrying about you." 

"Let them fucking worry. I'll be under their watching eyes in a few months. They can talk to me as much as they want then." 

They were probably feeling guilty that they ever let me stay in the US. They're probably thinking that if I'd have come with them, I'd have never met him and my life would be fine. But if I had come with them I wouldn't be where I am now. I wouldn't be Pops, or Seph. I wouldn't be his. I wouldn't be packed full of memories from cheer and basketball and football games. I wouldn't have won as many track races as I had. I wouldn't be happy. Because I wouldn't be me. 

"Poppy." She sighed. "Come on lets go get some lunch." She stood up and pressed the bell on the bus, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet despite my want to stay exactly where I was. I just wanted Emerson. 

I pulled my phone out as we got off the bus and stood on the sidewalk.

'Poppy. It's dad. Where are you? Text me sweetheart. I know you're still mad about the whole moving back here thing but I really need you to talk to us or we can't sort it. I'll be home early tonight if you want to talk before mum gets back. Okay love. See you soon.' I rolled my eyes and deleted the message before texting Em. 

Missing you is really hurting today :( 

"Who left you the voicemail?" I looked up at Mia and sighed, putting my phone back in my bag. 

"Dad." I looped my arm through hers and we started walking. "Talk to us. I'll be home early if you want to talk without mum.'" 

"I mean, that might be a good idea? It's your mum forcing it the most. Maybe you can turn your dad to your side and convince him about Sonny and he can ease your mum down?" 

"Maybe." I laid my head on her. "Growing up fucking sucks."