𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆 | E. Landry

08. the couples talk

Alana smiles. "Thank you, dad. I love you." She stands up and unlocks the door opening it and sees Ethan. Her voice cracks when she says, "Hi."

Ethan smiles at her sadly and pulls her into a hug. "It's okay, honey."

Alana hugs him and cries, "He hates me, Ethan."

Ethan rubs her back soothingly. "He doesn't hate you. There's just been a lot of change for all of you over the past year and he's still making adjustments."

"It's been a year, Ethan." Alana pulls away from him and wipes her face, ruining her makeup but not caring. "I'm going insane."

Ethan shakes his head, disagreeing with the girl. "No you're not. Don't say that."

"Yea, Ethan, I am. I can see and talk to my dead dad. I killed someone. I- I ended a life."

"Babe, you did it for the better."

Alana shakes and tilts her head, biting her lip in an attempt to not cry. "It doesn't matter. I ended my best friend's life." She sobs softly.

"And she ended many more. And she was going to end yours." Ethan tries to gives his girlfriend comfort.

Alana backs away from him, not wanting to be touched at the moment. "She actually did. Her and Richie both. Did anyone tell you that? I was for five minutes. If I'm being completely honest, I wish I stayed dead."

Ethan stares at her for a second then mumbles, "Please don't say that."

"No, Ethan. I really do wish I stayed dead. I hate who I've become since that night. I hate living in constant fear that it's going to happen again or I'm going to lash out killing someone and actually enjoy it and become my dad." Alana feels more tears fall down her face but ignores them.

Ethan walks closer to her and puts his hands on her face gently and when she doesn't move away from him, he wipes her tears with his thumbs. "But you're not. You know why? Because you're better than that. I know that, Ari knows that, and most importantly, you know that. You shouldn't have such bad thoughts about yourself. You're Alana Nicole Gray, the girl who can stand up for herself and not let what others say get to her. The girl loves Spiderman and 80s movies and has big dreams and will do whatever it takes to make them happen. You're the most amazing girl I've ever met."

Alana smiles then scoffs. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the child of a serial killer." She takes his hands off of her face.

Ethan sighs, "You're right, I'm not. But I've known you long enough."

"You've known me for six months, Ethan. You don't know my past, not all of it." 

Ethan nods. "I know I don't but all I care about right now is your future."

Alana whispers, "I don't think I have much of one, Ethan."

"Don't say that. Please don't say that."

"I'm being serious." Alana sits on the floor and leans back against the wall behind her. "With how I am right now, it's bound to happen."

Ethan sits next to her. "It'll get better. You'll get better. I know you will."

Alana lays her head on his shoulder and grabs his hand, playing with his fingers. "When will it get better?"

"I don't know but it will." Ethan kisses her forehead and lays his head on hers.

"What did I do to deserve you?" Alana lifts her head and looks up at her boyfriend with a small smile.

Ethan looks at her with a grin. "I could ask you the same thing."  He kisses her softly.

While Ethan was talking to Alana, Arianna sets off to find her boyfriend. "Liam?"

Liam turns around to see Arianna. "Oh hey." He turns back around.

"This might be a stupid question but after what just happened, are you okay?" Arianna walks closer to him. 

Liam scoffs. "That is a stupid question."

Arianna rolls her eyes. "Well thank you for the honesty."

"Any fucking time."

Arianna looks at him and crosses her arms. "You really should start opening up to people about your emotions instead building all of it up into anger."

Liam slowly turns around. "Excuse me? Don't tell me what I should and shouldn't do."

Arianna shrugs. "I'm just saying. It's not healthy and you should stop doing it but you're right. Who I am I to tell you what to do?"

Liam sighs. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be taking my anger out on you."

Arianna sits down in the lawn chair next to Liam. "I agree. Again, that's why you should start opening up to more people."

"The last time I did that with someone, they tried to kill me."

"And not everyone you meet is going to be a psycho killer." 

Liam shakes his head. "I'm not taking risks, Ari. I can't"

Arianna puts her hand on his shoulder. "I understand that. You think the best to do right now is to just stay to yourself and convince yourself that you're fine. Being honest, I'm like that too right now but I'm better at hiding it. If you need or want to talk to someone, then you can talk to me, Chad, Mindy, and your sister. I know you and Lana may not be on speaking terms right now but trust me, if you want to sit down and open up to her, she'll let you."

"I think I really fucked up this time."

"Want me to be honest with you?

"I was brutally honest with you, so it's only fair." 

"You really did fuck up. I don't wanna say I told you so but I did tell you that a public place wasn't the best place to confront about it."

"I know. I was just angry that she didn't tell me sooner."

"I mean you are keeping a secret of the variety from her too" Arianna grabs his hand and intertwines their hands.

Liam looks at the girl and smiles slightly. "I know. Should I talk to her? Not right now but soon?"

Arianna thinks for a second. "Give her a few days. That's all she needs. Then try after that or wait till she comes to you."

-alysa speaks-

I know this is incredibly short but the last chapter is really long and I didn't want to bore you so I made Alana and Ethan and Arianna and Liam having conversations after Liam and Alana's argument it's own chapter as a filler I guess. If you wanna call it that.

ALSO I should do weekly updates again (hopefully) 

Alana and Ethan are absolutely adorable and I want what they have before everything goes to shit. 

Also I kinda noticed that Alana sounded hella like a pick me girl and I'm sorry about that.