Halo | 18+

chapter eight

- AURELIA JONES -

Jace.

Oh Jace.

Looking at his face made all the memories I had tried so hard to forget, come rushing back.

It felt like a headspin.

He cleared his throat, dropping the eye contact we were holding, "Thank you for coming to see me. I know this is hard for you."

I stayed quiet, sitting in the brown leather chair opposite his desk.

The office was small, big enough to be an office, but small enough to fit just us. There were no windows, but lots of paper strewed up the walls.

Battery powered lights, small thank you cards from children he rescued.

It made me smile.

"So, Ollie told you. About- what I do." He started off slowly, "I- basically, came across this guy a couple weeks after we lost you and he worked for The Citadel."

"I asked him what that was and he took me back, fed me, clothed me, he basically saved my life. Anyway, there was a raid a couple years back and- everything was taken. People were killed, children-"

He sighed, taking a seat, "And I took over. I don't remember how, but I remember people looking up to me. Like they needed someone to take charge, and I just did."

His words were making sense, the only thing that didn't was the part where he said they lost me.

"That's nice and all- but what do you mean you lost me?" I questioned, "I woke up two days later in a hospital room by myself." Tears had begun to form in my eyes.

I was so overwhelmed. Being in here with him, alone. At such a close proximity.

"I was waiting for you, and you never came back. No one did. Not Ollie, or Rez, or Gwen, I waited for you, for weeks and- nothing. That's when I finally realised you weren't coming back." I said angrily.

"Angel and Ariel took me in because they felt so bad that you guys had ditched me!"

Jace looked down, avoiding my eyes, "If they hadn't been so kind I would be dead by now. So thanks a lot, but I don't care about anything you have to say to me."

I stood up from the chair, ready to leave.

"Aurelia please- I don't want to lose you again." He said quickly.

"Lose me again? You lost me the first time because you didn't come back." I shouted, "You didn't care, Jace. I- if you really loved me like you said, you would've been there when I woke up."

"But you weren't. And I spent five years getting over you because I thought you were dead."

"Turns out you've been alive and well this whole time, running some stupid club down the road from where I've been crashing."

I was shaking with anger. Mainly with betrayal, and heartbreak. But mostly anger. I was so angry.

"There is so much you don't know. So much you don't understand." He tried to say.

"Then explain it to me! I've been hearing a lot of that recently, so how the hell am I meant to understand if no one tells me what the fuck is going on!"

He seemed a little shocked at my outburst, nodding.

He took a step closer to me, and I stayed put.

His face was softer. Deeper sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, full lips. He's never been one for facial hair, but the hair on his chin and upper lip lowkey suits him.