Signed /Dream Team/

67

Anastasia's P.O.V.

I can't believe I found the strength to get up and go to work after all of this. And I can't believe the said strength ran out right after making a single cocktail.

I was deep inside the maze of my thoughts throughout my whole shift. It was our last few hours at the hotel, and I had no idea what was about to come next.

Clay was planning to go see George and talk to him while I'm at work. In honesty, I truly hope they'll settle everything down. As much as I appreciate Clay for everything he's done and is doing for me, and despise George with every single cell in my body, I still don't want to be the thing stepping between them and ruining their friendship.

Even though George's been horrible to me, I don't think he wanted anything but the best for his friends.

I think I'll forever miss the times we spent together though. As frantic as things were, still, I look back to everything with a full heart. It's almost like everything went wrong, but just felt right.

But I'm excited for the future. As uncertain as it is, I think I learned many things about people and, most importantly, myself.

Going back to Florida seems like my only option. At least I have some family back there - even though it's just my brother. But hey, there's gonna be an addition to the family soon, cause apparently his girlfriend is pregnant.

I feel so guilty and like a horrible sister for not even knowing who my brother's girlfriend is, how she looks, or even her name, but everything moved so fast 6 months ago that I barely could remember my own name. And I'm not joking, I even missed the date of my birthday a few months ago.

Making the final decision to fly back home put an end to my thoughts and my shift. Forever. At least about the shift part, I'm not coming back here ever again.

It was stressful how I still had to walk back to the hotel and talk to Clay to find out about their plans. I don't know why, but I was wishing they'd finally forget me and live the life they imagined months ago when they rented a house in here.

I entering our room, which won't be ours in a few hours, probably for the last time. I found Clay on the bed. He was just staring at the muted TV, more than certainly not even paying attention to what was on the screen.

"You're back," he smiles, turning off the TV, "how was work?"

I take off my heels, letting go of a breath of relief as my feet finally make contact with the floor.

"Stressful," I sigh, "at least I'm not ever going back."

"Oh.." his face dropped a little, "Really? Why?"

I take a seat next to him on the bed, getting a drag of air before speaking, "I spoke to my brother and.. I'm getting a ticket back to Florida."

Clay nods. I don't know why I expected more of a reaction from him. But the way he didn't look surprised or taken aback by my words was weird. Instead, he looked.. relieved almost?

"Oh, okay," he presses his lips together, "good for you."

Weird.

"What about you guys?" The anticipation was killing me.

"Well," he clears his throat, "I told them that I'm with them.. with my friends. And we're moving too. Don't know where, though."

I smile at his words, my heart breaking a bit as I understand that the moment of goodbye is getting realer and closer with every passing second. But I'm happy. Both for me, and for them.

"What about the house? You still have it, right? For six months?" I ask.

"Oh, about that." I see him get up and dig into his bag, getting out an envelope and walking back towards me. He holds the paper out infront of me, "George spoke to the owner and they gave the money back. And he wants you to have it.. So here, it's yours."

My eyes widen at his words, cause whatever he said doesn't sound like something George would do. They probably got in a fight and Clay forced him to do this.

"What.." I shake my head, "I'm not taking that. It's your money."

"And it was your house. And we still lived in it," there's a bit of aggression in his voice and I don't know why, "you're taking this and there's no further discussion."

He simply puts the envelope in my lap, and I'm scared to try to negotiate. I really don't want to take anything from George, but knowing that I at least got something back after giving so much puts my mind at ease.

There isn't much of a conversation going on after that. I text with my brother, Clay texts with someone. Then he goes for one last shower in the hotel, as we had 3 more hours left in here.

When I was fidgeting with the envelope out of boredom, I felt something weird in it. I could tell the shape apart from the cash in it. This thing felt like a folded piece of paper. And after looking at it closer, I was sure there was something else along with the money in there.

Taking the opportunity of being alone, I open the envelope. It doesn't take long for me to get the paper out and unfold it.

I squint at the cursive handwriting, but manage to understand it eventually.